There can be no doubt that television today offers more high-quality programming than ever before, and now itâs not always even on your television. But wherever you watch it, there are so many stand-out performances that deserve special recognition â from the media, from fans, and yes, even from you Emmy voters. Here, we chat with a few of our favorites.
âOrphan Blackâsâ Tatiana Maslany on how she can tell all those clones apart
Tatiana Maslany, the star of âOrphan Black,â talks about creating different body movements for the myrid of characters she plays â and not getting a moment to reset between gear shifts.
READ MORE: Emmy nominee Tatiana Maslany takes on identity and autonomy in âOrphan Blackâ
Tom Hiddleston has already won an award for âThe Night Managerâ
Tom Hiddleston wasnât sure if heâd win an Emmy for âThe Night Manager,â but heâs been honored with a âRear of the Yearâ award for his sex scene in it.
READ MORE: Tom Hiddleston discusses his âRear of the Yearâ award >
Derek Watersâ âDrunk Historyâ looks at the past through a glass, drunkenly
Emmy contender Derek Waters explains how Jake Johnsonâs booze-fueled story about Otis Redding inspired the creation of âDrunk History,â which will soon feature Lin-Manuel Miranda drunkenly discussing Alexander Hamilton.
READ MORE: Waters on Lin-Manuel Mirandaâs upcoming âHamiltonâ episode >
Anika Noni Rose talks about feeling the spirits on set during the filming of the new âRootsâ
Anika Noni Rose talks about feeling the spirits during the filming of the new âRoots.â
READ MORE: Anika Noni Rose explains feeling the spirits on the set of âRootsâ >
Riley Keough describes her âintenseâ interactions in âThe Girlfriend Experienceâ
Riley Keough talks about meeting all the actors she has sex scenes with in âThe Girlfriend Experience.â
READ MORE: Riley Keough reveals her method behind those intimate scenes on âThe Girlfriend Experienceâ >
When an intense role haunts you, leave your wig behind, says Lili Taylor
Lili Taylor from âAmerican Crimeâ talks about leaving the character after shooting.
READ MORE: Lili Taylor from âAmerican Crimeâ on leaving her character after shooting
âBetter Call Saulâsâ Rhea Seehorn sees a matching comb-over future for Kim and Jimmy
âBetter Call Saulâsâ Rhea Seehorn talks about her characterâs ability as a scammer and what moral judgments she makes.
READ MORE: âBetter Call Saulâsâ Rhea Seehorn talks about her characterâs ability as a scammer
Michael McKean knows the pain inside his spiteful âSaulâ character
Staff writer Glenn Whipp discusses the character Chuck McGill of âBetter Call Saulâ with the actor who plays him, Michael McKean.
READ MORE: Michael McKean of âBetter Call Saulâ talks of âthe pain at the centerâ of his character >
Tony Hale plays âGary-okeâ with the characters from âVeepâ
Tony Hale of âVeepâ dishes on âGary-okeâ with the Los Angeles Timesâ Glenn Whipp.
READ MORE: What Gary might whisper to another Washington insider about other âVeepâ characters >
Richard Dreyfuss, Bernie Madoff and trust issues
Before shooting on âMadoffâ began, Richard Dreyfuss, who plays the title character, didnât want to speak to or hear from the disgraced financier because he didnât trust what Madoff would have to say.
READ MORE: Richard Dreyfuss on âMadoffâ and the âmost beautiful body of work of any actor in Americaâ >
Sterling K. Brown almost broke character in O.J. Simpson glove scene: âYou know they fitâ
VIDEO: Watch Sterling K. Brown, who plays Christopher Darden, talk about converging with his character in the glove scene of âThe People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.â
READ MORE: âPeople vs. O.J.âsâ Sterling K. Brown dived headlong into the glove scene: âI was lividâ >
Will Forte explains why he and Jason Sudeikis are perfect karaoke partners on âThe Last Man on Earthâ
Will Forte talks about doing karaoke with Jason Sudeikis on the TV show âThe Last Man on Earth.â
READ MORE: Hereâs why Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis sound so good dueting >
Linda Cardellini talks about Meg Rayburnâs downward spiral on Season 2 of âBloodlineâ
Linda Cardellini talks about Meg Rayburnâs downward spiral on the Netflix series âBloodline.â
READ MORE: With âBloodline,â Linda Cardellini tackles drugs, murder â and a fair bit of drinking >
âOutlanderâ stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe benefit from having novelist Diana Gabaldon on set
âOutlanderâ stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe talk about having novelist Diana Gabaldon on set and writing a script.
READ MORE: âOutlanderâsâ stars thrill to the writerâs presence on set >
Constance Zimmer canât watch âThe Bachelorâ without lapsing into her âUnREALâ character
Constance Zimmmer talks about the similarities between reality TV shows and her show, âUnREAL.â
READ MORE: Constance Zimmer of âUnRealâ prefers âCupcake Warsâ to âThe Bachelorâ >
Felicity Huffman describes her transformation on âAmerican Crimeâ -- Spanx and all
âAmerican Crimeâsâ Felicity Huffman talks about how she wanted to distinguish her characters â âcleanseâ the palate of past roles â and how Spanx played a role.
READ MORE: Felicity Huffman found her âAmerican Crimeâ character through research â and Spanx >
Aaron Paul talks about his character, Eddie Lane, and some of the most challenging scenes in âThe Pathâ
Aaron Paul talks about his character, Eddie Lane, and some of the most challenging scenes in âThe Path.â
READ MORE: Aaron Paul ponders a âBreaking Badâ vs. âThe Pathâ lifestyle: âI canât say neither?â >
Niecy Nash talks about the unscripted singing of Ginuwineâs âPonyâ song on âGetting Onâ
Live Chat: Niecy Nash talks about the unscripted singing Ginuwineâs âPonyâ song on the TV show âGetting On.â
Aya Cash of FXXâs âYouâre the Worstâ talks about finding the realness (and humor) in depression
Aya Cash of the TV show âYouâre the Worstâ talks about depression and how prevalent it is in society.
READ MORE: Aya Cash struggles with depression â in the comedy âYouâre the Worstâ >
Maura Tierney talks about her self-conscious return to the ER on âThe Affairâ
Maura Tierney talks about what it was like to work on an emergency room set again on âThe Affair.â
READ MORE: Brace yourself for some twists on âThe Affairâsâ third season, says star Maura Tierney >
Kirsten Dunst talks about what her âFargoâ character might be up to in prison
Kirsten Dunst talks about what her âFargoâ character might be up to in prison.
READ MORE: Kirsten Dunst sees an âOrange Is the New Blackâ future for her âFargoâ character >
Tracee Ellis Ross of âblack-ishâ on the showâs loving homage to âGood Timesâ
Tracee Ellis Ross of âblack-ishâ talks about her favorite line in the showâs âGood Timesâ tribute.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell on the muddy physicality of her âUndergroundâ performance
For Jurnee Smollett-Bell, the demands of her role as Rosalee on WGN Americaâs âUndergroundâ got very physical.
Eugene Levy and Catherine OâHara get wigged out on âSchittâs Creekâ
Eugene Levy credits Catherine OâHara with the idea of her âSchittâs Creekâ character wearing different wigs for different personalities.
READ MORE: Levy and OâHara let the wigs set the mood on âSchittâs Creekâ >
âThe Dresserâsâ Anthony Hopkins on how devoting your life to the theater can drive you mad
Anthony Hopkins of âThe Dresserâ talks about what drove him to walk out of a play he was in.
READ MORE: Anthony Hopkins avoided being consumed by the stage, unlike his âThe Dresserâ character >
âLoveâsâ Paul Rust knows why the other table is always better at L.A. restaurants
Emmy Contenders Chat | Paul Rust: Being seated in a restaurant
READ MORE: Paul Rust on the âShould they or shouldnât they?â nature of Netflixâs âLoveâ >
âLoveâsâ Gillian Jacobs doesnât miss upfront season
Gillian Jacobs, of Netflixâs âLove,â talks about not missing the dog-and-pony show that comes this time of year during upfronts.
READ MORE: Gillian Jacobs found âLoveâ and the outdoors with Netflix >
Lili Taylorâs advice to âAmerican Crimeâ costar Connor Jessup: âDo it all, all the timeâ
Worried about putting too much emotion out there too early, Connor Jessup asked his âAmerican Crimeâ costar Lili Taylor whether he should hold back early in the series so he could build up dramatically later on. Her response? âNo, hon, just do it al
READ MORE: Connor Jessup talks about âAmerican Crimeâ and the advice his costar gave him >
Maggie Siff discusses her hopes for her âBillionsâ character
Maggie Siff, who plays Wendy Rhoades in âBillions,â talks about what she would like to see for her character in Season 2.
READ MORE: What questions did those BDSM scenes prompt for âBillionsâ star Maggie Siff? >
Jay Duplassâ âTransparentâ character tries to be a parent and man, despite not knowing how to be either
Jay Duplass discusses how his character on âTransparentâ is committed to trying to be a parent and a man, despite not knowing how to be either.
READ MORE: âTransparentâsâ Jay Duplass: Josh blew it with the rabbi, but donât judge >
The âTransparentâ scene Judith Light was afraid to film
Judith Light of âTransparentâ discusses the bath scene she shares with Jeffrey Tambor and how terrified she was to do it.
READ MORE: âTransparentâsâ Judith Light says Season 3 flashbacks will be devastating >
Jeremy Piven on âMr. Selfridgeâ: âHe fancied himself an artist and retail was his theaterâ
Jeremy Piven talks about showing unknown chapters of history and the life of Harry Selfridge, the character he plays on the show âMr. Selfridge.â
READ MORE: Ari vs. Harry: Jeremy Piven on his roles in âEntourageâ and âMr. Selfridgeâ >
Allison Janney and Anna Faris dream of a âMomâ crossover with âOrange is the New Blackâ
Allison Janney and Anna Faris of CBSâ âMomâ discuss a possible crossover with popular Netflix series âOrange is the New Black.â
READ MORE: Allison Janney and Anna Faris want âMomâ to go âOrangeâ >
Krysten Ritter talks about starring in âJessica Jonesâ and being a feminist hero
Krysten Ritter talks about how she feels about being a symbol of feminism on Netflixâs âJessica Jones.â
Krysten Ritter talks about CGI vs. physical stunts on âJessica Jones.â
READ MORE: Itâs not bad guys Krysten Ritter must battle on âJessica Jonesâ--itâs street signs >
âMozart in the Jungleâsâ Gael Garcia Bernal on conducting the L.A. Phil: âIt was nerve-wrackingâ
Production on the third season of Amazonâs âMozart in the Jungleâ starts this summer and lead actor Gael Garcia Bernal steps back into his role as superstar conductor Rodrigo de Souza being able to boast two things: that he is a Golden Globe winner and that he has conducted the L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.
Wunderkind Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who serves as the music director to the L.A. Philharmonic and the inspiration for Bernalâs Rodrigo character, not only made a cameo appearance in the first episode of the season, but he also arranged for Bernal to shoot a scene with the actual L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Bernal, as Rodrigo, conducted the overture to Mozartâs âThe Marriage of Figaro.â
Gael Garcia Bernal of Amazonâs âMozart in the Jungleâ shares what it was like to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, with just a little coaching from the meastro, Gustavo Dudamel.
Gael GarcĂa Bernal habla sobre la invitaciĂłn que le hizo Gustavo Dudamel para dirigir FilarmĂłnica de Los Ăngeles
Gael GarcĂa Bernal, protagonista de âMozart in the Jungleâ habla sobre cĂłmo fue trabajar con Gustavo Dudamel y la FilarmĂłnica de Los Ăngeles.
Louie Anderson of âBasketsâ describes how he disappears into Christine Baskets
Louie Andersonâs aching, vulnerable and, yes, at times funny turn as Zach Galifianakisâ mom on the first-year FX series âBasketsâ has been one of the most welcome surprises of this television year.
The goal, Anderson tells us, was not to make the character, Christine, campy or cartoon-like. He wanted to pay tribute to his own loving, funny mother and the process, he says, began in wardrobe.
Louie Anderson talks about playing Christine Baskets on FXâs âBaskets.â
Ray Liotta shares his âBatmanâ regrets
Ray Liotta, who stars as Lt. Matt Wozniak, âa bisexual cop whoâs dirty,â on NBCâs âShades of Blue,â has a gallery of distinctive and memorable characters heâs played in a career that has spanned more than three decades. But was there one role that got away that he regrets? Well, everyone has regrets.
âShades of Blueâ star Ray Liotta looks back at his one regret in showbiz: not taking a meeting with Tim Burton when the director was looking for a star to suit up as Batman.
I got a call from my agent that Tim Burton wanted to meet me for the role of Batman.
— Ray Liotta, actor
Andrew Rannells of âGirlsâ talks about Elijah and what to expect next season
This season of âGirlsâ saw Elijah Krantz, played by Andrew Rannells, find the promise of a real adult relationship in smooth news anchor Dill Harcourt (Corey Stoll).
Of course, this being âGirls,â happily ever after was not in the cards â with the penultimate episode having us hashtag #aimless and #knifeinheart. Still, the storyline certainly made for interesting scenarios when filming, particularly that Times Square date.
What itâs like to film a romantic date scene in Times Square:
Andrew Rannells, who plays Elijah Krantz on HBOâs âGirls,â talks about shooting a romantic date scene in Times Square -- when all the crazies were out.
We also asked Rannells to give us a hint of whatâs to come for Elijah in one word. He was feeling generous and gave us two.
What to expect from the last season of âGirlsâ:
Andrew Rannells, who plays Elijah on HBOâs âGirls,â discusses whatâs coming up for his character next season.
Fred Savage answers our pressing question: Does he make his family watch âThe Wonder Yearsâ at home?
âThe Grinderâ often opens with the family sitting around watching episodes of Deanâs (Rob Loweâs) old television show, an absurd (and very funny) comic premise that likely wouldnât be replicated in real life. We mean, itâs not like Savage gathers his wife and three children nightly to watch âThe Wonder Years,â right? Right?
Fred Savage jokingly talks about subjecting his kids to looping episodes of âThe Wonder Years.â
âThe Walking Deadâsâ Melissa McBride on âCarylâ -- the chemistry between Carol and Daryl
What exactly is going on with Carol Peletier and Daryl Dixon? Is it a deep friendship? Is it something more?
Will they or wonât they? âThereâs no denying thereâs chemistry,â says âWalking Deadâ star Melissa McBride of Daryl and Carol.
Thereâs no denying thereâs chemistry there.
— Melissa McBride
âHomelandâsâ Miranda Ottoâs favorite scene: âShooting Conrad in the headâ
Listen to her laugh when she tells the story!
âHomelandâsâ Miranda Ottoâs favorite scene: âShooting Conrad in the head,â she says. And listen to her laugh when she tells the story!
The crucial advice Kerry Washington gave âblack-ishâ actress Yara Shahidi
Words of wisdom from Kerry Washington: What the âScandalâ star told actress Yara Shahidi, one of the stars of ABCâs âblack-ish.â
She said words like, âWe loved you [in your audition], so please be you.â Itâs something so beautiful about being authentically yourself in a world in which you are paid to be somebody else.
— Yara Shahidi
What happens when you have a meatball in your sock and your costars are dogs? Julie Klausner of Huluâs âDifficult Peopleâ survived to tell the tale
Itâs all fun and games headlining your own TV show until a co-star bites you.
Julie Klausner, who created and stars in Huluâs âDifficult People,â experienced as much first-hand while shooting the first season of the comedy. And, no, it wasnât costar Billy Eichner with the poor people skills. It was Otis, half of the ear-licious basset hound pair that serve as her characterâs pets on the show.
âWe were like, âOh, letâs just give him another try,ââ Klausner recounted when she stopped by the Los Angeles Times to discuss the series. âWe basically rewarded him for biting me. I mean, Mel Gibson has done worse things to costars.â
What happens when you have a meatball in your sock and your co-stars are dogs? Julie Klausner of Huluâs âDifficult Peopleâ survived to tell the tale.