And we’re down to the last remaining genre as we predict the #2017Emmys nominees for this year. After tackling Reality and Variety, TV Movies and Limited Series, and Comedy, we’re doing Drama!
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• The Crown, “Hyde Park Corner” (Stephen Daldry)
• The Handmaid’s Tale, “Offred” (Reed Morano)
• Homeland, “America First” (Lesli Linka Glatter)
• Stranger Things, “Holly, Jolly” (Shawn Levy)
• Stranger Things, “The Vanishing of Will Byers” (The Duffer Brothers)
• Westworld, “The Bicameral Mind” (Jonathan Nolan)
Seventh nominee: The Americans, “The Soviet Division” (Chris Long)
It’s a tad unusual that I’m predicting five nominees all from freshman shows this year, but then all are very showy directing pieces. I’m currently predicting Stranger Things to go really big this year; thus I’m going with two episodes from that show. For that remaining returning slot, I’m currently going with Homeland‘s “America First” episode directed by Leslie Linka Glater. Homeland has been nominated four of the last five years and three of those were from Glater.
OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• The Americans, “The Soviet Division” (Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg)
• Better Call Saul, “Chicanery” (Gordon Smith)
• The Crown, “Assassins” (Peter Morgan)
• The Handmaid’s Tale, “Offred” (Bruce Miller)
• The Leftovers, “The Book of Nora” (Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta & Tom Spezialy)
• Stranger Things, “The Vanishing of Will Byers” (The Duffer Brothers)
Seventh nominee: This Is Us, “Memphis” (Dan Fogelman)
If there’s one category that I’m most confident with The Leftovers, it’s for this one. Both The Handmaid’s Tale and The Crown were wise with their submissions, so I’m confident both are getting in too. I feel like the pilot of Stranger Things is a writer’s dream taking in a familiar territory and at the same time, building a mystery for the whole season. The Americans has been nominated for the last two years here, and while this is the least praised season thus far, I still think the show has its fans within the branch. I’m including in Better Call Saul only because this is too familiar of an episode that will appeal to the writers with its court scenes and long monologues and dialogues.
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• Hank Azaria, “Ray Donovan”
• Beau Bridges, “Masters of Sex”
• Gerald McRaney, “This Is Us”
• Ben Mendelsohn, “Bloodline”
• Lars Mikkelsen, “House of Cards”
• Denis O’Hare, “This Is Us”
Seventh nominee: Glynn Turmann, “Queen Sugar”
Current champ Hank Azaria is eligible once again for his performance in Ray Donovan so it seems likely he’ll get a nod to go for his consecutive win here. Beau Bridges has been nominated twice for this role already and the only reason why he missed last year is because he wasn’t eligible here and instead in the Supporting category. After pulling off an upset win in Supporting last year, Ben Mendelsohn is eligible here this time around so it might be an easy nom for this Aussie actor. A House of Cards actor has been nominated the last three years, and I expect the trend to continue, so I’m betting on Lars Mikkelsen to make it. For the last spot, I’ll go with two This Is Us actors: Gerard McRaney who made an impact in his role in the show, and Denis O’Hare who is a multiple Emmy nominee.
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• Gillian Anderson, “American Gods”
• Alexis Bledel, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• Laverne Cox, “Orange is the New Black”
• Cloris Leachman, “American Gods”
• Shannon Purser, “Stranger Things”
• Allison Wright, “The Americans”
Seventh nominee: Ann Dowd, “The Leftovers”
I don’t think the category campaign will confuse voters so I’m a tad certain that Alexis Bledel is getting in here, especially after those raves she received for the performance. Barb is an iconic pop culture figure already, so I’m seeing a scenario of Shnnon Purser getting in as well. Laverne Cox has been nominated once in the guest but it was still when the show was competing in the comedy categories. That said, her narrative and great showcase can get her a second career nod for this role. Since co-star Margo Martindale has been promoted to supporting status already, I’m currently predicting Allison Wright to get in here as she’s also probably helped by the goodwill of starring in Feud. While I was initially tempted to nominate two actresses from American Gods here considering it does not have any Emmy buzz outside of this category, these are Gillian Anderson and Cloris Leachman that we’re talking about here, both who have won and nominated yet again with Emmys.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• Jonathan Banks, “Better Call Saul”
• David Harbour, “Stranger Things”
• Jared Harris, “The Crown”
• Ron Cephas Jones, “This Is Us”
• John Lithgow, “The Crown”
• Jeffrey Wright, “Westworld”
Seventh nominee: Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”
Because I don’t think that this category will have a clean sweep of newbies, then Jonathan Banks make the most sense as a comeback nominee to get his third bid for an Emmy in Better Call Saul. John Lithgow is perceived as the current frontrunner but expect co-star Jared Harris (who was last nominated here for his turn in Mad Men) to join him. I’m a bit cautious with Westworld supporting actors as it reminds me a bit of Boardwalk Empire’s situation in its first season when we’re predicting a star to get in, only for everyone to miss. Thus, I’m going only with Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright to get in here. David Harbour is a hot or miss, but I think he’ll be carried with the Stranger Things love that’s bound to happen. Ron Cephas Jones makes sense as that nominee that can be carried because of the passion for both the actor and the show he’s in.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• Millie Bobby Brown, “Stranger Things”
• Vanessa Kirby, “The Crown”
• Chrissy Metz, “This Is Us”
• Thandie Newton “Westworld”
• Winona Ryder, “Stranger Things”
• Maura Tierney, “The Affair”
Seventh nominee: Margo Martindale, “The Americans”
Like in Supporting Actor, I don’t think it’ll be an easy clean slate of nominees, so it’s a choice between Constance Zimmer and Maura Tierney. I went with the latter only because of name reputation. Vanessa Kirby is a scene-stealing name and the main push of the show in this category so Netflix is really serious in snatching her a nod. After getting Globe and SAG nods, Thandie Newton is Westworld‘s biggest chance for an acting nomination. Millie Bobby Brown already made her name in pop culture history, so that’s already an assured nomination. I’m a bit more skeptical about Winona Ryder, but I think she can sneak in and get a welcome nomination. With no co-star to battle with, I think Chrissy Metz is one of the breakout stars of the season and will likely add Emmy nominee in her resumé.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
• Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot”
• Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”
• Matthew Rhys, “The Americans”
• Liev Schreiber, “Ray Donovan”
• Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”
Seventh nominee: Justin Theroux, “The Leftovers”
All six nominees are eligible to come back and receive a nomination, so I think Kevin Spacey, Matthew Rhys, and Bob Odenkirk will have no problem getting nominated yet again. Rami Malek can be that current winner only to be snubbed the next year, considering the close to non-existent buzz for Mr. Robot‘s second season, but I think he can sneak in one more nod this year. Since his win last year for People vs. OJ Simpson, Sterling K. Brown is in the hunt again for another Emmy with his great reviews and a surprise SAG nod for This is Us. For that last spot, I’m torn between Liev Schreiber to get a third consecutive nod for Ray Donovan or passion to bring Justin Theroux to land an Emmy nom. With Showtime managing to snatch random nods each year at the Emmys, I’m thinking Schreiber still has it in him to get one more nomination.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES:
• Carrie Coon, “The Leftovers”
• Claire Danes, “Homeland”
• Claire Foy, “The Crown”
• Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• Keri Russell, “The Americans”
• Robin Wright, “House of Cards”
Seventh nominee: Viola Davis, “How to Get Away with Murder”
Two newbies are almost assured to get nominations this year and they’re also the two frontrunners for the win. There’s Claire Foy in The Crown and Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale. After getting in for a more crowded category last year, Keri Russell is still in for a second bid in The Americans. Three actresses who have been mainstays here the past few years were Oscar winner Viola Davis who was the champ here in 2015, Claire Danes who won back to back in 2012 and 2013, and Robin Wright who has been nominated four times now. I don’t think all three will get in this year, so I’m leaving Viola Davis off only because there is literally no buzz for her show anymore. In her place, I think the huge buzz for The Leftovers can net Carrie Coon a surprise nomination in the end.
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES:
• The Americans (FX)
• Better Call Saul (AMC)
• The Crown (Netflix)
• The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
• Stranger Things (Netflix)
• This Is Us (NBC)
• Westworld (HBO)
Eighth nominee: The Leftovers (HBO)
With Game of Thrones absence this year, it’s an up for grabs race for everyone. Both The Americans and Better Call Saul can add another nomination for the show in the top race here. The two Netflix shows have the pop culture buzz and the critical response to both get in so expect The Crown and Stranger Things to be nominated as well. The reception for The Handmaid’s Tale is perfect fit for Hulu to finally join the club and get nominated for the top plum. It’s a tad weird that House of Cards is missing in a post-election season no less, but between Netflix having stronger contenders plus a less buzzy season, I think it will finally miss this year. HBO, on the other hand, has two contenders to replace GoT here: the sci-fi show Westworld and cult favorite The Leftovers. I don’t think there’s room for both to get in, and even if I’m so tempted to go with a NGNG prediction of The Leftovers, I’ll stick with Westworld here. The last network show to be nominated for the top prize is The Good Wife for Season2 back in 2011 and since then, network dramas have find it really hard to get back again. Even huge show Empire missed three years ago and The Good Wife missed for its widely loved fifth season. That said, i think This Is Us will probably do the trick and get in this year.
There you have it! Can’t wait for the Emmy nominations tonight! talk to me on Twitter: @nikowl.
