The Discourse will bemightyinteresting when the 2019 Emmy Awards are all said and done. Like the best twisty TV, we’re looking at a night that could go down several different roads, depending on whether voters are feeling nostalgic or revolutionary. On one hand, you’ve got two HBO titans,Game of ThronesandVeep, repping their respective categories in their final seasons.Veep’s swan song was relatively criticallyacclaimed, but—and I don’t know if you heard about this—Game of Thrones season 8 was kind’ve divisive. A few people had qualms. Some qualms were most definitely had. But the Emmys love a goodbye story, and both longtime award magnets are primed for a big night, whether they told the best story or not.
However, this year is also chock-full of wonderful fresh faces and possible upsets. Could masterpieces likeFleabag,Barry, andRussian Dollupset the comedy balance? IsBilly PorterPose’d for a big Drama win? Will your parents ever stop telling you to watchThe Kominsky Method? Some of these questions—and so many more!—will be answered when the 71st Emmy Awards air on Sunday, September 22. Below, we run down every major category with predictions for who will win, who should win, and who might pull off the major upset.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Barry(HBO)
Fleabag(Amazon)
The Good Place(NBC)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(Amazon)
Russian Doll(Netflix)
Schitt’sCreek (Pop)
Who Should Win:Fleabag
Who Will Win:Veep
Possible Upset:The Good Place
Excuse me, is this category a Fox sitcom starring Pamela Anderson that ran for two seasons between 2005-2006 because Outstanding Comedy is straight-up Stacked. (Timely references are my passion.) There’s truly not an outrightwrongchoice in the bunch here, it really comes down to what Emmy voters want to highlight.Fleabagseason 2 is about as close as you can get to flawless storytelling, a perfect divide between gut-busting comedy, stomach-churning drama, and feeling oddly horny about religion.Barryis a force, jumping between crying from laughter, crying from heartbreak, and crying because of that possibly demonic girl climbing up a tree.Russian Dollbroke time,The Good Place—which really has a strong chance as the only major network entry—is the most consistently surprising comedy on TV,Schitt’s Creekand its imitable cast has never been anything other than delightful, andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselis…not my thing, but I certainly see the appeal! But no, the Emmys love a good swan song more than anything, andVeepwill take home the trophy for its fantastic seventh and final season.
Anthony Anderson,Black-ish(CBS)
Don Cheadle,Black Monday(Showtime)
Ted Danson,The Good Place(NBC)
Michael Douglas,The Kominsky Method(Netflix)
Bill Hader,Barry(HBO)
Eugene Levy,Schitt’s Creek(Pop)
Who Should Win:Bill Hader
Who Will Win:Bill Hader
Possible Upset:Michael Douglas
Fun fact: If you walked out of the Hollywood Arclight theater last month you’d glimpse anIT: Chapter Twobillboard and the “For Your Consideration” poster forBarryacross Sunset Boulevard from each other, proof-positive thatBill Haderhas taken over Hollywood. It’s about damn time. For his multi-layered whirlwind of a performance inBarryseason 2, this will be Hader’s night; especially considered he’s also nominated for Outstanding Writing and Directing. However, Netflix’sThe Kominsky Methodremains undisputed as the show your dad will definitely recommend every time you’re home, which is low-key how you know it can’t ever be counted out on Emmy night.
Christina Applegate,Dead to Me(Netflix)
Rachel Brosnahan,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(Amazon)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus,Veep(HBO)
Natasha Lyonne,Russian Doll(Netflix)
Catherine O’Hara,Schitt’s Creek(Pop)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge,Fleabag(Amazon)
Who Should Win:Natasha Lyonne
Who Will Win:Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Possible Upset:Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Once again, not a single bad option here. I do thinkPhoebe Waller-Bridgehas a solid chance of snagging an Outstanding Writing win—andNatasha Lyonnedeserves the nod for quite literally throwing everything she had intoRussian Doll—Julia Louis-Dreyfusis going to an insane seven-for-seven for the role of Selina Meyer onVeep. And honestly? Can’t even be a little bit mad about it. A legend.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Alan Arkin,The Kominsky Method(Netflix)
Anthony Carrigan,Barry(HBO)
Tony Hale,Veep(HBO)
Stephen Root, Barry (HBO)
Tony Shalhoub,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(Amazon)
Henry Winkler,Barry(HBO)
Who Should Win:Anthony Carrigan
Who Will Win:Alan Arkin
Possible Upset:Henry Winkler
In a just, fair world, there wouldn’t beanyaward show in whichAnthony Carrigan’s portrayal of jovial hitman NoHo Hank onBarrywasn’t honored in some way. Alas, that doesn’t seem too likely here, and there are definitely worse alternatives than Henry Winkler winning for the second year in a row. (After going winless for 42 years, no less!) But I just really, really thinkThe Kominsky Methodis going to win big at some point in the night, andAlan Arkinas the quippy agent toMichael Douglas' acting coach is the exact type of role that earns that honor.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Alex Borstein,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(Amazon)
Anna Chlumsky,Veep(HBO)
Sian Clifford,Fleabag(Amazon)
Olivia Colman,Fleabag(Amazon)
Betty Gilpin,GLOW(Netflix)
Sarah Goldberg,Barry(HBO)
Marin Hinkle,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
Kate McKinnon,Saturday Night Live(NBC)
Who Should Win:Betty Gilpin
Who Will Win:Anna Chlumsky
Possible Upset:Olivia Colman
Olivia Colmanis fresh off a freaking Oscar win forThe Favouriteand that might be enough to scoot her across the finish line. (The fact she’s incredible inFleabagwould also help.) I do wish Netflix’s underrated wrestling dramedyGLOWcould get some Emmy love, especially consideringBetty Gilpin’s dynamic, ever-changing performance throughout. But in the end,Anna Chlumskydeserves this win arguably more than anyVeepcastmember. As Amy Brookheimer, Chlumsky’s been the most wickedly funny part of HBO’s razor-sharp comedy for seven straight seasons—“I’m in a room with three people and a fuckload of quiche” should be engraved somewhere in the White House—with six nominations and zero (0) wins.
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul(AMC)
Bodyguard(Netflix)
Game of Thrones(HBO)
Killing Eve(BBC America)
Ozark(Netflix)
Succession(HBO)
This Is Us(NBC)
Who Should Win:Succession
Who Will Win:Game of Thrones
Possible Upset:Pose
Dread it. Run from it.*Game of Thronesis flying away with the top prize come Emmy night no matter how low season 8’s Rotten Tomatoes score may be. (Never forget this show won a Writing Emmy for the “bad pussy” episode.Never.Forget.) It’s the biggest show of all time in its final season and it’s going to absolutely clean up this year. I’d love if this went to HBO’s other trash-family drama,Succession, which is basicallyGame of Throneswith less (fewer) dragons and more cocaine, and it’d be athrillif the far more timelyPosepulled off the upset. But, nope. Ring the bells. This city is already taken.
*Sorry, just quoting another monster who completely failed during the endgame.
Jason Bateman,Ozark(Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown,This Is Us(NBC)
Kit Harington,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Bob Odenkirk,Better Call Saul(AMC)
Billy Porter,Pose(FX)
Milo Ventimiglia,This Is Us(NBC)
Who Should Win:Billy Porter
Who Will Win:Billy Porter
Possible Upset:Kit Harrington and/or last-minute entry Bran Stark. Why do you think he came all this way?
I mean…it could beKit Harington. The man is a great actor with the right material—put him in more comedies, Hollywood!—but Jon Snow spent the entirety ofGame of Thronesseason 8 finding increasingly monotone ways to say “I dunt wahnt et” toward the Iron Throne. Doesn’t matter. It could be Kit Harington. But it should, and much more likely will beBilly PorterforPose’sfiery, open-book ballroom emcee, Pray Tell, a role written specifically for the Tony-winner turned TV star. Look for Porter’s acceptance speech at the top of every “Best Moments” list in the morning, too.
Emilia Clarke,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Jodie Comer,Killing Eve(BBC America)
Viola Davis,How to Get Away with Murder(ABC)
Laura Linney,Ozark(Netflix)
Mandy Moore,This Is Us(NBC)
Sandra Oh,Killing Eve(BBC America)
Robin Wright,House of Cards(Netflix)
Who Should Win:Jodie Comer
Who Will Win:Sandra Oh
Possible Upset:Emilia Clarke
Jodie Comer’s wild, unpredictable performance as the assassin Villanelle was the glue holding an uneven season 2 ofKilling Evetogether, and it’s time she gets some kind of formal recognition. Comer is a gift. If she isn’t cast as Catwoman at some point I’m not sure why we’re even still making movies. Unfortunately, I can’t see here nabbing the Emmy, not yet. This is a strange category; these are all top tier actresses nominated for unbuzzy seasons. Except, of course,Emilia Clarke, and I don’t really want to predict a clean sweep for Thrones. (Emilia Clarke could win…Emilia Clarke is probably going to win.) Here, it might simply come down to industry goodwill, and that’s Viola Davis—never gonna' complain aboutViola Daviswinning an award—and the equally deservingSandra Oh, who is just a smidge more likely.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gwendoline Christie,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Julie Garner,Ozark(Netflix)
Lena Headey,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Fiona Shaw,Killing Eve(BBC America)
Sophie Turner,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Maisie Williams,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Who Should Win:Gwendoline Christie
Who Will Win:Maisie Williams
Possible Upset:Lena Headey
Lena Headey’s inclusion here is so blatantly out of place that I genuinely have to respect it. Make no mistake, Lena Headey has earned a damn Emmy. For seven straight seasons, she brought pathos, rage, and empathy to Cersei Lannister, imbuing an already dynamic character with guaranteed scene-stealing energy every time she was on screen. In season 8 she…mostly stood at a window. Drank some wine. Got crushed by some rocks. She wasgreatat it, of course, but still.
Somebodyfrom Game of Thrones is going to win here. It should beGwendoline Christiefor Brienne of Tarth’s knighting scene in episode 2 alone, a legitimately all-time greatGame of Thronesmoment and performance. It really comes down to a sister-off betweenMaisie WilliamsandSophie Turner, and it was Williams with the splashier, attention-grabbing moments throughout season 8.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Alfie Allen,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Jonathan Banks,Better Call Saul(AMC)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Peter Dinklage,Game of Thrones(HBO)
Giancarlo Esposito,Better Call Saul(AMC)
Michael Kelly,House of Cards(Netflix)
Chris Sullivan,This Is Us(NBC)
Who Should Win:Jonathan Banks
Who Will Win:Peter Dinklage
Possible Upset:Alfie Allen
Better Call Saulquietly had one of the best seasons on TV with its fourth outing, and eitherGiancarlo EspositoandJonathan Bankswould deserve a win here. But—and it sure is hard not to sound like a broken record this year!—themGame of Thronesboiz are probably going to swoop in with the steal. Don’t count outAlfie Allen, who I believe did the most crying in season 8, butPeter Dinklageis a three-time winner with a high-profile, fan-favorite role.
