Emmys 2020
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Emmys 2020 Picks

thedhk

The Emmys for 2020 are here and somehow we’ve managed to regress even more, with even less shows than last year getting nods. The way the Emmys bridge 2 calendar years can make things confusing. The amount of content out there is also overwhelming. Yet to say that only these handful of shows had the performances worthy of awards seems backwards.

Again I find myself behind on some of my television watching and I haven’t seen several of the shows that seem to monopolize the categories. So these are just best guesses or who I want to win.

NOMINEES

Outstanding Drama Series

  • “Better Call Saul” – Another year and I fall further behind on this show. 
  • “The Crown” – While I always enjoy this show I don’t know if it’ll win THE Emmy.
  • “The Handmaid’s Tale” – I had to stop watching because it got too real. 
  • “Killing Eve” – If this had been the first season I’d say this deserves it again but as much as I love the stars, this season fell a little short of the astronomical expectations set by season 1. 
  • “The Mandalorian” (Disney Plus) – I truly appreciate that this is on here but I don’t think it can usurp some of the more “serious” shows. 
  • “Ozark” – Another show that is too intense for me at present, it’s between this and Succession I assume. I’m going to give it to Ozark because I haven’t heard as much buzz about the other recently. 
  • “Stranger Things” – Another show that I love but the latest season fell a little flat. 
  • “Succession” – I finally tried to watch this show, made it a handful of episodes before it stressed me out too much. 

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • “Curb Your Enthusiasm” – It’s the right show for this voting body. 
  • “Dead to Me” – Not super familiar. 
  • “The Good Place” – Same with this but obviously it earns raves. 
  • “Insecure” – What a spectacular show. This last season in particular was *chef’s kiss.*
  • “The Kominsky Method” – Also aimed at the right voting body.
  • “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” – I can’t hear another Scherman-Paladino thank you speech.
  • “Schitt’s Creek” – I hope this wins. It’s a comedy, it has heart, it has crows. 
  • “What We Do in the Shadows” – I wouldn’t hate it if this won, but since it’s Schitt’s Creek’s last season it’d be nice if it got recognition. 

Outstanding Limited Series

I’ve only seen parts of these shows (except Watchmen) but based on marketing team skills and budgets alone I’m going to go with Little Fires Everywhere. 

  • “Little Fires Everywhere” 
  • “Mrs. America” 
  • “Unbelievable” 
  • “Unorthodox” 
  • “Watchmen” 

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

  • Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) – He will always be Michael Bluth to me. That being said his track record indicates he might win, especially with Succession potentially dividing up a voter base. 
  • Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) – I don’t know enough about the show to judge appropriately but I sense it’ll go to a show made by a company with more money for a campaign. 
  • Steve Carell (“The Morning Show”) – Another actor who cannot chameleon for me. 
  • Brian Cox (“Succession”) – A vote split is imminent. 
  • Billy Porter (“Pose”) – I’d LOVE to see Billy Porter win but I don’t think the latest season of Pose got as much attention as the prior. 
  • Jeremy Strong (“Succession”) – I’m assuming of the two Cox would take it. 

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

  • Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”) – She was…. Fine. Apple TV+’s ad dollars could buy this win. 
  • Olivia Colman (“The Crown”) – Awards stick to Olivia Colman like flies to flypaper so it’s highly likely she’ll take this home. 
  • Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”) – It’s tough with co-leads (and I’ve said before I actually consider Sandra Oh the lead. 
  • Laura Linney (“Ozark”) – Laura could unseat her majesty, we’ll find out!
  • Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”) – Again, the first season I’d have said no contest, this season, not so much.
  • Zendaya (“Euphoria”) – Would be quite the underdog story here!
Laura Linney Jason Bateman Ozark
OZARK: (L to R) LAURA LINNEY as WENDY BYRDE and JASON BATEMAN as MARTY BYRDE in episode 310 of OZARK. Cr. STEVE DIETL/NETFLIX ©2020

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

  • Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”) – Love him to bits, could be an interesting win. 
  • Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) – Does have clout but will people hold Perfect Harmony against him?
  • Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”) – I thought he was fine as a questionable character?
  • Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”) – I always love me some Mark Duplass.
  • Nicholas Braun (“Succession”) – Really?
  • Kieran Culkin (“Succession”) – Really really?
  • Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”) – Really really really? Is this show SO good that three actors deserve nods in this category but no other shows?
  • Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”) – Another one where the first season I’d have said no contest, this season, not so much.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

These feel like the heaviest of the heavy hitters. 

  • Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”) – Didn’t watch BLL but love Dern. 
  • Meryl Streep (“Big Little Lies”) – The fact that Streep deemed television worthy of her presence will probably be rewarded with an award. 
  • Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”) – One of my favorite of her recent roles but prob can’t dethrone the others. 
  • Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) – Samira is great but guessing the more senior of the lot will take it. 
  • Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”) – Of the three women nominated from Killing Eve this year, she actually gave the most interesting performance to me.
  • Julia Garner (“Ozark”) – Could dark horse here.
  • Sarah Snook (“Succession”) – Seriously are there not other shows on? Where is Watchmen?
  • Thandie Newton (“Westworld”) – Still the best part of Westworld

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

I really would consider Dan Levy the lead of the show, but I hope they both win their respective categories.

  • Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
  • Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”)
  • Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)
  • Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)
  • Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)
  • Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”)
Issa Rae Insecure
Natasha Rothwell, Yvonne Orji, Issa Rae. photo: Merie W. Wallace/HBO

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

I think both Issa and Catherine really shone in their seasons, but since it’s Catherine’s last chance as Moira to win I’m going to guess that impacted voters a bit.

  • Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”)
  • Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
  • Linda Cardellini (“Dead to Me”)
  • Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”)
  • Issa Rae (“Insecure”)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

I’m guessing Ruffalo v Ruffalo in a somewhat underwhelming field will tip the scales.

  • Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”)
  • Hugh Jackman (“Bad Education”)
  • Paul Mescal (“Normal People”)
  • Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”)
  • Mark Ruffalo (“I Know This Much Is True”)
Regina King Watchmen
Regina King, Hong Chau. photo: Mark Hill/HBO

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

Again some truly heavy hitters in this category, but I think Kerry wins.

  • Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”)
  • Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”)
  • Regina King (“Watchmen”)
  • Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”)
  • Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere”)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

I still feel he’s miscategorized but Dan Levy all day every day.

  • Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)
  • William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place”)
  • Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)
  • Sterling K. Brown (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
  • Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
  • Mahershala Ali (“Ramy”)
  • Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
  • Dan Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

It would be strange for Yvonne to win and not Issa but I think she has slightly less tough competition.

  • Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)
  • D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place”)
  • Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”)
  • Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
  • Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
  • Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
  • Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
  • Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

Really as long as it’s not one of the two white guys I’m fine. 

  • Dylan McDermott (“Hollywood”)
  • Jim Parsons (“Hollywood”)
  • Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend”)
  • Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”)
  • Jovan Adepo (“Watchmen”)
  • Louis Gossett Jr. (“Watchmen”)

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

Another category where everyone is a deserving winner. Toni College was heartbreaking in Unbelievable. 

  • Holland Taylor (“Hollywood”)
  • Uzo Aduba (“Mrs. America”)
  • Margo Martindale (“Mrs. America”)
  • Tracey Ullman (“Mrs. America”)
  • Toni Collette (“Unbelievable”)
  • Jean Smart (“Watchmen”)

Reality Competition

This is where middle America might get a win with The Masked Singer taking home a popular vote. 

  • “The Masked Singer” 
  • “Nailed It” 
  • “RuPaul’s Drag Race” 
  • “Top Chef” 
  • “The Voice” 

Variety Talk Series

Some of the shows in this category are doing critical reporting. I wish I was kidding. I hope Last Week Tonight with John Oliver or Daily Show with Trevor Noah get the recognition they deserve.

  • “Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
  • “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”
  • “Jimmy Kimmel Live” 
  • “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)
  • “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Will you be tuning in to the 2020 Emmys? You can also hear the We’re Watching What roundtable episode for more in depth thoughts!