If Sunday’s Primetime Emmys turn out the way I expect, they will be highly entertaining. Not necessarily on TV, but certainly on social media.
I’ll be shocked if “Game of Thrones” doesn’t win best drama, and in several other categories as well. And it will be fun to watch as haters’ heads explode and they express their outrage on Twitter. Because, you know, there’s all those entitled “fans” who whined online when the show didn’t turn out the way they wanted.
“Game of Thrones,” which won best-drama Emmys in each of its previous three seasons, already won 10 more this year at last week’s Creative Arts Emmys. That brings its total to 57, and it’s a sure bet to win more on Sunday’s host-less, 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (6 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13).
And not just because the folks at HBO are better at campaigning for Emmys than anyone else.
Here’s who’s nominated — and who will probably win — in some of the big-time categories:
(Photo courtesy of Justin M. Lubin | HBO): Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars as former President Selina Meyer in "Veep."
Comedy Series • “Barry“ (HBO), “Fleabag“ (Amazon), “The Good Place“ (NBC), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel“ (Amazon), “Russian Doll” (Netflix), “Schitt’s Creek” (Pop), “Veep” (HBO).
I’d love to see “The Good Place” win, but “Veep” will.
Drama Series • “Better Call Saul” (AMC), “Bodyguard” (Netflix), “Game of Thrones” (HBO), “Killing Eve” (BBC America), “Ozark” (Netflix), “Pose” (FX), “Succession” (HBO), “This Is Us” (NBC).
Again, “Game of Thrones” will win. And I’m fine with that. Shut up.
(Photo courtesy Liam Daniel/HBO) "Chernobyl" is the favorite to win the Emmy as outstanding limited series.
Limited Series • “Chernobyl” (HBO), “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime), “Fosse/Verdon” (FX), “Sharp Objects” (HBO), “When They See Us” (Netflix).
They’re all deserving. “Chernobyl” should win, and probably will.
Actor, drama • Jason Bateman, “Ozark”; Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”; Kit Harington, “Game of Thrones”; Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”; Billy Porter, “Pose”; Milo Ventimiglia, “This Is Us”
Brown may well win his third, but don't count Porter out.
(HBO via AP) Emilia Clarke stars as Daenerys Targaryen in "Game of Thrones." On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Clarke was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.
Actress, drama • Emilia Clarke, “Game of Thrones”; Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve”; Viola Davis, “How to Get Away With Murder”; Laura Linney, “Ozark”; Mandy Moore, “This Is Us”; Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve”; Robin Wright, “House of Cards”
Oh will probably win, but I'd sort of like to see Clarke take home the Emmy.
Actor, comedy • Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”; Don Cheadle, “Black Monday”; Ted Danson, “The Good Place”; Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”; Bill Hader, “Barry”; Eugene Levy, “Schitt’s Creek”
Hader, who has the HBO machine behind him, is the favorite. Danson ought to win.
Actress, comedy • Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me”; Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”; Natasha Lyonne, “Russian Doll”; Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek”; Phoebe Waller-Brige, “Fleabag”
This is the easiest prediction of all. Louis-Dreyfus will win her ninth acting Emmy (and 12th overall).
Actor, Limited Series or Movie • Mahershala Ali, “True Detective”; Benicio del Toro, “Escape at Dannemora”; Hugh Grant, “A Very English Scandal”; Jared Harris, “Chernobyl”; Jharrel Jerome, “When They See Us”; Sam Rockwell, “Fosse/Verdon”
Emmy voters love Oscar winners. Ali has two; del Toro and Rockwell each have one. So ... Ali.
Actress, Limited Series or Movie • Amy Adams, “Sharp Objects”; Patricia Arquette, “Escape at Dannemora”; Aunjanue Ellis, “When They See Us”; Joey King, “The Act”; Niecy Nash, “When They See Us”; Michelle Williams, “Fosse/Verdon”
Williams is the favorite, and the thought of a former “Dawson’s Creek” star winning an Emmy is just delicious.
OTHER PREDICTIONS (aka guesses) • TV movie — “Deadwood: The Movie”; variety/talk series — “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”; supporting actress, drama — Maisie Williams, “Game of Thrones”; supporting actor, drama — Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”; supporting actor, comedy — Tony Shalhoub, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”; supporting actress, comedy — Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
