LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: An Emmy statue is placed at the entrance of the gold carpet at the entrance of Microsoft Theater for the 70th Emmy Awards on September 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Game of Thrones may have the most Emmy nominations, but will they win any hardware for acting?
The Primetime Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in television. And this year, there was no shortage of engaging television. Not everyone can win. Not everyone can even get a nomination, opening the door for many snub debates.
And I don’t know about you, but the Emmy Awards signify the start of awards season, in which I really come to life. I can’t get enough!
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What makes Emmys so special is that they’re the most prestigious awards given out in television performances and production. Plus, the high-caliber of content being produced on television nowadays gives audiences the opportunity to watch their favorite movie stars every week and gives those movie stars a chance at winning the ever-coveted EGOT.
For those of you who don’t know, an EGOT is a status given to a person who wins at least one Emmy, one Grammy, one Oscar, and one Tony. Basically, they have conquered the entertainment industry. Whoopi Goldberg, Mike Nichols, and Audrey Hepburn all have EGOTs. John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Time Rice just received an EGOT with their most recent Emmy win for Jesus Christ Superstar Live.
In other words, it’s not easy to do. But let’s get back to the “E” in EGOT.
Here are my picks for who I think should win, and who probably will win. Full disclaimer: I am not an “official” TV expert by any means, but I watch a lot of it. Therefore I consider myself a self-proclaimed TV expert.
The 70th Primetime Emmys are Monday night on NBC
Credit: Hulu
Outstanding Drama Series
The Americans
The Crown
Game of Thrones
The Handmaid’s Tale
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld
Who will win: The Handmaid’s Tale
Who should win: Game of Thrones or The Handmaid’s Tale
I’m fine with The Handmaid’s Tale winning, and it deserves recognition. This is ultra-relevant right now as the #Metoo movement and women’s rights are hot topics of conversation. Not only is it a cultural phenomenon, but people also wear handmaid’s uniforms during protests. Not to mention, the acting is scary good. But Game of Thrones has a special place in my heart, and I always want it to win everything. The overall show itself is on another planet. I’m talking about acting, casting, costumes, writing, directing, production, intangibles – literally everything is perfect about the show.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel / CREDIT: COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS
Outstanding Comedy Series
Atlanta
Barry
Black-ish
Curb Your Enthusiasm
GLOW
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Silicon Valley
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Who will win: Atlanta
Who should win: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
This category is really a two-horse race between Atlanta and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I give Atlanta the edge because it’s so inventive and I have yet to meet someone who isn’t a fan. Maisel has this strange ability to be set 60 years ago, but still feel fresh and current. It’s so hard to do! And Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein’s chemistry is as natural as Lucy and Ethel’s. It’s my favorite new show of the season. And I think it has a good chance to win, but I’m not sure if it will.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 09: Elisabeth Moss speaks onstage during “The Handmaid’s Tale” Hulu finale at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on July 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Hulu)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Foy – The Crown
Tatiana Maslany – Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid’s Tale
Sandra Oh – Killing Eve
Keri Russell – The Americans
Evan Rachel Wood – Westworld
Who will win: Elisabeth Moss
Who should win: Elisabeth Moss
I’m not sure what episode was submitted for her nomination, but I’m thinking it was the one where she was by herself, nine months pregnant trying to escape to the north. It was the single most electric performance I’ve ever witnessed. No question, Moss should win. I’d be shocked and appalled if she doesn’t.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 30: Actor Matthew Rhys arrives at the For Your Consideration red carpet event for FX’s “The Americans” at the Saban Media Center on May 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman – Ozark
Sterling K. Brown – This is Us
Ed Harris – Westworld
Matthew Rhys – The Americans
Milo Ventimiglia – This is Us
Jeffery Wright – Westworld
Who will win: Matthew Rhys
Who should win: Sterling K. Brown
Rhys has been nominated for the past three seasons of The Americans. And with it wrapping up this year, I think he will win because he’s gotten better every season. Brown is my personal favorite in the category because I just love him. He may split the vote with Ventimiglia, which may be his downfall.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 10: Rachel Brosnahan attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Pamela Adlon – Better Things
Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Allison Janney – Mom
Issa Rae – Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish
Lily Tomlin – Grace and Frankie
Who will win: Rachel Brosnahan
Who should win: Rachel Brosnahan
Hands down, Rachel Brosnahan will win this Emmy, and it will be much-deserved. She simply sparkles as Midge Maisel, and she’s funny! Isn’t that what’s most important?
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 13: Childish Gambino attends Rihanna’s 4th Annual Diamond Ball benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 13, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Diamond Ball)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – Black-ish
Ted Danson – The Good Place
Larry David – Curb Your Enthusiasm
Donald Glover – Atlanta
Bill Hader – Barry
William H. Macy – Shameless
Who will win: Donald Glover
Who should win: Ted Danson
Donald Glover had a hell of a year in 2018. He released new music, was in a Star Wars movie, and he was already coming off an Emmy win last year. He’ll probably win again. But The Good Place one of the best shows on TV and Danson is very instrumental in that. He’s hilarious and so the opposite of the role that made him famous (Sam Malone on Cheers).
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 12: Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau attends the premiere of HBO’s “Game Of Thrones” season 7 at Walt Disney Concert Hall on July 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau – Game of Thrones
Mandy Patinkin – Homeland
Matt Smith – The Crown
Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones
David Harbour – Stranger Things
Joseph Fiennes – The Handmaid’s Tale
Who will win: David Harbour
Who should win: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
I love David Harbour. I saw him speak once at a social media conference and he was fantastic. And he’s fantastic on Stranger Things. But I think he was better in Season One of Stranger Things, and he should have won last year. This nomination for Coster-Waldau is long overdue so he should win for his work on Game of Thrones up until this point. I wouldn’t hate it if Peter Dinklage pulled out the “W.” I’m still not sure how Kit Harrington didn’t get a nomination this year.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 09: Yvonne Strahovski speaks onstage during “The Handmaid’s Tale” Hulu finale at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on July 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Ann Dowd – The Handmaid’s Tale
Alexis Bledel – The Handmaid’s Tale
Yvonne Strahovski – The Handmaid’s Tale
Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger Things
Lena Headey – Game of Thrones
Vanessa Kirby – The Crown
Thandie Newton – Westworld
Who will win: Alexis Bledel
Who should win: Yvonne Strahovski
Strahovski’s performance was simply stunning during the second season. As an audience member, I went from hating her to liking her, to feeling sorry for her, to feeling sick to my stomach for her. Bledel won last year’s guest actress Emmy, so she may pull out a win for this category as well. Ann Dowd could win as well. It’s a Handmaid’s Tale actresses’ Emmy to lose.
Photo Credit: NBC
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Brian Tyree Henry – Atlanta
Louie Anderson – Baskets
Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live
Alec Baldwin – Saturday Night Live
Henry Winkler – Barry
Tony Shalhoub – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Titus Burgess – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Who will win: Henry Winkler
Who should win: Tony Shalhoub
Henry Winkler will probably win an Emmy, and it’s not for playing Fonzie! He’s so weaselly funning on Barry, that it was refreshing to see him in such a role. But Shalhoub brings a comedic softness to contrast his daughter’s spastic sparkle.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Actor Kate McKinnon, winner of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for ‘Saturday Night Live’, poses in the press room during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Zazie Beetz – Atlanta
Laurie Metcalf – Roseanne
Leslie Jones – Saturday Night Live
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live
Betty Gilpin – GLOW
Aidy Bryant – Saturday Night Live
Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Megan Mullally – Will & Grace
Who will win: Kate McKinnon
Who should win: Betty Gilpin or Alex Borstein
Don’t get me wrong; I love Kate McKinnon. She has the right mix of genius and weird that make me laugh so hard I cry. (Watch the alien abduction sketches. They’re gold!) But Betty Gilpin made me laugh and cry. I’m happy she got the nomination even if she doesn’t win. Borstein has also never been better. Maybe because we actually get to see her and not just hear her voice!