Gold Standard: Look for Samantha Bee to add a feminist voice to the late-night Emmy race

The Emmys divided the variety category into talk shows and sketch series last year, essentially booting “Saturday Night Live” – the only perennial variety nominee that wasn’t a talk show – into its own division. And yet, “SNL” lost the sketch Emmy to the much funnier “Inside Amy Schumer,” which returns this year along with some other excellent comedy showcases and … yes … sigh … probably “Saturday Night Live,” now limping along in its 41st season.

Here’s a look at the two variety series categories along with the likely nominees among TV movies.

VARIETY TALK SERIES

“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee”

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”

Analysis: Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” dominated this category during its run, winning the Emmy 10 straight years from 2003-12 and then again last year in its final season. In between, Colbert won two Emmys for his Comedy Central show. Now it’s likely that another “Daily Show” alum – Oliver or Bee – will take this category for their satirical brilliance that digs deep into the week’s headlines and, after the fact, often makes headlines on its own.

With Stewart and David Letterman leaving the air, there are two spots open here and a cluster of contenders, including the likes of Seth Meyers, James Corden, Larry Wilmore, Bill Maher (his “Real Time” won 10 straight nominations from 2005-14) and Stewart’s shaky successor, Trevor Noah. Give one slot to Colbert, even as he’s still finding his footing in his new gig at CBS. And the other should absolutely go to Bee, who has brought a sharp and much-needed feminist voice to a late-night landscape that has long operated as a men’s club.

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Samantha Bee of “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” sits down with Times writer Glenn Whipp to talk about her series.

VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

“Inside Amy Schumer”

“Key & Peele”

“Portlandia”

“Saturday Night Live”

“W/ Bob & David”

Analysis: Schumer’s series hasn’t generated as many must-share moments this season, though there have been some great sketches. (The “Guyggles” bit that had Schumer’s routinely ignored office worker wearing a Google Glass-like device to “show you the kind of woman the guy in front of you needs you to be” was hilarious and cutting.) It could certainly win this category again. Then again, voters might want to send “Key & Peele” out in style. “Portlandia,” also in its final season, is in the running too.

Other strong possibilities: Bob Odenkirk and David Cross’ inventive return (so good it managed not to disappoint the “Mr. Show” faithful), last year’s surprise nominee “Drunk History” and “Documentary Now!,” the excellent mockumentary series from Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas. All of these should be nominated ahead of the competent, circling-pattern comedy of “SNL.” Unfortunately, in this case, brand recognition usually trumps quality.

TELEVISION MOVIE

“All the Way”

“Confirmation”

“Sherlock: The Abominable Bride”

“Luther”

“The Dresser”

Analysis: HBO owns this category, having won it nine years running (not counting the three years when the Emmys combined TV movies and limited series). This bodes well for the network’s solid historical snapshots – “All the Way,” which spotlights the LBJ-civil rights legislation era, and “Confirmation,” the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings – and possibly its adaptation of the Broadway play “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.” Movie-length installments of “Luther” and “Sherlock” and the powerful BBC actor’s vehicle “The Dresser” will likely round out the nominees.

glenn.whipp@latimes.com