'Will & Grace' Cast Reunites for Election Themed Mini Episode

This is a surprise! The original cast of Will & Grace reunited in secret to film a ten minute scene about the 2016 election that came out a few days ago, and the funny thing was how easily each of them slipped back into their roles. All four stars famously received Emmys at some point for their roles on the show, only one of three sitcoms in history (the others being All in the Family and The Golden Girls) to pull that off, so it's cool to see they still got it. 

Queen Elizabeth's Reign Begins in Netflix's 'The Crown'

Monarchs and history are catnip for me, so I'm kind of the target audience for a show like this. Toss in the fact that it's produced by Stephen Daldry and written by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon), and it may be just that perfect British royalty spectacular that people love. Oh, and Claire Foy, who was fantastic as Anne Boleyn in Wolf Hall, as Elizabeth II herself? How can this fail? The ten episode first season drops on November 4th. Count me in.

2016 Emmy Predictions, Part 4: Drama, Comedy, Limited, Variety and Reality Series

Okay, it's finally time for the series awards! I'm just going to go through every category, from the top two to the awards for variety, reality, etc. I don't really think there's a lot of suspense about most of the winners this year though.

BEST COMEDY SERIES

  • Black-ish
  • Master of None
  • Modern Family
  • Silicon Valley
  • Transparent
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Veep

Everyone seems to think this is a slam dunk for Veep, which leaves me somewhat out of the loop. I dumped the show last year and I likely won't be back, despite the pressure of all those reports that this season was it's "best EVER!!" Yeah, I don't care. It never rose above B-level for me, even at its best. So congratulations to the show and all, but it's just not my thing. I would much prefer for Silicon Valley to win this, or Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Actually, there are some other shows that I think should be nominated here that aren't, like You're the Worst, Catastrophe, Orange is the New Black (yup, I stick by the assertion that IS a black comedy) and even the long-running The Middle, which has never been recognized by the Emmys.  Nope, they've always opted for the much lesser Modern Family, which is kind of a crime, to be honest. But hey, at least Modern Family is no longer winning. Be thankful for small favors.

Winner: Veep

Alternate: none

DRAMA SERIES

  • The Americans
  • Better Call Saul
  • Downton Abbey
  • Game of Thrones
  • Homeland
  • House of Cards
  • Mr. Robot

So yeah, this is Game of Thrones again, and this time I really have no problem with it, because I think this last season might actually have been the show's best. I think of it as a makeup award for the win last year, which was its "overdue" honor. This time it's for the quality. I'm most psyched about The Americans' inclusion finally, which hopefully means it will stick around in the category and be able to pull off a win either next year or the year after, for the final season. There's hope. And Downton Abbey, Homeland and especially House of Cards have no business still being nominated over and over again. There's so many better shows they could choose from, like my personal faves Outlander and Happy Valley, but I'm sure many people would say something like The Leftovers as well. Maybe one of them can sneak in when Downton's gone next year.

Winner: Game of Thrones

Alternate: none

LIMITED SERIES

  • American Crime
  • Fargo
  • The Night Manager
  • The People v. O.J. Simpson
  • Roots

Now this is a terrific category. All of them are great picks (despite lesser enthusiasm on my part for Night Manager), and yet the winner here is so easy to predict. OJ Simpson takes it hands down, which is kinda sad because Fargo had such an amazing season (even though it really doesn't belong in the limited series category- this whole changing the cast every year thing is a huge cheat. The show is a drama series and should be competing as one, period).

Winner: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Alternate: Fargo

REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM

  • The Amazing Race
  • American Ninja Warrior
  • Dancing With the Stars
  • Project Runway
  • Top Chef
  • The Voice

Ugh. My total shot in the dark category. Well, Amazing Race tends to always take this, but The Voice did come in and win fairly recently, so maybe they've moved on? I'm gonna go with The Voice here.

Winner: The Voice

Alternate: The Amazing Race

Dark Horse: American Ninja Warrior (this show's definitely been gaining in buzz and viewers lately)

VARIETY TALK SERIES

  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden
  • Real Time with Bill Maher
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

I'm bitter about Sam Bee not being included here, but what's interesting about this category is that it's the first time in almost 15 years that a non-Comedy Central show will win it. I'm guessing this goes to John Oliver, because if we've learned anything about this one it's that Emmy voters like their variety talk to be politics oriented (and they will never, ever throw poor Bill Maher a bone). So I guess Oliver is the heir apparent, although if not him they could turn to Jimmy Fallon, whose broad popularity might lead them to think it's his turn to be recognized.

Winner: Last Week Tonight

Alternate: The Tonight Show

Dark Horse: The Late Late Show (if Carpool Karaoke could take it this far)

VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

  • Documentary Now
  • Drunk History
  • Inside Amy Schumer
  • Key and Peele
  • Portlandia
  • Saturday Night Live

Amy Schumer had her moment in the inaugural category last year, although that's obviously never stopped Emmy voters from going back to the well before. Still, with this having been Key and Peele's last season, I really hope they give them the recognition they deserve. And SNL is probably going to have to win this at some point, since it's a category that was pretty much invented by that show.

Winner: Key and Peele

Alternate: Inside Amy Schumer

Dark Horse: Saturday Night Live

 

2016 Emmy Predictions, Part 3: Acting in a Drama Series

Okay, here comes drama! This is kind of my favorite category because I feel like I watch so many more dramas than comedies overall, and this year in particular because some of my pet faves actually got in! But, as a predictor, I do have to go with the old repetition rule for the most part. Still, I think there's room for some new blood this year.

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

  • Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
  • Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
  • Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
  • Matthew Rhys, The Americans
  • Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
  • Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Interestingly enough, aside from Bryan Cranston's Breaking Bad run, there hasn't actually been too many other repeaters in this category lately. But wisdom tells me it's probably going to be Kevin Spacey, because he hasn't won this yet (if that surprises you you're thinking of the Golden Globes and SAG awards he's already gotten for this role). It seems like it's his turn, although I wouldn't totally rule out Bob Odenkirk or even Rami Malek. I feel like this is a close race.

Winner: Kevin Spacey (gotta go with conventional wisdom)

Alternate: Bob Odenkirk (I bet he's next in line to win this after Spacey anyway)

Dark Horse: Rami Malek (the buzz for Mr. Robot is very high)

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

  • Claire Danes, Homeland
  • Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
  • Taraji P. Henson, Empire
  • Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
  • Keri Russell, The Americans
  • Robin Wright, House of Cards

You know that I SO wish Maslany could take this award, and once again I bemoan the fact that she finally starts getting nominated right as they change the voting system so that the episode submission tapes are now rendered effectively meaningless. If only she'd gotten in there one year earlier, this would be hers. But, seeing as it's mostly a popularity contest now, I guess it's Davis again. Look, her show is mediocre at best, so it's kind of a shame the repeat rule applies here, but they don't usually go backwards, so that rules out Danes. Robin Wright might have a shot, but I kinda think they check off Davis for this.

Winner: Viola Davis

Alternate: Robin Wright

Dark Horse: Tatiana Maslany (I still wish this could happen and it would if they only watched the tape)

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

  • Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
  • Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
  • Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
  • Michael Kelly, House of Cards
  • Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
  • Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Game of Thrones is winning in Drama Series again, so that means it takes one or two actors along with it. Peter Dinklage has won twice, but I think he gets his third as the face of the show. At least he had more screentime this season than what he won for last year. Kit Harington is a possibility too, but I'm surprised he made it in in the first place. The "is Jon Snow dead?" buzz really carried him a long way. 

Winner: Peter Dinklage

Alternate: Kit Harington

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

  • Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
  • Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
  • Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
  • Maura Tierney, The Affair
  • Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
  • Constance Zimmer, UnREAL

This is probably my favorite category just based on the fact that Tierney and Zimmer got in as the sole representatives for their series, so it proves somebody was really watching those shows. I really don't want to go with Maggie Smith again, but this was the last season of Downton and it's the final chance to reward the dame once more- are they going to overlook that, even though she's more than gotten her due from them? Ugh. Not sure what to do here. My gut says Smith, but man do I want Headey to take this. She's so overdue, and in my opinion, really the one actor besides Dinklage who so deserves an Emmy for Thrones, especially this season. I'd love to see them rewarded together, but will the three Thrones women cancel each other out?

Winner: Lena Headey (this might be foolish but I'm taking the shot, assuming expanded voting rules will help her out)

Alternate: Maggie Smith

Dark Horse: Constance Zimmer (she might be enough of a scene stealer to sneak in amongst a split vote)

2016 Emmy Predictions, Part 2: Acting in a Comedy Series

Okay, time for the comedy acting. These tend to go for a lot of repeat winners down the line, so I think this is going to be more boring to predict than the movie/mini ones. Hopefully there's something of a surprise in there along the way.

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

  • Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
  • Aziz Ansari, Master of None
  • Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
  • William H. Macy, Shameless
  • Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
  • Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Tambor was the big winner everywhere last year, but the second season of Transparent didn't seem to have as much buzz, even if it was just as good. That doesn't necessarily mean he won't win again, but I could see someone like Anthony Anderson, whose show had a very attention grabbing season, come in from the outside. Or even Ansari, for the buzz on Master of None.

Winner: Anthony Anderson (something tells me the expanded voting body will gravitate to the more populist show this time)

Alternate: Jeffrey Tambor (could just as easily repeat and it might be unwise on my part to not predict him, but it's the only chance I'm taking in the comedy categories)

Dark Horse: Aziz Ansari (he could definitely sneak in here)

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

  • Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
  • Laurie Metcalf, Getting On
  • Tracee Ellis-Ross, Black-ish
  • Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
  • Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Unbelievably, I do think that Julia Louis-Dreyfus is going to win her fifth consecutive Emmy for this role. The show is the frontrunner for the comedy award again and reportedly had an amazing season with yet another dynamite turn from the television comedy legend. I think you can bank on it.

Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Alternate: Lily Tomlin (another veteran fave, but unlikely)

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

  • Louie Anderson, Baskets
  • Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  • Titus Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Ty Burrell, Modern Family
  • Tony Hale, Veep
  • Keegan-Michael Key, Key and Peele
  • Matt Walsh, Veep

I would really love to see consistent episode-stealer Titus Burgess win this, but with the Emmy repeat rule, I think Hale is more likely to get his third. With Veep's dominance, I suppose Matt Walsh has an outside shot (and I love seeing him get in here), but it's been decided for a while now that Tony Hale is the key supporting player to Dreyfus's queen on the show. 

Winner: Tony Hale

Alternate: Titus Burgess (this is more like wishful thinking on my part, since I'm not exactly sure who the alternate choice is most likely to be here)

Dark Horse: Keegan-Michael Key (with this being K&P's last season, I do think he has a sliver of a chance)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

  • Anna Chlumsky, Veep
  • Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
  • Allison Janney, Mom
  • Judith Light, Transparent
  • Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
  • Niecy Nash, Getting On

Eh. Once more, the repeat winner's rule applies, so Janney continues to dominate. But this is also a case where I'm just not sure who the voters would rally behind as an alternative. Frankly, one of these years I'd like to see McKinnon take it for continually being the MVP of the middling SNL, but no sketch player has ever won this award. The Transparent ladies probably cancel each other out, Chlumsky has nowhere near a meaty enough role, and Nash is on a show that hasn't been as talked about or seen. So that leaves us with the repeater.

Winner: Allison Janney

Alternate: Kate McKinnon