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70th Emmy Nomination Predictions

Last year, five new dramas broke into the race, and they’re looking to be as strong as they were last year. With former champ Game of Thrones returning to the race, though, people need to make some room. Should be interesting. On the comedy side, Veep, which has won the Best Comedy three years running, is off this year, including its leading lady Julia Louis Dreyfus who has won six times in a row, opening up the Comedy race. Looking forward to seeing some new faces over on that side. Here are my predictions for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards!

Outstanding Drama Series The Americans The Crown Game of Thrones The Handmaid’s Tale Killing Eve Stranger Things This is Us

Alternate: Westworld Spoiler: Ozark Wish (not including any above): Dark; Orphan Black

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Outstanding Comedy Series Atlanta Barry Black-ish Curb Your Enthusiasm GLOW The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Silicon Valley

Alternate: Modern Family Spoiler: Will & Grace Wish: The Good Place; You’re the Worst; Broad City; One Day at a Time; The End of the F***ing World; Dear White People

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Outstanding Limited Series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Godless Howards End The Looming Tower Twin Peaks

Alternate: Genius: Picasso Spoiler: Patrick Melrose Wish: American Vandal; Alias Grace

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The rest after the cut!

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Outstanding TV Movie Black Mirror: USS Callister Fahrenheit 451 Flint Paterno The Tale

Alternate: Electric Dreams Wish: Black Mirror: Black Museum

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Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Jodie Comer, Killing Eve Claire Foy, The Crown Mandy Moore, This is Us Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale Sandra Oh, Killing Eve Keri Russell, The Americans

Alternate: Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld Spoiler: Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones Wish: Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

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Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Sterling K. Brown, This is Us Freddie Highmore, The Good Doctor Matthew Rhys, The Americans Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan Milo Ventimiglia, This is Us Jeffrey Wright, Westworld

Alternate: Jason Bateman, Ozark Spoiler: Kit Harrington, Game of Thrones Wish: Matt Smith, The Crown

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Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid’s Tale Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale Lena Headey, Game of Thrones Chrissy Metz, This is Us Thandie Newton, Westworld

Alternate: Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black Spoiler: Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale Wish: Vanessa Kirby, The Crown

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Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones Noah Emmerich, The Americans David Harbour, Stranger Things Justin Hartley, This is Us Anthony Hopkins, Westworld Mandy Patinkin, Homeland

Alternate: Joseph Fiennes, The Handmaid’s Tale Spoiler: Noah Schnapp, Stranger Things Wish: Sean Astin, Stranger Things (Note: fun tidbit, five of last year’s seven nominees are ineligible or in a different category this year - makes for a lot of space, but also there are tons of people fighting for spots here)

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Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Pamela Adlon, Better Things Alison Brie, GLOW Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Allison Janney, Mom Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish Lily Tomlin, Grace & Frankie

Alternate: Jane Fonda, Grace & Frankie Spoiler: Debra Messing, Will and Grace Wish: Aya Cash, You’re the Worst; Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex Girlfriend; Kristen Bell, The Good Place; Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson, Broad City; Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Jessica Barden, The End of the F***ing World

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Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson, Black-ish Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm Zach Galifianakis, Baskets Donald Glover, Atlanta Bill Hader, Barry William H. Macy, Shameless

Alternate: Eric McCormack, Will and Grace Spoiler: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory Wish: Ted Danson, The Good Place; Chris Geere, You’re the Worst; Alex Lawther, The End of the F***ing World

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Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Laurie Metcalf, Roseanne Leslie Jones, Saturday Night Live Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live Rita Moreno, One Day at a Time Megan Mullaly, Will and Grace

Alternate: Jessica Walter, Arrested Development Spoiler: Betty Gilpin, GLOW Wish: D’Arcy Carden, The Good Place; Kether Donohue, You’re the Worst; Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Andrea Martin, Great News (Four of the six nominees from last year are also ineligible this year, exciting)

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Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Louie Anderson, Baskets Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Henry Winkler, Barry

Alternate: Sean Hayes, Will and Grace Spoiler: Ty Burrell, Modern Family Wish: LaKeith Stanfield, Atlanta; Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin; Manny Jacinto, The Good Place; Marc Maron, GLOW

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Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Hayley Atwell, Howards End Jessica Biel, The Sinner Laura Dern, The Tale Michelle Dockery, Godless Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake: China Girl Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Cult

Alternate: Regina King, Seven Seconds Spoiler: Cristin Milioti, Black Mirror: USS Callister Wish: Letitia Wright, Black Mirror: Black Museum; Sarah Gadon, Alias Grace

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Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Antonio Banderas, Genius: Picasso Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Melrose Jeff Daniels, The Looming Tower Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks Al Pacino, Paterno

Alternate: Michael B. Jordan, Fahrenheit 451 Spoiler: Jesse Plemons, Black Mirror: USS Callister Wish: Jimmy Tatro, American Vandal; Douglas Hodge, Black Mirror: Black Museum

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Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Penelope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Laura Dern, Twin Peaks Nicole Kidman, Top of the Lake: China Girl Angela Lansbury, Little Women Judith Light, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Merritt Wever, Godless

Alternate: Naomi Watts, Twin Peaks Spoiler: Elizabeth Debicki, The Tale Wish: Anna Paquin, Alias Grace

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Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Bill Camp, The Looming Tower Jeff Daniels, Godless Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Peter Sarsgaard, The Looming Tower Michael Shannon, Fahrenheit 451 Michael Stuhlbarg, The Looming Tower

Alternate: Ricky Martin, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Spoiler: Brandon Victor Dixon, Jesus Christ Superstar Wish: Cody Fern, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

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Outstanding Reality Competition Program The Amazing Race American Ninja Warrior Project Runway RuPaul’s Drag Race Top Chef The Voice

Alternate: Dancing with the Stars Spoiler: Survivor

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Outstanding Reality Host Alec Baldwin, Match Game Gordon Ramsay, Masterchef Junior Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race W. Kamau Bell, United Shades of America

Alternate: Queer Eye, Queer Eye Spoiler: Ellen DeGeneres, Ellen’s Game of Games

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Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Jodi Balfour, The Crown Pam Grier, This is Us Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones Marisa Tomei, The Handmaid’s Tale Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale

Alternate: Laverne Cox, Orange is the New Black Spoiler: Kate Burton, This is Us Wish: Rinko Kikuchi, Westworld

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Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Alan Alda, The Good Fight Matthew Goode, The Crown Michael C. Hall, The Crown Ron Cephas Jones, This is Us Gerald McRaney, This is Us Peter Mullan, Westworld

Alternate: Jimmi Simpson, Westworld Spoiler: Sylvester Stallone, This is Us Wish: Hiroyuki Sanada, Westworld

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Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Blythe Danner, Will and Grace Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live Tiffany Haddish, Saturday Night Live Lisa Kudrow, Grace & Frankie Jane Lynch, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Wanda Sykes, black-ish

Alternate: Maya Rudolph, The Good Place Spoiler: Molly Shannon, Will and Grace Wish: Tessa Thompson, Dear White People

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Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Bryan Cranston, Curb Your Enthusiasm Donald Glover, Saturday Night Live Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live Jon Hamm, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Leslie Jordan, Will and Grace Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory

Alternate: Chadwick Boseman, Saturday Night Live Spoiler: Sterling K. Brown, Brooklyn Nine Nine Wish: John Cho, Difficult People

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Outstanding Variety Talk Series Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Jimmy Kimmel Live Last Week Tonight with John Oliver The Late Show with Stephen Colbert The Late Late Show with James Corden Real Time with Bill Maher 

Alternate: The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

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Outstanding Variety Sketch Series At Home with Amy Sedaris Drunk History I Love You, America Portlandia Saturday Night Live  Tracy Ullman’s Show

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Another Emmy nomination prediction list done! Gonna be Game of Thrones vs. The Handmaid’s Tale it seems, with THT getting more nominations than it did last year. Will be interesting to see which of the five new shows that arrived last year can maintain their momentum. Hoping for some new, new faces everywhere else!

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My Favorite New Shows of 2017

2017 marked the end for some of the best shows on TV a few of which ended up on my list over the past few years, including Bates Motel (2013), Girls (2012), Review (2014) and Orphan Black (2013),  Crazy to think this is my 7th list now, the first dating back to 2011. (Here’s a link to last year’s list!) But with the end of great TV comes the arrival of new blood. There has been some great TV this past year, and as we welcome 2018 - and a plethora of new shows - let’s take a look back at the great television shows and miniseries that aired in 2017.

Honorable mentions include: - Netflix continuing to put out enough content for three networks: Alias Grace, A Series of Unfortunate Events, One Day at a Time, Dear White People, Atypical, Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later, Godless, 13 Reasons Why, and there are more on my Top 10. - Other streaming sites aren’t skipping either: Star Trek: Discovery (CBS: All Access/Netflix) and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) - The CW continues their success with Riverdale (although S2 has been a bit of a letdown, S1 was very good) - Freddie Highmore left Bates Motel and is now on The Good Doctor - Some out of the box shows like The Sinner, Downward Dog and Room 104

Now onto my Top 10 favorite new shows that premiered in 2017:

10. American Vandal (Netflix)

The past couple of years, true crime documentaries became the cool thing to watch, and Netflix popularized it with Making a Murderer becoming a talking point among viewers. It’s only right that Netflix is the one that gets away with poking fun at the genre. Instead of a horrifying murder or a missing persons case, American Vandal asks the question: #WhoDrewtheDicks? What starts off as a silly parody of true crime docs turns into something engaging, hilarious, and has surprisingly poignant and profound things to say about society and culture. You, too, will be wondering who drew the dicks.

9. Big Mouth (Netflix)

Growing up is hard, going through puberty is harder, but it’s definitely more fun when the “puberty monsters” are sleazy, unfiltered “hormone” monsters voiced by Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph. This crude, dirty cartoon from Nick Kroll and co. goes to the extremes of puberty, following a bunch of tweens as their body changes. Through musical interludes, clever writing, and a penchant for insane storylines, this cartoon explores menstruation, masturbation, sex, and the nightmare of growing up in the most hilarious way.

8. The End of the F***ing World (Channel 4)

Unfolding like the most deranged young adult novel out there, The End of the F***ing World is a pitch-black coming-of-age love story about a psychopath and an angsty rebel against the world. James (Black Mirror’s Alex Lawther) is a self-professed psychopath who’s been killing animals since he was a child and is looking for his first human kill, who he decides is going to Alyssa (The Lobster’s Jessica Barden). The two run away together, and their relationship only gets more complicated. If you enjoyed Richard Ayoade’s work (specifically Submarine) or even Barden’s own The Lobster from Yorgos Lanthimos, then this show might just be the perfect one for you.

7. Claws (TNT)

I tend to describe this as the female Breaking Bad as kind of a hook for people, but it is a disservice to the show to marginalize it in that way. Claws is about a group of manicurists/nail artists, lead by Desna (an incredible Niecy Nash), who also launder money for the mob. The women get down and dirty right off the bat, with murder, theft and more. This great show about unexplored aspects of organized crime is also a terrific, polished show about women coming together, and women making it in a male-dominated society. The journey Desna takes throughout the season is really something special.

6. Great News (NBC)

Tina Fey’s production company just keeps on knocking these comedies out of the park. This time from Tracey Wigfield (an Emmy winner for 30 Rock), Great News is set in the world of television news. Producer Katie (Briga Heelan) is trying her best to get her pieces on air, but things get more difficult when her mother (the great Andrea Martin) is hired as an intern. As with most NBC workplace comedies, you’ve got a kooky cast of characters, from vapid Portia (Nicole Richie) to living-in-the-past Chuck (John Michael Higgins). Episode after episode, Great News finds new ways to skewer the news, as well as find its place in today’s comedy landscape.

5. Legion (FX)

With the success of the TV version of Fargo, I don’t think anyone expected Noah Hawley to take a deep dive into the world of superheroes, specifically the X-Men. I’m glad he did though, because his take on the comic book TV show is unlike anything you’ve seen in the genre. Dan Stevens is David Haller, a mutant (and the son of Charles Xavier, aka Professor X) with an increasingly strong psychic power. Believed to be schizophrenic, he’s locked in a mental institution, but it’s not long before outside forces come for David and his power. Legion is a trippy show, bending reality and leaving the viewer often having to figure out what’s reality and what’s not. The tension this brings, the uniqueness of what you get to watch, plus an outstanding performance from Aubrey Plaza, really makes Legion worth the mind-fuck.

4. GLOW (Netflix)

If you know me, you know I love wrestling, and when it was announced that Jenji Kohan (Weeds and Orange is the New Black) was doing a TV series based on the 80s camp wrestlign show Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, I was ecstatic. GLOW, however, goes the complete opposite direction of camp, which is what really makes it so good. Treating pro-wrestling with respect, and the women in them with empathy and power, we’re not treated to some silly show about women wrestlers, but instead an honest, funny, and touching dramatic comedy about women body-slamming critics and getting shit done. 

3. Dark (Netflix)

Netflix released a lot of new shows in 2017, but by far its best debuting show wasn’t even in the English language. Netflix continues to expand its global brand, this time with a German-language story about family, mystery, time, faith, and consequence that is part-Stranger Things, part-Les Revenants, part-Twin Peaks. To say any more would spoil the show, but let’s just say I haven’t been so engrossed in a supernatural/sci-fi show’s mystery and theories and themes since Lost. Things aren’t what they seem in the gloomy and perpetually wet German town of Winden, and while keeping track of all that’s going on will challenge any viewer (and subtitles may throw a few people off), Dark is unquestionably Netflix’s best new offering of the year.

2. Feud (FX)

Who knew Ryan Murphy had another anthology hit in him? After the successes of American Horror Story and American Crime Story, it was almost as if can lightning strike thrice, and thankfully it did. Shifting focus to famous feuds in history, Murphy shines the light on silver screen greats Bette Davis and Joan Crawford (played by greats themselves Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange respectively) during their troubled time together filming Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? What could’ve been pure, exploitative camp turned out to be one of the best depictions of women in Hollywood and the challenges they face, exploring stuff like sexism, ageism, harassment, plus it aired during such a negative time in the industry currently. Feud did for Bette, Joan, and female legends of that time, what Crime Story did for the OJ case - taking something so fueled in gossip and over-the-top tales, and injecting it with genuine emotion and empathy, and one can hope Murphy continues down this path.

1. Big Little Lies (HBO)

Women really ruled television this year (as you can see in the above list), and it’s only fitting that the best new show of 2017 is all about women - complicated, lovable, vulnerable, terrific, awful, powerful women. When describing HBO’s Big Little Lies, it almost sounds like something so silly and dumb, you question its quality. Set in a gorgeous seaside city of Monterey, CA, Big Little Lies is about a bunch of mothers who get caught up in playground politics and a murder mystery. What on the outside seems like a quick beach read, Jean Marc Vallee’s take on this novel digs deep into each of the women’s psyche, unwrapping that perfect California facade to look into the pain and heartache of an abused housewife, a crumbling marriage, a rape survivor. Like Feud, what could’ve been a campy mess is instead an affecting story about womanhood. It also works as a complex murder mystery, and a hilarious show about moms fighting moms, which only adds to the layers of this show. It also most definitely helps that your cast includes the likes of Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, and Laura Dern - aka the most impressive ensemble of 2017. There wasn’t a show this year that I wanted to devour each week as much as Big Little Lies, and that’s why it’s not only the best new show of 2017, it’s the best show of 2017, period.

To recap:

10. American Vandal (Netflix) 9. Big Mouth (Netflix) 8. The End of the F***ing World (Channel 4) 7. Claws (TNT) 6. Great News (NBC) 5. Legion (FX) 4. GLOW (Netflix) 3. Dark (Netflix) 2. Feud (FX) 1. Big Little Lies (HBO)

2017′s new TV slate is a very strong one, with some of the best TV of the whole year. A few of them managed to rule my overall Top 10. Meanwhile, some of the usual suspects like Broad City, You’re the Worst, and Veep had good but not quite their strongest seasons, making them miss the list for the first time in years, and making way for a whole lot of Top 10 debuts, both freshman shows and older. Here we go:

10. Dark (NEW) 9. Crazy Ex Girlfriend (NEW) 8. Master of None (NEW) 7. The Good Place (NEW) 6. The Americans (last year: 1) 5. Bates Motel (last year: 7) 4. Feud (NEW) 3. Stranger Things (last year: 4) 2. Game of Thrones (last year: 2) 1. Big Little Lies (NEW)

Here’s to 2018 which has so many new shows premiering just in January, I’m terrified and excited about what the rest of the year will look like.

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69th Primetime Emmy Awards Predictions (2017)

I’m particularly excited about this year’s ceremonies because the last year has brought some great NEW television to our screens, from the networks with This is Us and The Good Place to cablers with Westworld and Atlanta, and of course streaming with Stranger Things and The Crown making an appearance. FIVE new Dramas (freshman shows) are contending for Best Drama, practically unheard of nowadays (The Handmaid’s Tale along with ST, WW, Crown, and TIU), and no one is a real frontrunner, as we’ll get to see who the Academy decides is the best of the past year.

Predictions after the break! I didn’t have time to really fix it so bear with me.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Will Win: Veep Should Win: Master of None Could Win: Atlanta Should’ve Been Here: You’re the Worst

Outstanding Lead Actor Comedy

Will: Donald Glover Should: Donald Glover Could: Jeffrey Tambor Should’ve: Chris Geere

Outstanding Lead Actress Comedy

Will: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Should: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Could: Pamela Adlon Should’ve: Aya Cash

Outstanding Supporting Actor Comedy

Will: Alec Baldwin Should: Tituss Burgess Could: Tituss Burgess Should’ve: Jaime Camil

Outstanding Supporting Actress Comedy

Will: Kate McKinnon Should: Anna Chlumsky Could: Anna Chlumsky Should’ve: Kether Donohue

Outstanding Directing Comedy

Will: Atlanta, “B.A.N.” Should: Veep, “Groundbreaking” Could: Veep, “Groundbreaking” Should’ve: You’re the Worst, “The Inherent, Unsullied Qualitative Value of Anything”

Outstanding Writing Comedy

Will: Master of None, “Thanksgiving” Should: Master of None, “Thanksgiving” Could: Veep, “Groundbreaking” Should’ve: Broad City, “2016”

Variety Talk Series

Will: Colbert Should: Corden Could: Oliver

Variety Sketch Series

Will: SNL Should: Billy on the Street Could: Portlandia

Variety Series Directing

Will: SNL Should: SNL Could: Oliver

Variety Series Writing

Will: Oliver Should: SNL Could: SNL

Limited Series

Will: Big Little Lies Should: Big Little Lies Could: The Night Of Should’ve: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

TV Movie

Will: Black Mirror “San Junipero” Should: Black Mirror “San Junipero” Could: Sherlock Should’ve: Black Mirror: “Nose Dive”

Lead Actor Limited/TV

Will: Riz Ahmed Should: Riz Ahmed Could: Robert De Niro Should’ve: Andy Daly

Lead Actress Limited/TV

Will: Nicole Kidman Should: Nicole Kidman Could: Jessica Lange Should’ve: Lauren Graham

Supporting Actor Limited/TV

Will: Alexander Skarsgard Should: Alexander Skarsgard Could: Bill Camp Should’ve: Martin Freeman

Supporting Actress Limited/TV

Will: Regina King Should: Laura Dern Could: Laura Dern Should’ve: Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Directing Limited/TV

Will: Big Little Lies Should: Big Little Lies Could: Feud, “And the Winner Is…” Should’ve: Black Mirror, “San Junipero”

Writing Limited/TV

Will: Feud, “And the Winner Is…” Should: Black Mirror, “San Junipero” Could: Big Little Lies Should’ve: Black Mirror, “Nosedive”

Reality-Competition

Will: RuPaul’s Drag Race Should: The Amazing Race Could: The Voice Should’ve: MasterChef Junior

Drama Series

Will: Stranger Things Should: Stranger Things Could: The Handmaids Tale Should’ve: The Americans

Lead Actor Drama

Will: Sterling K. Brown Should: Matthew Rhys Could: Anthony Hopkins Should’ve: Freddie Highmore

Lead Actress Drama

Will: Elisabeth Moss Should: Keri Russell Could: Claire Foy Should’ve: Vera Farmiga

Supporting Actor Drama

Will: John Lithgow Should: John Lithgow Could: Jeffrey Wright Should’ve: Frank Langella

Supporting Actress Drama

Will: Millie Bobby Brown Should: Thandie Newton Could: Thandie Newton Should’ve: Constance Zimmer

Directing Drama

Will: Stranger Things, “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers” Should: Stranger Things, “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers” Could: The Handmaid’s Tale, “Offred” Should’ve: The Americans, “Dyatkovo”

Writing Drama

Will: The Handmaid’s Tale, “Offred” Should: The Americans, “The Soviet Division” Could: Stranger Things, “The Vanishing of Will Byers” Should’ve: The Americans, “Dyatkovo”

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69th Primetime Emmy Awards Predictions

With big winners Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey out of the running this year, several shows - both old and new - have shots at scoring gold, at least on the drama side. On the comedy side, it feels like the same hitters will be running the show, with a couple of new shows coming to play. As usual, miniseries and TV movies are bringing movie stars to the show, making for a starry red carpet. Those lead actress races are gonna be tight. That said, let’s get going.

Outstanding Drama Series The Americans Better Call Saul ✓ The Crown ✓ The Handmaid’s Tale ✓ Stranger Things ✓ This is Us ✓ Westworld ✓

Alternate: House of Cards ✓ Spoiler: The Leftovers Wish (not including any above): Bates Motel; Penny Dreadful; Queen Sugar

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Outstanding Comedy Series Atlanta ✓ Black-ish ✓ Master of None ✓ Silicon Valley ✓ Transparent Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ✓ Veep ✓

Alternate: Modern Family ✓ Spoiler: Insecure Wish: You’re the Worst; Broad City; The Good Place; Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; Girls

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Outstanding Limited Series American Crime Big Little Lies ✓ Fargo ✓ Feud: Bette and Joan ✓ The Night Of ✓

Alternate: Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Spoiler: American Horror Story: Roanoke Wish: Review MISSED: Genius

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The rest after the cut!

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Outstanding TV Movie Black Mirror: Nosedive Churchill’s Secret Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks ✓ Sherlock: The Lying Detective ✓ The Wizard of Lies ✓

Alternate: Witness for the Prosecution Wish: Black Mirror: San Junipero ✓ MISSED: Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love 

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Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Carrie Coon, The Leftovers Claire Foy, The Crown ✓ Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale ✓ Keri Russell, The Americans ✓ Robin Wright, House of Cards ✓ Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder ✓

Alternate: Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld ✓ Spoiler: Claire Danes, Homeland Wish: Mandy Moore, This is Us; Eva Green, Penny Dreadful; Olivia Colman, Broadchurch

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul ✓ Kevin Spacey, House of Cards ✓ Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan ✓ Matthew Rhys, The Americans ✓ Sterling K. Brown, This is Us ✓ Alternate: Rami Malek, Mr. Robot Spoiler: Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel Wish: Milo Ventimiglia, This is Us ✓; Dan Stevens, Legion MISSED: Anthony Hopkins, Westworld

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Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale ✓ Chrissy Metz, This is Us ✓ Margo Martindale, The Americans Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things ✓ Thandie Newton, Westworld ✓ Winona Ryder, Stranger Things

Alternate: Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black ✓ Spoiler: Vera Farming, Bates Motel Wish: Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Queen Sugar; Kate Walsh, 13 Reasons Why; Ellen Barkin, Animal Kingdom (note: fun category, this - four of the six nominees last year are ineligible, lots of space for newbies) MISSED: Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Ed Harris, Westworld Jeffrey Wright, Westworld ✓ John Lithgow, The Crown ✓ Jon Voight, Ray Donovan Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul ✓ Ron Cephas Jones, This is Us ✓

Alternate: Michael Kelly, House of Cards ✓ Spoiler: Matt Smith, The Crown Wish: Frank Langella, The Americans; Max Thieriot, Bates Motel; Gaten Matarazzo, Stranger Things MISSED: Mandy Patinkin, Homeland; David Harbour, Stranger Things

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Allison Janney, Mom ✓ Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ✓ Issa Rae, Insecure Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep ✓ Lily Tomlin, Grace & Frankie ✓ Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish ✓

Alternate: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag Spoiler: Sarah Jessica Parker, Divorce Wish: Aya Cash, You’re the Worst; Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex Girlfriend; Kristen Bell, The Good Place; Constance Wu, Fresh off the Boat; Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson, Broad City; Pamela Adlon, Better Things ✓ MISSED: Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie

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Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson, Black-ish ✓ Aziz Ansari, Master of None ✓ Donald Glover, Atlanta ✓ Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent ✓ Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley William H. Macy, Shameless ✓

Alternate: Hank Azaria, Brockmire Spoiler: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory Wish: Ted Danson, The Good Place; Chris Geere, You’re the Worst MISSED: Zach Galifianakis, Baskets

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Anna Chlumsky, Veep ✓ Gaby Hoffman, Transparent Judith Light, Transparent ✓ Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live ✓ Rita Moreno, One Day at a Time Zazie Beetz, Atlanta

Alternate: Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Spoiler: Andrea Martin, Great News Wish: Kether Donohue, You’re the Worst; Jemima Kirke, Girls MISSED: Leslie Jones and Vanessa Bayer, Saturday Night Live; Kathryn Hahn, Transparent

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live ✓ Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine Nine Louie Anderson, Baskets ✓ Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ✓ Tony Hale, Veep ✓ Ty Burrell, Modern Family ✓

Alternate: Timothy Simons, Veep Spoiler: Matt Walsh, Veep ✓ Wish: Keith Stanfield, Atlanta; Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Carrie Coon, Fargo ✓ Jessica Lange, Feud: Bette and Joan ✓ Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies ✓ Oprah Winfrey, Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies ✓ Susan Sarandon, Feud: Bette and Joan ✓ Alternate: Bryce Dallas Howard, Black Mirror Spoiler: Lauren Graham, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life MISSED: Felicity Huffman, American Crime

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Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Lying Detective ✓ Ewan McGregor, Fargo ✓ Geoffrey Rush, Genius ✓ John Turturro, The Night Of ✓ Riz Ahmed, The Night Of ✓ Robert De Niro, The Wizard of Lies ✓

Alternate: Jude Law, The Young Pope Spoiler: Michael Gambon, Churchill’s Secret

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Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Jackie Hoffman, Feud: Bette and Joan ✓ Judy Davis, Feud: Bette and Joan ✓ Laura Dern, Big Little Lies ✓ Regina King, American Crime ✓ Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Roanoke Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies ✓

Alternate: Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Roanoke Spoiler: Michelle Pfeiffer, The Wizard of Lies ✓ Wish: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Fargo; Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Black Mirror

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Alexander Skarsgard, Big Little Lies ✓ Alfred Molina, Feud: Bette and Joan ✓ David Thewlis, Fargo ✓ Hank Azaria, The Wizard of Lies Martin Freeman, Sherlock: The Lying Detective Stanley Tucci, Feud: Bette and Joan ✓

Alternate: Michael Stuhlbarg, Fargo Spoiler: Idris Elba, Guerrilla Wish: Toby Jones, Sherlock: The Lying Detective MISSED: Michael K. Williams and Bill Camp, The Night Of

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Reality Competition Program The Amazing Race ✓ American Ninja Warrior ✓ Dancing with the Stars Project Runway ✓ Top Chef ✓ The Voice ✓

Alternate: RuPaul’s Drag Race ✓ Spoiler: Survivor

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Reality Competition Host Alec Baldwin, Match Game ✓ Anthony Anderson, To Tell the Truth Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway ✓ RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race ✓ Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars

MISSED: Gordon Ramsay, Masterchef Junior; W. Kamau Bell, United Shades of America; Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid’s Tale ✓ Ann Dowd, The Leftovers ✓ Carrie Preston, The Good Fight Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder ✓ Cloris Leachman, American Gods Gillian Anderson, American Gods

Alternate: Kristin Chenoweth, American Gods Spoiler: Laverne Cox, Orange is the New Black ✓ Wish: Alison Wright, The Americans ✓ MISSED: Shannon Purser, Stranger Things

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline ✓ Denis O’Hare, This is Us ✓ Dylan Baker, The Good Fight Gerald McRaney, This is Us ✓ Hank Azaria, Ray Donovan ✓

Alternate: David Strathairn, Billions Spoiler: John Cameron Mitchell, The Good Fight Wish: Kenny Johnson, Bates Motel MISSED: BD Wong, Mr Robot; Brian Tyree Henry, This is Us

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Angela Bassett, Master of None ✓ Carrie Fisher, Catastrophe ✓ Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory Laura Dern, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Laurie Metcalf, The Big Bang Theory Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live ✓ Alternate: Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live ✓ Spoiler: Joan Cusack, A Series of Unfortunate Events Wish: Becky Ann Baker, Girls ✓ ; Maya Rudolph, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt MISSED: Wanda Sykes, Black-ish

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Dave Chapelle, Saturday Night Live ✓ Jon Hamm, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Hugh Laurie, Veep ✓ Lin-Manuel Miranda, Saturday Night Live ✓ Peter MacNicol, Veep Tom Hanks, Saturday Night Live ✓

Alternate: Peter Scolari, Girls Spoiler: Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live Wish: Matthew Rhys, Girls ✓; Riz Ahmed, Girls ✓; Stephen Fry, Veep; Ray Liotta & Josh Charles, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Variety Talk Series Full Frontal with Samantha Bee ✓ Jimmy Kimmel Live ✓ Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ✓ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ✓ The Late Late Show with James Corden ✓ The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Alternate: Real Time with Bill Maher ✓ Spoiler: Late Night with Seth Meyers

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series Documentary Now! ✓ Drunk History ✓ Portlandia ✓ Saturday Night Live ✓ Tracy Ullman’s Show ✓

Alternate: Billy on the Street ✓

~*~*~*~*~

There you have it, another Emmy nomination prediction list done. Let’s see if I can do better than last year which was, besides the two biggest categories, all over the place. I can see The Crown ending up with the most nominations, maybe with Stranger Things and Feud: Bette and Joan up there as well, with all those below-the-line crafts up for grabs. Veep will probably rule the comedy side again. We’ll see!

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My Favorite New Shows of 2016

2016 was packed with great, new television on several different platforms, from online, to streaming, cable and network. Netflix seemed like it was releasing new shows every week, add that to all the great content on cable and network, there was just so much television out there, from all over the world that there just isn't enough time to consume everything, and 2017 doesn't seem to be slowing it down (here’s a link to the 2015 list). Before continuing on to the New Year, let's look back on the shows which made their debuts in 2016 that I just loved watching. This isn't even a comprehensive list. When there's hours of British TV I just didn't get to watch, and Netflix now releasing supposedly great TV shows from places like Israel, Brazil, and Spain among their original content, you just don't have enough hours in the day to watch it all. Oh well, one day!

Before we get to my top 10 favorite new shows of 2016, let's take a peek at the continuing growth of Peak TV this past year and which shows I think deserve an honorable mention:

The reboot of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life isn't a new show per se, but still worth a look

Same goes with the retooled Black Mirror

Comedies like Better Things, American Housewife, and Fleabag

Netflix' other good new shows like Love, Trollhunters, and Easy

Cheesy summer horror-thrillers like American Gothic, Braindead (also a comedy), Dead of Summer, and Channel Zero

Riveting cable TV like Preacher, The Night Of, Outcast, and Animal Kingdom

And a range of miniseries from War & Peace to The Time Traveling Bong

Onto the Top 10 New Shows of 2016, which this year includes miniserieses because they're anthologies or may have future episodes anyway!

10. Westworld (HBO)

Classic or popular movies being rebooted into TV shows seem to be all the rage these past few years, and HBO got in on it with this updated version of the 1973 Western classic. Westworld is as exquisitely, expertly crafted as the robots within the show, with two interweaving storylines set decades apart, and so many mysteries surrounding all the characters. While sometimes it can be more mystery than story, Westworld has built a great base for something more engaging in the future.

9. Speechless (ABC)

There are way too many similar family comedies on TV nowadays that when something different comes along, like ABC's Speechless, it's sure to grab attention. This one has a not-so-well-to-do family, with a son who has cerebral palsy. The latter, while it might be the focal point in the pilot and is used for an emotional moment or two in some episodes, it is never exploitative or cheesy. For the most part, they just hired an actor who happened to have cerebral palsy to play the older teen boy role. Minnie Driver is also great.

8. Atlanta (FX)

Donald Glover has always seemed like someone that was just waiting for the right time to break through on his own. Kind of like Chris Pratt or Aziz Ansari from Parks & Rec. Enter Atlanta, a dramatic comedy about a couple of cousins working the rap scene in Atlanta. Smart, subversive, and sleek, Atlanta was the “cool” show of the year that featured a black Justin Bieber! Not someone who was like Justin Bieber, in Atlanta's world, Justin Bieber was black. It was better than it sounds, I promise.

7. Queen Sugar (OWN)

I wasn't sure about catching a soap-ish drama on Oprah's network, but Queen Sugar is a show created, produced, and directed by Ava DuVernay, the extremely talented director of films like Selma, Middle of Nowhere, and the documentary 13th. I had to see her first real foray into TV, and it did not disappoint. Queen Sugar, about three siblings who inherit their father's sugar cane fields, has soap opera elements to it (like Charley's main NBA wife storyline) but it's done in a really classy way and written intelligently. Charley's story is the best, too, thanks to Dawn-Lyen Gardner's terrific performance.

6. The Crown (Netflix)

Netflix had a really good year, with two shows on my top 10 new shows, and then the reboots of Black Mirror and Gilmore Girls among many others that premiered. Their most high-profile new show though has got to be The Crown, famously noted as the streaming site's most expensive show yet. Detailing the life of Queen Elizabeth II beginning with right before she took hold of the crown, and the show hopes to take it all the way through her over 60-year reign. Beautifully made, with great performances all around from the likes of Claire Foy, Matt Smith, and John Lithgow, The Crown is royalty TV.

5. This is Us (NBC)

Recently, Dan Fogelman has been creating silly, absurd comedies like The Neighbors and Galavant, so to see him tackle something as dramatic as This is Us, a touching family drama that will make you cry almost every episode. Starring Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore, we find four people all celebrating their 30th birthday on the same day, each with their own issues to deal with, like one finding his real father, one dealing with weight problems, and another about to welcome his first kids into the world. Simple, but effective, This is Us is the twist-filled drama that won't make your head hurt, but will make your eyes weep.

4. The Good Place (NBC)

Sitcoms this past year have stuck to formula with a twist, because it works perfectly fine, but The Good Place is unlike any other sitcom this past year. Taking a more serialized approach, and not holding back on the absurd, The Good Place is the newest sitcom from Mike Schur, co-creator of Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Office (US), and Parks and Recreation. In it, Eleanor (a perfectly cast Kristen Bell) dies and is sent to “The Good Place”, a kind of Heaven-like place where all the good people go. Unfortunately, Eleanor is not a good person – she's a terrible one and because of a mix-up, she was sent to the Good Place instead of “the Bad Place”. She tries her best to be nice, but her being in the wrong place causes craziness in The Good Place. Enjoy this high concept sitcom that's incredibly funny, entertaining, and different.

3. The Night Manager (BBC/AMC)

Gorgeous scenery, heart-racing tension, and incredible performances all around from Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Debicki, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander, and Hugh Laurie, this exciting, beautifully made miniseries is based off John le Carre's novel and is like James Bond for TV. Danish film director Susanne Bier, who's done things like In a Better World and After the Wedding, and screenwriter David Farr adapt le Carre's novel to the present day with tautness and thrill. Hiddleston plays Jonathan Pine, a former soldier and now hotel night manager that gets entangled in a nefarious plot involving arms dealing that takes him on a globe-trotting adventure from Egypt to Switzerland to Spain.

2. Stranger Things (Netflix)

Who knew this little show released by Netflix randomly during the middle of the year would become one of its biggest hits and one of the most talked about shows of 2016? Stranger Things, an 80s throwback fantasy series in the vein of E.T., The Goonies, and other 80s classics swept the pop culture nation by storm. Stranger Things had some exciting storytelling, a haunting atmosphere, a terrific soundtrack, and a winning cast. Featuring a band of young kids, their powerful new friend, unreliable adults, and a monster, this was the perfect throwback to the 80s while also being a great show for today.

1. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)

Ryan Murphy loves his anthologies, and his new one, American Crime Story, hopes to focus on different “true crimes” every season. The first one just happened to be golden, focusing on the trial of OJ Simpson for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Focusing on heavy themes such as the problems of the US justice system, fame, and race, while at the same time telling in fresh, compelling detail a story that most people already know makes The People v. O.J. such important viewing. Add a brilliant cast that included the likes of Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark, Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden, and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran, and The People v. O.J. was the best new thing on TV in 2016.

To recap:

10. Westworld (HBO) 9. Speechless (ABC) 8. Atlanta (FX) 7. Queen Sugar (OWN) 6. The Crown (Netflix) 5. This is Us (NBC) 4. The Good Place (NBC) 3. The Night Manager (BBC/AMC) 2. Stranger Things (Netflix) 1. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)

These shows are solid TV, and three of them made their way into my overall Top 10 favorite shows, two of which are 3 and 4! Another, a reboot, made its way into the Top 10 as well. So great. Even if Game of Thrones returned to form this past year, The Americans just happened to raise their game even higher. Here's to the great TV this 2016!

10. Broad City (last year: 9) 9. You're the Worst (last year: 7) 8. Black Mirror (NEW) 7. Bates Motel (last year: 2) 6. The Night Manager (NEW) 5. Veep (last year: 5) 4. Stranger Things (NEW) 3. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (NEW) 2. Game of Thrones (last year: 4) 1. The Americans (last year: 1)

2017's already off to a cracking start with Netflix shows One Day at a Time and A Series of Unfortunate Events, then you have FX's Taboo starring Tom Hardy. And that's just the first couple weeks of January! TV is only getting bigger and sometimes, better! 2017, here we go. Find the show you like or love, and watch! Let me know if there's anything you like as well!

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68th Primetime Emmy Awards Predictions

The big question this year will be if Game of Thrones and Veep pull off repeat wins or will fresh faces take over? Also, Game of Thrones is poised to break their own record of most Emmy wins in one night, as well as being the most awarded drama show in Emmys history. Lots on the line for them, especially as they'll be skipping next year's ceremony. The likes of Mr. Robot and Black-ish look to pounce this year too. Should be a fun one!

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

Should Win: Finally sneaking into the Drama race, The Americans is far and away the best dramatic show on TV right now in my opinion and should have been picking up awards left and right since Season 2.

Will Win: There are arguments to be made for Mr. Robot, for Downton Abbey's final season, and even a surprise victory for The Americans, but it doesn't seem like Game of Thrones can be easily beat right now.

Should've Been Here: UnREAL; Marvel's Jessica Jones

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Comedy Series black-ish Master of None Modern Family Silicon Valley Transparent Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Veep

Should Win: Veep is the only show on this list that makes me laugh throughout while at the same time making me feel for the characters in it. It's my favorite comedy of the bunch.

Will Win: After finally toppling ModFam, Veep is poised to repeat now, but watch out for Transparent or black-ish, or even Silicon Valley to surprise.

Should've Been Here: Broad City; You're the Worst; Crazy Ex Girlfriend

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Outstanding Limited Series American Crime Fargo The Night Manager The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Roots

Should Win: My favorite of the bunch is The Night Manager but Fargo and People v. OJ are wonderful too.

Will Win: It's funny that Ryan Murphy never won this “big one” for American Horror Story but will be winning it for The People v. OJ, and on the year AHS was knocked out, too.

Should've Been Here: Time Traveling Bong

~*~*~*~*~

Rest after the cut!

Outstanding TV Movie A Very Murray Christmas All the Way Confirmation Luther Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Should Win: Sherlock is just one of my favorites and I'll be rooting for it.

Will Win: This seems to be between the HBO films, but I think All the Way will win over Confirmation.

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Claire Danes, Homeland Keri Russell, The Americans Robin Wright, House of Cards Taraji P. Henson, Empire Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder

Should Win: I would be the most overjoyed if Keri Russell wins this for The Americans. She totally deserves it.

Will Win: Feels like Viola Davis will repeat, but maybe Keri Russell does win, or Robin Wright finally wins.

Should've Been Here: Eva Green, Penny Dreadful; Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel; Shiri Appleby, UnREAL

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Kevin Spacey, House of Cards Kyle Chandler, Bloodline Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan Matthew Rhys, The Americans Rami Malek, Mr. Robot

Should Win: Again, I'd be ecstatic if Matthew Rhys picks up the win here. The work he does on The Americans is intense and amazing.

Will Win: This is refreshingly up in the air. Momentum seems to point to Rami Malek here, but Bob Odenkirk and Kevin Spacey (and the rest of the field) look to snag this wide open race.

Should've Been Here: Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Constance Zimmer, UnREAL Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones Lena Headey, Game of Thrones Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones Maura Tierney, The Affair

Should Win: A couple of new faces here (and last year’s winner Uzo Aduba is out), but I think Lena Headey should win for her performance in the season finale alone --- as well as an award for playing Cersei in general. Constance Zimmer would be incredible too.

Will Win: I have a weird feeling this is Lena Headey's year, but maybe it's just me hoping the Emmys just don't hand Maggie Smith a “goodbye” Emmy for her work in Downton.

Should've Been Here: Alison Wright & Holly Taylor, The Americans

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline Jon Voight, Ray Donovan Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul Kit Harington, Game of Thrones Mike Kelly, House of Cards Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Should Win: I don't really have a horse in this race, but I wouldn't mind seeing Jonathan Banks finally win.

Will Win: Logic points to Kit Harington, but I don't know if voters will care that Peter Dinklage did way less this season than in the past, and just vote for him because he's Tyrion.

Should've Been Here: David Tennant, Marvel's Jessica Jones; Frank Langella, The Americans

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep Laurie Metcalf, Getting On Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish

Should Win: I mean, no one can quite match what Julia Louis-Dreyfus is doing in Veep.

Will Win: Again, no one. Julia Louis-Dreyfus breaks the record for most wins in a category.

Should've Been Here: Aya Cash, You're the Worst; Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex Girlfriend; Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat; Abbi Jacobson & Ilana Glazer, Broad City

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson, Black-ish Aziz Ansari, Master of None Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth William H. Macy, Shameless

Should Win: Jeffrey Tambor is just too good.

Will Win: I don't see how Jeffrey Tambor loses, but Anthony Anderson could be a suprise here.

Should've Been Here: Andy Daly, Review

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Allison Janney, Mom Anna Chlumsky, Veep Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent Judith Light, Transparent Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live Niecy Nash, Getting On

Should Win: I love Anna Chlumsky and her work in Veep, which continues to be great.

Will Win: Allison Janney is an Emmy fave and seems like she'll easily pick this one up.

Should've Been Here: Kether Donohue, You're the Worst

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine Nine Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele Louie Anderson, Baskets Matt Walsh, Veep Titus Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Tony Hale, Veep Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Should Win: Tony Hale is just perfect in Veep. He should win more.

Will Win: As Modern Family's sole acting rep this year, Ty Burrell could win another, but I think it'll be Tony Hale again, although I've read Louie Anderson is a strong candidate here too.

Should've Been Here: Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin; Hugh Laurie, Veep

~*~*~*~*~

Outsanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill Felicity Huffman, American Crime Kerry Washington, Confirmation Kirsten Dunst, Fargo Lili Taylor, American Crime Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Should Win: I love Sarah Paulson, and she's magnificent in OJ, but I have a soft spot for Kirsten Dunst's crazy antics in Fargo.

Will Win: But this has got to be it right? Sarah Paulson finally takes home her long-awaited and much-deserved Emmy.

Should've Been Here: Suranne Jones, Doctor Foster

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride Bryan Cranston, All the Way Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Cuba Gooding Jr., The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Idris Elba, Luther Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager

Should Win: I mean, WHAT A CATEGORY. All of them are great (except Cuba lol), but I think my favorite of the bunch has to be Tom Hiddleston's performance in The Night Manager.

Will Win: Tough battle here, but with his show's momentum, I have to give it to Courtney B. Vance over Bryan Cranston and co.

Should've Been Here: Patrick Wilson, Fargo

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Jean Smart, Fargo Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel Melissa Leo, All the Way Olivia Colman, The Night Manager Regina King, American Crime Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel

Should Win: Olivia Colman is magnificent in everything she does, and Night Manager is no exception.

Will Win: If this was the BAFTAs, Colman would win easy, but it seems like this is the only category to really award Fargo, so Jean Smart it is, but Regina King and Kathy Bates are strong here too.

Should've Been Here: Elizabeth Debicki, The Night Manager

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo David Schwimmer, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager Jesse Plemons, Fargo John Travolta, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Should Win: The People v. OJ cast fighting over this, but they all know it should go to Sterling K. Brown.

Will Win: I'm not sold on Brown winning, so I'll give this to Emmy fave Hugh Laurie.

Should've Been Here: Tom Hollander, The Night Manager

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program The Amazing Race American Ninja Warrior Dancing With the Stars Project Runway Top Chef The Voice

Should Win: Still nothing like The Amazing Race production on TV.

Will Win: TAR's time seems to be over, so The Voice will probably win this, but look for ANW to surprise.

Should've Been Here: MasterChef Junior; Survivor

~*~*~*~*~

And the rest:

Outstanding Variety Talk Series Should Win: Late Late Show with James Corden Will Win: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series Should Win: Saturday Night Live Will Win: Inside Amy Schumer

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Should Win: Jack Bender, Game of Thrones (“The Door”) Will Win: Miguel Sapochnik, Game of Thrones (“Battle of the Bastards”)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Should Win: David Mandel, Veep (“Kissing Your Sister”) Will Win: Dave Stern, Veep (“Mother”)

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, TV Movie or Dramatic Special Should Win: Susanne Bier, The Night Manager Will Win: John Singleton, The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story (“The Race Card”)

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special Should Win: Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski, Grease: Live Will Win: Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski, Grease: Live

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Should Win: Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, UnREAL (“Return”) Will Win: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones (“Battle of the Bastards”)

Outsanding Writing for a Comedy Series Should Win: Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck, Veep (“Mother”) Will Win: Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, Master of None (“Parents”)

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, TV Movie, or Dramatic Special Should Win: David Farr, The Night Manager Will Win: D. V. DeVincentis, The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story (“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Should Win: n/a Will Win: Amy Schumer, Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo

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anon asked: Clue or Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Communism was just a red herring.

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Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor become the first two wrestlers in history to hold both the NXT Championsip and go on to hold a World Championship.

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The Boss dethrones Charlotte to become the new, WWE Women’s Champion!

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Brie Larson announced as Captain Marvel

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Science is neat. But I’m afraid it’s not very forgiving.

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68th Primetime Emmy Awards - Nomination Predictions

It's the Emmys again! Game of Thrones and Veep finally took top honors last year, dethroning perennial champs Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Modern Family. Can they win again? Sure. Mad Men is officially off the ballot, which frees up some space. New shows like Golden Globe champ Mr. Robot and UnREAL could potentially mix it up in Drama. Over in Comedy, Parks and Rec and Louie are both out, so new faces from the streaming sites Master of None (Netflix), Catastrophe (Amazon) and Casual (Hulu) have chances to get in. Without further ado:

Outstanding Drama Series The Americans ✓ Better Call Saul ✓ Downton Abbey ✓ Game of Thrones ✓ House of Cards ✓ Mr. Robot ✓ Orange is the New Black

Alternate: Homeland ✓ Spoiler: UnREAL Wish (not including any above): Bates Motel and Marvel's Jessica Jones

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Comedy Series black-ish ✓ Master of None ✓ Modern Family ✓ Silicon Valley ✓ Transparent ✓ Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt ✓ Veep ✓

Alternate: Casual Spoiler: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Wish: Jane the Virgin, You're the Worst and Broad City

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Limited Series American Crime ✓ Fargo ✓ The Night Manager ✓ The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ✓ Roots ✓

Alternate: Show Me a Hero Spoiler: American Horror Story: Hotel Wish: Time Traveling Bong

~*~*~*~*~

The rest after the cut!

Outstanding TV Movie All the Way ✓ Confirmation ✓ The Dresser Luther ✓ Sherlock: The Abominable Bride ✓

Alternate: Coat of Many Colors Spoiler: A Very Murray Christmas ✓ Wish: Grease: Live!

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Claire Danes, Homeland ✓ Julianna Margluies, The Good Wife Robin Wright, House of Cards ✓ Taraji P. Henson, Empire ✓ Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black ✓ Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder ✓

Alternate: Keri Russell, The Americans ✓ Spoiler: Shiri Appleby, UnREAL Wish: Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel; Eva Green, Penny Dreadful; Krysten Ritter, Marvel's Jessica Jones

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul  ✓ Damian Lewis, Billions Kevin Spacey, House of Cards ✓ Kyle Chandler, Bloodline ✓ Paul Giamatti, Billions Rami Malek, Mr. Robot ✓

Alternate: Matthew Rhys, The Americans ✓ Spoiler: Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan ✓ Wish: Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Christine Baranski, The Good Wife Constance Zimmer, UnREAL ✓ Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones ✓ Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey Lena Headey, Game of Thrones ✓ Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black

Alternate: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey ✓ Spoiler: Miranda Otto, Homeland Wish: Alison Wright & Holly Taylor, The Americans MISSED: Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones; Maura Tierney, The Affair

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Alan Cumming, The Good Wife Christian Slater, Mr. Robot Jim Carter, Downton Abbey Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul ✓ Kit Harington, Game of Thrones ✓ Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones ✓

Alternate: Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline ✓ Spoiler: Mike Kelly, House of Cards ✓ Wish: Frank Langella, The Americans; David Tennant, Marvel's Jessica Jones MISSED: Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer ✓ Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ✓ Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep ✓ Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie ✓ Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Alternate: Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish ✓ Spoiler: Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin Wish: Aya Cash, You're the Worst; Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson, Broad City MISSED: Laurie Metcalf, Getting On

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson, black-ish ✓ Aziz Ansari, Master of None ✓ Don Cheadle, House of Lies Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent ✓ Rob Lowe, The Grinder William H. Macy, Shameless ✓

Alternate: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory Spoiler: Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle Wish: Chris Geere, You're the Worst; Bruce Campbell, Ash vs. Evil Dead; Mark Duplass, Togetherness; Andy Daly, Review MISSED: Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth; Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Allison Janney, Mom ✓ Anna Chlumsky, Veep ✓ Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Judith Light, Transparent ✓ Julie Bowen, Modern Family Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live ✓

Alternate: Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory Spoiler: Niecy Nash, Getting On ✓ Wish: Kether Donohue, You're the Worst MISSED: Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Adam Driver, Girls Andre Braughter, Brooklyn Nine Nine ✓ Hugh Laurie, Veep ✓ Titus Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ✓ Tony Hale, Veep ✓ Ty Burrell, Modern Family ✓

Alternate: T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley Spoiler: Louie Anderson, Baskets ✓ Wish: Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin MISSED: Matt Walsh, Veep

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill ✓ Felicity Huffman, American Crime ✓ Kerry Washington, Confirmation ✓ Kirsten Dunst, Fargo ✓ Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ✓

Alternate: Blythe Danner, Madoff Spoiler: Shanice Williams, The Wiz Live Wish: Suranne Jones, Doctor Foster MISSED: Lili Taylor, American Crime

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Bryan Cranston, All the Way ✓ Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ✓ Idris Elba, Luther ✓ Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero Patrick Wilson, Fargo Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager ✓

Alternate: Ian McKellen, The Dresser Spoiler: Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride ✓ Wish: Peter Capaldi, Doctor Who MISSED: Cuba GOoding Jr., The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Anika Noni Rose, Roots Jean Smart, Fargo ✓ Melissa Leo, All the Way ✓ Olivia Colman, The Night Manager ✓ Regina King, American Crime ✓ Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel ✓

Alternate: Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel ✓ Spoiler: Uzo Aduba, The Wiz Live Wish: Elizabeth Debicki, The Night Manager

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Anthony Mackie, All the Way Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager ✓ Jesse Plemons, Fargo ✓ John Travolta, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ✓ Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ✓ Wendell Pierce, Confirmation

Alternate: Frank Langella, All the Way Spoiler: Martin Freeman, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride Wish: Tom Hollander, The Night Manager; Evan Peters, American Horror Story: Hotel MISSED: David Schwimmer, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story; Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Reality Competition Program The Amazing Race ✓ Dancing with the Stars ✓ MasterChef Junior Project Runway ✓ Top Chef ✓ The Voice ✓

Alternate: So You Think You Can Dance Spoiler: American Idol Wish: Survivor MISSED: American Ninja Warrior

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Variety Talk Series Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Jimmy Kimmel Live ✓ Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ✓ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert The Late Late Show with James Corden ✓ The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon ✓

Alternate: Daily Show with Trevor Noah Spoiler: Late Night with Seth Meyers MISSED: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee; Real Time with Bill Maher

~*~*~*~*~

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series Documentary Now! ✓ Inside Amy Schumer ✓ Key and Peele ✓ Portlandia ✓ Saturday Night Live ✓

Alternate: Drunk History ✓ Spoiler: W/ Bob and David

~*~*~*~*~

I’m hoping to see a lot of pleasant surprises, though. At the age of PEAK TV!, there are so many deserving contenders in every category. I’m thinking Thrones, All the Way, and People v. OJ will lead the nominations this year. Should be fun!

[oijio]

You’re right. You should stay here. You should just let your 4 underpaid professors read your senior thesis on, what is it? Post-colonial Africa?

[oijio]

Emilia Clarke on The Graham Norton Show. (x)

[oijio]

Isaac Hempstead-Wright and Kristian Nairn hugging after the filming of episode 5 ‘’The Door.’’