September 17, 2021

EMMYS 2021 PREDICTIONS: ‘THE CROWN’, ‘TED LASSO’, ‘THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT’ WILL WIN BIG

From the looks of it, this year’s Emmys will present almost clean sweeps for THE CROWN and TED LASSO, in drama and comedy, respectively. For limited series, it’s going to be a mix of WANDAVISION, THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT and MARE OF EASTTOWN. The likelihood of these shows taking away most of the prizes this Sunday could also get thrown up in the air, as the Television Academy can often be unpredictable and award the least likely nominees even. Among other contenders, POSE could present an upset in drama, and HACKS and THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT in comedy (though I’ll probably scream if BRIDGERTON or EMILY IN PARIS wins anything). Until then though, here are the predictions…

 

DRAMA SERIES


Outstanding Drama Series

THE BOYS

BRIDGERTON

THE CROWN

THE MANDALORIAN

LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

POSE

THE HANDMAID'S TALE

THIS IS US

This is THE CROWN’s year. It hasn’t won before, even though any of the previous seasons were worthy enough, especially the first. However, this the most solid season the show has had since that one, in terms of the response and reviews. And I think the Television Academy will finally reward it.


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Emma Corrin, THE CROWN

Olivia Colman, THE CROWN

Uzo Aduba, IN TREATMENT

Elisabeth Moss, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Jurnee Smollett, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

MJ Rodriguez, POSE

Emma Corrin has won almost everything else for her sensitive portrayal of Diana. It would be a surprise if anyone else wins here. The surprise would be pleasant though if Olivia Colman were to win. MJ Rodriguez could also just win this.


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Regé-Jean Page, BRIDGERTON

Sterling K. Brown, THIS IS US

Billy Porter, POSE

Jonathan Majors, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

Matthew Rhys, PERRY MASON

Josh O'Connor, THE CROWN

Josh O’Connor’s a clear favorite for his infuriating yet charming portrayal of Charles. I doubt anyone else stands a chance. Yet, Billy Porter’s odds of winning are better than all the others, especially since he has won this before.


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Gillian Anderson, THE CROWN

Helena Bonham Carter, THE CROWN

Emerald Fennell, THE CROWN

Ann Dowd, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Yvonne Strahovski, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Samira Wiley, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Madeline Brewer, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Aunjanue Ellis, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

Oh I would love to see Helena Bonham-Carter win for her tremendous work as Princess Margaret. I wish she had won last year, since season three was stronger for her character. While THE CROWN will win in this category this year, it’s going to be the highly talked-about portrayal of Margaret Thatcher by Gillian Anderson.  


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Michael K. Williams, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

Bradley Whitford, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Max Minghella, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

O-T Fagbenle, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

John Lithgow, PERRY MASON

Tobias Menzies, THE CROWN

Giancarlo Esposito, THE MANDALORIAN

Chris Sullivan, THIS IS US

The late Michael Williams seems to be a favorite for this category. The actor who passed away last week will win his only ever Emmy, posthumously.


Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

Julie Anne Robinson, BRIDGERTON

Steven Canals, POSE

Benjamin Caron, THE CROWN (‘Fairytale’)

Jessica Hobbs, THE CROWN (‘War’)

Liz Garbus, THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Jon Favreau, THE MANDALORIAN

THE CROWN is winning this one as well. I think the episode ‘Fairytale’ by Benjamin Caron will win for its beautiful depiction of the other side of the ‘fairytale’ marriage of Diana and Charles, which was just about going to unravel.


Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Rebecca Sonnenshine, THE BOYS

Peter Morgan, THE CROWN

Yahlin Chang, THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Misha Green, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY

Dave Filoni, THE MANDALORIAN 

Jon Favreau, THE MANDALORIAN 

Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Steven Canals, Janet Mock, Our Lady J, POSE

THE CROWN will win for its season finale, which was so rich in its dialogue especially, saying so much without stating absolutes. That is what’s so brilliant about this show and its depiction of the very measured and reserved members of the royal family.


COMEDY SERIES


Outstanding Comedy Series

BLACK-ISH

COBRA KAI

PEN15

EMILY IN PARIS

HACKS

TED LASSO

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

This is TED LASSO’s year. It’s winning this without a doubt. It may event take away more than one acting award. It will win directing and writing as well. But its most predictable win is in this category.


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Aidy Bryant, SHRILL

Jean Smart, HACKS

Allison Janney, MOM

Kaley Cuoco, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Tracee Ellis Ross, BLACK-ISH

I wish I could say that Kaley Cuoco will win this one. However, it seems like Jean Smart is a favorite. I would love to be surprised, but I think this one will go as expected.


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Jason Sudeikis, TED LASSO

Anthony Anderson, BLACK-ISH

Michael Douglas, THE KOMINSKY METHOD

William H. Macy, SHAMELESS

Kenan Thompson, KENAN

There’s no chance anyone else will come close. This is TED LASSO’s year. Sudeikis is winning, hands down.


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Kate McKinnon, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Cecily Strong, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Aidy Bryant, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Rosie Perez, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Hannah Einbinder, HACKS

Hannah Waddingham, TED LASSO

Juno Temple, TED LASSO

I think Hannah Waddingham is winning this one. She has such a commanding presence in every scene, yet brings out such vulnerability and sensitivity in Rebecca—a very nuanced performance indeed.


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Bowen Yang, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Kenan Thompson, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Brett Goldstein, TED LASSO

Brendan Hunt, TED LASSO

Nick Mohammed, TED LASSO

Jeremy Swift, TED LASSO

Paul Reiser, THE KOMINSKY METHOD

Carl Clemons-Hopkins, HACKS

I think Brett Goldstein will win this one. Though he does have a disadvantage, with the TED LASSO votes likely to be split four ways. If the show doesn’t win in this category, I think the win could go to Kenan Thompson. 


Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

James Burrows, B POSITIVE

Lucia Aniello, HACKS

James Widdoes, MOM

Declan Lowney, TED LASSO (‘Make Rebecca great again’)

Zach Braff, TED LASSO (‘Biscuits’)

MJ Delaney, TED LASSO (‘The hope that kills you’)

Susanna Fogel, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

TED LASSO is winning for sure. Which episode? Any of them could win, but I think ‘Biscuits’ by Zach Braff will take it away. It’s when we really got to see different shades of the characters, with layers and preconceived notions being peeled away, and the directing helped bring it all together


Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Steve Yockey, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Meredith Scardino, GIRLS5EVA

Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, HACKS

Maya Erskine, PEN15

Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, TED LASSO (‘Make Rebecca great again’)

Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, TED LASSO (‘Pilot’)

TED LASSO all the way! Which episode? I’ll go with the ‘Pilot’, which set the tone so well for the rest of this series that is so, so unique and lovely. Also, the Television Academy loves pilots.


LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE


Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

MARE OF EASTTOWN

I MAY DESTROY YOU

WANDAVISION

THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

This very difficult to predict. I was blown away by both THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT and MARE OF EASTTOWN. Since I saw the latter more recently, I might be inclined to vote in its favor, if I were a voting Academy member, but I can’t forget how fascinated I was with everything about the chess show. I think for its story and layered subject matter and characters, THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT will win.


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Kate Winslet, MARE OF EASTTOWN

Michaela Coel, I MAY DESTROY YOU

Anya Taylor-Joy, THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Elizabeth Olsen, WANDAVISION

Cynthia Erivo, GENIUS: ARETHA

Before MARE OF EASTTOWN, this was Anya Taylor-Joy’s to lose. She’d won everything else until then. However, with the Emmy’s off-calendar-year cycle putting MARE into consideration, it makes it very hard to not give this to anyone other than Kate Winslet, who delivered what many have called her career’s best work.


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Paul Bettany, WANDAVISION

Hugh Grant, THE UNDOING

Ewan McGregor, HALSTON

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton

Leslie Odom Jr., Hamilton

Hugh Grant has a good shot at this one. His was probably the most talked-about performance from THE UNDOING. However, I think Paul Bettany will win this for his calm and restrained delivery of Vision. It will probably be the first acting win for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Daveed Diggs, Hamilton

Jonathan Groff, Hamilton

Anthony Ramos, Hamilton

Thomas Brodie-Sangster, THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Evan Peters, MARE OF EASTTOWN

Paapa Essiedu, I MAY DESTROY YOU

I really would love to see Evan Peters win for MARE OF EASTTOWN. His sensitive and endearing portrayal of Colin Zabel made a big impact, and this role got people talking, as they began to recognize talent that they may not have seen in him before. And I think for that reason, he will win. People love to appreciate talent coming of age.


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jean Smart, MARE OF EASTTOWN

Julianne Nicholson, MARE OF EASTTOWN

Kathryn Hahn, WANDAVISION

Phillipa Soo, Hamilton

Renee Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton

Moses Ingram, THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT

Though I would love to see Julianne Nicholson or Jean Smart win, I think it’ll be Katherine Hahn, who stole the show towards the end of WANDAVISION and had everyone talking and making memes. And with Jean Smart being a frontrunner in comedy, I think the Academy might anyway go with someone else for this one.


Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Thomas Kail, Hamilton

Sam Miller, Michaela Coel, I MAY DESTROY YOU

Sam Miller, I MAY DESTROY YOU

Craig Zobel, MARE OF EASTTOWN

Scott Frank, THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT

Barry Jenkins, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Matt Shakman, WANDAVISION

THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT had a mesmerizing quality to it throughout. The captivating nature of this series is bound to be rewarded. MARE OF EASTTOWN’s very delicate handling of every scene could win, but I think it will be the GAMBIT.


Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Michaela Coel, I MAY DESTROY YOU

Brad Ingelsby, MARE OF EASTTOWN

Scott Frank, THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT

Chuck Hayward, Peter Cameron, WANDAVISION

Jac Schaeffer, WANDAVISION

Laura Donney, WANDAVISION

I suspect that MARE OF EASTTOWN’s nuanced storytelling and detailed characters will win it this award for writing. Something so rich in character and dialogue should win.


ALREADY ANNOUNCED AT THE CREATIVE ARTS EMMYS LAST WEEKEND:


Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Mckenna Grace, THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Claire Foy, THE CROWN | WON

Phylicia Rashad, THIS IS US

Sophie Okonedo, RATCHED


Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Courtney B. Vance, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY | WON

Charles Dance, THE CROWN

Don Cheadle, THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER

Timothy Olyphant, THE MANDALORIAN

Carl Weathers, THE MANDALORIAN


Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Maya Rudolph, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE | WON

Kristen Wiig, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Issa Rae, A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW

Jane Adams, HACKS

Bernadette Peters, ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST

Yvette Nicole Brown, A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW


Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Dave Chappelle, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE | WON

Daniel Kaluuya, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Dan Levy, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Morgan Freeman, THE KOMINSKY METHOD


Outstanding Television Movie

Uncle Frank

Sylvie's Love

Oslo

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia

Dolly Parton's Christmas on The Square | WON

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