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2020 Emmy Nominations Predictions

TV Show list created by BradWesley123

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Best Comedy Series

114

8.1

8.7

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

1.

It's early to could it the favorite, but it's the only returning winner here in a year with mass turnover. It's, at the very least, secured for a nomination.

2.

It was the little show that could last season, now it's a bona fide contender. With PGA and SAG nominations, along with being one of the few remaining holdovers from last year, Creek has a legitimate shot at scoring a win for it's final season.

3.

Should get a goodbye kiss. Highly likely

4.

Curb is a perennial nominee returning in a transitional year; i.e. it's in.

5.

After the first four, things get rough. There's no real frontrunner for the last three spots, so these are a bit wobbly. Of the outliers, I think Dead to Me has the strongest claim. It's most recent season was just release to solid reviews, and it's likely to factor into the acting categories. In a stronger year it'd be a tougher sell; this year, it looks like one of the safer bets.

6.

There's usually one outside the box, under-the-radar player that emerges as a surprise nominee, and I think The Great will be this year's. It got strong reviews, is a period piece with a dark, absurd sense of humor, and a surprising amount of weight to it's storytelling. Hulu's been getting stronger over the past few years, winning on the drama side and becoming a consistent player in limited series, I think this is its strongest chance at comedy. Another weird little stat that works in it's favor; eight of the past 10 years have featured a first season series, and I really don't see Dave, Run, or Space Force coming from behind.

7.

Process of elimination can work wonders for old shows. Originally, I really didn't think Silicon Valley had much of a shot; it's been gone too long, got no momentum, and the category's moved on. Then, most of last years players left. No Barry, Fleabag, Russian Doll. Sure, there are a few newer shows that have some heat, but stability usually wins out. That's why I think Silicon Valley will get one more for the road; it's ending, the category's slim, and it's a proven player. Plus, it's been 10 years since HBO didn't pull, at least, two nominees, and their only other contenders are Insecure and Run. Run's momentum died out after a disappointing second half, and subsequent cancellation. Insecure could do it, though; a slim category could and renewed spotlight on black programming could finally prove the key to the acclaimed series' breaking into the field. There have been slim fields here since it's inception though, and it couldn't crack through then. Valley could, so it gets my vote.

8.

I actually talked myself into this one. I'd originally had Ramy here; it seemed like a solid newcomer that, after a surprise Globe win and open field, could sneak in. Then months went by, and the show's just sort of sat around, with little in the way of fuss. Insecure hasn't generated a whole lot either, but it's critically acclaimed and has a star/creator on the rise in the industry. Plus, as mentioned, black programming will need to have a spotlight here. Black-ish is the only other contender that fits that label, and I just don't think there's enough heat for it to jump back in after missing a year (which is, arguably, tougher than for a new show to break through). It could be Ramy, but I suspect that it'll prove too small, too niche for most voters. The Kominsky Method could, but if it couldn't break through for a more noteworthy inaugural season, I'm not sure it can this time. Modern Family could take a victory lap, but it doesn't have a groundswell of love behind it, nor a renaissance final season. Space Force was a bust, Better Things is probably too niche, Run fell off, GLOW's got no heat.

Other Possibilities

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BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Drama Series

134

8.4

8.8

Succession (2018)

1.

After flying under the radar to score it's nomination last year, Succession looks close to unbeatable this year. It won all of the major precursors for it's second season, outside of SAG (where it was bizarrely snubbed), and looks to be Game of Thrones heir apparent for HBO. Definitely in.

2.

Another strong season in an, otherwise, transitional year for the category. Likely safe.

3.

A clear Emmy favorite; lock.

4.

Coming off it's most acclaimed season yet, Ozark should be safe.

5.

Things get tricky after the top four. The Handmaid's Tale is a past winner that continues to do well with guilds (the actors' branch stills seems hot on it). Hell, it scored ten nominations last year, even when the series wasn't eligible for top prizes (run-off episode). That said, season three was a long time ago, and it was received rather cooly. It's probably in, but don't be surprised if this is the first major fall-off of the decade.

6.

It got a fairly mixed response (customary for the streamer's offerings), but Apple is likely to pull out all of the stops to score it's first major Emmy nomination. It worked at the Golden Globes, though that's not a great barometer for future Emmy success. It's only major guild presence was with SAG, where it did fairly well with three nominations and one win, but it missed out on the ensemble nomination. Call it a gut reaction, but my guess is that tireless promotion, "timeliness" (the show is about a #MeToo fallout), and a glossy, starry cast will push it through.

7.

There are a lot of shows competing for this last spot (or last two spots; this category went to eight nominees last year), but my gut says that Netflix will be able to score their sci-fi hit a third straight. Though it's been a very long time since 3 was released, this category isn't as loaded as it's been in the past. Look at last year's crop. Killing Eve was already falling off when it broke here last year, and a dwindling third season doesn't do it any favors; despite gaining in nominations from it's second to third season, This Is Us's fourth year struggled to gain momentum critically, and missed a big SAG ensemble nomination, which it had won the previous two years; Bodyguard and Game of Thrones are gone. Pose is, really, the only of last year's lot that I think can cut it; it's intersectional relevance in both the black and lgbt communities makes it vitally relevant in our current climate, and could sway many voters who had forgotten about the series going into the season (before a month ago, I was in the same boat).

There are, also, returning contenders from years past. Westworld returns with a third season that was, in a word, pointless, and Big Little Lies second season saw majorly diminished returns. Lies may have the juice; it's starry cast may be enough to forgive its lack of a reason for being. That said, I think it's biggest competition won't be Things but The Morning Show; neither got the greatest reviews, but are shiny objects with marquee names attached to them. I think Apple will have the better campaign though; HBO's already got a likely winner in Succession, so a bigger campaign may be enough for voters to spread the wealth. It's messy after the top five, that's for sure.

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Other Possibilities

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BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Limited Series

124

7.3

8.2

Watchmen (2019)

1.

Part of me thinks this is the runaway frontrunner; part of me sees this a Twin Peaks level snub. Unlike that previous series, however, Watchmen has HBO backing, and it's their main player this year. Probable.

2.

FX has become HBO's equal here over the past decade, and Mrs. America looks to continue that trend. I'm not sure if it's winning (I think it's likely too safe for that), but it's getting nominated.

3.

Came out awhile ago, but Unbelievable was an acclaimed hit that scored major nominations at every important guild it needs (minus DGA). Should be safe.

4.

Reviews were strong, and it's the kind of searing and, mildly, soapy story that's likely to inspire passion from voters. It doesn't hurt that it's got two big leads; i.e. it's an actors' series, and I see that branch championing it.

5.

Reviews were near-rapturous, and momentum has been steadily building. It's the kind of lowkey critical choice that, I believe, will sneak in based on admiration. Not sure though, so maybe stray for safer shores.

Other Possibilities

6.

I'd originally had this one in and still think it could make the cut (Hollywood does love itself), but the reviews were very mixed, and the show's momentum has died off substantially in the months since its premiere.

7.

It's rare that the favorite for Best Actor's miniseries/movie misses here (you'd have to go back 14 years, Andre Braugher for Thief, to find one), but I Know This Much is True's mixed critical reaction and overwhelmingly grim story are likely to hinder it. It's "important" though, with HBO backing. Could very well make the cut.

8.

Another big, "important" story that could easily make the cut. It's so old though (came out last Summer) that it won't have the freshness of the players above.

9.

10.

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best TV Movie

7.1

8.1

Togo (2019)

1.

A sequel/conclusion to a legendary series, even if El Camino isn't going to win (I'm not as certain as others that it's in the bag) its hard to see it being snubbed.

2.

Critically acclaimed with a few likely acting nominees, Bad Education is HBO's only major player here this year; i.e. it has the most prestigious network's full backing. Major contender.

3.

It got some truly scathing reviews, but American Son's timeliness will likely be enough to power it to a nomination.

4.

I was close to leaving this one off, but Lifetime has a surprisingly strong record here (any network that can score a turd like Grace of Monaco a nomination has some juice) and the film itself got solid reviews. Bonus points for being the only true biopic in this race, a genre that is beloved in this category like no other.

5.

I'd originally had Kimmy Schmidt here, but the momentum hasn't been there it. While the Academy has shown they're willing to go for interactive media, Black Mirror was a proven entity and likely won for just that reason (because Bandersnatch sure as hell was no storytelling achievement). Kimmy Schmidt waned in notoriety in it's later years, and I think that apathy will extend here. That leads me to Togo, Disney+'s legitimate player. It got strong reviews, has a respected lead actor, an epic scale and, of course, DOGGIES!

Other Possibilities

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Best Variety Series (Sketch)

1236

7.6

Saturday Night Live (1975)

1.

2.

3.

4.

Other Possibilities

5.

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Best Variety Series (Talk)

8.4

8.9

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)

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Other Possibilities

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8.

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Best Actor in a Comedy Series

238

7.7

8.2

The Good Place

1.

Ted Danson- The Good Place

He's the most nominated man in this category, ever, and he's been nominated for the past two years. It would be a major surprise if he missed a nomination for the show's last year, in a field this thin. It's doubtful that he'll win, but he's the safest nomination.

2.

Eugene Levy- Schitt's Creek

After a surprise nomination last year, Levy looks to capitalize further with final, momentum-filled outing. He could certainly score a going away present.

3.

Michael Douglas- The Kominsky Method

Not the guarantee that he was last year, but it's a weak field and he's a legend. It would be shocking not to see him here.

4.

Larry David- Curb Your Enthusiasm

He's been nominated here six times, and Curb continues to be an Emmy favorite; he's in.

5.

Ramy Youssef- Ramy

Golden Globe wins can be misleading here. Sure, they're a decent predictor, but there are some pretty glaring misses over the years (David Duchovny Gael García Bernal, Andy Samberg; Kelsey Grammer, Richard Madden, Billy Bob Thornton on the drama side). Youssef was a surprise winner this year, gaining some much needed press, and the category is relatively thin this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see him miss, but I think he makes it in.

6.

Don Cheadle- Black Monday

Nobody talks about the show at all, but Cheadle is a perennial nominee here, and Showtime hasn't missed this category in nearly a decade. Honestly, it's a toss up; my gut says he's in.

Other Possibilities

7.

Steve Carell- Space Force

The series got very mixed reviews, but Carell is a beloved figure with two opportunities to make the cut (See drama lead), so voters may decide to pick him here, instead of the tougher field (Netflix, too, is a more solid bet than Apple).

8.

Anthony Anderson- Black-ish

9.

Domhnall Gleeson- Run

10.

William H. Macy- Shameless

11.

Ricky Gervais- After Life

12.

Paul Rudd- Living with Yourself

13.

Hugh Laurie- Avenue 5

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

7.2

7.7

Little Fires Everywhere

1.

Regina King- Watchmen

Obvious lock. Three-time winner looking for her fourth.

2.

Cate Blanchett- Mrs. America

Lock. Neck in neck with King.

3.

Merritt Wever- Unbelievable

After the first two, there are four women from two shows looking to fill three spots; someone's going to be the odd woman out. In my mind, it comes down to Dever, Washington, Wever and Witherspoon. If all things were right in the world, Dever wouldn't just be a lock, she be in serious contention for the win. Unfortunately, the other three women are powerhouses here. Wever's a two-time winner, Washington's overdue, and Witherspoon's an Oscar winner with three legitimate shots at an acting nomination. The former is the weak link of those three (Big Little Lies and The Morning Show are spreading her thin, and it doesn't help that here, along the other two series, she's mostly playing second fiddle to a more incendiary performance), but this is a category where name-brands matter, oftentimes more than breakout performances. Really wish this one went to six.

4.

Kerry Washington- Little Fires Everywhere

5.

Reese Witherspoon- Little Fires Everywhere

Other Possibilities

6.

Kaitlyn Dever- Unbelievable

7.

Shira Haas- Unorthodox

8.

Daisy Edgar-Jones- Normal People

9.

Octavia Spencer- Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

10.

Michelle Dockery- Defending Jacob

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Best Actor in a Drama Series

186

7.8

8.5

Ozark (2017)

1.

Jason Bateman- Ozark

Lock.

2.

Bob Odenkirk- Better Call Saul

Lock.

3.

Brian Cox- Succession

Despite winning the Golden Globe, I'm not quite ready to call him a lock. Globe victors don't overlap %100 with Emmys (Kelsey Grammer, Richard Madden and Billy Bob Thornton can attest to that). That said, Succession is looking to be the major player this year, and Cox is both a major part of that, and a former winner himself. I'd say he's highly likely to make the cut.

4.

Jeremy Strong- Succession

If there were any justice, Strong would have this category in the bag. As is, he looks fairly safe. It's a major breakout role for the actor, and he won the Critics' Choice Award earlier this year, which has a very strong winner/nominee correlation (every man that has won the award has either gone on to, or was nominated for, the Emmy). Not a lock, but a very strong contender.

5.

Billy Porter- Pose

If this was a stronger year, Porter might find himself on the outside looking in. Luckily, after those top four, things get a bit loose, which should be helpful for last year's winner. He could fall out, but, historically, he should score a follow-up nod (only twice in the past thirty years has an eligible winner not been nominated the following year.

6.

Tobias Menzies- The Crown

This last spot came down to Brown and Menzies. Brown's been here for the past three years, winning for This Is Us's first season (he also won the year before for American Crime Story. He's still a highly respected figure, but I think Us's time may be at an end, and the fact that he's a viable contender for another series may take some of the urgency out of a prospective fourth nomination here. Menzies, by contrast, is respected, but has yet to receive a nomination in his career, and The Crown is respected by every department; i.e. his time may have finally come. It's a toss-up though, and either, or both (Porter is wobbly), could make it in.

Other Possibilities

7.

Sterling K. Brown- This Is Us

8.

Steve Carell- The Morning Show

Again, he's an exceptionally well-liked person, and he did score a major SAG nomination for his against-type role. He could be a very interesting spoiler here.

9.

Milo Ventimiglia- This Is Us

Could still sneak in, but he really should've switched over to the supporting category this year.

10.

Rami Malek- Mr. Robot

It's been four long years since he won for the series' first season, but he's an Oscar winner now, and that, coupled with the show's goodbye, could be enough to bring him back for a goodbye nomination.

11.

Al Pacino- Hunters

The show isn't going to be a player anywhere else, but Pacino's a legend coming off of his first Oscar nod in decades; possible.

12.

Ben Mendelsohn- The Outsider

13.

Justin Hartley- This Is Us

14.

Patrick Stewart- Star Trek: Picard

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Actress in a Comedy Series

7.4

7.9

Dead To Me (2019)

1.

Rachel Brosnahan- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Lock.

2.

Catherine O'Hara- Better Call Saul

Lock.

3.

Christina Applegate- Dead to Me

Lock.

4.

Linda Cardellini- Dead to Me

After the top three, the category get fairly fluid. Adlon and Rae are returning players, though both are coming off of seasons where they were left out. Cardellini is a standout looking to make the jump in a lighter year. Awkwafina, Fanning and Wever are coming in with hot new freshman series. Bell and Tomlin are looking to get some goodbye love. Of that bunch, Cardellini seems to be the most attention-getting choice. Dead to Me is looking to expand nomination-wise, and while Applegate is strong, it's hard to respect the show and not see it as a two-hander.

5.

Issa Rae- Insecure

She missed for the show's third season, but her profile has grown since then, and she's HBO's only proven contender; Wever's a previous winner, but it feels like Run's lost a lot of steam in the past month. Also, not to discount the strength of her performance, but this is a category in desperate need of non-white representation, and I think that's something that will be on voters' minds this year.

6.

Elle Fanning- The Great

I'm going all in with The Great, so, naturally, that leads me to placing Fanning in the final six. It's a terrific performance that's difficult to separate from respect for the series, and this is a category that's dying for a surprise player. Plus, it's a historical comedy, and I think the sheen of costume/prestige will overwhelm many voters (the like them some "importance").

Other Possibilities

7.

Pamela Adlon- Better Things

It's a thinner field, so return players who've fallen out will have a much stronger chance, and Better Things is a critically heralded series. I'm just not sure enough people are watching anymore. I wouldn't be surprised either way, but I think she'll miss.

8.

Merritt Wever- Run

She's won two Emmys before, and is likely to get another nomination this year, so name recognition, as well as a typically strong performance, could certainly carry her in. That said, Run lost a lot of steam and goodwill towards it's end, and I think that'll leave a bad taste in the mouth of many voters.

9.

Kristen Bell- The Good Place

10.

Lily Tomlin- Grace & Frankie

11.

Awkwafina- Awkwafina is Nora from Queens

12.

Jane Levy- Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

6.9

7.1

Bad Education (2020)

1.

Mark Ruffalo- I Know This Much Is True

I'm not sure the series itself will be much of a player, but dual roles for Ruffalo should prove to be catnip for voters.

2.

Russell Crowe- The Loudest Voice

It's a big, loud, sweaty performance; again, catnip. He won the Globe, and scored Critics' Choice and SAG Award nominations; pretty strong precursor love. Nobody's a lock here, but Crowe's got more stats than most.

3.

Hugh Jackman- Bad Education

A big name actor in an HBO movie is, typically, a surefire bet for a nomination. While Education didn't make the largest impact, it was well-received by critics. I think that, mixed with HBO and Jackman name recognition, should be enough to help him make the cut.

4.

Aaron Paul- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

He missed a lot of the precursors, but this is a thinner field than in years past (which also speaks to the only five available spots) and Paul's won three Emmys for playing this character. I wouldn't be too shocked if he was snubbed, but I expect to see him in.

5.

Jeremy Irons- Watchmen

This is a thinner field than usual; at least, a thinner traditional field. There aren't a large number of big name, prestige actors to fill these five spots. Mescal's getting breakout notices for his work in Normal People, but this category is so grandfathered into the idea of big names that I don't know if he can actually breakthrough in a five-nominee year. Pope, too, did breakout work, but the lack of available nomination here, coupled with the fact that Hollywood has so many big names to outshine him, that I can't see him breaking. Holland drew strong notices, but The Eddy came and went. So too did Baron Cohen's The Spy, which also has the disadvantage of being nearly a year old. Evans could break in; he's a big enough name, and Apple is likely pulling out all of the stops for their first fyc year. Irons is the safest bet though. If he were in supporting he'd probably win, his devilish, smirking dickishness as Ozymandias in favorite Watchmen was another wonderful piece that made that series sing.

Other Possibilities

6.

Paul Mescal- Normal People

7.

Chris Evans- Defending Jacob

8.

Sacha Baron Cohen- The Spy

9.

Andre Holland- The Eddy

10.

Jeremy Pope- Hollywood

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Best Actress in a Drama Series

7.6

8.2

The Morning Show (2019)

1.

Laura Linney- Ozark

#1-3 are, more or less, deadlocked at the top, so this is more about who I think has the momentum going into the awards. After taking a back seat in the series' first season, Linney has taken over Ozark. Her work in the third season is a masterclass, and it'll help that it premiered the latest of the bunch.

2.

Olivia Colman- The Crown

Oscar winner in an Emmy winning role; lock.

3.

Jennifer Aniston- The Crown

She won a SAG award for her big television return, and is as sure a bet as AppleTV+ has got this year.

4.

Jodie Comer- Killing Eve

It's rare that a previous year's winner doesn't score a follow-up nomination the next year, so, despite Eve possibly falling out of favor, Comer will likely be back again. Not a lock though.

5.

Elisabeth Moss- The Handmaid's Tale

Another former winner coming off a slump season, as well as a long wait between season and nominations (season 3 ended in mid-August last year). I'm banking on stability though, and the fact that the series seems to, still, be beloved by voters (it got 11 nominations last year for two episodes), despite a major critical drop. I could see her missing, but I think she makes it in.

6.

Nicole Kidman- Big Little Lies

There are about a dozen contenders for this last spot, but I'd wager that it, likely, comes down to Davis and Kidman, with Oh having an outside shot. Davis won this category years ago, is a respected Oscar winner, and has a goodbye season to boot. She's, also, seemingly still got love for the role, as she was able to break back into the category last year after missing in 2018. And, not to bemoan the fact too wildly, this is another category that could end up with an entirely white nominee class, which does not look well (especially this year). But when has that ever stopped voters before? Kidman won for this role when it was a limited series, the show is beloved by actors, and she is, also, a respected Oscar-winner. It also helps that her series is a much bigger player than Davis's. Oh could surprise, she's been nominated here twice and is another respected presence. Killing Eve just looks really weak this time though (I could easily see Comer missing), so I just don't see it. There are several returning players this year, too.

Danes is a two-time winner with a goodbye season, but I think she's been out too long and the category's too strong. Wood scored nominations for both Westworld seasons, but her role was heavily trimmed this year. Witherspoon might make it in if she had one role, but having Big Little Lies and The Morning Show competing against each other is going to hurt her chances (I'd say she's got a stronger bet with TMS, but Aniston's going to take a lot of steam from her). Baranski, Moore both have shots, but neither seems to have much heat. Zendaya and Kirsten Dunst could be interesting could be interesting newcomers, but the women above all have more prominent shows with more precursor love.

Other Possibilities

7.

Viola Davis- How to Get Away with Murder

8.

Sandra Oh- Killing Eve

9.

Claire Danes- Homeland

10.

Reese Witherspoon- The Morning Show

11.

Mandy Moore- This Is Us

12.

Zendaya- Euphoria

13.

Evan Rachel Wood- Westworld

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

8.2

The Kominsky Method (2018)

1.

Tony Shalhoub- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

He won last year, and took the SAG award again this year; locked for a nomination, and the probable favorite.

2.

Alan Arkin- The Kominsky Method

Close to a lock.

3.

Dan Levy- Schitt's Creek

With Schitt's looking to have a strong haul for it's final season, it's likely that the younger Levy will also find himself with a nomination this year.

4.

Mahershala Ali- Ramy

With eight spots and a glut of potential nominees for the last five spots, things are likely to get a bit wild here. Returning contenders, new players, guest stars who were in more than half of the season; anything's possible this year. The latter applies to Ali, who has a prominent guest spot throughout the season. It's not a comedic role, but Ali is as strong as ever and, while I have reservations about the show's chances overall, he's a two-time Oscar winner/two-time Emmy nominee. I think his name will carry enough clout to score him a spot.

5.

Sterling K. Brown- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Same goes for Brown, whose both an Emmy favorite and a prominent guest star throughout the beloved Mrs. Maisel's third season. It's solid work, and I also see this as a way to keep him in the race, as he's not on the most solid footing for Lead Actor in a Drama this year. This would make a respectable consolation nom.

6.

Nicholas Hoult- The Great

There's gotta be some new blood here somewhere (outside of Levy), and Hoult is a legit dark horse contender. I think The Great will do surprisingly well, and his verbose, obscene performance has a lot to do with the series' success.

7.

Louie Anderson- Baskets

He wasn't eligible last time, and he looked out of it after his surprise win for the series' first season. Eight spots is a lot though, and I have a feeling that familiarity will win out, leading Anderson to a goodbye nod.

8.

Keenan Thompson- Saturday Night Live

Again, familiarity is a strong motivator. Thompson was here a few years ago, and likely would've been in last year if the category had gone beyond six. He's also SNL's most visible male presence, admirably powering even the weakest of sketches. Malkovich and Marsden are interesting players, but Space Force was underwhelming and, even a couple of months later, forgettable, and I don't think Dead to Me is going to have that much clout (I expect it to make the cut in lead actress and series, but Marsden scoring a nod would show a level of love that I can't see). McClain, Reid and Zegen could ride their beloved series to a nomination, but I think McClain and Zegen could cancel each other out in this regard (throw in Kevin Pollack and Maisel's got a lot of chances to cancel here). Reid wouldn't be the most surprising, but I don't know if he's got the momentum (Levy's gonna take most of it, and Chris Elliot could split residual love). Harper could finally burst threw, but The Good Place doesn't seem to have the momentum that he'd need.

Other Possibilities

9.

Noah Reid- Schitt's Creek

10.

John Malkovich- Space Force

11.

Michael Zegen- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

12.

Leroy McClain- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

13.

William Jackson Harper- The Good Place

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Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/Movie

7.9

Mrs. America

1.

Jean Smart- Watchmen

Lock. Could easily win.

2.

Toni Collette- Unbelievable

SAG nominee and Critics' Choice Award winner; probable nominee.

3.

Margo Martindale- Mrs. America

There are, at least, four or five legit contenders here from Mrs. America. While a few are bound to make the cut, Martindale is the safest bet. She doesn't have the biggest role of the bunch, but she's beloved by the TV academy, winning three from five overall nominations (all for FX productions, it should be noted).

4.

Rose Byrne- Mrs. America

Byrne seems rather safe too. She's does solid work, and the part of Gloria Steinem is an attention-getter.

5.

Allison Janney- Bad Education

As I mentioned above, I'm not quite sure if Bad Education will be a major player outside of TV movie; movies that HBO has picked up, rather than produced, haven't had the best history (their big player a few years ago, The Tale, only got a few). That said, Janney is an Oscar-winning Emmy favorite with another acclaimed role. She's not quite safe, but she'll probably be in.

6.

Sarah Paulson- Mrs. America

Sarah Paulson is like Emmy comfort food. Sure, there might be newer and more exciting prospects, but she's always there and always good. Lupone and Taylor are both favorites who have some frothy material to work with in Hollywood, but I'm torn as to how well that show is going to do (I see the big category, and a couple of actors) overall. Aduba and Ullman both do great work in America, but, while they get their own individual episodes, neither have much of an impact on the series overall. I wouldn't rule out squeaker noms for David or Thompson, either (despite their projects being quiet, they're beloved Oscar/Emmy winners). Paulson just seems like the safest bet.

Other Possibilities

7.

Patti LuPone- Hollywood

8.

Uzo Aduba- Mrs. America

9.

Tracey Ullman- Mrs. America

10.

Holland Taylor- Hollywood

11.

Emma Thompson- Years and Years

12.

Viola Davis- Troop Zero

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Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

1077

8.7

Stranger Things (2016)

1.

Jonathan Banks- Better Call Saul

While I doubt he's winning, he's been nominated for the previous four seasons. I'd say he's pretty safe.

2.

Kieran Culkin- Succession

With the show's ascension to the front of the pack, I expect Culkin to overcome his snub last year.

3.

Billy Crudup- The Morning Show

Aside from Aniston, Crudup appears to be The Morning Show's safest player. He won the Critics' Choice Award, and scored an important SAG nomination; that's a strong combination. It's wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see him snubbed, but it would certainly be a surprise.

4.

Tom Pelphrey- Ozark

A few months ago, Pelphrey didn't seem like a contender here. Then Netflix released Ozark's third season. His work, arguably, steals the season with a desperately sad performance that proves to be one of the most brutal aspects of an already unrelenting season. With the series only rising in acclaim and stature and this category expanding to eight nominees, it would honestly be a major snub if his name isn't on the list.

5.

David Harbour- Stranger Things

Despite it being over a year since the season was release, I expect to see Harbour back for a third nomination. His character is one of the show's most beloved, and he gets a big spotlight throughout the season, especially in the memorable finale. With eight spots open this year, I think the length between season and nomination won't be as difficult to overcome.

6.

Bradley Whitford- The Handmaid's Tale

A former winner of this category, Whitford's back top-prize winning series. He's a recognizable name in the category, the series is, if nothing else anymore, a spotlight for great acting, and he's already won an Emmy for playing this character (guest acting last year). With an expanded role comes, presumably, a bigger category placement. He checks several boxes, so he looks good here.

7.

Mandy Patinkin- Homeland

With eight available slots, you're going to get a few players who, obviously, aren't going to win, but are respected and/or have a decent narrative. Patinkin has both; he's respected, and this is Homeland's final season. He's been nominated for the past two seasons of the series, and four of the show's seven (seasons two, three, six and seven). It's easy to see him left out, but it feels more simple that he'll play category filler one more time.

8.

Josh O'Connor- The Crown

This is a tough one. There are, at least, six or seven guys with a legitimate shot at this one. Esposito and Sullivan were here last year, and Wright has been nominated for both Westworld seasons. Sullivan had about an on-par season with his nominated one last year, as did Esposito (which is to say it was still a simmering extended cameo). I think the main impediment to scoring follow-up nominations for them is, well... this category is much stronger than last year. Macfadyen, who was snubbed last year, has a much better shot this year not because he had a more substantial in Succession's second year, but that the series itself is a more substantive contender. Wright, by contrast, was squandered, wrapped in a dull, pointless storyline.

He's pretty respected though, so I wouldn't put it past the TV academy to bring him back. Same goes for his cast mate Harris, who was nominated in lead for the series' second season, like Wright, and, also like Wright, had a rather pointless season (he did, to his credit, have much more to do than his costar).
Fiennes nomination for Handmaid's second season felt more like a bandwagon nomination, so I don't see him as a major threat. When all's said and done, I think it comes down to Macfadyen and newcomer O'Connor, with the latter getting my vote. Both were exceptional scene-stealers to already great casts, but The Crown is a proven entity here, it's a breakout role for O'Connor, and real-life figures are hard for voters to turn down.

Other Possibilities

9.

Matthew Macfadyen- Succession

10.

Giancarlo Esposito- Better Call Saul

11.

Jeffrey Wright- Westworld

12.

Ed Harris- Westworld

13.

Chris Sullivan- This Is Us

14.

Joseph Fiennes- The Handmaid's Tale

15.

Tony Dalton- Better Call Saul

16.

Mark Duplass- The Morning Show

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

100

7.8

8.5

Schitt's Creek (2015)

1.

Alex Borstein- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Probably winning a third.

2.

Kate McKinnon- Saturday Night Live

Despite a truncated season, McKinnon is likely safe for her seventh straight nomination.

3.

Marin Hinkle- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

With half of last year's field gone, and another expanded eight-nominee field, Hinkle's still on a beloved show; i.e. safe.

4.

Annie Murphy- Schitt's Creek

The most likely first-time nominee this year; Murphy's on a beloved show's goodbye tour, and an exceptional performer. Not a lock, but feeling like a legit contender.

5.

Jane Lynch- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

She won for guest acting last year, and appeared in enough episodes to qualify here this time. She's a former winner in a beloved series; with eight spots, it'd be a surprise if she wasn't in.

6.

D'Arcy Carden- The Good Place

After the top five, things get a bit murky. Of the rest of the contenders, and there are many, Carden seems like a solid bet. She's in the goodbye season of a top-prize nominated show, and has been a consistent source of humor from the beginning, who has been under-appreciated by awards thus far.

7.

Anne Hathaway- Modern Love

This is my biggest wild card here. I'm not sure what presence, if any, Modern Love will have at this year's awards. I also don't know if anybody remembers the show enough to care. But there are eight spots open this year, and Hathaway is an Oscar-winner who gives a terrific performance in a very awards-baiting episode. Plus, Amazon has proven quite adept at scoring slots here (they snagged half of last year's eight-women field), and this is always such an open field that wild-cards can really thrive.

8.

Betty Gilpin- GLOW

I went back and forth with this one. Hampshire isn't particularly well-known, and Schitt's Creek already has a major player here, so I'm unsure if the series can really pop here. Insecure is just too much of a wild card; it could be surprisingly big, or it could just fly by. While I wouldn't past the Academy to go for Orji here (lord knows that category could use some diversity), I just can't see it. Moreno probably has a better shot this time than she's had in years, but I've been burned one too many times to feel confident in a nomination for her. Gilpin's in a show that's fallen way off, but GLOW wasn't much of a hitter last year either, and she still managed to make the cut. She's the safest bet.

Other Possibilities

9.

Emily Hampshire- Schitt's Creek

10.

Rita Moreno- One Day at a Time

11.

Yvonne Orji- Insecure

12.

Aidy Bryant- Saturday Night Live

13.

Jameela Jamil- The Good Place

14.

Gillian Anderson- Sex Education

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/Movie

6.6

7.5

Hollywood (2020)

1.

Jim Parsons- Hollywood

Reviews for his performance were quite mixed, but he's a four-time winner in a big, attention-grabbing, kitschy role. Probably safe.

2.

Tim Blake Nelson- Watchmen

A consistently strong character actor whose yet to get much in the way of individual accolades in his career, Nelson's got a strong role in a major contender this time out. He's the most traditional of Watchmen's contenders, and I think that, coupled with respect for his career, should do the trick.

3.

John Turturro- The Plot Against America

While I'm not sure the series itself will be much of a player (too grim and on the nose for our current society), Turturro is as respected an actor as they come, and with a category as scrambled as this one, I think that should be enough.

4.

Jesse Plemons- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

There are no sure-bets here, so all of the guessing that I'm doing in this list goes doubly, even triply, here. So, with a category this open, I'm looking at names and shows more so that performances. Luckily, Plemons has all of the qualities to score here. El Camino is a notworthy property, it is a strong, chilling performance, and he's become a very respected player here over the years. With nominations for Fargo and, more surprisingly, Black Mirror, he's become a notable name for Emmy voters, and I think that'll carry over for him here.

5.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II- Watchmen

He's solid, the category's flimsy and, most importantly, Watchmen is a player strong enough to score some bandwagon nominations.

6.

Louis Gossett Jr.- Watchmen

A last minute inclusion into my final six, Gossett Jr. is an Oscar/Emmy-winner in a hit series with a substantial part. When I looked down the list of potential contenders, his name stuck out as being both respected enough and not a totally out-of-left-field surprise player (the kind that always show up in the category). Mantello or Slattery are the more consensus picks, but I'm not sure. While he's been here before, for another Ryan Murphy production, and he's quite good in Hollywood, I think the miniseries mixed reception and kitschy, glitzy appeal (as opposed to a potentially searing work) will hurt his chances (the fact that there are so many actors who get the spotlight in the series doesn't help, either). Slattery's been nominated before, too, and is the only man from hit Mrs. America to submit, but I'm not sure that's helpful. Sure he's the only man, but it's such a female-loaded show that it's easy to forget he's even there. Plus, there's usually one rather large snub, and he seems like a solid contender for that label.

Criss is a former winner that could get in, but I'm not sure his name is big enough to score him a nod for such a thankless role. Burgess is another former nominee that could get one last nom for a fan-favorite character, but Kimmy Schmidt's momentum seems to have stalled. McDermott could be a fun spoiler, but I don't see it.

Other Possibilities

7.

John Slattery- Mrs. America

8.

Joe Mantello- Hollywood

9.

Tituss Burgess- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend

10.

Darren Criss- Hollywood

11.

Dylan McDermott- Hollywood

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

202

8.1

8.4

Big Little Lies (2017)

1.

Julia Garner- Ozark

Last year's winner is certain to be nominated again.

2.

Helena Bonham Carter- The Crown

Globe/SAG nominee, high-profile star, historical figure; lock.

3.

Meryl Streep- Big Little Lies

She's Meryl Streep, so she's probably in. Even if the show underperforms, it would be surprising to see her miss the cut.

4.

Laura Dern- Big Little Lies

She won for the first season, and is coming off an Oscar win. She's a beloved figure in the industry, so expect to see her in the expanded, eight-actress field.

5.

Thandie Newton- Westworld

The back half of the category is a bit murky. While there are four who look pretty strong, there are several returning favorites who seem to have fallen out in favor of newer contenders. One of the returning contenders who I think is safe is Newton. Westworld had, to put it charitably, a rough season, and even Newton had a hard time finding anything new to do with her character. That said, she won for the series' second season, and is a highly respected performer. I think her clout will, as well as category continuity, keep her in the race.

6.

Janet McTeer- Ozark

While Garner had another strong year, McTeer really made the most of her expanded role, bringing an icy vulnerability to her role. While I can't say she's got the greatest shot to make it in, the expanded nominee field should certainly help this kind of strong work from a beloved show.

7.

Sarah Snook- Succession

Another strong performer aided by both a beloved series and an expanded field, Snook looks like a very viable candidate for a nomination. I think, ultimately, this'll be a case of the favorite series bandwagoning a lot of acting nominations. It happens every year, and Succession is looking like the one to do it this year.

8.

Rhea Seehorn- Better Call Saul

If there were any justice in this world, Seehorn would take this one in a walk. As is, I see her, finally, breaking into the category, but only barely. Dowd and Strahovski could certainly take the spot, as could Erivo (who's coming off an acclaimed performance and an Oscar nomination) and Mbatha-Raw (who had a very timely character arc on The Morning Show, and nailed it even when the series didn't). It's very close, and this category always surprises, but I think it would just hurt too much not to include her here.

Other Possibilities

8.

Ann Dowd- The Handmaid's Tale

9.

Yvonne Strahovski- The Handmaid's Tale

10.

Cynthia Erivo- The Outsider

11.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw- The Morning Show

12.

Millie Bobby Brown- Stranger Things

13.

Zoe Kravitz- Big Little Lies

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Writing for a Limited Series or Movie

8.2

8.4

Unbelievable

1.

Damon Lindelof & Cord Jefferson- Watchmen: "This Extraordinary Being"

It's the only Watchmen submission; i.e. it's a lock.

2.

Dahvi Waller- Mrs. America: "Houston"

I'm a bit split on Mrs. America's chances here. While it's naturally a major contender in the miniseries categories, five of the nine episodes were submitted here. It was certainly acclaimed, but was one episode truly more deserving than the rest (especially in a year with only five open spots)? I'm, hesitantly, going with "yes", and taking "Houston" as the most likely. It's the most original episode in the bunch, and it was written by series creator Waller, which usually wins out.

3.

Susannah Grant and Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman- Unbelievable: "Episode 1"

Netflix went the safe route here, submitting only the first episode, the most brutal and painstaking of the bunch. Not truly safe, but a strong piece of writing that'll be hard to turn away from.

4.

Tanya Barfield- Mrs. America: "Shirley"

Two of five, in a thin field, feels pretty doable for Mrs. American; it's a well-received series, and FX has become a power player here over the past six years. Of the remaining four submissions, "Shirley" is the one that pops out. It's a strong piece of writing, but it's also "important", exploring the intersection of race and gender in the women's movement. Feels like a decent bet.

5.

Sally Rooney and Alice Birch- Normal People: "Episode 3"

Three would be too much for Mrs. America, The Plot Against America is writerly, but also feels too expected, too reasonable for this category. Little Fires Everywhere was well-liked, but I'm not sure it's writing was the most memorable part of that series. Bad Education feels like it should be more of a player than it is, but HBO movies haven't scored a nomination here in five years, and only two "movies" in general have been nominated here in that time (Black Mirror episodes that, ultimately, won). That last point also hurts El Camino, as does the fact that it's much more of a filmmaker's movie than a writer's. That leaves me taking Normal People at #5. "Episode 3" is the series only submission, and the series' itself has been gaining in momentum since its release.

Other Possibilities

6.

Vince Gilligan- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

7.

David Simon & Ed Burns- The Plot Against America: "Part 2"

8.

Micah Schraft and April Shih- Mrs. America: "Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc"

9.

Mike Makowsky- Bad Education

10.

Liz Tigelaar- Little Fires Everywhere: "The Spark"

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Writing for a Comedy Series

243

7.7

8.5

Silicon Valley (2014)

1.

Michael Schur- The Good Place: "Whenever You're Ready"

The only returning nominee from last year, The Good Place's finale seem like the likeliest nominee.

2.

Amy Sherman-Palladino- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "It's Comedy or Cabbage"

Shutout last year, after winning in 2018, Mrs. Maisel is likely to rebound this year in a wide-open writing category. While I think both submissions make the cut (same as directing), "It's Comedy or Cabbage" looks to be the likelier player. Sherman-Palladino won this category, and she's the series creator (which is always a plus). Not a lock (nothing here is this year), but something to cling to in an expansive list.

3.

Daniel Levy- Schitt's Creek: "Happy Ending"

Seems like an easy choice here. While both Schitt's submissions could make the cut, "Happy Ending" is the most likely. Levy is a creator/star and, more importantly, it's the finale; i.e. the more memorable submission. The series is going to pop up everywhere this year, and writing is no exception.

4.

Daniel Palladino- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "Marvelous Radio"

Open field usually means stick to the favorites. Could easily see it falling out, but feels more like a nominee this year.

5.

Alec Berg- Silicon Valley: "Exit Event"

I'm totally unsure of how Silicon Valley will do everywhere else. It took a year off from the Emmys, after a fifth season that already felt like it was falling off with voters, and returns with a final season that didn't make a lot of noise when it ended last December. Continuity is, however, a powerful motivator for voters, which leads me to believe that it'll probably surprise many for one last run here. Despite my hesitations elsewhere, writing feels like the strongest bet. It's been nominated for it's previous five seasons, "Exit Event" is both the finale and the only submission, and Berg has been nominated here every year since 2014 (that includes a couple for Barry).

6.

Tony McNamara- The Great: "The Great"

Of all of the leaps I'm taking with The Great, this is the one I feel safest about. Not safe, mind you, but comparatively safe. McNamara's pilot sets the tone for this series beautifully, somehow mixing historical intrigue with absurdist, deadpan comedy. It's the kind of script that the writers' branch should champion. The category itself, too, is begging for something new, as the majority of will be stacked with returning players. Also, Hulu actually has set a precedent here; if they could score a truly out-of-left-field nomination for the wonderfully weird Pen15, something like The Great should be a walk.

7.

David West Read- Schitt's Creek: "The Presidential Suite"

This was a tough last spot. There are several different ways voters could go, but I saw three that popped out; Dead to Me, Ramy, or another Schitt's Creek. All three submitted two episodes, but I think Creek has a leg up on the other two. It's almost guaranteed to score one of it's slots in, and one of it's submissions is more memorable than the other (finales and premieres; "The Presidential Suite" is neither, "Happy Ending" is the series finale). Dead to Me is more of a hard sell, submitting both it's finale and penultimate episodes; i.e. plot point bleed together, with neither standing out. Ramy submitted it's premiere and finale. The niche nature of the series definitely makes it a safe player than in other categories (writers like singular). I just don't think either "Bay'ah" or "You Are Naked In Front of Your Sheikh" will stand out enough. "Naked" is the likelier of the two ("naked" in the title should raise a few eyebrows), but I don't know if it'll stand apart enough to beat it's fellow submission, or the Schitt's Creek goodbye party.

Other Possibilities

8.

Ramy Youssef & Rob Ulin- Ramy: "You Are Naked In Front of Your Sheikh"

9.

Cara DiPaolo & Liz Feldman- Dead to Me: "Where Do We Go From Here"

10.

Ramy Youssef & Amir Sulaiman- Ramy: "Bay'ah"

11.

Liz Feldman & Kelly Hutchinson- Dead to Me: "It's Not You, It's Me"

12.

Issa Rae- Insecure: "Lowkey Feelin’ Myself"

13.

Joe Hortua and Ira Parker- Better Things: "Batceñera"

14.

Lee Eisenberg & Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani- Little America: "The Rock"

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Writing for a Drama Series

819

8.9

Better Call Saul

1.

Jesse Armstrong- Succession: "This Is Not for Tears"

Almost certain to win.

2.

Peter Morgan- The Crown: "Aberfan"

Probably not a winner, but it's an Emmy favorite's only submission here; safe.

3.

Gordon Smith- Better Call Saul: "Bagman"

After those top two, the rest of this expanded field looks rather uncertain. Saul always seems like an obvious contender, but then they submit most of their season, spitting votes among sever episodes. This year, there are six submissions. While more open slots means they could snag a few slots, Smith has scored two of the series' three nominations, and "Bagman" was seen by most as the season's finest and most memorable episode. Not certain, but I feel okay with it here.

4.

Bruce Miller- The Handmaid's Tale: "Mayday"

With two submissions this year, The Handmaid's Tale could split. Also not help is the belief that the series had a major dip in quality last season. Favorites are favorites though, and Miller's been nominated for the past three years. I could see it falling off, but I bet he'll score another legacy nom.

5.

Chris Mundy- Ozark: "All In"

With it's ascension to the upper echelon of drama series contenders, I think Ozark's time has finally come for a writing nomination. That said, they've made things difficult by submitting three episodes; "All In", "Boss Fight" and "Fire Pink". The middle of the pack there is the one I didn't really consider; it's more of a directorial showcase than a writing one. "Fire Pink" is a very strong player, a brutal death march of an episode. "All In" is a classic nominee though; a finale, from the showrunner, featuring a lot of big moments that make an impression on viewers minds. Not safe by a mile, but I'll take it.

6.

Thomas Schnauz- Better Call Saul: "Bad Choice Road"

I don't know guys. #1 and #2 are locks, and #3-#5 seem reasonable. After that though? It gets weird. You get a lot of shows that aren't necessarily "writerly", more directorial focused that have been here before (Homeland, Stranger Things), potential newcomers (Mindhunter, The Morning Show), other submissions for likely nominees (Better Call Saul, Ozark, category flippers with slumping momentum (Big Little Lies, Black Mirror) and former nominees with slumping seasons (Killing Eve, Westworld). There's a lot of potential here, but my gut says the writers' branch won't go too wild. Better Call Saul always submits too many episodes, enough to split votes, making it seem surprising when even one gets in. It's, surprisingly, actually worked for three of the show's previous four seasons. With that in mind, this might actually be the year that this strategy works more than usual. Two nominees from last year are gone (Bodyguard, Game of Thrones), and I just can't see Killing Eve in again; I'd say it has a better chance returning here than in other categories, but it was a down year, and they've submitted three of the season's eight episodes (of which only one, maybe, mildly stands out), when they only submitted one for the past two years).

So, half a new roster of nominees, with only one previous nominee returning from hiatus (Stranger Things). My gut says one show, for the first time in five years, is getting two episodes in here. Ozark could land two, but it feels risky even getting one in, so Saul feels the likeliest choice. The remaining five episodes submitted are strong, but "Bad Choice Road" and "Something Unforgivable" standout. "Unforgivable" is the show's finale, the lasting impression. "Road", however, is the more writer friendly of the bunch, with a final scene (Kim's standoff with Lalo) that ranks as one of the tensest from recent television. It feels good, so I'm taking it.

7.

The Duffer Brothers- Stranger Things: "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt"

I'm throwing up my hands for this one and taking Stranger Things. It's been nominated for it's first two seasons and "The Battle of Starcourt" is both the biggest episode of the series and the only submission.

Other Possibilities

8.

Miki Johnson- Ozark: "Fire Pink"

9.

Joshua Donen, Phillip Howze and Courtenay Miles- Mindhunter: "Episode 3"

10.

Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon- Homeland: "Prisoners of War"

11.

Suzanne Heathcote- Killing Eve: "Are Your from Pinner?"

12.

Peter Gould & Ariel Levine- Better Call Saul: "Something Unforgivable"

13.

Charlie Brooker- Black Mirror: "Smithereens"

14.

Yahlin Chang- The Handmaid's Tale: "Liars"

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Directing for a Limited Series or Movie

273

6.6

7.3

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

1.

Vince Gilligan- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

With Mrs. America, Unbelievable and Watchmen each submitting multiple episodes, Gilligan pops out as the most likely contender. He was nominated three times for directing Breaking Bad (once for Better Call Saul), and El Camino is very much in keeping with that series' aesthetic.

2.

Nicole Kassel- Watchmen: "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"

HBO's feeling frisky, submitting four of the nine Watchmen episodes. While any of them could get in (I expect a couple), Kassel seems the safest. She won the DGA award (for Drama series, no less), and "Summer" is the series first episode; i.e. she set the tone for the series.

3.

Lynn Shelton- Little Fires Everywhere: "Find a Way"

After those first two, I'm not wholly confident in my picks, nor the order I'm putting them in. That said, Shelton's name popped out to me, and I'm sure that it will for many in the directors' branch. She helmed half of the series, a prominent series, and, unfortunately, she passed away in May. She'd be a contender either way (it's a fantastic, expansive episode), but the fact that she's never received much in the way of awards recognition puts an immediacy to this prospective nomination that it, otherwise, may not have.

4.

Janicza Bravo- Mrs. America: "Houston"

Four submissions is pushing it, but FX has a tremendous record here lately (they haven't missed a nomination since 2013; they've had a winner in two of those years), so my gut says that Mrs. America, their only legit player (sorry, Devs), will manage to score a spot. "Phyllis & Fred & Brenda & Marc" and "Reagan" each have their virtues, but they aren't big enough from a directorial standpoint. "Shirley" isn't necessarily "big" either, but it's singular enough from a perspective standpoint (Shirley Chisholm is the only subject of color that the series features) that it can stand out. "Houston", however, is singular from a directorial and storytelling standpoint (the episode is, essentially, one big acid trip) that I believe it'll be the most memorable, and appealing, to voters.

5.

Stephen Williams- Watchmen: "This Magnificent Being"

If there's a show to score multiple nominations here this year, I'm betting it's Watchmen. It's the "biggest" of the bunch, the most directorially difficult. "Little Fear of Lightning" is a strong episode, but a bit too slight to pop here. That leavely "See How They Fly" and "This Magnificent Being". While "Fly" is the finale, usually a bonus, "Being" is the toughest to define; a flashback/headtrip shot, mostly, in black-and-white. It's hard not to see the work going into this one, and I think voters will respond to that (it's also got precursor love; DGA nomination).

6.

Derek Cianfrance- I Know This Much Is True

This one was close. I'd originally had Lisa Cholodenko here, and my reasoning felt sound; she's won this category before (for Olive Kitteridge), Unbelievable is a major player here, and "Episode 1" is a claustrophobic nightmare of guilt, shame and victimization. She seems like a safe bet (she still does; a smart person would have her in), until one little stat kept gnawing at me; directors love a director who does a whole series. It shows more control, more craft, more artistry, etc. Since 2010, only three years have featured a nominee group that didn't have at least one series from one director. Of the submissions, Cianfrance is really the only legitimate player that fits the bill. And while the reception wasn't wholly positive, most would agree that Cianfrance's directorial footprint is all of it, and shapes the series. While I could certainly see this year bucking the trend, I don't see it happening.

Other Possibilities

7.

Lisa Cholodenko- Unbelievable: "Episode 1"

8.

Frederick E.O. Toye- Watchmen: "See How They Fly"

9.

Amma Asante- Mrs. America: "Shirley"

10.

Ryan Murphy- Hollywood: "Hooray for Hollywood"

11.

Steph Green- Watchmen: "Little Fear of Lightning"

12.

Stephen Frears- Quiz

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Directing for a Comedy Series

7.4

8.2

The Great

1.

Amy Sherman-Palladino- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "It's Comedy or Cabbage"

Being the only show from last year eligible this time out, Mrs. Maisel will almost assuredly score it's two submissions nominations. This one is a bit more likely, though I'd be surprised if both didn't make it in.

2.

Daniel Palladino- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "Marvelous Radio"

3.

Andrew Cividino & Daniel Levy- Schitt's Creek: "Happy Ending"

After Maisel, the category gets pretty wide. Genre favorites are a solid bet, and Schitt's Creek looks like it'll score a lot of love for it's final season. Wisely, it's only submitting one episode, and I think that'll pay off.

4.

Mike Judge- Silicon Valley: "Artificial Lack of Intelligence"

After those three, history and stats play a major part. Silicon Valley has been nominated for each of its previous five seasons, with seven total nominations. Judge has been nominated for every season. HBO has only missed this category three times in the past 20 years (2000, 2010 and 2011). The network submitted three of seven episodes this year, and while I could easily see Alec Berg's series finale "Exit Event" either usurping Judge's work (or even being nominated alongside it), Judge is the safe bet.

5.

Matt Shakman- The Great: "The Great"

Guys, I'm going in for The Great. On a practical nomination level, though, I think it's got a strong chance. Its a larger show than most of the other contenders, a period costume dramedy, with a unique style, both in terms of writing and directing. Shakman was at the helm for "The Great", the series' pilot, which is often the episode that gets celebrated from a new series. Colin Buckley's "Meatballs at the Dacha" could overtake it, he's a previous winner and Shakman is consistently snubbed, or all three of the submissions will split votes but, as mentioned, the pilot sets the tone.

6.

James Burrows- Will & Grace: "We Love Lucy"

A multi-camera series is mandatory, so it's gonna be The Conners, One Day at a Time, or Will & Grace (unless there's another that has more momentum than expected). The former's been here before, and Burrows is the most nominated/winning director for this category (five awards; 24 nominations); i.e. the strongest, safest bet.

7.

Ramy Youseff- Ramy: "Miakhalifa.mov"

I don't know here. I feel like Ramy's chances are being overestimated, but I'm often late to anticipating newcomers to the party. Smartly, this is the only episode submitted, and I think that's what will save it here. Curb's submitting three, and it hasn't been nominated here in nearly a decade. None of those three standout from each other, either. Silicon Valley could score two (Alec Berg has become a noteworthy presence here), but I just don't know if it has that much sway anymore (it could miss entirely). Modern Family could get a goodbye kiss here, but it doesn't seem like there's a groundswell of love for the departing former champ. Insecure could've been a player this year, but four submissions in a tough race is too much (even though a name like Kerry Washington could grab attention). I expect, once again, Dead to Me to be kneecapped by poor submissions. The Good Place is, to me, the likeliest competition, but I'm just uncertain if enough voters see it as a directors playground, after years of praise for the writing. In the end, Ramy won the process of elimination.

Other Possibilities

8.

Michael Schur- The Good Place: "Whenever You're Ready"

9.

Alec Berg- Silicon Valley: "Exit Event"

10.

Jeff Schaffer- Curb Your Enthusiasm: "Happy New Year"

11.

Colin Bucksley- The Great: "Meatballs at the Dacha"

12.

Gail Mancuso- Modern Family: "Finale, Part 2"

13.

Silver Tree- Dead to Me: "It's Not You, It's Me"

14.

Richard Shepard- Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: "Pilot"

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Directing for a Drama Series

409

9.4

8.6

The Crown (2016)

1.

Alik Sakharov- Ozark: "Fire Pink"

While the lack of Bateman might be a hindrance when it comes to winning, the fact that the series won here last year and scored two nominations for its first season leads me to believe that voters genuinely respect the series' direction. Of the two submitted episodes, "Fire Pink" is the more substantive work; should be in.

2.

Benjamin Caron- The Crown: "Aberfan"

The Crown won this category two years ago, when it was last eligible, and has two submissions this year. While I think both have a solid shot of making the cut, "Aberfan" is the bigger episode, the more dynamic episode; i.e. the safer bet.

3.

Mark Mylod- Succession: "This Is Not for Tears"

The only DGA nominee eligible, for the category's likely frontrunner, for the series finest and most acclaimed episode; I won't be surprised if he misses, but the stats back a prediction.

4.

Jessica Hobbs- The Crown: "Cri de Coeur"

5.

The Duffer Brothers- Stranger Things: "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt"

Much firmer here than in writing, even if Stranger Things underperforms, a directing nomination seems like a solid bet. It's biggest episode of one the biggest shows around, and The Duffer Brothers have been nominated here twice. Despite the series submitting two episodes, "The Battle of Starcourt" is clearly the heavy.

6.

Ben Semanoff- Ozark: "Su Casa Es Mi Casa"

The director's branch really likes Ozark. It beat three huge episodes of Game of Thrones final season, and managed to scored two nominations for a first season that didn't make the series cut. With eight slots and surging momentum, I think both submissions will likely make the cut.

7.

Daina Reid- The Handmaid's Tale: "Bear Witness"

The Handmaid's Tale has been nominated here for the past three years, including last year for a hanging episode ("Holly"). Two episodes were submitted this year, "Beat Witness" and "Mayday". The latter is the finale, the more traditional nominee, but that episode's director, Mike Barker, has been consistently snubbed, including last year when Reid was nominated instead. I see the same scenario playing out this time.

8.

Vince Gilligan- Better Call Saul: "Bagman"

Saul submits too many episodes to inspire much confidence in it's chances, but Gilligan is a name brand here, and "Bagman" is, arguably, the greatest demonstration of directorial influence that the show has exhibited. It's a big, sprawling odyssey of an episode that, I believe, stands out from every other episode of the season. There are several other contenders that make me nervous though. Succession's "Hunting" could take some votes, but I think many see it as more of a writer's show, and with The Crown and Ozark likely to score two a piece, it would be a historic anomaly for three series to score multiple nominations (it also doesn't help that "This Is Not for Tears" is the bigger player. Glatter could get a going away nod for her work on Homeland. She's gotten four nominations from the series, and "Prisoners of War" is the series finale. I'm just not sure that the category is wide-open enough for her to sneak in (because she's usually occupied a category filler position). Jason Bateman won this category last year, but I'm not sure what kind of player The Outsider will be, if one at all. If he'd submitted for Ozark, he could be looking at a repeat nomination.

Other Possibilities

9.

Andrij Parekh- Succession: "Hunting"

10.

Leslie Linka Glatter Homeland: "Prisoners of War"

11.

Jason Bateman- The Outsider: "Fish in a Barrel "

12.

Mike Barker- The Handmaid's Tale: "Mayday"

13.

Mimi Leder- The Morning Show: "The Interview"

14.

David Fincher- Mindhunter: "Episode 2"

15.

Peter Gould- Better Call Saul: "Something Unforgivable"

16.

Taika Waititi- The Mandalorian: "Chapter 8: Redemption"

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Live-Action Programs

111

8.4

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

Best Competition Program

1. Rupaul's Drag Race
2. The Voice
3. Nailed It
4. American Ninja Warrior
5. The Masked Singer

Other Possibilities

6. Top Chef
7. Project Runway
8. Dancing with the Stars
9. Making the Cut
10. Survivor

Best Variety Special (Live)

1. Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All In The Family" and "Good Times"
2. The Oscars
3. 62nd Grammy Awards
4. 73rd Annual Tony Awards
5. The Little Mermaid Live!

Other Possibilities

6. 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards
7. Comedy Gives Back Laugh Aid
8. Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira
9. Garth & Trisha Live!
10. 51st NAACP Image Awards

Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

1. Hannah Gadsby: Douglas
2. Homefest: James Corden's Late Late Show Special
3. Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones
4. Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration
5. John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch
6. A Parks And Recreation Special

Other Possibilities

7. The Kennedy Center Honors
8. Dave Chappelle: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
9. Conan Without Borders: Ghana
10. Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince
11. Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill
12. Leonard Bernstein Mass (Great Performances)

Best Children's Program

1. Star Wars Resistance
2. The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance
3. We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest
4. Fuller House

Other Possibilities

5. Anne With an E
6. Raising Dion
7. Raven's Home
8. Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

Best Structured Reality Program

1. Queer Eye
2. Antiques Roadshow
3. Shark Tank
4. Property Brothers: Forever Home
5. ENCORE!

Other Possibilities

6. Impractical Jokers
7. 60 Days In
8. Little Big Shots
9. Dr. Pimple Popper
10. Mysteries Decoded

Best Unstructured Reality Program

1. RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
2. Born This Way
3. Deadliest Catch
4. Cheer
5. We're Here

Other Possibilities

6. Life Below Zero
7. Intervention
8. I Am Jazz
9. Wahlburgers
10. Kevin Hart: Don’t F**k This Up

Best Short Form Series (Comedy or Drama)

1. Better Call Saul Employee Training: Legal Ethics with Kim Wexler
2. Fear the Walking Dead: The Althea Tapes
3. Star Trek: Short Treks
4. The Good Place Presents: The Selection
5. Most Dangerous Game

Other Possibilities

6. Dummy
7. Three Busy Debras
8. #FreeRayshawn
9. Reno 911!
10. Survive

Best Short Form Variety Series

1. Carpool Karaoke: The Series
2. Honest Trailers
3. The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo
4. Beeing at Home with Samantha Bee
5. Will from Hone

Other Possibilities

6. The Randy Rainbow Show
7. Deep Cuts with Hasan Minhaj
8. Late Night With Seth Meyers: Late Night Storytime
9. Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: The Movie, Sorta Uncut Interviews
10. Tooning Out the News

Best Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

1. Stories from the Show
2. POSE: Identity, Family, Community
3. RuPaul's Drag Race Out of the Closet
4. RuPaul's Drag Race UK: High Tea
5. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents: Pandemic Video Diaries

Other Possibilities

6. Between the Scenes - The Daily Show
7. While Black
8. Jay Leno's Garage
9. Prideland
10. Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood: The Golden Age Reimagined

Best Derivative Interactive Program

1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend
2. Big Mouth Guide to Life
3. Queerskins: A Love Story
4. Doctor Who: The Runaway

Other Possibilities

5. HQ Trivia x ABC: Game Show Night
6. Now Leaving Castle Rock
7. The Multiverse Bakery - Tales From Soda Island - Chapter 1
8. 13 Reasons Why: Who Killed Bryce Walker?

Best Original Interactive Program

1. Wizard School Dropout
2. A Heist with Markiplier
3. Rebuilding Notre Dame
4. The Messy Truth VR Experience

Other Possibilities

5. The Key
6. Swipe Night
7. Epic Night
8. Black Eyed Peas – Budweiser Rewind – LIVE from Los Angeles

Best Interactive Extension of a Linear Program

1. The Late Late Show with James Corden
2. Conan Without Borders
3. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
4. Stranger Things 3 "Scoops Ahoy: Operation Scoop Snoop"

Other Possibilities

5. Mr. Robot Season_4.0 ARG
6. Westworld
7. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
8. The Oscars Digital Experience

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Best Animated Programs

1098

6.4

9.1

Rick and Morty (2013)

Best Animated Program

1. The Simpsons: "Thanksgiving of Terror"
2. Bob's Burgers: "Pig in Little Tina"
3. Bojack Horseman: "The View from Halfway Down"
4. Big Mouth: "Disclosure The Movie: The Musical!"
5. Rick and Morty: "The Vat of Acid Episode"

Other Possibilities

6. South Park: "Band in China"
7. Archer: "Robert De Niro"
8. Steve Universe The Movie: "Plumage"
9. Central Park: "Episode One"
10. Harley Quinn: "Bachelorette"

Best Short-Format Animation

1. Robot Chicken: "Santa's Dead (Spoiler Alert) Holiday Murder Thing Special"
2. Steven Universe Future: "Fragments"
3. Teen Titans Go!: "Strength of a Grown Man"
4. Forky Asks A Question: What Is Love?

Other Possibilities

5. Lamp Life
6. The Gene Explained for Those Without Microscopes: "What the Gene is That?"
7. Psychotown (Cake): "VR"
8. Drifters (Cake): "Why Are We at the Bottom?"

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Best Documentary/Nonfiction Series

7.2

7.6

Tiger King (2020)

Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series

1. Tiger King
2. American Masters
3. Seven Worlds, One Planet
4. Hillary
5. The Last Dance

Other Possibilities

6. Cosmos: Possible Worlds
7. Visible: Out on Television
8. Trial By Media
9. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
10. The Innocence Files

Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special

1. Becoming
2. I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter
3. Beastie Boys Story
4. Who Killed Garrett Phillips?
5. Mike Wallace Is Here

Other Possibilities

6. The Black Godfather
7. The Witnesses
8. St. Louis Superman
9. The Elephant Queen
10. Hitsville: The Making Of Motown

Best Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special

1. Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
2. Oprah Talks COVID-19
3. Beyoncé Presents: Making the Gift
4. Somebody Feed Phil
5. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Other Possibilities

6. Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning
7. Vice
8. The Circus: Inside The Craziest Political Campaign On Earth
9. Inside the Actors Studio
10. Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives

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Best Acting

132

7.6

8.7

This Is Us (2016)

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

1. Maya Rudolph- The Good Place: "You’ve Changed, Man"
2. Phoebe Waller-Bridge- Saturday Night Live: "Host: Phoebe Waller-Bridge"
3. Wanda Sykes- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "A Jewish Girl Walks Into the Apollo..."
4. Judith Light- The Politician: "Vienna"
5. Bette Midler- The Politician: "Vienna"
6. Tina Fey- Modern Love: "Rallying to Keep the Game Alive"

Other Possibilities

7. Angela Bassett- A Black Lady Sketch Show: "Angela Bassett is the Baddest B***h"
8. Lisa Kudrow- The Good Place: "Patty"
9. Carol Burnett- Mad About You: "Happy Birthday, Bon Voyage, Goodbye for Now"
10. Jane Krakowski- Curb Your Enthusiasm: "The Ugly Section"
11. Allison Janney- The Kominsky Method: "Chapter 16. A Thetan Arrives"
12. Cloris Leachman- Mad About You: "Boundaries and Nakedness"

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

1. Ron Cephas Jones- This Is Us: "After the Fire"
2. Charles Dance- The Crown: "Coup"
3. Jason Bateman- The Outsider: "Fish in a Barrel"
4. Gerald McRainey- This Is Us: "Strangers: Part Two"
5. James Cromwell- Succession: "Dundee"
6. Michael J. Fox- The Good Fight: "The Gang Tries to Serve a Subpoena"

Other Possibilities

7. Andrew Scott- Black Mirror: "Smithereens"
8. Dean Norris- Better Call Saul: "The Guy for This"
9. Robert Forster- Amazing Stories: "Dynoman and The Volt!!"
10. Martin Short- The Morning Show: "Chaos is the New Cocaine"
11. Damon Herriman- Mindhunter: "Episode 5"
12. O-T Fagbenle- The Handmaid's Tale: "Unknown Caller"

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

1. Eddie Murphy- Saturday Night Live: "Host: Eddie Murphy"
2. Luke Kirby- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "It's Comedy or Cabbage"
3. John Mulaney- Saturday Night Live: "Host: John Mulaney"
4. Jon Hamm- Curb Your Enthusiasm: "Elizabeth, Margaret and Larry"
5. Fred Willard- Modern Family: "Legacy"
6. Dev Patel- Modern Love: "When Cupid Is a Prying Journalist"

Other Possibilities

7. Jason Alexander- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "Kind of Bleau"
8. Zachary Levi- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "A Jewish Girl Walks Into The Apollo ..."
9. Larry David- Saturday Night Live: "Host: Eddie Murphy"
10. Fred Willard- Space Force: "The Launch"
11. Brad Pitt- Saturday Night Live: "SNL at Home #2"
12. Victor Garber- Schitt's Creek: "Sunrise, Sunset"

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

1. Cicely Tyson- How to Get Away with Murder: "Stay"
2. Phylicia Rashad- This Is Us: "Flip a Coin"
3. Cherry Jones- Succession: "Tern Haven"
4. Pamela Adlon- This Is Us: "After the Fire"
5. Alexis Bledel- The Handmaid's Tale: "God Bless the Child"
6. Laverne Cox- Orange Is the New Black: "God Bless America"

Other Possibilities

7. Jane Lapotaire- The Crown: "Bubbikins"
8. Cherry Jones- The Handmaid's Tale: "God Bless the Child"
9. Harriet Walter- Succession: "Return"
10. Mindy Kaling- The Morning Show: "No One's Gonna Harm You, Not While I'm Around"
11. Julie Dretzin- The Handmaid's Tale: "Bear Witness"
12. Jennifer Morrison- This Is Us: "Strangers"

Best Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series

1. Sophie Turner- Survive
2. Anna Kendrick- Dummy
3. Jasmine Cephas Jones- #FreeRayshawn
4. Kaitlin Olson- Flipped
5. Kerri Kenney-Silver- Reno 911!

Other Possibilities

6. Peri Gilpin- Old Guy
7. Linda Purl- Clare-ity
8. Maika Monroe- The Stranger
9. Nicole Richie- Nikki Fre$h
10. Rain Valdez- Razor Tongue

Best Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series

1. Christoph Waltz- Most Dangerous Game
2. Laurence Fishburn- #FreeRayshawn
3. Darren Criss- Royalties
4. Will Forte- Flipped
5. Stephan James- #FreeRayshawn

Other Possibilities

6. Mamaoudou Athie- Oh Jerome, No (Cake)
7. Luke Hemsworth- Most Dangerous Game
8. Harry Shearer- The Salon
9. Dane DeHaan- The Stranger
10. Marc Evan Jackson- The Good Place Presents: The Selection

Best Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

1. RuPaul Charles- RuPaul's Drag Race
2. Jane Lynch- Hollywood Game Night
3. Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman- Making It
4. Ellen DeGeneres- Ellen's Game of Games
5. Hosts- Queer Eye
6. Nicole Byer- Nailed It

Other Possibilities

7. Heidi Klum & Tim Gunn- Making the Cut
8. Melissa McCarthy- Little Big Shots
9. Jimmy Kimmel- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
10. Keegan-Michael Key- Game On!
11. Alec Baldwin- Match Game
12. Tom Bergeron- Dancing with the Stars- Dancing with the Stars

Best Narrator

1. David Attenborough- Seven Worlds, One Planet: "Antarctica"
2. Angela Bassett- The Imagineering Story: "The Happiest Place on Earth"
3. Liev Schreiber- 24/7: "Kelly Slater"
4. Ben Kingsley- Auschwitz Untold
5. Lupita Nyong'o- Serengeti: "Destiny"

Other Possibilities

6. Lena Waithe- Out on Television: "The New Guard"
7. Chiwetel Ejiofor- The Elephant Queen
8. Neil Patrick Harris- Visible: Out on Television: "Breakthrough"
9. Peter Coyote- Country Music: "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?" (1973 - 1983)
10. Jeff Daniels- Washington: "Father of His Country"

Best Character Voice-Over Performance

1. Seth MacFarlane- Family Guy
2. Alex Borstein- Family Guy
3. Amy Poehler- Duncanville
4. Hank Azaria- The Simpsons
5. Lin-Manuel Miranda- My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres
6. Mark Hamill- The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

Other Possibilities

7. Nick Nolte- The Mandalorian
8. John Mulaney- Big Mouth
9. Harry Shearer- The Simpsons
10. Kristen Wiig- Bless the Harts
11. Maya Rudolph- Big Mouth
12. Taika Waititi- The Mandalorian

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Directing

7.2

7.8

Drunk History (2013)

Best Directing for a Variety Series

1. Don Roy King- Saturday Night Live: "Host: Eddie Murphy"
2. Paul Pennolino and Christopher Werner- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: "Episode 629"
3. Jim Hoskinson- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: "Live Show; Chris Christie; Nathaniel Rateliff"
4. Derek Waters- Drunk History: "Believe It or Not"
5. Tim Mancinelli and Glenn Clements- The Late Late Show with James Corden: "The Late Late Christmas Show"

Other Possibilities

6. David Paul Meyer-The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: "Dr. Fauci Answers Trevor's Questions About Coronavirus"
7. Jeremy Konner- Drunk History: "Bad Blood"
7. Andre Allen- Full Frontal with Samantha Bee: "Episode 5143"
9. Andy Fisher- Jimmy Kimmel Live!: "George Floyd's Death, Trump's Stupidity, Sean Penn & Healthcare Hero Surprise"
10. Chris Tartaro and Dave Diomedi- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: "Episode 1211"

Best Directing for a Variety Special

1. Glenn Weiss- 73rd Annual Tony Awards
2. Pamela Fryman and Andy Fisher- Live In Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All In The Family’ and ‘Good Times'
3. Stan Lathan- Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones
4. Morgan Sackett- A Parks and Recreation Special
5. Lynn Shelton- Marc Maron: End Times

Other Possibilities

6. Hamish Hamilton- Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira
7. Tim Mancinelli- Homefest: James Corden's Late Late Show Special
8. Rhys Thomas- John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch
9. Louis J. Horvitz- 62nd Annual Grammy Awards
10. David Benioff & D.B. Weiss- Leslie Jones: Time Machine

Best Directing for Nonfiction Programming

1. Steven Bognar & Julia Reichert- American Factory
2. Spike Jonze- Beastie Boys Story
3. Martin Scorsese- Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story By Martin Scorsese
4. Todd Douglas Miller- Apollo 11
5. Eric Goode & Rebecca Chaikli- Tiger King: "Cult of Personality"
6. Petra Costa- The Edge of Democracy

Other Possibilities

7. Jason Hehir- The Last Dance: "Episode 7"
8. Brannon Braga- Cosmos: Possible Worlds: "Seven Wonders of the New World"
9. Liz Garbus- Who Killed Garret Phillips?
10. Alex Gibney- The Innocence Files: "The Prosecution: Wrong Place, Wrong Time"
11. Ken Burns- Country Music: "5. "The Sons and Daughters of America" (1964-1968)"
12. Fredi Devas- Seven Worlds, One Planet: "Antarctica"

Best Directing for Reality Programming

1. Hisham Abed- Queer Eye: "Disabled But Not Really"
2. Nick Murray- RuPaul's Drag Race: "I'm That Bitch"
3. Patrick McManus- American Ninja Warrior: "Season Finale"
4. Ken Fuchs- Shark Tank: "Episode 1101"
5. Greg Whiteley- Cheer: "Daytona"

Other Possibilities

6. Alex Rudzinski- The Masked Singer: "Couldn’t Mask for Anything More: The Grand Finale!"
7. Alan Carter- The Voice: "Live Finale Part 2"
8. Hisham Abed- ENCORE!: "Anything Goes"
9. Steve Hryniewicz- Nailed It!: "The One with the '90s Theme"
10. Ariel Boles- Project Runway: "The Height of Avant-Garde Fashion"

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Best Casting

717

7.4

8.8

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Best Casting for a Comedy Series

1. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
2. Schitt's Creek
3. The Good Place
4. The Great
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm
6. Silicon Valley

7. The Kominsky Method
8. Ramy
9. Dead to Me
10. Modern Family
11. Insecure
12. GLOW

Best Casting for a Drama Series

1. Succession
2. The Crown
3. The Handmaid's Tale
4. Ozark
5. Stranger Things
6. The Morning Show

Other Possibilities

7. Big Little Lies
8. Westworld
9. Pose
10. Better Call Saul
11. This Is Us
12. Killing Eve

Best Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special

1. Mrs. America
2. Watchmen
3. Little Fires Everywhere
4. Hollywood
5. The Loudest Voice

Other Possibilities

6. Live In Front of a Studio Audience: "All In The Family" and "Good Times"
7. Unbelievable
8. Normal People
9. The Plot Against America
10. I Know This Much is True

Best Casting for a Reality Program

1. Queer Eye
2. RuPaul's Drag Race
3. Born This Way
4. Shark Tank
5. Nailed It!

Other Possibilities

6. The Voice
7. Project Runway
8. Survivor
9. Legendary
10. Top Chef

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Cinematography

281

7.7

8.6

The Mandalorian (2019)

Best Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series

1. Donald A. Morgan- The Ranch: "Ain't My Fault"
2. Gary Baum- Will & Grace: "Accidentally on Porpoise"
3. Patti Lee- Mad About You: "Erotica and Expulsion"
4. Donald A. Morgan- The Conners: "A Kiss is Just a Kiss"

Other Possibilities

5. Steven V. Silver- Mom: "Higgledy-Piggledy and a Cat Show"
6. Gregg Heschong- Fuller House: "Hale's Kitchen"
7. Steven V. Silver- Bob Hearts Abishola: "Pilot"
8. Wayne Kennan- One Day At A Time: "Supermoon"

Best Cinematography for a Single Camera Series (Half Hour)

1. Rodney Taylor- Ballers: "Municipal"
2. Greig Fraser and Baz Idoine- The Mandalorian: "Chapter 7: The Reckoning"
3. Ava Berkofsky- Insecure: "Lowkey Lost"
4. Jas Shelton- Homecoming: "Giant"
5. Justin Brown- I Am Not Okay with This: "Dear Diary..."

Other Possibilities

6. Yaron Orbach- Modern Love: "Take Me as I Am, Whoever I Am"
7. Chris Teauge- GLOW: "Freaky Tuesday"
8. Benjamin Todd- The End of the F***ing World: "Episode 8"
9. Benedict Spence- The End of the F***ing World: "Episode 2"
10. DJ Stipsen- What We Do in the Shadows: "The Curse"

Best Cinematography for a Single Camera Series (One Hour)

1. Adriano Goldman- The Crown: "Aberfan"
2. Colin Watkinson- The Handmaid’s Tale: "Night"
3. M. David Mullen- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "It’s Comedy of Cabbage"
4. Zoë White- The Handmaid’s Tale: "Liars"
5. Lachlan Milne- Stranger Things: "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt"
6. Marshall Adams- Better Call Saul: "Bagman"

Other Possibilities

7. Paul Cameron- Westworld: "Parce Domine"
8. Gonzalo Amat- The Man in the High Castle: "Fire from the Gods"
9. Dana Gonzalez- Legion: "Chapter 20"
10. John Grillo- Westworld: "The Mother of Exiles"
11. Ben Kutchins- Ozark: "Civil Union"
12. Tod Campbell- Mr. Robot: "405 Method Not Allowed"

Best Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie

1. Marshall Adams- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story
2. Gregory Middleton- Watchmen: "This Extraordinary Being"
3. Stuart Howell- Catherine the Great: "Episode One"
4. Jonathan Freeman- Defending Jacob
5. Ericson Core- Togo

Other Possibilities

6. Jody Lee Lipes- I Know This Much Is True: "Episode One"
7. Chris Teague- Mrs. America: "Houston"
8. Andrij Parekh- Watchmen: "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"
9. Éric Gautier- The Eddy: "Elliot"
10. Si Bell- A Christmas Carol

Best Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program

1. Seven Worlds, One Planet: "Antarctica"
2. Seven Worlds, One Planet: "South America"
3. Apollo 11
4. Night on Earth: "Moonlit Plains"
5. Cosmos: Possible Worlds: "Seven Wonders of the New World"
6. The Elephant Queen

Other Possibilities

7. Sea of Shadows
8. Serengeti: "Rebirth"
9. The Cave
10. Grant: "Unlikely Hero"
11. Beastie Boys Story
12. American Factory

Best Cinematography for a Reality Program

1. Life Below Zero: "The New World"
2. Deadliest Catch: "Cold War Rival"
3. RuPaul's Drag Race
4. Queer Eye: "We're in Japan!: Japanese Holiday"
5. ENCORE!: "The Sound of Music"

Other Possibilities

6. Survivor
7. Born This Way
8. Cheer: "Hit Zero"
9. Legendary: "Welcome to My House"
10. Intervention: "The Heroin Hub: Chapter 1"

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Commercial/Costumes

7.5

The Politician (2019)

Best Commerical

1. "The Surprise" - Apple
2. "Back-to-School Essentials"- Sandy Hook Promise
3. "Generation Lockdown"- March for Our Lives
4. "Groundhog Day"- Jeep Fiat
5. "Wait"- RAINN

Other Possibilities

6. "The Most Searched: a Celebration of Black History Makers"- Google Search
7. "Courage Is Beautiful"- Dove
8. "The Long Fight"- The New York Times
9. "The Look"- P&G
10. "RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 Image"- VH1

Best Period Costumes

1. The Crown: "Cri De Coeur"
2. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: "It's Comedy or Cabbage"
3. Catherine the Great: "Episode One"
4. The Great: "The Beaver's Nose"
5. Hollywood: "A Hollywood Ending"

Other Possibilities

6. Pose: "Acting Up"
7. GLOW: "A Very GLOW Christmas"
8. Outlander: "The Fiery Cross"
9. Mrs. America: "Shirley"
10. Barkskins: "The Law of Two"

Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes

1. The Handmaid's Tale: "Household"
2. Westworld: "Parce Domine"
3. Watchmen: "This Extraordinary Being"
4. Carnival Row: "Aisling"
5. His Dark Materials: "The Idea of North"

Other Possibilities

6. The Witcher: "Of Banquets, Bastards and Burials"
7. The Mandalorian: "Chapter 3: The Sin"
8. Watchmen: "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"
9. SEE: "Fresh Blood"
10. Star Trek: Picard: "Absolute Candor"

Best Contemporary Costumes

1. Schitt's Creek: "Happy Ending"
2. Grace & Frankie: "The Tank"
3. Big Little Lies: "She Knows"
4. The Politician: "Pilot"
5. The New Pope: "Episode 2"
6. Transparent Musicale Finale
7. Black-ish: "Hair Day"

Other Possibilities

8. AJ and the Queen: "Dallas"
9. Empire: "What Is Love?"
10. Empire: "Cold Cold Man"
11. Succession: "Hunting"
12. This Is Us: "Strangers: Part Two"
13. The Morning Show: "The Interview"
14. The Righteous Gemstones: "The Righteous Gemstones"

Best Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming

1. RuPaul's Drag Race: "I'm That Bitch"
2. Saturday Night Live: "Host: Eddie Murphy"
3. Dancing with the Stars: "Halloween Night"
4. The Little Mermaid Live!
5. Legendary: "Remember the Times"

Other Possibilities

6. The Masked Singer: "The Season Kick-Off Mask-Off: Group A"
7. Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All In The Family" and "Good Times"
8. ENCORE!: "Godspell"
9. A Black Lady Sketch Show: "3rd & Bonaparte is Always in the Shade"
10. We're Here: "Farmington, New Mexico"

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Best Hairstyling & Makeup

302

7.6

7.9

The Witcher (2019)

Best Contemporary Hairstyling

1. The Handmaid’s Tale: “Liars”
2. The Loudest Voice: “2008”
3. Orange Is the New Black: “God Bless America”
4. Schitt’s Creek: “Happy Ending”
5. Black-ish: "Hair Day"
6. AJ and the Queen: "Pittsburgh"

Other Possibilities

7. This Is Us: “Strangers: Part Two”
8. Transparent Musicale Finale
9. Euphoria: “The Next Episode”
10. The Politician: “Pilot”
11. Big Little Lies: “She Knows”
12. Grace and Frankie: “The Laughing Stock”

Best Period and/or Character Hairstyling

1. The Crown: “Cri De Coeur”
2. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: “A Jewish Girl Walks Into the Apollo…”
3. GLOW: “A Very GLOW Christmas”
4. The Great: “Moscow Mule”
5. Saturday Night Live: “Host: Will Ferrell”

Other Possibilities

6. Hollywood: “A Hollywood Ending”
7. American Horror Story: 1984: “Camp Redwood”
8. Pose: “Worth It”
9. Westworld: “Parce Domine”
10. Catherine the Great: “Episode One”

Best Contemporary Hairstyling for Variety, Nonfiction, Reality

1. RuPaul’s Drag Race: “I’m That Bitch”
2. Dancing with the Stars: “Episode 2802”
3. The Voice: “Top 10”
4. ENCORE!: “Godspell”
5. We’re Here: “Farmington, New Mexico”

Other Possibilities

6. Legendary: “Intergalactic”
7. World of Dance: “The Callbacks”
8. Next in Fashion: “The Finale”
9. So You Think You Can Dance: “Top 8 Perform”
10. John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch

Best Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)

1. The Handmaid’s Tale: “Mayday”
2. Empire: “Home is on the Way”
3. Euphoria: “And Salt the Earth Behind You”
4. Insecure: “Lowkey Distant”
5. The Politician: “The Assassination of Payton Hobart”
6. AJ and the Queen: “Pittsburgh”

Other Possibilities

7. The Boys: “Get Some”
8. Orange Is the New Black: “Minority Deport”
9. The Outsider: “The One About the Yiddish Vampire”
10. Transparent Musicale Finale
11. Big Little Lies: “She Knows”
12. Riverdale: “Chapter Seventy-Four: Wicked Little Town”

Best Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)

1. Saturday Night Live: “Host: Eddie Murphy”
2. Pose: “Acting Up”
3. Westworld: “The Mother of Exiles”
4. American Horror Story: 1984: “The Lady in White”
5. The Witcher: “Bottled Appetites”

Other Possibilities

6. GLOW: “A Very GLOW Christmas”
7. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: “It’s Comedy or Cabbage”
8. Star Trek: Picard: “Stardust City Rag”
9. Hollywood: “Outlaws”
10. The Great: “The Great”

Best Contemporary Makeup for Variety, Nonfiction, Reality (Non-Prosthetic)

1. Dancing with the Stars: “Disney Night”
2. RuPaul’s Drag Race: “I’m That Bitch”
3. The Little Mermaid Live!
4. Legendary: “Once Upon a Time”
5. We’re Here: “Farmington, New Mexico”

Other Possibilities

6. The Voice: “Top 10”
7. ENCORE!: “Godspell”
8. So You Think You Can Dance: “Top 8 Perform”
9. Next in Fashion: “Red Carpet”
10. John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch

Best Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie, or Special

1. Star Trek: Picard: "Absolute Candor"
2. The Mandalorian: "Chapter 6: The Prisoner"
3. The Loudest Voice: "2015"
4. Carnival Row: "Aisling"
5. Westworld: "Crisis Theory"

Other Possibilities

6. American Horror Story: 1984: "True Killers"
7. Watchmen: "A God Walks Into Abar"
8. Swamp Thing: "Chapter 9: The Anatomy Lesson"
9. Dracula: "The Rules of the Beast"
10. Mindhunter: "Episode 5"

BradWesley123's rating:

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Best Lighting Design

6.7

7.6

Encore! (2019)

Best Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series

1. Saturday Night Live: "Host: John Mulaney"
2. Dancing with the Stars: "Week Six"
3. The Voice: "Live Finale"
4. America's Got Talent: "Live Results Finale"
5. ENCORE!: "Beauty and the Beast"

Other Possibilities

6. So You Think You Can Dance: "Finale"
7. The Masked Singer: "The Super Nine Masked Singer Special: Groups A, B & C"
8. American Idol: "On with the Show: Top 20 Sing For Your Vote"
9. RuPaul's Drag Race: "I'm That Bitch"
10. The Late Late Show with James Corden: "Carpool Karaoke With Niall Horan; Guests Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Niall Horan"

Best Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special

1. The Little Mermaid Live!
2. The Oscars
3. 73rd Annual Tony Awards
4. 62nd Annual Grammy Awards
5. Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez And Shakira

Other Possibilities

6. The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage!
7. The Kennedy Center Honors
8. The Wonderful World Of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
9. Ben Platt Live from Radio City Music Hall
10. Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All In The Family" and "Good Times"

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Best Main Title Design/Music

5.5

6.3

Amazing Stories

Best Main Title Design

1. Star Trek: Picard
2. The Morning Show
3. Amazing Stories
4. His Dark Materials
5. The Trials Of Gabriel Fernandez
6. The Rook