Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week! This week and next week will be super-sized and Emmys focused. Next week is the final week of regular posts on my blog until September. I'll be doing my own Benjamonster Awards through the month of July but here's a handicapping of the Emmy races and my current predictions (note these are PREDICTIONS, not my personal votes. That will come during my July Awards!) This week will focus on the supporting categories for comedy, drama and limited series. Next week will look at the lead performances and the series
This category is a bit of a mess and the question is how many Saturday Night Live actors will get in? Kenan Thompson seems like a safe bet to return and both Bowen Yang and Pete Davidson have a shot as well. None of last year's nominees besides Thompson are eligible so there will be many new faces. If there's major love for Ted Lasso, then there's good-to-decent chances for Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Jeremy Swift (in that order). Likewise, if The Flight Attendant comes up big then Michael Huisman and T.R. Knight could both get in but my money's on just Huisman. Alex Newell seemed to cause more waves last year on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and didn't get in, but the competition is lighter this year. Ray Romano is a well known name but Made for Love doesn't have a ton of buzz. Ditto for Paul Reiser from The Kominsky Method. A dark horse could be Nico Santos for Superstore's final season while Laurence Fishburne could certainly get in for Black-ish for the first time.
Current Predictions: Pete Davidson, Laurence Fishburne, Brett Goldstein, Michael Huisman, Brendan Hunt, Ray Romano, Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang
The race is a little more competitive for Supporting Actress than Supporting Actor in the comedy field. Heading up the race is Hannah Waddingham from Ted Lasso, who will certainly get in and has a decent shot at winning. Her biggest competition will probably come from Saturday Night Live actresses. Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong and Aidy Bryant all have a chance to return to the category while Heidi Gardner or Chloe Fineman could be new additions. Right now momentum seems to be with Strong, who also seems the most likely to depart SNL. The Flight Attendant has several potential actresses as well headed by Rosie Perez and Zosia Mamet with Michelle Gomez also having a chance. A dark horse is Girls5Eva. If the Peacock comedy can get traction then both Paula Pell and Busy Phillips have a chance. Along with Waddingham, Juno Temple could ride a Ted Lasso wave to a nomination. And some veteran actresses like Kathleen Turner on The Kominsky Method and Laurie Metcalf on The Conners could sneak in. If former Emmy darling Master of None gets any love this time around then Naomi Ackie would have a good shot for her acclaimed performance.
Current Predictions: Zosia Mamet, Kate McKinnon, Paula Pell, Rosie Perez, Cecily Strong, Juno Temple, Kathleen Turner, Hannah Waddingham
There is no real clear frontrunner in the Drama Series Supporting Actor race but there are plenty near the top who seem very likely for a nomination. That includes the only eligible returnee, Bradley Whitford for The Handmaid's Tale. Giancarlo Esposito could also be a returning nominee but for a different show. Last year, he was nominated for Better Call Saul while he is in the running for The Mandalorian this year. The love for The Crown will likely extend to Tobias Menzies, who competed as lead last year and did not get nominated. Chris Sullivan is a former nominee for This is Us but voters seem to be moving away from that show. Among new show actors, there is a good chance for Michael Kenneth Williams for Lovecraft Country and John Lithgow for Perry Mason. John Benjamin Hickey and Anthony Ramos have both been mentioned for In Treatment but that show doesn't seem to be making a lot of noise. Jonathan Bailey will be moving to a lead role on Bridgerton for the second season but is the mix for supporting from the first season. And while I don't think The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will get any above the line nominations, you can't totally rule out Wyatt Russell or Daniel Bruhl. This is not a huge or incredibly impressive group of frontrunners so you could see surprises such as Ryan Jamal Swain from Pose, O-T Fagbenle from The Handmaid's Tale or the darkest of dark horses, Michael Dorman from For All Mankind.
Current Predictions: Jonathan Bailey, Giancarlo Esposito, O-T Fagbenle, John Benjamin Hickey, John Lithgow, Tobias Menzies, Bradley Whitford, Michael Kenneth Williams
There is very little drama about the frontrunner for this category. It is Gillian Anderson for The Crown. While her performance as Margaret Thatcher was initially a bit divisive, she has gained momentum over the months. While others have a ways to go to threaten her for the win, there will of course be other nominees. Returning possibilities include Anderson's Crown co-star Helena Bonham Carter and a trio of actresses from The Handmaid's Tale: Samira Wiley, Yvonne Strahovski and former winner Ann Dowd. Although Ratched was not very well liked by critics, there is some buzz for Cynthia Nixon while former Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany could make some noise for Perry Mason. I'm somewhat mixed on the chances for Lovecraft Country but if it overperforms then both Wunmi Mosaku and Aunjanue Ellis could get in. If Pose can break through beyond Billy Porter then you could see nominations for Indya Moore or Dominique Jackson. And even Emerald Fennell or Erin Doherty have a chance if The Crown just goes crazy with nominations. And of course there's always hope that Susan Kelechi Watson will finally get recognized for This is Us.
Current Predictions: Gillian Anderson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ann Dowd, Tatiana Maslany, Wunmi Mosaku, Cynthia Nixon, Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley
There's a lot of competition in all the limited series/TV movie categories but this one may be the weakest of the four acting categories. I'm not totally sold on Small Axe making much of a dent but John Boyega seems like a pretty sure bet. The Undoing may also undeperform but get a nomination for Donald Sutherland. Ditto again for Genius: Aretha and Courtney B. Vance and The Comey Rule and Brendan Gleeson. Say what you want about if Hamilton deserves to be contending (I don't think it does) but it is and so Daveed Diggs certainly could get in for his Tony-winning role. Among the more acclaimed shows, there could be nominations for Bill Camp for The Queen's Gambit, William Jackson Harper for The Underground Railroad and Evan Peters for Mare of Easttown. It just depends on if voters will be looking at the mor eacclaimed performances or the more acclaimed shows. Some dark horses include Paapa Essiedu for I May Destroy You and Glynn Thurman for Fargo and I don't think Neil Patrick Harris can be completely disregarded for It's A Sin or even Joshua Caleb Johnson for The Good Lord Bird.
Current Predictions: John Boyega, Bill Camp, Paapa Essiedu, Brendan Gleeson, William Jackson Harper, Evan Peters, Donald Sutherland
For a long time, the frontrunner for this category was Kathryn Hahn for WandaVision and she still may be but there is some definite new interest in Julianne Nicholson for Mare of Easttown after the finale this past week. They have competition from their own series with Teyonah Parris on Wanda and Jean Smart (a nominee in this category last year for Watchmen) for Mare. Marielle Heller from The Queen's Gambit seems like a pretty safe bet while Renee Elise Goldsberry could easily get in for her Tony-winning turn in Hamilton. Fargo looks to be a flop with voters but its best chance to get any major nominations is Jessie Buckley while Letita Wright for Small Axe and Weruche Opia for I May Destroy You may hinge on how well those series do. I don't fully understand it but there seems to be a fair amount of interest in Krysta Rodriguez for Halston and Noma Dumezweni was pretty well liked in The Undoing. Dark horses could include Whoopi Goldberg for The Stand and Lily Rabe or Amber Gray for The Underground Railroad.
Current Predictions: Kathryn Hahn, Marielle Heller, Julianne Nicholson, Teyonah Parris, Jean Smart, Letita Wright
Check back next week for a new week of blog posts!
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