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Emmys 2021 Picks

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In truth there are 20 kajillion Emmys categories which on the one hand is very exciting that a wider berth of artists get to be recognized for something as specific as Outstanding Period And/Or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) or Outstanding Choreography For Scripted Programming. 

Alas if every category were to be presented on-air the telecast would take us into 2022. So we’ve once again chosen to focus on the more widely understood categories. A hearty congratulations to all (okay MOST of) those nominated.

NOMINEES

Outstanding Drama Series

  • “The Boys”  – It’s nice to see a superhero show, particularly one as dark as The Boys, receive recognition. 
  • “Bridgerton” – It’s a toss up between the two Netflix behemoths. While Bridgerton could be seen having an advantage since it’s new and wildly popular, the stigma of “romantic shows” being for “women” may bog this down to Emmy voters.  
  • “The Crown” – Given the lack of other heavy hitters this season and the amount of money Netflix puts behind this show in general we’re going to give it the edge over it’s streaming network compatriot. 
  • “The Handmaid’s Tale” – Given that the news these days makes this show feel more like a reality show (looking at you Texas), and the lackluster response to later seasons it seems unlikely to dethrone The Crown. 
  • “Lovecraft Country”  – This show wasn’t for us but it’s nice to see it get some recognition. 
  • “The Mandalorian” – Much like the inclusion of The Boys this feels like a token gesture, sadly even with a less pretentious awards show like the Emmys it seems unlikely to reward sci-fi in a category that has “real” dramas. 
  • “Pose” – If the early seasons didn’t win it seems unlikely to gain later series traction. 
  • “This Is Us” – The sole network show to make it into the category. Impressive but unlikely to be able to compete with Netflix campaign money. 
Hannah Waddingham and Jason Sudeikis in “Ted Lasso,” now streaming on Apple TV+.​

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • “Black-ish” – A token network television representative (in more ways than one). 
  • “Cobra Kai” – Perhaps it’s just the quarantine but the Emmy voters seem more inclined to include “popular” shows this year. A nice to have nominee but unlikely to win. 
  • “Emily in Paris” – By the same token it seems that the quarantine continues to melt 2021 Emmy voters brains as the only logical reason that this is included is the lavish way Netflix courts voters. 
  • “Hacks” – A brilliant show and given the specificity of the subject might stand an outside chance at sneaking in on showbiz credentials.   
  • “The Flight Attendant” – We’ve heard it’s fine?
  • “The Kominsky Method” – The continued inclusion of this show proves that the target Emmy audience is still geriatric and white. While the show on its own is FINE there are others that could have taken this slot up easily. 
  • “Pen15” – Can this little show harness the power of cringe to swipe a win? Probably not, but it’s fun to see them try!
  • “Ted Lasso” – Truly one of the best shows on television. 

Outstanding Limited Series

  • “I May Destroy You”  
  • “Mare of Easttown”  
  • “The Queen’s Gambit” – Though both this and Mare of Easttown were at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist, the elongated Emmy eligibility calendar may put this at a slight disadvantage given that Mare was more recent. That being said we think Netflix is putting a lot of power behind this. 
  • “The Underground Railroad”  
  • “WandaVision”  

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

  • Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) 
  • Jonathan Majors (“Lovecraft Country”) 
  • Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”) – While we hope to be proven wrong, our guess is that of their two heaviest hitters Netflix put most of their money behind The Crown. Given O’Connor’s win at the Golden Globes for the role we could see them trying to ride that momentum.  
  • Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”) – The most likely to upset. 
  • Billy Porter (“Pose”) 
  • Matthew Rhys (“Perry Mason”) 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

  • Uzo Aduba (“In Treatment”) 
  • Olivia Colman (“The Crown”) 
  • Emma Corrin (“The Crown”) – We sort of hope to be wrong but we’re guessing a sweep for The Crown. Like Gillian Anderson in supporting roles, these two did steal the show for the most recent season.
  • Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) 
  • Mj Rodriguez (“Pose”) 
  • Jurnee Smollett (“Lovecraft Country”) 
Photograph by Eli Joshua Ade/HBO Michael K. Williams HBO Lovecraft Country Season 1 – Episode 5

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

  • Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian”)
  • O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
  • John Lithgow (“Perry Mason”)
  • Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”)
  • Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
  • Chris Sullivan (“This Is Us”)
  • Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
  • Michael K. Williams (“Lovecraft Country”) – Apparently the voting window ended before Williams’ untimely passing. However given the meh-ness of the rest of the category he could pick up a posthumous award for this performance. 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

  • Gillian Anderson (“The Crown”) – I mean, if this show is going to do better than it should it would make sense they give this to one of the newer and powerhouse performance roles on the latest season. 
  • Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
  • Madeline Brewer (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
  • Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
  • Aunjanue Ellis (“Lovecraft Country”)
  • Emerald Fennell (“The Crown”)
  • Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
  • Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)  
  • Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)  
  • William H. Macy (“Shameless”)  
  • Jason Sudeikis (“Ted Lasso”) – Is this even a competition?
  • Kenan Thompson (“Kenan”) 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Aidy Bryant (“Shrill”) 
  • Kaley Cuoco (“The Flight Attendant”) 
  • Allison Janney (“Mom”) 
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) 
  • Jean Smart (“Hacks”) – While the show as a whole may not receive the recognition it deserves, Smart SHOULD take home an award for her outstanding performance. 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Carl Clemons-Hopkins (“Hacks”)
  • Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso”) – There’s a good chance we’ll be wrong here because Ted Lasso will have split the vote amongst the FOUR nominees from the show. Also keep in mind this is for the first season. Goldstein has really shone in season 2, but we’re rooting for him anyway and if he doesn’t win this year we feel pretty certain he will next. 
  • Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”)
  • Nick Mohammed (“Ted Lasso”)
  • Paul Reiser (“The Kominsky Method”)
  • Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”)
  • Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
  • Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Aidy Bryant (“Saturday Night Live”)
  • Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)
  • Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
  • Rosie Perez (“The Flight Attendant”)
  • Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
  • Juno Temple (“Ted Lasso”)
  • Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”) – The women of Ted Lasso may also have split their vote but we’re guessing Waddingham’s seniority will give her an edge over the equally deserving Temple. 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Paul Bettany (“WandaVision”) – IF the 2021 Emmy voting body wanted to show they don’t just nominate popular superhero/sci-fi shows as tokens this would probably be the one of the awards to show it with. Bettany’s film pedigree plus a weaker field of competitors may just snag him the win.
  • Hugh Grant (“The Undoing”)
  • Ewan McGregor (“Halston”)
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton”)
  • Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”) 
  • Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”) 
  • Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”) 
  • Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”) – As much as we would love to see Olsen or Coel take this award home we’re guessing Anya will reign supreme.
  • Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”) 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Thomas Brodie Sangster (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
  • Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”)
  • Paapa Essiedu (“I May Destroy You”)
  • Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton”)
  • Evan Peters (“Mare Of Easttown”) – All the other categories Mare of Easttown is competing in are much tougher than this. We’re guessing they’ll reward the show, and Evans, with this one token.
  • Anthony Ramos (“Hamilton”)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Renée Elise Goldsberry (“Hamilton”)
  • Kathryn Hahn (“WandaVision”) – It will be a travesty if she does not win. Her stiffest competition is Smart but considering that Smart is double nominated we’re guessing most 2021 Emmy voters will weight Leading as more important. This would clear the way for a much deserved Hahn win. 
  • Moses Ingram (“The Queen’s Gambit”)
  • Julianne Nicholson (“Mare Of Easttown”)
  • Jean Smart (“Mare Of Easttown”)
  • Phillipa Soo (“Hamilton”)

Variety Talk Series

  • “Conan”
  • “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
  • “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
  • “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” – It’s between this and Trevor Noah. Both shows are doing excellent and much needed work, but HBO probably has the bigger awards budget. 
  • “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”

Competition Program

  • “The Amazing Race”
  • “Nailed It!”
  • “RuPaul’s Drag Race” – While the last few seasons have been lackluster, we don’t imagine anything can dethrone this for this season (though it would be very fun to see Nailed It! Shake things up). 
  • “Top Chef”
  • “The Voice”

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

  • “A Black Lady Sketch Show”
  • “Saturday Night Live”

How do our 2021 Emmys picks align with yours?