For the next week, (Pop) Culturally Informed will be running a brand new series called Make Your Case, where Ben and Nina will take on one major category in turn for next week’s Emmys, pick who they think should win, and make their case. Note: We aren’t going to say who WILL win, but who should. Sometimes these will be one and the same- but we like to choose the road less traveled. Enjoy!

Discounting Big Bang Theory and Modern Family (not coincidentally the two network TV nominees), I’d be more than happy for any of the other four nominees to win Best Comedy at the Emmys tonight. Hell, I could make a case for any of them to win, these are four shows trying something new in the realm of comedy, and television in general. These are four shows having a great time on great networks. These are four shows that are all worthy of being called this year’s Best Comedy.

So who am I making my case for?

Anyone other than Modern Family.

I’m serious.

Modern Family has won for the past four years at the Emmys, beating competitors like 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, Girls, and Veep and Louie once before. It’s a symbol of the TV industry refusing to embrace the new voices of comedy these days, visionaries creating new programming that gives us a new way to laugh. Mike Judge and co. have created one of the silliest, funniest debut comedies with Silicon Valley. Armando Iannuci and his crew are doing wonders with Veep, one of the sharpest political satires that isn’t really about politics. Louis C.K. continues to push the boundaries of what an episodic TV show can be with Louie. And Jenji Kohan has helped develop Orange is the New Black into what is not only the best show Netflix has debuted to date, but one of this year’s most outstanding new series (It’s a shame that the more superior 2nd season isn’t in consideration this year, or else that would be my top pick).

It’s unfair to say one of these shows is better than the other. But all four shows are giving voice to new forms of comedic television. New characters we haven’t seen put in the spotlight, new situations, new actors who would usually be delegated to smaller roles on network TV. These are the shows that we’ll be studying and dissecting for years to come. Not Modern Family.

So my case is this; let’s maybe see if we can give this award to one of the comedies that is consistently making us laugh and think from week to week. Something that isn’t, for what would be the fifth year in a row, Modern Family.

And by that, I don’t mean give it to Big Bang Theory, for the love of Jeebus.