And the winners will be: The BuzzMeter experts predict the 2021 Emmy winners — and so can you (all polls are open)
With the Emmy ceremony only days away (Sept. 19), the polls are open!
The six veteran TV journalists who make up our BuzzMeter panel have picked the winners in 14 Emmy categories; now you can vote for each category as well.
Will you go with the Buzzards’ favorites (there is a small handful of consensus picks) or prove them wrong? Are we going to see near sweeps in the comedy and drama series categories, but a spread of the wealth — excluding “I May Destroy You” apart from writing and directing prizes — in the limited/anthology races? You make the call!
This week, the BuzzMeter features a glamour category in which warm farewell sentiment might lead to a win ... for any of four nominees: Lead actor in a drama series.
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
“The Crown” and “The Mandalorian” dominate the 2021 Emmy nominations. Here are the honorees in the major categories.
Pray Tell has strolled right up and snatched the lead from Prince Charles.
Previous winner Billy Porter has overtaken Josh O’Connor‘s portrayal of a tortured, spineless Prince Charles as the BuzzMeter’s narrow favorite to win the Emmy, perhaps indicative of “Pose’s” general momentum for its final season.
In Round 2, panelist Matt Roush pondered a “Schitt’s Creek”-like sweep for “The Crown.” But in Round 3, some Buzzers think the likability of the characters involved could play a part in the academy’s voting. Panelist Glenn Whipp said, “Charles is such a loathsome twit that I think voters will hold it against” O’Connor.
It’s the academy’s last chance to honor not only top contenders Porter and O’Connor (recast as Dominic West as time moves forward in the next season of “The Crown”), but also Regé-Jean Page, whose character won’t be returning, at least as a regular, to “Bridgerton” and Jonathan Majors, for the cancelled “Lovecraft Country.”
The panel went six-for-six in predicting the nominees in Round 2.
Billy Porter, “Pose”
Josh O’Connor, “The Crown”
Matthew Rhys, “Perry Mason”
Regé-Jean Page, “Bridgerton”
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
Jonathan Majors, “Lovecraft Country”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”)
Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”)
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”)
Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”)
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”)
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”)
“This category is really a race between Billy Porter, the 2019 winner, and first-time nominee Josh O’Connor. Though Porter has a slight edge — his final turn as Pray Tell was a tragic tour de force — I’d like to manifest a win for O’Connor, who was heartbreaking and infuriating as Prince Charles.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”)
Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”)
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”)
Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”)
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”)
“A tough call. Billy Porter has won before, but his swan song as Pray Tell was so emotionally fierce I give him the edge over Josh O’Connor’s petulant prince.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”)
Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”)
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”)
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”)
Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”)
Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”)
“O’Connor could win. But Charles is such a loathsome twit that I think voters will hold it against him. All hail Billy Porter!”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
“The Crown” continues to rule. It was one of only four consensus top picks in Round 2 of the BuzzMeter and is one of the only consensus picks in Round 3. It’s far out in front of its closest competitors, the late-surging “Pose” and the suddenly resurgent “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Perennial contender “The Handmaid’s Tale” scored 21 noms, including an amazing 10 for its actors.
But “The Crown” tied with “The Mandalorian” for most Emmy nominations overall, with 24.
The panel flexed its muscles in this category in Round 2, correctly picking eight of the nine nominees. The only one to miss the cut: HBO’s “In Treatment.” Kudos to the BuzzMetricians for correctly picking two previously un-nominated sci-fi/fantasy shows: The lone season of “Lovecraft Country” and the audacious second season of the superhero deconstruction “The Boys” (“The Mandalorian” was also nominated last year).
“The Crown”
“Pose”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“The Mandalorian”
“Lovecraft Country”
“The Boys”
“Bridgerton”
“This Is Us”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
“The Crown”
“Pose”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Lovecraft Country”
“The Boys”
“Bridgerton”
“The Mandalorian”
“This Is Us”
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
“The Crown”
“Pose”
“Lovecraft Country”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“The Boys”
“The Mandalorian”
“Bridgerton”
“This Is Us”
“Gonna give it to ‘The Crown,’ which has been nominated every season but has never won. Season 4 — the sad saga of Charles and Diana, plus Gillian Anderson’s sublime Thatcher wig — is arguably the best and should take home the win.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
“The Crown”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“The Mandalorian”
“This Is Us”
“Pose”
“The Boys”
“Bridgerton”
“Lovecraft Country”
Matt Roush
TV Guide
“The Crown”
“Pose”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“The Mandalorian”
“Bridgerton”
“The Boys”
“Lovecraft Country”
“This Is Us”
“It’s time for ‘The Crown’ to finally get its Emmy coronation. The one-two punch of Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana should put this over the top. (Plus: no ‘Succession’ this year.)”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
“The Crown”
“The Mandalorian”
“Pose”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Lovecraft Country”
“This Is Us”
“The Boys”
“Bridgerton”
“Hard to imagine anything beating ‘The Crown.’”
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
“The Crown”
“Pose”
“The Mandalorian”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“The Boys”
“Lovecraft Country”
“Bridgerton”
“This Is Us”
“Eight years after ‘House of Cards’ earned Netflix its first series nom, the streamer will finally take its first win with ‘The Crown.’ ”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
Emma Corrin, Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke, Anthony Mackie, Elisabeth Moss and Jurnee Smollett take us behind the scenes to talk narcissists, grandparents and delivering meaningful work.
Several of our panelists continue to assess the race as a dead heat between Emma Corrin as Princess Diana and the Queen Mum herself, Corrin’s “Crown” costar, Oscar winner Olivia Colman. In the voting, those two came out well ahead of the pack, though they’re close to each other’s total. Panelist Matt Roush said, “The voters will likely favor the unhappy princess, much like in real life.”
On the other hand, both Aduba and Elisabeth Moss have won before — Aduba three times, including last year, Moss twice (once as producer) — and Moss’ arc on “Handmaid’s Tale” is bending more and more extremely.
The panel went an impressive six-for-six in Round 2 when picking the eventual nominees, with Uzo Aduba making the cut though her show, “In Treatment,” missed out on a series nod. As predicted, Mj Rodriguez made history as the first trans performer to score a lead acting nod.
Emma Corrin, “The Crown”
Olivia Colman, “The Crown”
Mj Rodriguez, “Pose”
Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Jurnee Smollett, “Lovecraft Country”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”)
Emma Corrin (“The Crown”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Mj Rodriguez (“Pose”)
Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Emma Corrin (“The Crown”)
Mj Rodriguez (“Pose”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”)
Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”)
“While I’m thrilled for Mj Rodriguez, truly the heart and soul of ‘Pose,’ Emma Corrin was astonishing as Diana. Hey, maybe there’ll be a tie and they can both win!”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Emma Corrin (“The Crown”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Mj Rodriguez (“Pose”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”)
Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Emma Corrin (“The Crown”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Mj Rodriguez (“Pose”)
Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”)
“It’s a toss-up between Emma Corrin’s vulnerable Princess Di and Olivia Colman’s majestic restraint as the conflicted Queen. (She’d get my vote.) The voters will likely favor the unhappy princess, much like in real life.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Mj Rodriguez (“Pose”)
Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”)
Emma Corrin (“The Crown”)
“The academy loves Uzo.”
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Emma Corrin (“The Crown”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Mj Rodriguez (“Pose”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”)
Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”)
“I’d vote for Corrin just for that scene where she roller skated through the palace with her Walkman playing Duran Duran.”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bunch of quality shows with superheroes in them!
In a category populated almost entirely by performers from just two shows, Gillian Anderson stayed on top in Round 3. She has already won the SAG and the Critics’ Choice Award for her turn as Margaret Thatcher. Meryl Streep, of course, won an Oscar as the “Iron Lady.” Might there be an echo here after John Lithgow won the supporting-actor Emmy as Winston Churchill in Season 1 of “The Crown,” then Gary Oldman won the Oscar as Churchill for “Darkest Hour”? Or might Oscar-winning castmate Emerald Fennell (as Camilla Parker-Bowles), Aunjanue Ellis, or any from the “Handmaid’s” army get to say “Stand Down Margaret?”
Interestingly, while some Buzzards wondered aloud if voters’ dislike of Prince Charles as a character might lead to an Emmy disadvantage, panelist Kristen Baldwin said, “Gillian Anderson made me hate Thatcher a little less. That’s acting.”
The Buzzers went a not-bad six-for-eight in Round 2. Their near-miss contender Aunjanue Ellis took the slot the panel had for Ellis’ “Lovecraft Country” castmate, Wunmi Mosaku. And Madeline Brewer of “The Handmaid’s Tale” got the nod instead of the panel’s prediction of Tatiana Maslany (“Perry Mason”). Oh well, Maslany is a previous winner and her consolation prize will be joining the MCU to lead the upcoming Disney+ series, “She-Hulk.”
Ellis was the only non-”Crown” or “Handmaid’s” contenders to make the nominees list. “The Crown” placed three and “The Handmaid’s Tale” dominated with four.
Gillian Anderson, “The Crown”
Helena Bonham Carter, “The Crown”
Ann Dowd, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Yvonne Strahovski, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Madeline Brewer, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Aunjanue Ellis, “Lovecraft Country”
Emerald Fennell, “The Crown”
Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”)
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Aunjanue Ellis (“Lovecraft Country”)
Madeline Brewer (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Emerald Fennell (“The Crown”)
Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Madeline Brewer (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Aunjanue Ellis (“Lovecraft Country”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Emerald Fennell (“The Crown”)
“Gillian Anderson made me hate Thatcher a little less. That’s acting.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Madeline Brewer (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Emerald Fennell (“The Crown”)
Aunjanue Ellis (“Lovecraft Country”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”)
Emerald Fennell (“The Crown”)
Wunmi Mosaku (“Lovecraft Country”)
Tatiana Maslany (“Perry Mason”)
Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Nicola Coughlan (“Bridgerton”)
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
“Gillian Anderson’s impersonation of Margaret Thatcher is right up there with Meryl Streep’s—and her wobbling on the moors in inappropriate footwear may even have outdone La Streep.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Emerald Fennell (“The Crown”)
Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Wunmi Mosaku (“Lovecraft Country”)
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Tatiana Maslany (“Perry Mason”)
Cynthia Nixon (“Ratched”)
“As I was saying, ‘The Crown’ ...”
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Emerald Fennell (“The Crown”)
Wunmi Mosaku (“Lovecraft Country”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Cynthia Nixon (“Ratched”)
Tatiana Maslany (“Perry Mason”)
“If you are on ‘The Crown,’ you are nominated!”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
The late Michael K. Williams, who, surprisingly, had not won an Emmy in his lifetime holds at No. 1. He was No. 1 for all three rounds of the BuzzMeter and came within a hair of being a consensus pick in Round 3 for his work in “Lovecraft Country.”
In Round 2, the panel regarded this as an evenly matched and unpredictable race, supporting 13 candidates for the eight slots. The Buzzards ended up getting only five right in that round, as “The Handmaid’s Tale” surprisingly dominated with three actor nominees.
Michael K. Williams, “Lovecraft Country”
Tobias Menzies, “The Crown”
John Lithgow, “Perry Mason”
Giancarlo Esposito, “The Mandalorian”
Bradley Whitford, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Chris Sullivan, “This Is Us”
O-T Fagbenle, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Max Minghella, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Michael Kenneth Williams (“Lovecraft Country”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Giancarlo Esposito (“Mandalorian”)
John Lithgow (“Perry Mason”)
Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”)
O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Michael Kenneth Williams (“Lovecraft Country”)
Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”)
Giancarlo Esposito (“Mandalorian”)
John Lithgow (“Perry Mason”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
“Oh, how I loved Tobias Menzies as the petulant and pompous Prince Phillip! But Michael Kenneth Williams has the momentum, and that’s fine — he’s still owed an Emmy for his turn as Omar on ‘The Wire.’ ”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Michael Kenneth Williams (“Lovecraft Country”)
Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”)
John Lithgow (“Perry Mason”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Giancarlo Esposito (“Mandalorian”)
Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Michael Kenneth Williams (“Lovecraft Country”)
Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”)
John Lithgow (“Perry Mason”)
Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
Giancarlo Esposito (“Mandalorian”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
“Long overdue a win, Michael Kenneth Williams should finally triumph, representing ‘Lovecraft’s’ mighty cast in the winner’s circle.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”)
Michael Kenneth Williams (“Lovecraft Country”)
Giancarlo Esposito (“Mandalorian”)
John Lithgow (“Perry Mason”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
“Could be an opportunity for Michael Kenneth Williams.”
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Michael Kenneth Williams (“Lovecraft Country”)
Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”)
John Lithgow (“Perry Mason”)
Giancarlo Esposito (“Mandalorian”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
“Michael Kenneth Williams is a national treasure and should have won an Emmy for ‘The Wire.’ Better late than never.”
The actor’s character, Montrose, suffered his own traumas before inflicting them on his son.
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
Ted Danson, Jane Lynch, Linda Cardellini, Annie Murphy, William Jackson Harper and Nicholas Hoult discuss their fears and their funniest moments.
The gentle “Ted Lasso” received 20 nominations. But while it has been No. 1 for every round of the BuzzMeter, it is somewhat surprisingly no longer a consensus pick.
The Jean Smart comedy “Hacks” received several top noms (including for three of its actors) and is solidly in second place in Round 3. Glenn Whipp said, “‘Hacks’ made this a little more interesting than it would have been a few months ago. But ‘Ted Lasso’ still wins.”
The mixed-genre hit “The Flight Attendant” has fallen far behind those top two. Some quirky shows made the list (“PEN15,” “Dickinson”, “Search Party”), with “black-ish” the lone representative of the broadcast networks. The clever “Karate Kid” sequel series “Cobra Kai” became the first show originating on YouTube Red/YouTube Premium to get a series nod, to the delight of several panelists.
Only “Emily in Paris” surprised the panel in Round 2 (seven-for-eight predicting nominees), as the academy didn’t acknowledge the existence of the wickedly fun but late-dropping “Girls5Eva.”
“Ted Lasso”
“Hacks”
“The Flight Attendant”
“PEN15”
“Cobra Kai”
“The Kominsky Method”
“black-ish”
“Emily in Paris”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
“Hacks”
“Ted Lasso”
“The Flight Attendant”
“PEN15”
“Cobra Kai”
“black-ish”
“The Kominsky Method”
“Emily in Paris”
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
“Ted Lasso”
“Hacks”
“The Flight Attendant”
“Cobra Kai”
“The Kominsky Method”
“PEN15”
“black-ish”
“Emily in Paris”
“Hooray for ‘Cobra Kai’! Still, ‘Lasso’ is basically a lock.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
“Ted Lasso”
“Hacks”
“The Flight Attendant”
“Cobra Kai”
“PEN15”
“The Kominsky Method”
“black-ish”
“Emily in Paris”
Matt Roush
TV Guide
“Ted Lasso”
“Hacks”
“Cobra Kai”
“The Flight Attendant”
“PEN15”
“The Kominsky Method”
“black-ish”
“Emily in Paris”
“Simply put, this is ‘Ted Lasso’s’ year, a brilliantly executed feel-great show that brought viewers joy during the darkest of times”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
“Ted Lasso”
“Hacks”
“PEN15”
“The Kominsky Method”
“The Flight Attendant”
“black-ish”
“Cobra Kai”
“Emily in Paris”
“ ‘Ted Lasso’ is looking unbeatable to me.”
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
“Ted Lasso”
“Hacks”
“The Flight Attendant”
“PEN15”
“The Kominsky Method”
“black-ish”
“Cobra Kai”
“Emily in Paris”
“‘Hacks’ made this a little more interesting than it would have been a few months ago. But ‘Ted Lasso’ still wins. “
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
The Buzzmetricians had said this one was shaping up as Kaley Cuoco vs. Jean Smart. However, Smart is now the panel’s consensus pick to win.
A lot of love is being shown Smart by the panel, with Sonia Saraiya hoping “this is her moment” — or at least another moment, as the actress has three wins out of nine nominations. Smart was one of only four consensus top picks by the BuzzMeterers in Round 2.
Kristen Baldwin said, “ ‘Watchmen.’ ‘Mare of Easttown.’ ‘Hacks.’ Let us all take a moment to appreciate that Jean Smart, at 69, is giving the best damn performances of her career.”
The academy’s decision to nominate only five in this category threw off the Round 2 results, but the panel did predict four of the five. The surprise was Aidy Bryant for “Shrill”; she ended up a double acting nominee, adding a supporting nod for her work in “Saturday Night Live.”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”
Aidy Bryant, “Shrill”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Jean Smart (“Hacks”)
Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Aidy Bryant (“Shrill”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Jean Smart (“Hacks”)
Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)
Aidy Bryant (“Shrill”)
“ ‘Watchmen.’ ‘Mare of Easttown.’ ‘Hacks.’ Let us all take a moment to appreciate that Jean Smart, at 69, is giving the best damn performances of her career.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Jean Smart (“Hacks”)
Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Aidy Bryant (“Shrill”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Jean Smart (“Hacks”)
Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Aidy Bryant (“Shrill”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)
“Jean Smart is having a great year, and her role as a stand-up comedy legend hanging on for dear life is one of her greatest achievements. Funny and ferocious.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Jean Smart (“Hacks”)
Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)
Aidy Bryant (“Shrill”)
“Really liked Jean Smart in ‘Hacks,’ and I hope this is her moment.’
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Jean Smart (“Hacks”)
Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Aidy Bryant (“Shrill”)
“Jean Smart won two Emmys guesting on ‘Frasier’ and another for her supporting turn on ‘Samantha Who?’ Winning for her glorious lead turn on ‘Hacks’ will provide one of the ceremony’s best moments.”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
Jason Sudeikis remains a consensus pick by the BuzzMeter in the third round. Sudeikis has four nominations this year, for starring in, producing and writing two episodes of “Ted Lasso.” Oscar winner Michael Douglas and Emmy favorites Anthony Anderson (nine nominations as actor and executive producer for “black-ish”) is near the top and Kenan Thompson is one of two “Saturday Night Live” regulars with two nods this year.
Round 2 results: In the same situation as for the lead actresses, the panel was thrown by the academy naming just five nominees. Nevertheless, the Buzzbys got all five eventual nominees among their six picks, with Ted Danson (“Mr. Mayor”) the surprise omission.
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”
Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”
Kenan Thompson, “Kenan”
Anthony Anderson, “black-ish”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”)
Michael Douglas (“Kominsky Method”)
Kenan Thompson (“Kenan”)
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”)
Michael Douglas (“Kominsky Method”)
(tie) Kenan Thompson (“Kenan”)
(tie) Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
“The nomination will be the prize for everybody but Jason Sudeikis.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”)
Kenan Thompson (“Kenan”)
Michael Douglas (“Kominsky Method”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”)
Kenan Thompson (“Kenan”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Michael Douglas (“Kominsky Method”)
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
“Jason Sudeikis was clearly born to play this lovable folk hero, and I expect this will be the first of several Emmys he’ll take home as Ted.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”)
Michael Douglas (“Kominsky Method”)
Kenan Thompson (“Kenan”)
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
“Again, ‘Lasso’ seems unbeatable.”
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”)
Michael Douglas (“Kominsky Method”)
Kenan Thompson (“Kenan”)
Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
“Ted Lasso’s relentless cheer could have been off-putting or, worse, oppressive. Sudeikis deftly showed the cracks in the façade without ever giving in to cynicism.”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
The two standout ladies from “Ted Lasso” rule the roost in a loaded field. In the BuzzMeter’s Round 3 estimation, Hannah Waddingham gets the edge for a “meatier role,” says Kristen Baldwin — she’s just short of being a consensus pick. Glenn Whipp called Waddingham’s Rebecca the show’s “most emotionally rich and complex character. The show wouldn’t have worked without her.”
In Round 2, mildly bedeviled by a surprise number of nominees (seven), the Buzzerbeaters still got six of them. Veteran Rosie Perez gets her first acting nomination after three choreography noms for her work on “In Living Color” in the ‘90s. The surprise addition was Hannah Einbinder, the co-protagonist of “Hacks,” a show the panel loves but apparently didn’t expect to submit its co-lead as supporting.
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”
Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso”
Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”)
Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”)
Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”)
Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
“Both ‘Lasso’ ladies deserve the win, but Hannah Waddingham had the meatier role in Season 1 and will likely edge out her real-life bestie.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”)
Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”)
Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
“Hard to choose between ‘Ted Lasso’s’ two scene-stealers in this category. Juno Temple is a frisky scream, but Hannah Waddingham had a greater range to play as Ted’s initially devious but ultimately admiring, and altogether glamorous, boss.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”)
Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”)
Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”)
Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
“Waddingham made a perfect foil for Jason Sudeikis, giving ‘Ted Lasso’ its most emotionally rich and complex character. The show wouldn’t have worked without her.”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
This was the race the panel regarded as the least predictable, with 19 supporting actors receiving first-round votes and 14 of those making it to Round 2. The Buzzies got only four out of eight eventual nominees in their Round 2 predictions. Paul Reiser of “The Kominsky Method” and Carl Clemons-Hopkins of “Hacks” surprised the panel, the only nominees who didn’t appear anywhere on the panel’s Round 2 list.
With the votes so spread out in Round 2, there were no slam dunks. Now “Ted Lasso” and “Saturday Night Live” have multiple candidates near the top — “Lasso” has four receiving nominations. In a possible preview of Emmy voting, the panelists divided their Round 3 votes among the “Lasso” quartet, with no two arriving at the same order. When the dust cleared, “Saturday Night Live’s” 18-season vet Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history, was on top by a comfortable margin.
Kristen Baldwin wouldn’t mind that outcome: “It’s outrageous that the universally beloved Kenan Thompson hasn’t won [in this category] yet. Give him the gold, people!”
Thompson has six career nominations, including three in this category, including one non-acting win (for co-writing the “SNL” song “Come Back Barack”).
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)
Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)
Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)
Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)
Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)
Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)
Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
“The Lasso men are deserving but they’ll get another shot next year. Honestly, it’s outrageous that the universally beloved Kenan Thompson hasn’t won yet. Give him the gold, people!”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)
Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)
Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)
Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)
Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
“If ‘Ted Lasso’ sweeps its major categories, as I’m predicting, it’s almost a toss-up among the four men nominated in this category, but Brett Goldstein’s profane star player, raging against age and anything else that gets in his way, is the unforgettable comic standout. If ‘Ted’s’ co-stars cancel each other out, then Kenan Thompson finally gets his long-deserved win in this category, which would also be great.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)
Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)
Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”)
Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
“The ‘Ted Lasso’ quartet will pose a quandary for fans, leaving an opening for Thompson to win his first acting Emmy.”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited or anthology series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
The George Floyd protests led to a new round of soul-searching about diversity in Hollywood. Our analysis of recent Emmy nominees shows several problem areas.
The glamour category of the Emmys produced the tightest race in the BuzzMeter, with three critically acclaimed shows, all big hits, finished within four points of each other. The water-cooler (or whatever the pandemic equivalent was — Twitter trends?) hits “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Mare of Easttown” swooped in to nudge critics’ darling and BAFTA winner “I May Destroy You” out of the top spot in Round 2; in Round 3, “Gambit” holds but “Destroy” moves ahead of “Mare.”
To the delight of many, the wildly popular “WandaVision” also made the cut, ending up with the second-highest nomination total of any series (23; two shows had 24). “Small Axe,” Steve McQueen’s collection of films that won the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. award for best picture, probably wasn’t helped by confusion over its category; it did not make the nominations cut. Switching those two kept the panel from going perfect when picking the nominees in Round 2.
Panelist Sonia Saraiya said, “‘Small Axe’ [which wasn’t nominated] is the best, but ‘Queen’s Gambit’ is the buzziest.”
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“I May Destroy You”
“Mare of Easttown”
“The Underground Railroad”
“WandaVision”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
“I May Destroy You”
“Mare of Easttown”
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“The Underground Railroad”
“WandaVision”
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
“I May Destroy You”
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“Mare of Easttown”
“WandaVision”
“The Underground Railroad”
“Yes, ‘Mare of Easttown’ was buzzy and had an ‘SNL’ parody. But it was also another ‘sad lady solves crimes in drab setting’ series. ‘I May Destroy You’ deserves the win, and even though it’ll likely lose, I refuse to pick anything else.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“I May Destroy You”
“Mare of Easttown”
“The Underground Railroad”
“WandaVision”
Matt Roush
TV Guide
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“I May Destroy You”
“Mare of Easttown”
“The Underground Railroad”
“WandaVision”
“The toughest category of all, winners one and all. I’m partial to ‘WandaVision’s’ love for TV tropes and being a different kind of Marvel show, and admire ‘Underground Railroad’s’ ambition and daring, but for pure entertainment value, nothing beats Netflix’s chess melodrama.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“Mare of Easttown”
“I May Destroy You”
“WandaVision”
“The Underground Railroad”
“ ‘Small Axe’ [which wasn’t nominated] is the best, but ‘Queen’s Gambit’ is the buzziest.”
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
“Mare of Easttown”
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“I May Destroy You”
“The Underground Railroad”
“WandaVision”
“HBO has a great track record here … so will voters go with the late-arriving sensation ‘Mare’ or the acclaimed ‘I May Destroy You’? Or neither … with ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ winning. Full disclosure: I have no idea.”
Anya Taylor-Joy is keeping busy with back-to-back projects — for the next two and a half years — including the “Mad Max: Fury Road” prequel, “Furiosa” from George Miller.
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
Period romance “Sylvie’s Love” (starring Tessa Thompson and former NFL star Nnamdi Asomugha) led for all three rounds, but finishes barely ahead of the tragically timely “Oslo” as the BuzzMeter’s projected winner.
Unlike the other categories, which provoked impassioned commentary, this one had the panel underwhelmed.
The BuzzMeter went five-for-five picking nominees in Round 2 — so for those nerdy enough about this stuff to have entered an Emmy nominations pool and listened to the Buzzertons in this shadowy category cloaked in mystery, you’re welcome.
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Oslo”
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”
“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”
“Uncle Frank”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”
“Robin Roberts Presents Mahalia”
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Uncle Frank”
“Oslo”
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Oslo”
“Robin Roberts Presents Mahalia”
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”
“Uncle Frank”
“I got nothing, sorry.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”
“Oslo”
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Robin Roberts Presents Mahalia”
“Uncle Frank”
Matt Roush
TV Guide
“Oslo”
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Robin Roberts Presents Mahalia”
“Uncle Frank”
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”
“Typically the weakest category of all. I’m giving HBO’s compelling recent-history lesson adaptation of the Tony-winning ‘Oslo’ a slight edge over Amazon’s glossy period-piece romance ‘Sylvie’s Love.’”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Oslo”
“Robin Roberts Presents Mahalia”
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”
“Uncle Frank”
“I absolutely adored ‘What the Constitution Means to Me.’ [though it didn’t qualify] “
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Oslo”
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”
“Robin Roberts Presents Mahalia”
“Uncle Frank”
“A good time for a bathroom break.”
Analysis of the 2020 Emmy nominations reveals large gains over previous years for Black artists, while Latino, Asian representation were disappointingly flat.
When the stunning “I May Destroy You” dropped just a bit late for last year’s Emmys, it was hard to imagine another performer keeping this year’s lead-actress Emmy from creator-writer-director-star Michaela Coel. Then “The Queen’s Gambit” dropped and Anya Taylor-Joy‘s compelling performance moved up the ranks. Then Kate Winslet’s turn in “Mare of Easttown” bewitched the Internet.
Until recently, this was considered a very close race between Coel and Taylor-Joy (winner of the SAG and Critics’ Choice awards for the role); now Winslet comes out on top in a BuzzMeter squeaker as the projected winner, six points separating the Top Three.
Elizabeth Olsen’s and co-star Paul Bettany’s nominations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “WandaVision” represent that film-and-television juggernaut’s first-ever lead-acting nods from either the Emmys or Oscars. The MCU’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” cast member Don Cheadle (an 11-time Emmy nominee) also received a guest actor nod, though he expressed as much confusion as anyone, considering his appearance in that drama series totaled around 98 seconds.
The BuzzMeter went four-for-five predicting nominees in Round 2 in an absolutely packed category with several performances already approaching iconic stature; panelist Glenn Whipp called it “one of the best races in Emmy history.” The panel’s only hiccup was Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”), who barely missed the cut in Round 2, taking the slot the panel was holding for Thuso Mbedu of “The Underground Railroad.”
Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown”
Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit”
Michaela Coel, “I May Destroy You”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”)
Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”)
Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”)
Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”)
Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”)
Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”)
Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”)
“Kate Winslet will win — and as long as Michaela Coel wins for writing/directing, I’m okay with that.”
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”)
Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”)
Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”)
Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”)
Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”)
Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”)
Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”)
“Another impossible choice. Any of the five is deserving, and Elizabeth Olsen feels like a discovery with the range she displayed in ‘WandaVision.’ I hope Michaela Coel gets the writing Emmy she deserves, which leaves ‘The Queen’s Gambit’s’ electrifying breakthrough star Anya Taylor-Joy my top choice, although I won’t be surprised if Kate Winslet takes the prize for her immersive performance as ‘Easttown’s’ hard-luck Mare.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”)
Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”)
Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”)
Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”)
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”)
Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”)
Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”)
Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”)
“Winslet has the moment, the accent, the hoagies.”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
With previous consensus pick Ethan Hawke (“The Good Lord Bird”) not nominated, the panel swung its fondness to ... Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”). Glenn Whipp said, “‘The Undoing’ didn’t earn many nominations, but voters won’t forget Grant’s mesmerizing turn.”
Perhaps equally surprising: In second position, and solidly, is Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”). Were he to triumph as the synthezoid Avenger Vision, it would be the first time a character who originated from a comic book won in the category (Regina King’s Angela Aybar/Sister Night did not appear in the “Watchmen” comic; the character was created for the limited series).
The panel went just two-for-five in Round 2, its only sub-.500 performance. It didn’t help, of course, that the “Hamilton” cast turned out to be eligible in this quite broad (as it turns out) category.
Besides Hawke, among the big names and lauded performances to not make the cut: Bryan Cranston, Jeff Daniels and Chris Rock.
Hugh Grant, “The Undoing”
Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”
Ewan McGregor, “Halston”
Leslie Odom Jr., “Hamilton”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton”
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”)
Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”)
Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”)
Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”)
Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”)
“Though Paul Bettany has a slight edge here, Hugh Grant once (jokingly) called me his ‘favorite journalist,’ so I am legally required to predict him for the win.”
(Ed. Note: Grant also lit up our Drama Actors’ Roundtable, so we’re also legally required to predict his win)
Tom O’Neil
Gold Derby
Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”)
Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)
Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”)
Matt Roush
TV Guide
Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”)
Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”)
Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”)
“Two years ago, I rooted for Hugh Grant for playing against type in ‘A Very English Scandal.’ He’s just as effective in ‘The Undoing’ as a shady potential murderer who kept us guessing to the end.”
Sonia Saraiya
Vanity Fair
Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”)
Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”)
Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”)
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”)
Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”)
Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”)
“ ‘The Undoing’ didn’t earn many nominations, but voters won’t forget Grant’s mesmerizing turn as show’s narcissist killer.”
Categories: Drama series | Drama lead actress | Drama lead actor | Drama supporting actress | Drama supporting actor | Comedy series | Comedy lead actress | Comedy lead actor | Comedy supporting actress | Comedy supporting actor | Limited series | Television movie | Ltd/movie lead actress | Ltd/movie lead actor
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
Get the Envelope newsletter for exclusive awards season coverage, behind-the-scenes stories from the Envelope podcast and columnist Glenn Whipp’s must-read analysis.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
