The 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are on Sunday and this year’s competition has been especially divisive. Experts are predicting a big night for Game of Thrones and Veep, but in such a competitive field we can’t be sure.
Here are my predictions, followed by who I believe actually deserves the win because these fields are always so talented.
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul
Bodyguard
Game of Thrones
Killing Eve
Ozark
Pose
Succession
This Is Us
Who wins?: Game of Thrones will get its proper send off, although this award will likely fall on their entire excellent body of work as opposed to their lackluster final season.
Who would I like to see win?: Bodyguard brought the solid action drama back to TV, and Killing Eve continues to be excellent.
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
Who wins?:: All of the momentum is with Billy Porter right now.
Who would I like to see win?: Richard Madden for Bodyguard. Wait, he’s was snubbed this year? Right. Okay, Jason Bateman I guess.
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
Who wins?: Sandra Oh got the Golden Globe. She’ll get another trophy here.
Who would I like to see win?: The other side of the “Eve” puzzle, Comer’s performance is both fun and scary to watch, but I can’t be mad at an Oh win.
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Chris Sullivan, This Is Us
Who wins?: It’s hard to say no to Dinklage.
Who would I like to see win?: But I can, give it to Banks who has always been underappreciated in the “Mike” role.
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve
Julia Garner, Ozark
Who wins?: Christie had a strong season and I think it gets recognized.
Who would I like to see win?: Julia Garner and the best accent on television deserve strong consideration.But real fast, I think Christie had a good season on “Thrones” it wouldn’t be a tragedy if she won.
Outstanding Comedy Series:
Barry
Fleabag
The Good Place
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek
Veep
Who wins?: A lot of buzz around Fleabag right now.
Who would I like to see win?: Barry had such a great year. The ronny/lily episode is one of the most unique half hours of television I’ve ever seen.
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
Who wins?: They won’t be able to say no to Michael Douglas. That’s a great program.
Who would I like to see win?: Hader completely crushed it again this year.
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
Who wins?: They’ll be a lot of people angry if Louis-Dreyfus doesn’t get the farewell nod.
Who would I like to see win?: Louis-Dreyfus. Selina Meyer was unstoppable this year on Veep.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Stephen Root, Barry
Henry Winkler, Barry
Anthony Carrigan, Barry
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Tony Hale, Veep
Who wins?: Alan Arkin won’t get turned back for the Kominsky Method.
Who would I like to see win?: Tony Hale was the real heart of the Veep finale.
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Sarah Goldberg, Barry
Sian Clifford, Fleabag
Olivia Colman, Fleabag
Betty Gilpin, GLOW
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Who wins?: Olivia Colman will get the trophy for Fleabag
Who would I like to see win?: There were a couple of times when McKinnon had to carry SNL this year.
