An Emmy May Be In Lauren Graham's Future

As TV fanatics know, the 2016 Emmy nominees will be announced on Thursday, July 14. Although we can rest assured that the usual suspects like Veep, Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black and their cast members will score nominations in their categories, there are always a few surprises — so I can't wait to watch Anthony Anderson and Lauren Graham announce the 2016 Emmy nominations. Anderson was nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series last year for his role on Black-ish, but does Lauren Graham have any Emmys?

Shockingly enough, Lorelai Gilmore was never even nominated for an Emmy and she was consistently snubbed by most major awards shows. Graham was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2001 (Jennifer Garner took home the prize for Alias), but the recognition pretty much stopped there. However, she will be eligible for an Emmy award in 2017 — so at this time next year, her name will very likely be included on the nominee list and Gilmore Girls fans everywhere can celebrate by chugging coffee and ordering Chinese takeout. She was overlooked many times during the early 2000s, but thankfully we now live in an era where Gilmore Girls receives the critical recognition that it rightfully deserves.

Although Graham is a strong contender for 2017, she'll be eligible for a different category this time around. According to the Emmy rules and guidelines, the four-episode revival will be considered a "Limited Series" rather than a full "Drama Series" (which is the category it would have fallen into during its initial run). That would mean Graham could potentially receive a nomination as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. This category can get a little complicated because anthology series such as American Horror Story, American Crime, and American Crime Story can be submitted for consideration, along with one-off miniseries and TV movies.

So, it's difficult to predict what the contenders will look like in 2017. Although American Horror Story has done very well in the Lead Actress category (Connie Britton, Sarah Paulson, and Jessica Lange have all been recognized), there's no Julia Louis-Dreyfus equivalent who is basically a guaranteed nominee each year. Recent winners include Frances McDormand for Olive Kitteridge, Jessica Lange for American Horror Story, Laura Linney for The Big C, and Julianne Moore for Game Change. The nominee list looks very different from year to year, so we'll have to wait to see which TV movies and miniseries gain critical acclaim between June 2016 and May 2017 (the air date eligibility period).

Based on the recent winners, Graham will likely face some stiff competition — but she may emerge as a dark horse in this category because she was overlooked so many times before. During its initial run, many people dismissed Gilmore Girls (and, by extension, its cast) as a teen show that was perhaps wittier than most, but not worthy of any major awards. A lot has changed since then — it's become a cultural phenomena and, now that it's streaming on Netflix, the show has attracted new viewers in addition to those of us who have been devotees since 2000. Fans love the exploration of the complex relationships between Lorelai, Rory, and Emily — and the Netflix synopsis for the revival makes clear this will continue to be the show's focus.

So, could 2017 be Graham's Emmy year? It's a definite possibility — Gilmore Girls showcases her dramatic and comedic acting chops, not to mention her seriously impressive fast-talking skills. Either way, Lorelai Gilmore will always be a winner in our hearts.

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