Poppy Awards 2016: Your comedy nominees are...

Welcome to the 2016 Poppy Awards — formerly known as the EWwys — where you get to vote for your favorite Emmy-snubbed shows and actors of the year. Click through to see the comedy nominees and places your votes after each category!

The winners will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 13.

The Big Bang Theory is growing up — half of the gang is married, Sheldon and Amy had sex (!), and Howard and Bernadette have a child on the way — but the CBS comedy series is just as fun-silly as when we first met the adorable, clueless nerds.The fact that the show could roll out the notable life achievements listed above while introducing us to June Squibb as Sheldon’s meemaw in season 9 only proves why this show has collectively won eight Emmys. — Dalene Rovenstine

Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson’s unapologetic, full-force comedy series showed absolutely no signs of slowing down in its third season. Between giddily ridiculous stories about makeshift tampons and gymnastic-level sex with Blake Griffin, the latest season also took a very surprising dramatic turn for the series as Abbi hides her relationship with Trey from Ilana. Oh, and Hillary Clinton showed up, so that alone should get your vote. — Dylan Kickham

It’s beyond exciting to have a critically-acclaimed and successful original musical on TV right now. Rachel Bloom is a breakout star and this surely isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of her. She is making strides for women that are too big to be ignored: She shows us a real woman’s body and torpedoes the idea of caking on the makeup “for yourself.” The show also gracefully handles a variety of important topics. Rebecca openly struggles with depression and anxiety. We get to see a character realize he’s bisexual. The show champions diversity by featuring a Filipino-American guy as a love interest. Last but not least, the songs are amazing. — Madeline Raynor

Dean Sanderson had a hard time getting over The Grinder, his former show-within-a-show on The Grinder — and we’re having just as difficult a time getting over the now-canceled Fox sitcom. Lowe and Fred Savage, who played the everyman brother to Lowe's ex-television star, played off one another perfectly. The meta-ness sometimes out meta-ed itself, but that only made it more intriguing to watch. — Dalene Rovenstine

Describe Togetherness — a half-hour series about relationships between friends, spouses, siblings — and it sounds run-of-the-mill, another entry in this age of prestige comedies. But watch Togetherness, and you see that it’s much, much more. It’s both heartbreaking and hilarious, a nonjudgmental look at how four relatable characters deal with and struggle with the common but often unspoken trials of adulthood. There’s marital boredom, friendships turned romantic, friendships gone awry, fertility concerns, and, to balance it all out, sincere, satisfying triumph. Staying together is hard, but it’s also wildly rewarding. If only HBO had felt the same way. — Ariana Bacle

The Emmys are a dumb dumb for not nominating this one. Maybe a comedy that deals with (at times) unlikable, messy, narcissistic characters with little redeeming qualities, and dark themes such as depression doesn’t sound like it should be winning any awards for making you chortle at your television screen, but You’re The Worst does just that — and is so much better for the unraveling layers of character depth. Besides, who says you can’t cry at a comedy too? There’s no denying Gretchen and Jimmy are the worst, but they’re also the absolute best. If you don’t sing the Sunday Funday song during brunch every weekend, you’re doing it wrong. — Ruth Kinane

Aya Cash’s portrayal of Gretchen’s battle with clinical depression brought an intense amount of pathos to the salty FXX comedy series. Her descent into an emotional black hole was intense, at times cringeworthy, but also moving and funny when the story called for it. Cash reached her heights in the eighth and ninth episodes when Gretchen is hollowed out emotionally, which was devastating. However, Cash was also able to find the humor in the part without ever letting us forget Gretchen was dealing with a serious issue. — Chancellor Agard

Very few can break into song mid-scene in a way that feels… I don’t want to say natural, but… non-cheesy. Bloom goes from singing about her heavy boobs to a sleepaway camp nemesis’ return with as much gusto as Taylor Swift in concert. But it’s not just Bloom’s musical and creative talent (Bloom is a co-creator, as well) that ignites this sleeper hit — she nails Rebecca’s self-involvment with a wide-eyed gaze that’s utterly delightful. — Caitlin Brody

Not unlike a new mom, Gina Rodriguez had a lot to juggle during Jane the Virgin's second season, which asked her to play Bachelorette stereotypes, silent movie heroines, and salsa dancers on top of her usual duties as a young woman whose entire sense of self had been suddenly upended. Through it all, she remained a grounding force on a show that would not work without her. Rodriguez brought vulnerability and heart to Jane's first year of motherhood, and her long trip down the aisle kept us all on our toes — and reaching for the tissues. — Kelly Connolly

While Constance Wu had already made Jessica Huang one of TV’s funniest characters, she took it to another level this year. In season 2 alone, the actress shined as she out-negotiated Shaquille O’Neal, made a compelling case to see a psychic, and launched on a hilariously epic rant against Melrose Place taking the summer off. “But there’s 52 weeks in a year! Not even teachers take 20 weeks of vacation!” Wu is amazing at playing the strict but loving mother, yet it’s when Jessica gets to let loose — or at least attempt to let loose — where she’s often at her best. — Derek Lawrence

With The Mindy Project’s move to Hulu this year came a whole new Mindy Lahiri, and as a result, Mindy Kaling. This season, we witnessed Kaling stretch her acting range with Lahiri becoming a mom (perhaps of the stage mom variety) and a business owner and experiencing heartbreak and butterflies, always accompanied by her perfectly animated pop-culture zingers. With Project’s new home, both Lahiri and Kaling gained freedom and scored big. — Caitlin Brody

Beverly is the kind of mom we all know (and maybe even have ourselves): overbearing, irritating, and incredibly loving. Sure, maybe she’s a bit — okay, a lot — excessive when it comes to her relationship with her kids, but McLendon-Covey makes sure Beverly remains a human, one who cares deeply and just chooses to show it in questionable ways, rather than a caricature even during her wackier moments. — Ariana Bacle

Randall Park went immediately from playing the controversial Kim Jong Un to TV’s new favorite dad, Louis Huang — that’s what they call range. Park takes on the role of good cop parent/unofficial fourth child and runs with it. He’s never better than when he’s trying to get Eddie and his friends excited about something, whether it’s Halloween or hoping for his son to get his own Pretty in Pink moment. Park is one-half of maybe the best comedy duo on TV as the chemistry and comedic dynamic between him and Constance Wu is what separates the show from the abundance of other family comedies. — Derek Lawrence

One thing that can be said about Rob Lowe as Mitch Grinder, no one has ever given a better performance as a TV-lawyer-turned-real-lawyer. Full of wackiness and attempts at metahumor, The Grinder and its titular character could have easily been a cartoon, but Lowe elevated it above that. The veteran actor delivered his greatest comedic performance as he brought charm and gravitas, while also being willing to often be the butt of the juke. No longer getting a chance to see Lowe face-off with Timothy Olyphant and frustrate Fred Savage has us wanting to hire The Grinder to pursue legal action. — Derek Lawrence

Although Fred Savage’s character, Stewart, wasn’t as flashy or as charming as Rob Lowe’s Dean, he provided the perfect amount of seriousness and humor to be the straight man of the duo. But at the same time, some of Savage’s best work was when the Dean/Stewart relationship flipped and allowed him to lead the comedic beats. — Dalene Rovenstine

This just in: Billy Eichner is hilarious even when he’s not screaming “SUSAN LUCCI!” at random people on the street, which we now know thanks to season 1 of Difficult People. The prickly aspiring comedian Billy Epstein navigates New York City armed with the most laser-focused pop culture references to ever be hurled at the slack-jawed annoyances that surround him. The more cutting and abrasive Eichner is, the more we’re smiling. — Dylan Kickham

Things are rarely peachy-keen on Catastrophe, but Rob Delaney’s Rob might make you think they are by the way he delivers zingers in times of trouble with a huge, bemused smile on his face while somehow still coming off as earnest. Even his darker moments — like episode 4, when he momentarily chokes up as he reveals to wife Sharon how hard it was to watch their son struggle when he was first born — still have a self-aware humor to them that reflects the captivating tone of the entire show, one that doesn’t stray away from depicting (and laughing) at the ugly. — Ariana Bacle

Eyes closed, head first, can’t lose. Jake Peralta may jump into dangerous situations like the cinematic cops he calls his heroes, but in Andy Samberg’s hands, he’s more complicated than any of them. As Brooklyn Nine-Nine's third season pushed his relationship with Amy to the next level and brought his father back into the picture, Jake battled with his need for approval, giving Samberg the chance to tap into the insecurities beneath Jake's fast-talking exterior. Samberg is the rare comedic lead who makes genuine niceness both funny and compelling, and he does it all while reenacting Die Hard. — Kelly Connolly

Much of the discussion around season 2 of You’re the Worst focused on Gretchen’s depression story line. But her best friend Lindsay also faced her share of struggles this season. Donahue was a delightful but mostly one-note presence in season 1; season 2 allowed her to dig past Lindsay’s charming façade and explore the woman-child learning to control her own life for the first time. — Christian Holub

When we first met the vapid Jacqueline Voorhees, she was little more than a blond Manhattan socialite, concerned only with wealth, status, and clinging to her distant, billionaire husband. Season 2 finds her “ditching the jerk” and trying to “keep the perks,” as she struggles with her Native American ancestry, an Upper East Side nemesis, and her new lifestyle as a broke divorcee. Only Krakowski could make a snooty Manhattanite so hilarious — and relatable. (Haven’t we all wanted to roll up in a rug and hide from our problems?) — Devan Coggan

Of Togetherness’ foursome, Peet’s flighty Tina has always been the most immature — which is why her goal to have kids is hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. Peet captures that tough combination in every scene she’s in, nailing Tina’s frustration at Larry, who says she can’t be a mom, her quiet gratitude toward Brett, who says she can be, and, of course, her wonder at Alex, whom she discovers she needs, no matter what. — Shirley Li

Chelsea Peretti can do a lot without looking up from her phone. Self-described “human form of the 100 emoji” Gina Linetti wears what she wants, says what she thinks, and ignores whomever she wants to ignore, and Peretti finds something endearing — and painfully relatable — in all of it. The trick to her performance is this: For all of Gina’s narcissism, she cares, and for all of Peretti’s scene-stealing prowess, she elevates her co-stars just as much. Gina spent the first few episodes of the third season away from the precinct; by the time she rejoined the team in a blaze of confetti, she felt like the glue that keeps this whole operation afloat. — Kelly Connolly

Donna Lynne Champlin’s amazing performance as Paula makes her an unexpected star on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She is such a comedic force that it seems like she’s been on TV for ages, but in fact, this is her first big role. Paula and Rebecca click comedically, each feeding off the other’s manic energy. Her sympathy for Rebecca is touching. Although it’s not a talking point on the show, the generational differences between Paula and Rebecca makes their friendship one of the most unique ones on television right now. — Madeline Raynor

Being one of the last people on earth isn’t easy. Being one of the last people on earth and being married to a perpetual man-child (cough, Will Forte’s Phil, cough)? That’s just unfair. Yet Kristen Schaal’s Carol remains delightfully positive, adding a childlike wonder and enthusiasm to a crew of survivors who would usually rather sit around and mope (or, in Gail’s case, drink) about their predicament. Schaal’s a genuine burst of sunshine in a world — both our own and the fictional one of The Last Man on Earth — that desperately needs it. — Ariana Bacle

Silicon Valley is packed with rapid-fire jokes, whether it’s Jared revealing sad details about his backstory or Gavin bringing live animals to board meetings, but it’s T.J. Miller’s Erlich Bachman who reigns as the show’s king of off-the-cuff insults. As the arrogant founder of Aviato — no, it’s pronounced Aviato — Erlich is the kind of raunchy, pompous tech guy that’s both supremely outrageous and totally believable. (And if you haven’t watched the outtakes of Miller insulting Stephen Tobolowsky for five straight minutes, go do that.) — Devan Coggan

Pretty much everyone on Veep is an incompetent mess, but no one more so than Simons’ aggressively clueless Jonah Ryan. As the favorite target of literally everyone’s insults — he’s been called an unstable piece of human scaffolding, a giant, mangled skeleton, and “the guy with the police sketch face of a rapist” — Jonah is the character you love to hate. Which is why season 5 of Veep was such a delight, as Jonah mounted his (hilariously misguided) congressional run. Against all odds, he won. Here’s hoping he wins a Poppy, too. — Devan Coggan

Rogelio de la Vega knows what it takes to bring pure joy and happiness to your television screen, whether it’s his love of hashtags, bromance with Michael, or not-so-subtle celebrity name dropping. While the writers on Jane the Virgin deliver pure gold for Rogelio, Jaime Camil raises the character to another level. He masters every kind of scene, as he oozes charm while seducing women before flipping the switch to adorably goofy when he’s crushing on Michael. Not to mention that no one on TV has better puppy dog eyes when he’s hurt. — Derek Lawrence

After some time spent as New Girl’s resident one-note weirdo, Winston has morphed into a full-on loftmate with real feelings, real problems, and real storylines. As Winston, Morris is sweetly juvenile and endlessly goodhearted, a character that’s as fun to watch as he is fun. This is a character that could easily be written off as a kook whose poorly thought-out pranks are more annoying than amusing, but instead, his quirks — bad pranks included — are embraced, and as a result, he’s one of TV’s sweetest, silliest stars. — Ariana Bacle

Santino Fontana pulls at your heartstrings as Greg, who’s in love with Rebecca even though she’s obsessed with Josh. He’s also swoon-worthy, especially when he does get together with Rebecca and they have so much sex in one weekend that she gets a UTI, and his exuberant pride in having been the cause of it is the setup for his goofy solo “I Gave You a UTI.” Who knew anyone could be so adorable while singing about an infection? By the way, this all happens on network TV! Fontana's a veteran Broadway actor and his finest musical moment is “Settle for Me,” in which he subverts the style of classic Hollywood love songs to beg Rebecca to give up on Josh and be with him instead. — Madeline Raynor

His costar, Keegan-Michael Key, earned an Emmy nod this year, but Peele was unfairly shut out. Key is, of course, brilliant, but his presidential anger translator  Luther would be nothing without Peele’s even-tempered (and pitch-perfect) Obama impression. Not only does Peele have the best Obama in comedy, but he also nails original characters like MC Mom, the insufferable Meegan, or the hotel guest obsessed with continental breakfast. — Devan Coggan