This article contains a preview of the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. For a recap of the ceremony and a list of winners, click here.
On Monday, September 12th, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) will announce their picks for the best that television networks and streaming services had to offer in the 2021–2022 season. Predicting the Emmys is usually a thankless and impossible task due to the ever-increasing amount of high quality offerings available across a number of ever-diversifying platforms. Nevertheless, prior winners, the nomination announcement in July, other award shows from earlier in the year, and the predictions of various critics and industry insiders give us some big clues about who is likely to prevail in the top categories. One thing that is certain about this year’s winners is that there will be no repeats from last year in the Drama categories, given that The Crown is ineligible this year. (Last year, it swept all 7 major categories, the first time a drama series ever achieved that feat.)
Last year, the 73rd Primetime Emmy Award ceremony was strong both in its production and the set of winners it produced. (Check out my review of last year’s Cedric the Entertainer-hosted ceremony here). This year’s ceremony, which will air live on NBC and stream live on the NBC/Universal streaming service Peacock, will be held at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. The festivities will be hosted by Saturday Night Live regular Kenan Thompson (who has scored 5 Emmy nominations and 1 win for his work on the series). I have always found him a bit cloying, but I have no doubt that he will inject levity and passion into the proceedings.
The Emmys have an extraordinary amount of categories, which is unsurprising given the sheer amount and variety of content that exists on television and streaming. The 25 main awards will be handed out on Sunday night’s ceremony following the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremonies held last weekend, during which 93 (!!) awards were handed out. Although success in the less prominent, mostly technical categories doesn’t always translate to success in the main categories, the Creative Arts Emmy winners potentially hold some additional information about where voters’ passions lie. Leading the field with 5 Emmys apiece were the CBS concert special Adele: One Night Only, the Disney+ documentary The Beatles: Get Back, and 3 series nominated in the top categories — Netflix’s Stranger Things and HBO’s Euphoria and The White Lotus. Other programs nominated in the top categories that had a good showing at the Creative Arts Emmys include Netflix’s Squid Game (4 wins), HBO’s Barry (3 wins), Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building (3 wins), HBO’s Hacks (2 wins), AppleTV+’s Severance (2 wins), HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2 wins), HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show (2 wins), and Prime Video’s Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (2 wins).
Perhaps boding well for the main show, the winners of the often problematic 4 guest acting categories were quite inspired with Laurie Metcalf picking up her 4th Emmy for her caustic performance as a no-nonsense tour manager on HBO’s Hacks, Nathan Lane picking up his 1st Primetime Emmy (and 3rd overall) for his against-type turn as a menacing businessman on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, and relative newcomers Lee Yoo-Mi and Colman Domingo picking up their 1st Emmys for their memorable turns on Netflix’s Squid Game and HBO’s Euphoria (respectively). Even the winner of the Made-for-Television movie category, which has become a perennial embarrassment, did not disappoint me as Disney+’s wildly clever and uproarious Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers became an unlikely winner.
Last year, I correctly predicted 18 of the 27 top categories, with 6 of the 9 remaining winners being listed as my runner-up. I’m not quite sure I will have the same success in a year with less frontrunners, but here goes nothing! Without further ado, here are my predictions in all 25 major categories that will be handed out on the telecast.
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WINNER PREDICTIONS — DRAMA
Outstanding Drama Series: This remarkably impressive category is one of the night’s most competitive. I suspect we can count out Netflix’s Stranger Things and AMC’s Better Call Saul, which are significantly more likely to have Emmy success with their upcoming final seasons than for their penultimate ones. Similarly unlikely are Showtime’s Yellowjackets and HBO’s Euphoria — two acclaimed, dark, and female-dominated series that don’t seem to have quite the broad support of the top contenders. This is Emmy voters last chance to award Netflix’s much-loved Ozark in the top category, but the show has always been more of an acting showcase than an overall great series. That leaves 3 major contenders. AppleTV+’s brilliant Severance won rave reviews and did better than expected at the nominations. I suspect, however, that it will be a bit too odd for some mainstream Emmy voters. That leaves the race down to the 3rd season of HBO’s big business saga Succession and Netflix’s inventive mega-hit Squid Game. The latter would make history as the first non-English language program to win a major Emmy and deserves the award in my opinion, but I find it hard to believe Emmy voters will miss the chance to give another win to their beloved Succession. Predicted Winner: Succession Most Likely to Upset: Squid Game My Preference: Squid Game
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: One of the biggest head-scratchers of this year’s Emmy nominations is the Academy’s decision to nominate Reese Witherspoon for AppleTV+’s The Morning Show over her previously nominated costar Jennifer Aniston, who has a much more interesting and complex role. She is easily in last place. Not too far ahead of her is Killing Eve stars Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. They are both absolutely brilliant and Oh has undeservingly become one of the biggest losers in Emmy history (she is 0-for-12), but the 4th and final season of BBCAmerica’s Killing Eve was such a disappointment that it is hard for me to see either of them being competitive for the win. The long under-appreciated and exceedingly gifted Melanie Lynskey could triumph for her searing turn on Showtime’s Yellowjackets, but I suspect the race is down to the remaining two contenders — Laura Linney, going for her 1st win for Netflix’s Ozark, and Zendaya, who triumphed in 2020 for her turn on HBO’s Euphoria. Given that Zendaya is a red-hot Hollywood commodity and the 2nd season of her show did exceptionally well in the nominations, she’s out front. But I think there is a strong likelihood that just as they did Mad Men’s Jon Hamm and The Crown’s Olivia Colman, Emmy voters might decide that it would be a crime to let Laura Linney go Emmy-less for her absolutely brilliant turn as Wendy Byrde and give it to her for the final season. Predicted Winner: Zendaya, Euphoria Most Likely to Upset: Laura Linney, Ozark My Preference: Laura Linney, Ozark
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: A much stronger lineup than the notably disappointing one last year, all of these 6 nominees seem to have a legitimate shot at the win. Sadly, I suspect that Jason Bateman will lose for the 4th consecutive time for his understated but complex and powerful turn as Marty Byrde on Netflix’s Ozark. Similarly, I suspect that the gifted but understated Adam Scott will go home empty-handed for AppleTV+’s Severance. Bob Odenkirk could certainly leverage the buzz of the recent series finale of AMC’s Better Call Saul to a long-overdue win, but he’s actually nominated here for the show’s penultimate season and I suspect that voters will wait to award him for the final one. That leaves 3 contenders — Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong for their turns as a warring father-and-son on HBO’s Succession and Lee Jung-jae for anchoring Netflix’s Squid Game. I basically have all in a 3-way tie, but I will go ahead and predict a repeat for Jeremy Strong with Lee Jung-jae as the runner-up. Predicted Winner: Jeremy Strong, Succession Most Likely to Upset: Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game My Preference: Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: This absolutely stacked category features 8 worthy contenders that each turned in memorable performances and have big buzz. I suspect that despite how deserving they are, the bottom vote-getters will be Christina Ricci for Showtime’s Yellowjackets, J. Smith-Cameron’s for HBO’s Succession, and Sydney Sweeney for HBO’s Euphoria. I suspect that next up is 2-time Emmy winner Patricia Arquette, who gave what I think is one of the most interesting performances of her career on AppleTV+’s Severance. I suspect the next biggest vote getters will be Rhea Seehorn of AMC’s Better Call Saul (finally nominated after being notably snubbed for several years) and Jung Ho-yeon of Netflix’s Squid Game (who won the Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance earlier this year). Then it will be a neck-and-neck race between Sarah Snook for HBO’s Succession and Julia Garner for Netflix’s Ozark. Snook is a formidable competitor, but Season Three was the weakest yet for her character and Julia Garner’s searing turn in Ozark’s final season is an all-timer that I suspect will bring her a 3rd win in the category. Predicted Winner: Julia Garner, Ozark Most Likely to Upset: Sarah Snook, Succession My Preference: Julia Garner, Ozark
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: This year’s 8 nominees only hail from 4 series — HBO’s Succession (3 nominations), AppleTV+’s Severance (2 nominations), Netflix’s Squid Game (2 nominations), and AppleTV+’s The Morning Show (1 nomination). I suspect the bottom vote-getters to be Squid Game’s Park Hae-soo, Severance’s Christopher Walken and John Turturro, and Succession’s Nicholas Braun. All gave strong performances, but their impact pales in comparison to their co-stars and co-nominees. Billy Crudup could repeat for his turn on The Morning Show given that he beat the men from Succession before, but his show’s buzz has notably faded while Succession’s has grown. I suspect the final 3 contenders to be in a dead heat. If the Succession men split votes, then Squid Game’s Oh Young-soo could triumph in what was perhaps the show’s most interesting role. But I suspect that this will be a dead-heat between Kieran Culkin’s smarmy Roman Roy and Roman’s brother-in-law, Matthew Macfadyen’s increasingly distressed Tom Wambsgans. The general consensus seems to be for Culkin, but I am going to go out on a limb and predict Macfadyen, who was truly brilliant on the show’s 3rd season. Predicted Winner: Matthew Macfadyen, Succession Most Likely to Upset: Kieran Culkin, Succession My Preference: Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series: The somewhat disappointing series finale of Netflix’s Ozark seems unlikely to triumph here, as does Better Call Saul (which has never won a single Emmy out of its 42 prior nominations). The season finale of Netflix’s Squid Game could prevail, but this particular show seems more likely to be awarded for its directing than its writing. The writing on Showtime’s Yellowjackets was well-respected enough to earn it two spots, but I suspect that there could be some vote splitting. That leaves the brilliant season finales of HBO’s Succession and AppleTV+’s Severance. I would vote for the latter in an instant as it was an all-time great season finale, but the brutal dialogue and juicy twists of the Succession finale are likely unbeatable. Predicted Winner: Succession (“All the Bells Say”) Most Likely to Upset: Severance (“The We We Are”) My Preference: Severance (“The We We Are”)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: Succession’s 3 nominated episodes seem likely to cancel each other out and Ozark’s underwhelming series finale seems unlikely to bring Jason Bateman his 2nd directing win for the series. The striking pilot of Showtime’s Yellowjackets could surprise, but I suspect the show’s freshman season will go home empty-handed. That leaves the two most fascinating episodes of this year’s two boldest and most original shows. I personally would give it to Severance, but I suspect Squid Game has this one locked and it would certainly be a deserving winner. Predicted Winner: Squid Game (“Red Light, Green Light”) Most Likely to Upset: Severance (“The We We Are”) My Preference: Severance (“The We We Are”)
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WINNER PREDICTIONS — COMEDY
Outstanding Comedy Series: Last year, this was one of the ceremony’s least competitive category as the 1st season of AppleTV+’s Ted Lasso was way out front. Although the series very well may win again for its 2nd season, it faces much stiffer competition this year. We can instantly count out the 11th season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and the 3rd season of Fx’s What We Do in the Shadows, as both in buzz and nomination count they are clearly at the bottom. It seems that despite their previous major Emmy wins, the 4th season of Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the 3rd season of HBO’s Barry lack the buzz to compete with this year’s top contenders. Although it unexpectedly beat out Ted Lasso in the writing and directing categories last year, I suspect that the 2nd season of Hacks wasn’t quite strong enough to triumph over its 3 competitors (although I absolutely adored it). That leaves the 2nd season of Lasso facing off against the brilliant 1st seasons of ABC’s Abbott Elementary and Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. I expect that all 3 shows are in a dead heat, but I anticipate that Lasso will repeat and Only Murders is next in line given that it’s much-liked 2nd season aired at the height of the voting period, keeping it fresh on voters’ minds. Predicted Winner: Ted Lasso Most Likely to Upset: Only Murders in the Building My Preference: Only Murders in the Building or Abbott Elementary (I truly can’t decide)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart seems just as big a lock for the 2nd season of Hacks as she did for the first. It seems unlikely that anyone will upset her, but if someone does it will be Abbot Elementary breakout Quinta Brunson. She is terrific on the series, but I suspect she is more likely to be anointed in the writing category than the acting one. My personal pick would be Issa Rae, who was hilarious and devastating on the under-nominated final season of Insecure, but I suspect her show wrapped too long ago and her competition is too stiff. The other contenders seem like also-rans given the general lack of buzz for the latest seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Flight Attendant, and The Great, despite how superb Rachel Brosnahan, Kaley Cuoco, and Elle Fanning were on them (respectively). Predicted Winner: Jean Smart, Hacks Most Likely to Upset: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary My Preference: Issa Rae, Insecure
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Another excellent lineup filled with deserving contenders, this category finds last year’s winner Jason Sudeikis (of Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso) facing off against the 2018 and 2019 champion Bill Hader (of HBO’s Barry) and the 2017 champion Donald Glover (of Fx’s Atlanta). They will face off against Hollywood comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short (both for Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building) and Nicholas Hoult (of Hulu’s The Great). Many are banking on Hader to go 3-for-3 and while he certainly could, I find it hard to believe that Emmy voters will turn up a chance to honor Sudeikis again given their (somewhat over-the-top) love for him and the series. Predicted Winner: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso Most Likely to Upset: Bill Hader, Barry My Preference: Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Another sterling lineup, this one has 8 strong contenders. Despite being a two-time previous winner in this category, I suspect that Kate McKinnon of NBC’s Saturday Night Live is at the bottom this year, given a relatively weak year for her show and the strong competition. Previous winner Alex Borstein of Prime’s Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is similarly unlikely to triumph, despite the fact that she gave arguably her best performance to date in the 4th season. Of the 3 nominees for AppleTV+’s Ted Lasso, I suspect that the strong Sarah Niles and Juno Temple have little shot against Hannah Waddingham, who has the strong potential to repeat given the meaty material she got with her character’s father’s death. But Waddingham will have to contend against Hannah Einbeinder of HBO’s Hacks and the two powerhouses from ABC’s Abbott Elementary — Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Some are betting on Einbinder, but the fact that she is so clearly a co-lead with her dominant co-star Jean Smart, I have trouble seeing her win here. I suspect that it’s a race between Waddingham and the Abbot ladies with James triumphing for her absolutely inspired and utterly original turn as unorthodox Principal Ava. Predicted Winner: Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Most Likely to Upset: Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso My Preference: Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: In a parallel to its female counterpart, this race has three Ted Lasso co-stars (last year’s winner Brett Goldstein and first-time nominees Toheeb Jimoh and Nick Mohamed) contending against a beloved Saturday Night Live regular (Bowen Yang), a previous winner from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Tony Shalhoub), and an Abbott Elementary breakout (Tyler James Williams). The only difference is that here we also have two supporting cast members from Barry (previous winner in this category Henry Winkler and Anthony Carrigan). I suspect that Goldstein will repeat for his superb turn as the grumpy but soulful footballer Roy Kent with the “Fonz” himself Henry Winkler hot on his heels. Predicted Winner: Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Most Likely to Upset: Henry Winkler, Barry My Preference: Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: Shows with multiple nominations tend to suffer from vote splitting unless one of their nominated episodes is a clear standout like a notable pilot, series finale, or unanimously adored classic. That means that Barry and What We Do in the Shadows are unlikely to triumph here. Ted Lasso has a shot with the strong episode cited, but if it couldn’t win here for its 1st season, which had greater buzz and faced less competition, I doubt it will for its 2nd. That leaves a 3-way race between last year’s winner Hacks and the pilots of Abbot Elementary and Only Murders in the Building. All 3 have a shot, but I give the slight edge to Abbott given that it is the perfect place to award series creator/star/writer/executive producer Quinta Brunson. Predicted Winner: Abbott Elementary (“Pilot”) Most Likely to Upset: Only Murders in the Building (“True Crime”) My Preference: Abbot Elementary (“Pilot”)
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: Perhaps the strangest nomination from this year’s Emmys was the nomination here for BET’s The Ms. Pat Show. It has virtually no chance of winning. Another unlikely candidate is Atlanta given the faded buzz for the series. Ted Lasso could triumph for the best episode of its 2nd season, but just as was the case for its writing, if it couldn’t win last year when it had less buzz and more competition I have trouble believing it could win this year. Hacks could repeat for its terrific season premiere, but it has stronger competition than last year — two excellent episodes of Only Murders in the Building and a wildly acclaimed episode of Barry. Given that Murders could vote split and the Barry episode received immense praise, I give the edge to Barry. Predicted Winner: Barry (“710N”) Most Likely to Upset: Only Murders in the Building (“The Boy from 6B”) My Preference: Only Murders in the Building (“The Boy from 6B”)
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WINNER PREDICTIONS — LIMITED SERIES
Outstanding Limited Series: Last year’s lineup in this category was an all-time great one. Although this one is a bit of a step down, it still has numerous strong contenders. Netflix’s Inventing Anna was tepidly received by audiences and critics and seems unlikely to win here. Hulu’s Pam and Tommy was much more warmly received, but the story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s sex tape lacks the heft and prestige that normally accompanies this category. In my opinion, The Dropout deserves this award hands-down, but its surprisingly low nomination indicates a lack of Academy support. That leaves the race between Mike White’s deeply uncomfortable but insightful and entertaining class satire The White Lotus (HBO) against Danny Strong’s tragic examination at the Opioid crisis Dopesick (Hulu). The latter is definitely more traditional Emmy fodder but the former’s massive nomination tally and success at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend give it the edge. Predicted Winner: The White Lotus Most Likely to Upset: Dopesick My Preference: The Dropout
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Made-for-Television Movie: Toni Collette (HBO’s The Staircase), Margaret Qualley (Netflix’s Maid), and Sarah Paulson (Fx’s American Crime Story: Impeachment) all turned in brilliant performances, but did so in limited series that notably underperformed when the nominations were announced. Julia Garner headlined one that over-performed (Netflix’s Inventing Anna), but she seems far more likely to win her third Emmy for Ozark than to triumph here. The wildly talented Lily James was exceptional as Pamela Anderson in Hulu’s Pam and Tommy, but no one this year in any of the 4 limited series acting categories can match the transformative work that Amanda Seyfried did as disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu’s The Dropout. It’s an all-timer of a performance and seems far out in the lead. Predicted Winner: Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout Most Likely to Upset: Lily James, Pam and Tommy My Preference: Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Made-for-Television Movie: Interestingly, all 4 Limited Series acting categories this year have a clear frontrunner. The likely winner here is Hollywood veteran Michael Keaton, who superbly anchored Hulu’s Dopesick as a physician at the center of the Opioid crisis. He has been on the campaign trail and his unforgettable acceptance speech at this year’s SAG Awards only boosted his chances. His primary competitor is probably Andrew Garfield for Hulu’s Under the Banner of Heaven, but the under-performance of the series elsewhere indicates a lack of support. The same goes for co-nominees Oscar Isaac (HBO’s Scnees from a Marriage), Himesh Patel (HBOMax’s Station Eleven), and Colin Firth (HBO’s The Staircase). As for Sebastian Stan in Hulu’s Pam and Tommy — as good as he was, it’s hard to see Emmy voters giving a top award to an actor best known for Marvel playing a tattooed rocker with a leaked sex tape in a tongue-in-cheek limited series. Predicted Winner: Michael Keaton, Dopesick Most Likely to Upset: Andrew Garfield, Under the Banner of Heaven My Preference: Michael Keaton, Dopesick
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Made-for-Television Movie: One of the biggest frontrunners of the night in any category is Jennifer Coolidge for HBO’s The White Lotus. Her instantly iconic turn as a lonely older woman visiting a luxury resort to spread her mother’s ashes is one of the year’s most acclaimed. She faces off against 4 (!) of her brilliant costars (Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Natasha Rothwell, and Sydney Sweeney) but none of them have the buzz to topple Coolidge. The other two nominees hail from Hulu’s Dopesick. Mare Winningham’s performance was affecting but conventional, while Kaitlyn Dever was next-level brilliant as her opioid-addicted daughter. If there is any challenger to Coolidge, it is Dever. Predicted Winner: Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Most Likely to Upset: Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick My Preference: Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Made-for-Television Movie: The frontrunner here is clearly Murray Bartlett for his wildly entertaining and unnerving performance as the manager of a luxury resort who is on the verge of an epic relapse in HBO’s The White Lotus. He faces off against 2 of his co-stars (Jake Lacy and Steve Zahn), 3 terrific actors from Dopesick (Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Will Poulter), and big screen comedy star Seth Rogen from Hulu’s Pam and Tommy. In the unlikely event that any of them upsets, I suspect it will be Sarsgaard as the dedicated attorney trying to get justice amid the opioids crisis. Predicted Winner: Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus Most Likely to Upset: Peter Sarsgaard, Dopesick My Preference: Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus
Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or Made-for-Television Movie: All six nominees are superb, but the clear frontrunners are The White Lotus and Dopesick. Although Danny Strong and his team did an excellent job of dramatizing Beth Macy’s 2018 nonfiction book, I suspect that voters will opt for Mike White’s wholly original character study/class satire. Predicted Winner: The White Lotus Most Likely to Upset: Dopesick My Preference: The Dropout
Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or Made-for-Television Movie: This is yet another race that appears to come down to The White Lotus and Dopesick. Either would be a deserving winner, but I give the edge to The White Lotus with its on-location filming and the complex and unexpected performances that were elicited from the ensemble. Winner: The White Lotus Most Likely to Upset: Dopesick My Preference: The Dropout
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WINNER PREDICTIONS — REALITY AND VARIETY
Outstanding Competition Program: Although few things would bring me greater joy than seeing my beloved Lizzo storm the stage, I can’t help but suspect that Rupaul’s Drag Race will extend its 4 year winning streak in this category. Drag Race and Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls are competing against The Amazing Race, Top Chef, and The Voice, 3 shows that won the prior 15 (!!) years. That’s right, in the 18 years the category has existed only those 4 shows have ever won. Predicted Winner: RuPaul’s Drag Race Most Likely to Upset: Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls My Preference: Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
Outstanding Variety Talk Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has won the past 6 years and there is no reason to expect it will end its rein this year, given that none of its competitors — The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, or Late Night with Seth Meyers — had particularly notable seasons. If anyone upsets, it will likely be long-time Emmy favorite Stephen Colbert. Predicted Winner: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Most Likely to Upset: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert My Preference: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (I guess?)
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: Saturday Night Live has won the past 5 years and there is no reason to expect it will end its reign this year, even though I do suspect that someday in the near future voters will wise up and realize that its sole competitor — A Black Lady Sketch Show —is an infinitely more inspired and deserving choice. Predicted Winner: Saturday Night Live Most Likely to Upset: A Black Lady Sketch Show My Preference: A Black Lady Sketch Show
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: It’s unclear why the Academy saved this award for the main telecast when most of its kin were presented last weekend. A posthumous win for the late, great Norm MacDonald would certainly be an emotional high point of the evening but the general consensus seems to be that up-and-coming comedian Jerrod Carmichael will triumph for his HBO standup special. Predicted Winner: Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel Most Likely to Upset: Norm MacDonald: Nothing Special My Preference: Norm MacDonald: Nothing Special
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Check back on Tuesday for a recap of this year’s ceremony and a reflection on the winners
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