Okay, time for final series predictions.
OUTSTANDING DRAMA
Better Call Saul
Euphoria
Ozark
Severance
Squid Game
Stranger Things
Succession
Yellowjackets
I don’t see much reason to pick anything other than Succession here. It only won one creative arts Emmy, but it was an important one (casting). With no other show an obvious second choice (though it’s probably Squid Game?) I just think it’s the one with the most broad support across the board.
Winner: Succession
Alternate: Squid Game
Dark Horse: Euphoria (I say this on the basis of it winning five Creative Arts Emmys, but it didn’t make it into writing or directing, which is weird. So the dark horse may actually be Severance)
OUTSTANDING COMEDY
Abbott Elementary
Barry
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Hacks
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Only Murders in the Building
Ted Lasso
What We Do in the Shadows
This is a very split field with a lot of strong shows this season. Newbie Abbott Elementary won the all important casting Emmy last week- could that be a sign of things to come? Barry also won a few technical awards, but most people have always thought the show was too dark to have broad support. Then there’s Hacks, and Only Murders as another freshman success…with all these shows fighting for second place and no consensus, that usually means a repeat of the previous winner, which would be Ted Lasso. So that’s what’ I’m going with here but I wouldn’t be a surprised if there is a surprise.
Winner: Ted Lasso
Alternate: Abbott Elementary
Dark Horse: Only Murders in the Building
OUTSTANDING LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES
Dopesick
The Dropout
Inventing Anna
Pam & Tommy
The White Lotus
Not much evidence for anything except The White Lotus. It dominated at Creative Arts and has the most nominations- Dopesick was the other favorite, but with Lotus sweeping all the techs I think it has this.
Winner: The White Lotus
Alternate: Dopesick
Dark Horse: Pam & Tommy
OUTSTANDING COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
Nailed It!
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice
I assume this is RuPaul again? Voters are pretty lazy in this category and tend to give it to the same show over and over again. But Lizzo’s show actually did well with the technical awards, so that’s possible. You never know when they’re going to suddenly pick a new show here.
Winner: Drag Race
Alternate: Lizzo’s Watch Out of the Big Grrrls
Dark Horse: The Voice
OUTSTANDING VARIETY SKETCH SERIES
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Saturday Night Live
I’m going out on a limb here with A Black Lady Sketch Show. Pretty much no one liked SNL this season and it finally lost directing at Creative Arts, which it hasn’t done since 2016…which happens to be the last time it lost this category on the main ceremony. It still may win in the end with the whole Academy voting but I don’t feel like picking it. And with two nominees? Come on.
Winner: A Black Lady Sketch Show
Alternate: SNL (obvs)
OUTSTANDING VARIETY TALK SERIES
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Late Night With Seth Meyers
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
This one is not in conflict. John Oliver once again won writing and directing, so his show wins easy. I do wish someday they would go with something else, but I think it’s going to have to be a new show if it happens, not the old mainstays. The voters are most lazy in this particular category and they like picking the same show until it goes off the air basically.
Winner: Last Week Tonight
Alternate: The Daily Show (maybe?)
Dark Horse: The Late Show
