OUR PICKS FOR THE EMMYS
Who will win vs. who should win from best of TV — with chance to say goodbye to outgoing favorites
Before people tuned in to Dr. Fauci, they watched Dr. Manhattan in “Watchmen.” Before folks scrambled to find toilet paper, they reveled in “Schitt’s Creek.”
And before viewers watched protesters on the streets of major cities, they checked out vampires in the shadows on Staten Island.
The 2019-20 TV season, shot before the pandemic and protests, seems like a lifetime ago. But the shows can serve as welcome distraction in troubled times, and the best of them will be honored Sunday at the Emmy Awards.
Here are our best bets on how the awards show — hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC and held virtually — will go.
Drama series
Will win: “Succession”
With “Game of Thrones” finally wrapped, the room opens up for a new drama series to take up the mantle. Of course, it would be more interesting if a half-dozen shows were to battle it out for the top spot for the next decade, but if “Succession” continues at its current trajectory, it’s likely to reign superior for as long as it wants.
Should win: “Succession” This isn’t just an issue of yet another prestige TV show rising to the top; “Succession” is genuinely brilliant and knows exactly how far it can push its characters without going too far. The Roys are unlikeable to say the least, but they’re fascinating.
Comedy series
Will win: “Schitt’s Creek” A show going out on a high note is rare. A show going out as extraordinarily as “Schitt’s Creek” did this spring is a miracle. With grace, humor and warmth, Dan Levy built and wrapped magic in a bottle and gave it to the world to carry us through our best and worst times. Saying goodbye is never easy, but “Schitt’s Creek” was exactly what it should have been.
Should win: “What We Do in the Shadows”
“Schitt’s Creek” is more than deserving, but “What We Do in the Shadows” is such a weird, beautiful little show and more people should know about it.
The FX series—based on a 2014 film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi — is about a makeshift family of vampires on Staten Island. Shot in a mockumentary style, it is the funniest, most underappreciated show on television.
Limited series
Will win: “Watchmen”
Before protesters took to the streets against police brutality and racism and before masks became part of the dress code, there was “Watchmen,” Damon Lindelof’s eerily timed TV adaptation of Alan Moore’s comic book series. “Watchmen’s” poignant depiction of racial tensions and the thin line between good cops and bad cops took on new meaning this summer.
Should win: “Watchmen”
I want to say “Unbelievable,” the story of an ignored rape investigation. It was empowering, gut-wrenching and hopeful. It put women front and center when the world tries to hide them. Toni Collette, Merritt Wever and Kaitlyn Dever were revelations. But the answer is “Watchmen.”
Actor in a drama series
Will win: Brian Cox, “Succession”
Normally, I would say the cast of “Succession” would split the vote and Jason Bateman could scoot his way into another “Ozark” win, but Brian Cox has enough star power and gravitas to rise above the fray. The towering Logan Roy leaves rubble in his wake and it’s hard to imag
ine anyone but Cox playing the media boss so terrifyingly. Should win: Jeremy Strong, “Succession”
Where Logan rules with a heavy hand and a bizarre game of “Boar on the Floor,” Jeremy Strong’s Kendall so delicately balances a quivering son and a determined businessman. Kendall hits rock bottom and keeps falling, but despite all his faults (and there are so, so many), his earnestness leaves you wanting him to claw his way out, just once.
Actress in a drama series
Will win: Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
In her best work since “Friends,” and maybe even better than that, Jennifer Aniston shined in Apple TV’s landmark series about the #MeToo fallout for a morning show anchor who stayst upright when her world is flipped upside down. Rachel Green never faced such deep betrayal, but Aniston digs into the comedic well to find lightness in an ugly story that we are all too familiar with, but only now allowed to talk about. Should win: Laura Linney, “Ozark”
Aniston’s “The Morning Show” character, Alex Levy, may have faced professional upheaval but Laura Linney’s Wendy Byrde’s world ended on “Ozark.” That unraveling gave Linney the platform she deserves. The actress has already won four Emmys for four different shows — “Wild Iris,” “Frasier,” “John Adams” and “The Big C” — and this should be her fifth.
Actor in a comedy series
Will win: Eugene Levy, “Schitt’s Creek”
Both Eugene Levy and Ted Danson carried their shows (“Schitt’s Creek and “The Good Place,” respectively) to wonderful ends, but the groundswell of late support for Levy’s sweet, caring, hilarious family show will take him home. Should win: Eugene Levy, “Schitt’s Creek”
Johnny Rose held his family as their world fell apart, or as close to together as they ever got. The Roses were neurotic, wild, scattered and full of heart. It’s impossible to pick a favorite, but without Johnny, there would be no Roses, and without Eugene Levy, the beautiful mess ofe “Schitt’s Creek” would have lost its heart.
Actress in a comedy series
Will win: Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek”
While Rachel Brosnahan has been the Emmys’ darling for the past few years, the third season of“The Marvelous Mrs. Ma is el” aired all the way back in December, which mayas well be another century in today’ s calendar. That opens the way for Catherine O’Hara, the hypnotic matriarch of “Schitt’s Creek.”
Should win: Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek”
Look, this maybe getting boring, but “Schitt’s Creek” was perfect and Catherine O’Hara is perfect and it’s unfathomable that we’ll never have more episodes of this perfect show.