Emmy Predictions, Part 4: All Series

Okay, time for final series predictions.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA

  • Better Call Saul

  • Euphoria

  • Ozark

  • Severance

  • Squid Game

  • Stranger Things

  • Succession

  • Yellowjackets

I don’t see much reason to pick anything other than Succession here. It only won one creative arts Emmy, but it was an important one (casting). With no other show an obvious second choice (though it’s probably Squid Game?) I just think it’s the one with the most broad support across the board.

Winner: Succession

Alternate: Squid Game

Dark Horse: Euphoria (I say this on the basis of it winning five Creative Arts Emmys, but it didn’t make it into writing or directing, which is weird. So the dark horse may actually be Severance)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY

  • Abbott Elementary

  • Barry

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm

  • Hacks

  • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

  • Only Murders in the Building

  • Ted Lasso

  • What We Do in the Shadows

This is a very split field with a lot of strong shows this season. Newbie Abbott Elementary won the all important casting Emmy last week- could that be a sign of things to come? Barry also won a few technical awards, but most people have always thought the show was too dark to have broad support. Then there’s Hacks, and Only Murders as another freshman success…with all these shows fighting for second place and no consensus, that usually means a repeat of the previous winner, which would be Ted Lasso. So that’s what’ I’m going with here but I wouldn’t be a surprised if there is a surprise.

Winner: Ted Lasso

Alternate: Abbott Elementary

Dark Horse: Only Murders in the Building

OUTSTANDING LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES

  • Dopesick

  • The Dropout

  • Inventing Anna

  • Pam & Tommy

  • The White Lotus

Not much evidence for anything except The White Lotus. It dominated at Creative Arts and has the most nominations- Dopesick was the other favorite, but with Lotus sweeping all the techs I think it has this.

Winner: The White Lotus

Alternate: Dopesick

Dark Horse: Pam & Tommy

OUTSTANDING COMPETITION PROGRAM

  • The Amazing Race

  • Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls

  • Nailed It!

  • RuPaul’s Drag Race

  • Top Chef

  • The Voice

I assume this is RuPaul again? Voters are pretty lazy in this category and tend to give it to the same show over and over again. But Lizzo’s show actually did well with the technical awards, so that’s possible. You never know when they’re going to suddenly pick a new show here.

Winner: Drag Race

Alternate: Lizzo’s Watch Out of the Big Grrrls

Dark Horse: The Voice

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show

  • Saturday Night Live

I’m going out on a limb here with A Black Lady Sketch Show. Pretty much no one liked SNL this season and it finally lost directing at Creative Arts, which it hasn’t done since 2016…which happens to be the last time it lost this category on the main ceremony. It still may win in the end with the whole Academy voting but I don’t feel like picking it. And with two nominees? Come on.

Winner: A Black Lady Sketch Show

Alternate: SNL (obvs)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY TALK SERIES

  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!

  • Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

  • Late Night With Seth Meyers

  • The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

This one is not in conflict. John Oliver once again won writing and directing, so his show wins easy. I do wish someday they would go with something else, but I think it’s going to have to be a new show if it happens, not the old mainstays. The voters are most lazy in this particular category and they like picking the same show until it goes off the air basically.

Winner: Last Week Tonight

Alternate: The Daily Show (maybe?)

Dark Horse: The Late Show

Emmy Predictions, Part 3: Acting in Drama Series

Alright, we’re on to drama.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

  • Jodie Comer, Killing Eve

  • Laura Linney, Ozark

  • Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets

  • Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

  • Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

  • Zendaya, Euphoria

I actually thought Melanie Lynskey might pull this off, as a longtime veteran actress finally getting some recognition with a lead role on a buzzy show, but with Euphoria’s popularity and increase in nominations this year (and the success at Creative Arts last weekend), I have to think Zendaya gets the repeat. Which hasn’t happened in a while in this category, but I just think people really like her show.

Winner: Zendaya

Alternate: Melanie Lynskey

Dark Horse: Sandra Oh (last chance for Killing Eve?)


LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

  • Jason Bateman, Ozark

  • Brian Cox, Succession

  • Lee jung-jae, Squid Game

  • Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

  • Adam Scott, Severance

  • Jeremy Strong, Succession

I would love to say this will go to Brian Cox but I think Lee jung-jae has it for Squid Game. He won the SAG and the Critics Choice award, and the show did well at Creative Arts, winning a guest acting Emmy. I think it will win an acting award here too, and it’s most likely to be him.

Winner: Lee jung-jae

Alternate: Brian Cox

Dark Horse: Bob Odenkirk (last shot for Saul? Technically it’ll be next year, but the final season just aired, so…)


SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

  • Nicholas Braun, Succession

  • Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

  • Kieran Culkin, Succession

  • Park Hae-soo, Squid Game

  • Matthew McFadyen, Succession

  • John Turturro, Severance

  • Christopher Walken, Severance

  • Oh Yeong-su, Squid Game

Too many nominees here. And I’m a little stumped, because I could see it going to a number of people. Matthew McFadyen had his best season on Succession, so if they’re watching it, he’s the one who deserves it, yet Kieran Culkin seems to be getting all the hype (and is campaigning hard for himself and won the Critics Choice). And then there’s John Turturro, who I could easily see winning as a nod to Severance, but Squid Game’s huge popularity makes Oh Yeong-su a real possibility as well. Damn. This one’s hard.

Winner: Matthew McFadyen (I’m going for actual quality here- I think he deserves it the most)

Alternate: Kieran Culkin

Dark Horse: John Turturro


SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

  • Patricia Arquette, Severance

  • Julia Garner, Ozark

  • Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game

  • Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets

  • Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul

  • J. Smith Cameron, Succession

  • Sarah Snook, Succession

  • Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria

I think this one’s easier to narrow down, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that after years of being overlooked, with Rhea Seehorn finally getting the nomination, maybe that’s all she needs to get the win? Julia Garner has won this category twice and with Ozark’s final season (though it wasn’t very well liked apparently) they could very easily just give it to her again, but I think Seehorn’s great material in this last season may boost her over the top.

Winner: Rhea Seehorn

Alternate: Julia Garner

Dark Horse: Jung Ho-yeon

Emmy Predictions, Part 2: Acting in Comedy Series

Okay, time to do comedy series!

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Donald Glover, Atlanta
Bill Hader, Barry
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Okay, so Bill Hader has never lost for Barry, but is Ted Lasso still in its golden era and will Sudeikis repeat? It’’s a tough call. A spoiler could be in place with a legend like Steve Martin winning for Only Murders, but will competition from co-star Martin Short split the vote? I don’t think Glover or Hoult are likely here, but in a tight race anything could happen. I’m feeling a Steve Martin win. I think Only Murders is popular and as the more beloved of the two comedy legends (and creator of the show) I think he can pull this off.

Winner: Steve Martin

Alternate: Jason Sudeikis

Dark Horse: Bill Hader

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
Elle Fanning, The Great
Issa Rae, Insecure
Jean Smart, Hacks

This one should be easier, with Jean Smart repeating and I think that’s still likely. The ascent of Abbott Elementary makes Quinta Brunson a possibility but I think she can win in writing and that will be her triumph on Emmy night.

Winner: Jean Smart

Alternate: Quinta Brunson

Dark Horse: Elle Fanning


SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Juno Temple, Ted Lasso
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

I think Abbott’s success will lead to a win for supposed scene stealer Janelle James here (I haven’t watched the show yet but I plan to get around to it before next week). Hannah Waddingham could repeat for Ted Lasso but this is a very competitive year in comedy series, with a lot of popular shows in the race for big wins. I think this will be Abbott’s.

Winner: Janelle James

Alternate: Hannah Waddingham

Dark Horse: Hannah Einbinder


SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Anthony Carrigan, Barry
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Toheeb Jimoh, Ted Lasso
Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Henry Winkler, Barry
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live

This is where I think Ted Lasso is going to repeat, as Brett Goldstein’s second season was even better than his first, and I don’t see momentum for the other nominees, with the two Barry guys splitting the vote possibly.

Winner: Brett Goldstein

Alternate: Henry Winkler

Dark Horse: Tony Shalhoub (can never be counted out)

Emmy Predictions, Part 1: Acting in a Limited Series

It’s that time of year again. Time for my annual Emmy predictions, with the ceremony just one week or so away. As usual, I start with the acting categories for each series, and today we’re doing limited or TV movie. Let’s do it, shall we?

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE

  • Toni Collette, The Staircase

  • Julia Garner, Inventing Anna

  • Lily James, Pam & Tommy

  • Sarah Paulson, Impeachment: American Crime Story

  • Margaret Qually, Maid

  • Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout

I think this is between Seyfried and James and I’m going with James. I just think more people watched Pam & Tommy and were impressed by the physical transformation of Lily James into Pam Anderson. Seyfried was praised for The Dropout as well and the series was basically well received, but I’m going with the buzzier show that got more of its cast nominated.

Winner: Lily James

Alternate: Amanda Seyfried

Dark Horse: Julia Garner


LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE

  • Colin Firth, The Staircase

  • Andrew Garfield, Under the Banner of Heaven

  • Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage

  • Michael Keaton, Dopesick

  • HImesh Patel, Station Eleven

  • Sebastian Stan, Pam & Tommy

Michael Keaton already won the SAG for this role, so I think it’s his. That show also did well overall with the TV Academy, so there’s no reason to really go with anyone else here.

Winner: Michael Keaton

Alternate: Sebastian Stan

Dark Horse: Oscar Isaac

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE

  • Connie Britton, The White Lotus

  • Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus

  • Alexandra Daddario, The White Lotus

  • Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick

  • Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus

  • Sydney Sweeney, The White Lotus

  • Mare Winningham, Dopesick

Wow. All the nominees here are from a total of two shows. Two. Is that all the voters watched this year? Two shows? Come on, people. This is an overload of White Lotus women, some of whom…I mean, really? I think everyone is predicting Jennifer Coolidge for this, but I kinda wonder if there could be an upset. Kaitlyn Dever, perhaps, for a more serious turn on a more serious show? I want to go for it. I think it’s between them.

Winner: Kaitlyn Dever

Alternate: Jennifer Coolidge

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE

  • Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus

  • Jake Lacy, The White Lotus

  • Will Poulter, Dopesick

  • Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy

  • Peter Sarsgaard, Dopesick

  • Michael Stuhlbarg, Dopesick

  • Steve Zahn, The White Lotus

The grand total of shows nominated in this category expands from two to three. But even so I do think Murray Bartlett is safer here, for his scene-stealing performance that may feel like more of a performance than Coolidge, who could be argued is doing her usual schtick. But he’s got some competition from Jake Lacy I think, who’s also very good on White Lotus (though his character was more unlikable).

Winner: Murray Bartlett

Alternate: Jake Lacy

Dark Horse: Seth Rogen

New Trailer for 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law'

My longtime love of Tatiana Maslany will lead me to watch this show, even if the Marvel series’ on Disney+ have been yielding diminishing returns lately. This one looks like it might be a little bit more fun, though (apparently they were inspired by the Fleabag double take). This one will also be shorter (as in 30 minute episodes), which is always a good thing. Yes, she looks kinda creepy in green, but maybe you get used to her. I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt for now.