Who will win, who should win
‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ ‘Atlanta,’ ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ and others eye TV’s biggest prize
Trying to guess how Emmy voters will mark up their ballots has always been an iffy proposition. And now that there are something like a gazillion TV shows out there, it’s beyond crazy.
Nevertheless, we’ve boldly accepted the challenge, breaking down the major award categories and targeting who we think should and who will win on Monday.
Drama series
“The Americans” (FX); “The Crown” (Netflix); “Game of Thrones” (HBO); “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu); “Stranger Things” (Netflix); “This Is Us” (NBC); “Westworld” (HBO). SHOULD WIN >> “The Americans” WILL WIN >> “Game of Thrones”
“Game of Thrones” sat out last year, allowing “The Handmaid’s Tale” to nab the prize in its rookie season. Now that “Thrones” — a two-time champ — is back, we expect voters to bend the knee. Too bad. This is the last chance for “The Americans,” a largely overlooked series that finished off its amazing run with a tremendous final season.
Lead actress, drama series
Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve” (BBC America); Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black” (BBC America); Keri Russell, “The Americans”; Claire Foy, “The Crown”; Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”; Evan Rachel Wood, “Westworld.” WHO SHOULD WIN >> Elisabeth Moss WHO WILL WIN >> Elisabeth Moss
After losing six times during her stint on “Mad Men,” Moss will likely bag her second straight trophy for her quietly devastating performance as the concubine June/Offred. This is an exceptional group of actresses, but Moss is in another league.
Lead actor, drama series
Jason Bateman, “Ozark” (Netflix); Matthew Rhys, “The Americans”; Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”; Milo Ventimiglia, “This Is Us”; Ed Harris, “Westworld”; Jeffrey Wright, “Westworld.” SHOULD WIN >> Sterling K. Brown WILL WIN >> Sterling K. Brown
Pity Ventimiglia. His character gets trapped in a house fire and then dies, absolutely wrecking us in the process. And he still loses to his co-star! Of Brown, an astute actress once said, “His heart is in his voice. I could listen all day.” We agree. Game over.
Comedy series
“Atlanta” (FX); “Barry” (HBO); “Black-ish” (ABC); “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO); “Glow” (Netflix); “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon); “Silicon Valley” (HBO); “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix). SHOULD WIN >> “Atlanta”
WILL WIN >> “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Sly, moody, surprising and defiantly offbeat, “Atlanta” continued to amaze us in its second season. But we have a feeling that, with three-time champ “Veep” on the sidelines, the voters have developed a great big crush on the hilarious — and endearing — “Mrs. Maisel.”
Lead actress, comedy series
Pamela Adlon, “Better Things” (FX); Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”; Allison Janney, “Mom” (CBS); Issa Rae, “Insecure” (HBO); Tracee Ellis Ross, “Blackish”; Lily Tomlin, “Grace and Frankie” (Netflix). SHOULD WIN >> Issa Rae WILL WIN >> Rachel Brosnahan
For the first time in seven years, someone not named Julia Louis Dreyfus will capture the hardware. From Day 1, we’ve loved Rae’s extraordinary work, but Brosnahan won the Golden Globe and is riding a wave of buzz. She brings both humor and poignancy to her role as an aspiring stand-up comedian.
Lead actor, comedy series
Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”; Ted Danson, “The Good Place” (NBC); Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”; Donald Glover, “Atlanta”; Bill Hader, “Barry”; William H. Macy, “Shameless” (Showtime). SHOULD WIN >> Donald Glover WILL WIN >> Bill Hader
PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS
When: 5 p.m. Monday Where: NBC
Such an intriguing category. You’ve got the old guard represented by David, Macy and Danson, who was a two-time winner back in the day on “Cheers.” Still, the younggun Glover won last year and was just as impressive in Season 2. Meanwhile, the rubber-faced Hader won raves for his hilarious debut as a hit man who yearns to be an actor.
Limited series
“The Alienist” (TNT); “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX); “Genius: Picasso” (National Geographic); “Godless” (Netflix); “Patrick Melrose” (Showtime). SHOULD WIN >> “Godless”
WILL WIN >> “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
“Godless” is a gritty, occasionally grisly, feminist Western that was handsomely crafted and wellacted. But “Assassination” carries the “American Crime Story” brand (plus 18 nominations) and is likely more familiar to voters.
Lead actor, limited series or movie
Antonio Banderas, “Genius: Picasso”; Darren Criss, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”; Benedict Cumberbatch, “Patrick Melrose”; Jeff Daniels, “The Looming Tower” (Hulu); John Legend, “Jesus Christ Superstar” (NBC); Jesse Plemons, “Black Mirror: USS Callister” (Netflix). SHOULD WIN >> Benedict Cumberbatch
WILL WIN >> Darren Criss First of all, we’ll probably have to go to confession for picking against Jesus, but Cumberbatch reached a new acting peak in playing a troubled addict. On the other hand, voters likely admired how Criss, a former “Glee” star, played against type so convincingly as Versace’s killer.
Lead actress, limited series or movie
Jessica Biel, “The Sinner” (USA); Laura Dern, “The Tale” (HBO); Michelle Dockery, “Godless”; Edie Falco, “Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders”; Regina King, “Seven Seconds” (Netflix); Sarah Paulson, “America Horror Story: Cult” (FX). SHOULD WIN >> Laura Dern WILL WIN >> Michelle Dockery
Dern, one of our alltime favorites, delivered an emotionally wrenching performance as a victim of sexual abuse. Dockery, mostly known for her work in “Downton Abbey,” showed her versatility in playing a tough and steely widow. Consider this one a toss-up.