As promised, here is the full list of predictions from our resident awards fanatic Andrew!
Best Drama Series
Will Win - The Crown
Could Win - The Mandalorian
Should Win - The Crown
Commentary - This is a battle between The Crown and The Mandalorian. They tied in terms of the total number of nominations, and they both are going to win a lot of Emmys over the two weekends. Coming out of the Creative Arts, I can guarantee you that The Mandalorian is going to look like it is out front. However, I think The Crown will prevail. It got so many acting nominations, compared to just a few for The Mandalorian, and it also did well with the craft awards. I think it is more up the alley of current Emmy voters compared to a Disney/Star Wars production. I also, personally, think it is the best of the bunch. I would also look out for Lovecraft Country, which got a whopping 18 nominations; Pose, whose final season was well-received, and did better in terms of nominations than it ever has before; and The Handmaid’s Tale, which rebounded in terms of nominations from last year.
Best Comedy Series
Will Win - Ted Lasso
Could Win - Hacks
Should Win - Ted Lasso
Commentary - I finally caught up with Ted Lasso, and while I was hesitant at first (it was just too happy all the time!), I now see why it has become such a phenomenon. I also think it is the series we need right now. It is the clear frontrunner for this prize, although HBO Max's Hacks is not far behind. Ted Lasso though has the edge, and it conveniently premiered its second season right in the thick of Emmy voting, and it got rave reviews. This only helps its chances of winning this award.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Will Win - Josh O'Connor "The Crown"
Could Win - Billy Porter "Pose"
Should Win - Josh O'Connor "The Crown" or Billy Porter "Pose"
Commentary - This has become an exciting two-way race between The Crown’s Josh O’Connor and Billy Porter for Pose. Josh O’Connor is fantastic in this series, and he has never won an Emmy. I think he is going to ride the wave of support for The Crown and win his first. However, Billy Porter, who won two years ago for Pose’s first season, has a jaw-dropping final season, and the show did the best it has ever done with nominations. I am sticking with Josh O’Connor, but Porter could easily upset, and personally I’d be happy with either.
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Will Win - Emma Corrin "The Crown"
Could Win - MJ Rodriguez "Pose" or Elisabeth Moss "The Handmaid's Tale"
Should Win - Emma Corrin "The Crown"
Commentary - Emma Corrin. Emma Corrin. Emma Corrin. This talent young actress has won everything since she premiered as Princess Diana. She has dominated headlines and her performance has been praised across the board. She also happens to be the hottest ticket in television right now, and I would be jaw-dropped if voters picked someone else. MJ Rodriguez would be an historic win, and Elisabeth Moss is a returning favorite. Despite those two potent contenders, this is Corrin’s to lose, and I don’t think that is happening.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Will Win - Jason Sudeikis "Ted Lasso"
Could Win - Anthony Anderson "black-ish" or Michael Douglas "The Kominsky Method"
Should Win - Jason Sudeikis "Ted Lasso"
Commentary - They let William H. Macy back in!! So much for all of the controversy. Look, Jason Sudeikis is so far out front. He split some of the midwinter awards with Eugene Levy, but with Schitt’s Creek not returning, I cannot imagine voters will pass up a chance to honor Sudeikis. This will be his first Emmy Award.
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Will Win - Jean Smart "Hacks"
Could Win - Kaley Cuoco "The Flight Attendant"
Should Win - Jean Smart "Hacks" or Kaley Cuoco "The Flight Attendant"
Commentary - I was so happy to see Kaley Cuoco finally get an Emmy nomination! It was so overdue. She could still win, by the way, but The Flight Attendant did not do as well as expected, definitely a muted response. Instead, I think Jean Smart, who just bulldozed into this season with Hacks, an incredibly funny and awesome show, will win yet another Emmy. Although I think it is time for Cuoco to get one of those golden statues, I cannot be mad that Smart, one of my favorite actors of all time, is getting yet another deserved honor.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Will Win - Giancarlo Esposito "The Mandalorian"
Could Win - Michael Kenneth Williams "Lovecraft Country" or Tobias Menzies "The Crown"
Should Win - Michael Kenneth Williams "Lovecraft Country"
Commentary - The Mandalorian has only a few chances to win acting awards, and I think voters are going to give it something big on Emmy night, even if it is not Drama Series. It also happens to be the great Giancarlo Esposito, who has yet to win an Emmy award. I will be really happy for him, although I will say, it feels kind of cheap that this is the project that wins him his Emmy. No offense, but Star Wars acting and regular acting are two different worlds, and I am a Star Wars fan. Tobias Menzies could benefit from The Crown love, so watch out for him. Finally voters could reward Michael Kenneth Williams, who unexpectedly died this week. Williams was brilliant in Lovecraft Country, and was one of the best actors working on television over the last twenty-five years. Emmy voting ended before his death, so it will have no impact on the outcome. I'm hoping voters still voted for him based on his performance and career, as this is now his only chance to win this incredibly deserved honor.
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Will Win - Gillian Anderson "The Crown"
Could Win - Aunjanue Ellis "Lovecraft Country", Ann Dowd "The Handmaid's Tale", Helena Bonham Carter "The Crown", and Yvonne Strahovski "The Handmaid's Tale"
Should Win - Gillian Anderson "The Crown" or Aunjanue Ellis "Lovecraft Country"
Commentary - Gillian Anderson has been dominating the awards circuit, but when they threw in a third Crown actress in Emerald Fennell, I will say I started to hesitate. It is hard to win with three or four actors from the same show nominated. Only Peter Dinklage has ever pulled that off for Game of Thrones. But, if anyone can do it, it is Gillian Anderson, who is a beloved veteran and previous Emmy winner. Also, she benefits from the fact that The Handmaid’s Tale had four nominated actors, which is even more vote splitting. There is a scenario where the three Crown actors and the four Handmaid’s Tale actors split and Aunjanue Ellis, who is fantastic, surprises for Lovecraft Country. It could happen, so could Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski, or Helena Bonham Carter. But this award is Anderson’s to lose.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Will Win - Bowen Yang "Saturday Night Live"
Could Win - Kenan Thompson "Saturday Night Live" or Brett Goldstein "Ted Lasso"
Should Win - Bowen Yang "Saturday Night Live" or Kenan Thompson "Saturday Night Live"
Commentary - There are just too many Ted Lasso guys for one of them to prevail. I think Brett Goldstein is the frontrunner of the four, but four guys splitting votes most likely means none of them win. I think one of the SNL guys will benefit from this split. Thompson is the veteran, and is overdue for an acting Emmy. However, I think Bowen Yang has been in the zeitgeist this season (aka "zeitgeisty"). In the past, those who have claimed the pop culture zeitgeist on the show have prevailed over other co-stars. I think he is going to surprise a lot of people and win his first Emmy.
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Will Win - Hannah Waddingham "Ted Lasso"
Could Win - Hannah Einbinder "Hacks" or Juno Temple "Ted Lasso"
Should Win - Hannah Waddingham "Ted Lasso"
Commentary - So, I actually accidentally skipped this category in the podcast! So this is a blog-exclusive prediction (that's how I am spinning my big uh oh!)! Hannah Waddingham surprisingly won the Critics Choice Award in January. But us Ted Lasso fans know this was not a surprise. Her character of Rebecca is one of the best, in a show with tons of great characters. Her transformation over the course of Season one was something to behold, and I think she is going win an Emmy for her efforts. Juno Temple is also great on Ted Lasso, so I could see her getting a lot of support. Also, Hannah Einbinder on Hacks is fantastic, and holds her own against the legendary Jean Smart. She could be an upset contender.
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series - Charles Dance "The Crown"
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series - McKenna Grace "The Handmaid's Tale"
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Dave Chappelle "Saturday Night Live"
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Maya Rudolph "Saturday Night Live"
Best Directing in a Drama Series - The Crown - Fairytale
Best Writing in a Drama Series - The Crown - War
Best Directing in a Comedy Series - The Flight Attendant - In Case of Emergency
Best Writing in a Comedy Series - Ted Lasso - Pilot
Best TV Movie
Will Win - Sylvie's Love
Could Win - Oslo or Uncle Frank
Should Win - Sylvie's Love
Commentary - This category kind of sucks. But Sylvie’s Love, the Amazon production with Tessa Thompson is decent, so I think it is going to win. Oslo and Uncle Frank have impressive pedigrees, so don’t discount them in this race. I just wish the films were as impressive as the pedigrees.
Best Limited Series
Will Win - The Queen's Gambit
Could Win - Mare of Easttown, WandaVision, or I May Destroy You
Should Win - I May Destroy You
Commentary - Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking they know what is going to win in these limited series categories. It is so hard this year to gauge where voters are going to go with these different series. Are they going to spread the love? Are they going to pile up one series? I can tell you this, there will be no surprises in these categories, because anything can happen. I am sticking with The Queen’s Gambit. It was the front runner for so long, but then WandaVision came along, then Mare of Easttown, then I May Destroy You, my personal favorite, had a comeback. So this could go anyway, but precedent and precursors suggest that the gambit will pay off.
Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Will Win - Paul Bettany "WandaVision"
Could Win - Lin-Manuel Miranda or Leslie Odom Jr. "Hamilton, Hugh Grant "The Undoing"
Should Win - Hugh Grant "The Undoing"
Commentary - I think its time to Hugh Grant win won of these awards, as he has had a great television streak lately. The Undoing, though, didn't land with Emmy voters. In a weird race, I think Paul Bettany, who will be helped by a Hamilton vote split, will win for WandaVision, a series that did exceptionally well with voters. However, Hamilton fans are powerful, and vocal, so don’t be shocked if one them takes the prize.
Best Actress in TV Movie/Limited Series
Will Win - Kate Winslet "Mare of Easttown"
Could Win - Anya Taylor-Joy "The Queen's Gambit" or Michaela Coel "I May Destroy You"
Should Win - Michaela Coel "I May Destroy You"
Commentary - Two up and coming talents, Michaela Coel and Anya Taylor-Joy, could upset here, and Coel in particular, would be a welcomed winner. However, I never discount the power of Kate Winslet. The consensus has quickly built around her winning another Emmy for Mare of Easttown. She is fantastic, as always, in the show, and it seems like she may be one of the safer bets in these wild categories.
Best Supporting Actor in TV Movie/Limited Series
Will Win - Evan Peters "Mare of Easttown"
Could Win - Paapa Essiedu "I May Destroy You" or Daveed Diggs "Hamilton"
Should Win - Paapa Essiedu "I May Destroy You" or Evan Peters "Mare of Easttown"
Commentary - Evan Peters has made a name for himself over the last decade or so on television, but this is his first Emmy nomination. He is garnering a lot of buzz, and I think he can pull off his first win. Don't forget about Daveed Diggs, who id a Hamilton favorite, and was the only one of the cast to get a SAG nod this past winter. When voters added both Anthony Ramos and Jonathan Groff though, it hurt his chances. I also think Paapa Essiedu could surprise for his awesome turn in I May Destroy You.
Best Supporting Actress in TV Movie/Limited Series
Will Win - Kathryn Hahn "WandaVision"
Could Win - Julianne Nicholson "Mare of Easttown" or Renee Elise Goldsberry "Hamilton"
Should Win - Kathryn Hahn "WandaVision"
Commentary - – Kathryn Hahn has been churning out great roles for a long time, and I am so happy that she could finally get a major award for her talent. She also was the most-talked about part of WandaVision. Julianne Nicholson for Mare of Easttown and Renee Elise Goldsberry for Hamilton (who was unceremoniously snubbed for Girls5Eva), are her biggest competition.
Best Directing in a TV Movie/Limited Series - The Queen's Gambit
Best Writing in a TV Movie/Limited Series - I May Destroy You
The Rest of the Categories
Best Competition Series - RuPaul's Drag Race
Best Structured Reality Series - Queer Eye
Best Unstructured Reality Series - RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
Best Reality Host - RuPaul "RuPaul's Drag Race"
Best Variety Talk Series - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Variety Sketch Series - Saturday Night Live
Best Variety Special (Live) - Celebrating America: An Inauguration Night Special
Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) - Hamilton
Best Directing in a Variety Series - Saturday Night Live
Best Writing in a Variety Series - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Directing in a Variety Special - David Byrne's Utopia
Best Writing in a Variety Special - Bo Burnham: Inside
Best Animated Program - Big Mouth
Best Short Form Animated Program - Love, Death & Robots
Best Production Design For A Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour Or More) - The Handmaid's Tale
Best Production Design For A Narrative Period Or Fantasy Program (One Hour Or More) - The Crown
Best Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour) - WandaVision
Best Production Design For A Variety, Reality Or Competition Series - Saturday Night Live
Best Production Design For A Variety Special - The Oscars
Best Casting for a Comedy Series - Ted Lasso
Best Casting for a Drama Series - The Crown
Best Casting for a Limited Series/TV Movie - The Queen's Gambit
Best Casting for a Reality Series - RuPaul's Drag Race
Best Choreography For Variety Or Reality Programming - Dancing With the Stars
Best Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - The Conners
Best Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) - The Mandalorian
Best Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (One Hour) - The Crown
Best Cinematography For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie - Small Axe: Mangrove
Best Cinematography For a Nonfiction Program - David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
Best Cinematography For a Reality Program - Life Below Zero
Best Commercial - Better Mamba Forever - Nike
Best Period Costumes - The Crown
Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes - WandaVision
Best Contemporary Costumes - Pose
Best Directing For a Documentary/Nonfiction Program - Kirsten Johnson "Dick Johnson is Dead"
Best Directing For a Reality Program - RuPaul's Drag Race
Best Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series - The Crown
Best Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series - The Flight Attendant
Best Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series - Mom
Best Single-Camera Picture Editing for a TV Movie/Limited Series - The Queen's Gambit
Best Picture Editing for a Variety Series - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Picture Editing For a Nonfiction Program - David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
Best Picture Editing For A Structured Reality Or Competition Program - RuPaul's Drag Race
Best Picture Editing For an Unstructured Reality Program - Deadliest Catch
Best Contemporary Hairstyling - Pose
Best Period and/or Character Hairstyling - The Crown
Best Contemporary Hairstyling For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program - Saturday Night Live
Best Interactive Program - Inside COVID19
Best Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Series - Saturday Night Live
Best Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Special - The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Starring The Weeknd
Best Main Title Design - WandaVision
Best Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) - Pose
Best Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) - WandaVision
Best Contemporary Makeup For A Variety, Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Non-Prosthetic) - RuPaul's Drag Race
Best Prosthetic Makeup - Star Trek: Discovery
Best Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) - The Mandalorian
Best Music Composition For A Limited Series/TV Movie (Original Dramatic Score) - The Queen's Gambit
Best Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) - David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
Best Music Direction - David Byrne's American Utopia
Best Original Music and Lyrics - WandaVision - Breaking the Fourth Wall
Best Original Main Title Theme Music - WandaVision
Best Music Supervision - I May Destroy You
Best Actor in a Short Form Series - J.B. Smoove "Mapleworth Murders"
Best Actress in a Short Form Series - Paul Pell "Mapleworth Murders"
Best Character Voice-Over Performance - Julie Andrews "Bridgerton"
Best Narrator - David Attenborough "A Perfect Planet"
Best Short Form Comedy, Drama, or Variety Series - Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Best Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series - Pose: Identity, Family, Community
Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special - Framing Britney Spears
Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series - Allen vs. Farrow
Best Host Nonfiction Series or Special - Oprah with Harry and Meghan: A CBS Primetime Special
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking - Welcome to Chechnya
Best Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour) - The Mandalorian
Best Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation - Ted Lasso
Best Sound Editing For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special - WandaVision
Best Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Single Or Multi-Camera) - David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
Best Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) - The Mandalorian
Best Sound Mixing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie - WandaVision
Best Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation - Ted Lasso
Best Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special - Hamilton
Best Sound Mixing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera) - The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Best Special Visual Effects In A Season Or A Movie - The Mandalorian
Best Special Visual Effects In A Single Episode - Vikings
Best Stunt Coordination - The Mandalorian
Best Stunt Performance - The Mandalorian
Best Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Special - Hamilton
Best Writing For A Nonfiction Program - Allen vs. Farrow
