Television’s biggest night has arrived. Tomorrow, the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will air on Fox at 8/7c. It’s shaping up to be an exciting one – while very popular shows such as “Veep” and “Game of Thrones” are bidding farewell, many new and eager ones are hoping to receive their first wins. So who will come out on top in the race for the gold? Here are our predictions:
Outstanding Comedy Series
Barry
Fleabag
The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek
Veep
The TV academy often times feels obligated to award the shows who are wrapping up their run, and the highly favored “Veep” is expected to take home their fourth and final win in the category.
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul
Bodyguard
Game of Thrones
Killing Eve
Ozark
Pose
Succession
This Is Us
Though this is a stacked category with a mixed bag of solid newcomers and veterans, GoT is all but certain to take home the night’s biggest award. Despite the mixed reviews from its final season earlier this year, the record-setting show that captivated pop culture for years would be hard for the academy to pass on.
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Mahershala Ali, True Detective
Benicio Del Toro, Escape at Dannemora
Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
Jared Harris, Chernobyl
Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon
The newly awards’ season-favorite is set to win his first Emmy after a powerful turn in True Detective. While season 3 received a warm reception, Rotten Tomatoes’s consensus states that the season is “driven by Mahershala Ali’s mesmerizing performance”. However, this is a tight race, so I wouldn’t count out Jared Harris or Jharrel Jerome, since the academy may feel compelled to award the latter to make a statement on a very timely social issue.
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
Aunjanue Ellis, When They See Us
Joey King, The Act
Niecy Nash, When They See Us
Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Perhaps one of the toughest categories to call, Patricia Arquette remains as a general favorite to win – especially given her resume of SAG, Critic’s Choice, and Golden Globe wins for the same role. However, Michelle Williams may upset with her incredible transformation into Broadway legend Gwen Verdon in “Fosse/Verdon”.
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Bill Hader, Barry
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Bill Hader’s highly acclaimed dark comedy received critical praise which translated into Emmy wins at last year’s ceremony. After another strong season, Hader is set to receive his second consecutive win in the category (Unless the Academy wants to recognize Ted Danson, who has yet to receive an Emmy win after 26 years of on and off nominations).
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
The public and industry alike love JLD. They love “Veep” too. What more is there to say?
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Billy Porter, Pose
Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us
Though “Pose” is the little guy next to giants like “Game of Thrones” and “This Is Us”, Billy Porter’s performance is hard to ignore. He steals the scene on and off our screens, and it looks like the stars will align for him to take home his and “Pose”’s first Emmy win.
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Laura Linney, Ozark
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Robin Wright, House of Cards
This may be a tossup between the two stars of BBC America’s “Killing Eve”. With a season 2 outing as strong as their first, the show’s awards momentum is likely to be kept with a win for either Comer or Oh.
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show Full Frontal
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Late Show With James Corden
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Given the current state of America, voters will likely gravitate towards the sharp and witty political humor of John Oliver. Never mind the fact that he has also won the category for the last three years!
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
At Home With Amy Sedaris
Documentary Now!
Drunk History
I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman
Saturday Night Live
Who Is America?
Voters seem to play it safe and go with “SNL” more often than not, regardless of how strong or not their season has been. Unless they decide to go the non-traditional route (which isn’t characteristic of them), the NBC sketch comedy will take home another Emmy to add to their list.
Outstanding Limited Series
Chernobyl
Escape at Dannemora
Fosse/Verdon
Sharp Objects
When They See Us
The lead-up to this year’s Emmy limited series category has been over a year in the making, with front runners varying as the seasons changed. Despite shows like “Escape at Dannemora” and “Sharp Objects” racking up wins at other ceremonies, the latest entry “When They See Us” seems like an obvious choice. The heartbreaking true story was packed with knockout performances and received resounding acclaim from viewers, critics, and celebrities alike. Its place in the conversation of racism in the criminal justice system is nearly impossible for the academy to ignore.
Outstanding Television Movie
Bandersnatch
Brexit
Deadwood
King Lear
My Dinner with Hervé
Black Mirror has received awards love with their previous seasons and came back at the end of 2018 with the experimental and fun “Bandersnatch”. It seems like another safe and easy choice for the TV academy to make.