Ok, time for the big series awards. I don’t think there’s much suspense in any of these, except maybe variety/talk? That’s a big maybe though. The other categories have clear frontrunners, and not much of a chance for upsets, in my opinion.
COMEDY
I just raced through all six seasons of this show and loved it, so I’m very happy the Roses will finally have their day
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
There are a lot of new nominees in this category, but with Schitt’s Creek coming in everywhere in the nominations for its final season, I think we have a Fleabag situation where everyone wants to reward it, especially if the alternative is another win for Mrs. Maisel. Even though that show had 20 nominations once again, so it’s still beloved in the TV industry. But with no other shot to recognize the Schitt’s Creek gang after this, I think it’s got it almost in the bag.
Winner: Schitt’s Creek
Alternate: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Dark Horse: The Good Place (also a show on its last season, but it never broke through in nominations completely)
DRAMA
The dysfunctional Roy family will rise to win the top prize in drama series
Better Call Saul
The Crown
The Handmaid’s Tale
Killing Eve
The Mandalorian
Ozark
Stranger Things
Succession
All the buzz here lies with Succession, which is beloved by critics and also clearly by the Emmys, or at least the actors branch, which nominated nearly the entire cast. Ozark is one that is also clearly loved by the industry, doing better each season (though not as loved by critics), so that gives it some competition I think- but with HBO firmly behind Succession as its number one pony this year, I think the show clearly has the upper hand.
Winner: Succession
Alternate: Ozark
Dark Horse: The Mandalorian (that is a true dark horse, considering the show didn’t get nominated in key writing/acting/directing categories, but the nomination itself for a show like this implies surprising strength)
LIMITED
Watchmen may as well have no competition this year
Little Fires Everywhere
Mrs. America
Unbelievable
Unorthodox
Watchmen
Not much of a race here. Watchmen led the Emmy nominations across the board, it is HBO’s other baby in the race, and it was a true critical and mini-cultural phenomenon. It’s going to win lots of other trophies on Emmy night to go along with this one.
Winner: Watchmen
Alternate: Unbelievable
Dark Horse: Mrs. America (also timely and relevant, but didn’t do as well in noms as I’d hoped)
VARIETY TALK
Broadcasting into the void didn’t change John Oliver’s show much
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
I happen to be a regular viewer of all of these shows, and I’m wondering if I should go ahead and make what will surely be a big mistake and predict something besides the previous winner of this category to actually take this award. That’s right, I think for the first time in five years, this Emmy could go back to The Daily Show, as Trevor Noah has led the series past all expectations during the pandemic, elevating it beyond what it was before and making his show essential viewing, faring better during quarantine than some of these others. Not better than Last Week Tonight necessarily, which adapted itself to new audience free conditions very quickly as well, but I happen to think the time may be right to move away from John Oliver this year…however. Oliver just won a bunch of Emmys at the Creative Arts ceremony this week, including writing, so I happen to have a bit of a clue that…it’s not going to happen. Last Week Tonight will win this award for ten years (or until the show ends altogether).
Winner: Last Week Tonight
Alternate: The Daily Show
Dark Horse: Full Frontal (Sam Bee’s shows from the woods have been innovative as well, but as always, she remains a dark horse, not least because her show seems to be sporadically on/off the air with no notice)
REALITY COMPETITION
Not time to change horses in this race yet
The Masked Singer
Nailed It!
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice
New additions to this category are Nailed It! and The Masked Singer, but this is one of those that sticks with one winner for many years before switching off, and I don’t think it’s time for RuPaul to give up the crown just yet.
Winner: RuPaul’s Drag Race
Alternate: The Voice
Dark Horse: The Masked Singer
