Kate McKinnon picked up two Emmy nominations this year for her work on “Saturday Night Live” as both a featured performer and for penning the ditty “Home for the Holidays.” For the past seven years, various “SNL” cast members have contended eight times in the comedy supporting categories but all of them failed to prevail till now. Will McKinnon’s episode be a winner?
SYNOPSIS: She submitted the 17th episode of the season, hosted by Anna Kendrick with musical guest Pharrell Williams that aired on April 5. McKinnon features prominently in the cold open as General Motors CEO Mary Barra testifying to Congress about the recent recall of GM vehicles. She also appears as German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Weekend Update desk alongside Colin Jost.
Will Emmy voters vote for an “SNL” player this year? Let’s analyze the pros and cons:
PROS
McKinnon is the standout performer on “SNL,” especially among the newer cast members. In just two years, she has become a go-to for impersonations, zany characters and reliable laugh out loud moments. Voters gave her their seal of approval with a surprise nomination this year.
This is Best Comedy Supporting Actress. In an age where many comedies aren’t very funny at all, it is refreshing to watch McKinnon deliver laughs at every turn in a broadly comedic role as a not-ready-for-primetime player.
CONS
Screen time will be an issue for McKinnon. Although she is front and center for the cold open, and is memorable as Merkel, there are long stretches where McKinnon either doesn’t appear, or is in the background.
Three “SNL” cast members reaped eight nominations in the supporting races (Amy Poehler in 2008 and 2009, Kristin Wiig in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, Bill Hader in 2012 and 2013) but none have won. Do Emmy voters have a bias against them?
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According to Gold Derby’s Experts, Editors and Users, McKinnon is currently in sixth place to win with 100/1 odds. Do you agree with those odds? Make your own predictions below, then discuss all the episodes in our Emmy forums.
