Predictions for Emmys’ biggest awards
Drama Series
“Better Call Saul” “The Crown” “Ozark” “Killing Eve” “The Mandalorian” “Stranger Things” “Succession”
Winner: “Ozark”
I feared it ran out of steam after two seasons, but Season 3 was riveting: gripping, edge-of-your-seat drama with a twisty season finale that took the series in a completely different direction.
Comedy Series
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” “Dead to Me” “The Good Place” “Insecure” “The Kominsky Method” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” “Schitt’s Creek” “What We Do in the Shadows”
Winner: “Schitt’s Creek”
”What We Do in the Shadows” should win here — I’ve been a fan of its offkilter humor since Day One — but “Schitt’s Creek” was an industry darling in its final season and will walk away with a statuette.
Best Limited Series
“Little Fires Everywhere” (Hulu) “Mrs. America” (FX) “Watchmen” (HBO) “Unbelievable” (Netflix) “Unorthodox” (Netflix)
Winner: “Watchmen”
It’s a shoo-in: The alt-history, socially conscious superhero series starring Regina King was an immediate critical and viewer hit — racking up a whopping 26 nominations.
Lead Actor, Drama
Jason Bateman, “Ozark” Brian Cox, “Succession” Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us” Steve Carrell, “The Morning Show” Billy Porter, “Pose” Jeremy Strong, “Succession”
Winner: Jason Bateman
This is a race between Brian Cox and Bateman. I’m going with the latter for his steady work as unflappable, devious, win-at-allcosts Marty Byrd.
Lead Actress, Drama
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show” Olivia Colman, “The Crown” Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve” Laura Linney, “Ozark” Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve” Zendaya, “Euphoria”
Winner: Jennifer Aniston
Yeah, yeah, I know, she’s this year’s out-of-the-box pick — but Aniston can win her first Emmy in a surprisingly weak field vis-à-vis originality (that’s you, Olivia, Jodie and Sandra).
Lead Actor, Comedy
Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish” Don Cheadle, “Black Monday” Ted Danson, “The Good Place” Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method” Eugene Levy, “Schitt’s Creek” Ramy Youssef, “Ramy”
Winner: Eugene Levy (circle)
I’m going to jump on the “Schitt’s Creek” bandwagon and go with this true pro, who was terrific through the entire run of the series. He deserves to be recognized for his years of solid (and very funny) work.
Lead Actress, Comedy
Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me”
Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Linda Cardellini, “Dead to Me”
Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek”
Issa Rae, “Insecure”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “Black-ish”
Winner: Issa Rae (right)
Rae has struck a chord among younger viewers by wrapping her perspectives on friendship, dating and life in general into one funny, poignant package.