Predicting tonight's Emmy winners
In anticipation of tonight's Emmy Awards, my brother, William, and I discuss our top predictions for the evening! Some categories are pretty predictable, others are toss-ups. Who will win? Read our thoughts below and tune in tonight to find out!
The 2021 Emmy Nominations
Annie: Before we get into categories, do you have anything you want to say overall?
William: The eligibility is weird for this Emmy season. Many of these shows ended a while ago or are being nominated for their past season and their next season is already out. Things that won at Golden Globes are now just being nominated for their first Emmy season.
Annie: This is such a weird mix of shows that were recognized at Golden Globes, like The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit, but also new stuff like WandaVision and Mare of Easttown. And you’ve got shows missing that still aren’t back on the air, like Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Barry, because of filming delays.
William: And because other award shows happened where a lot of these shows were eligible, we do have some indication of what will win.
Editor's Note: Shows eligible for the 2021 Emmys were released between June 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021.
Best Drama Series
William: The Crown.
Annie: I also put The Crown.
William: The Emmys love The Crown. I don’t think there’s a second place.
Final Prediction: The Crown
Best Comedy Series
Annie: One, two, three… Ted Lasso.
Editor’s Note: William does not say Ted Lasso at the same time
William: Oh [delayed]… Ted Lasso. People do think Hacks could come in, but I don’t think so.
Annie: I haven’t watched Hacks yet, but I’ve heard it’s really great and it’s on my list.
Final Prediction: Ted Lasso
Best Limited or Anthology Series
Annie: This is a really interesting category. What a group of shows! In a different year, all of these could win, if they weren’t up against each other.
William: It’s also weird because they haven’t all been competing each other and now they’re head-to-head. But… there has to be a winner.
Annie: I am going to say Mare of Easttown. It’s a classic Emmy pick.
William: I think The Queen’s Gambit is going to win, because it’s won everything else.
Annie: But it hasn’t been up against Mare of Easttown.
William: The Queen’s Gambit won so many Creative Arts Emmys, so that made me think I should predict it instead. … I May Destroy You is another crowd favorite.
Final Prediction: The Queen's Gambit (William) // Mare of Easttown (Annie)
TV Movie
Annie: We don’t need to talk about this category… but I do have to say something.
William: They did this at Creative Arts Emmys. Didn’t I text you about this? Christmas on the Square won.
Annie: No way. I was just about to tell people not to watch this movie. Do you remember turning on the first few minutes of Christmas on the Square? I know we love Dolly. It’s a Christmas movie, it’s a musical and Christine Baranski is in it. I should have loved Christmas on the Square.
William: Did we even get to Christine Baranski’s part?
Annie: We got to her in the opening song. She was singing “Gotta get out of this town.”
William: Oh yeah!
Annie: Don’t watch Christmas on the Square. If you’re looking for a wonderful Christmas movie musical, go watch Mrs. Santa Claus. Should have won an Emmy.
Editor’s Note: Mrs. Santa Claus did win an Emmy for Hair Design.
Lead Actor, Drama
Annie: I’m going to predict Josh O’Connor.
William: I think it’s Josh O’Connor or Billy Porter.
Annie: Yes, that’s my other pick. This is Pose’s last year, but I’m going to predict Josh O’Connor because it’s the Emmys…
Final Prediction: Josh O'Connor (The Crown)
Lead Actor, Comedy
William: Jason Sudeikis. I think this is the biggest homerun of the night.
Annie: I started watch Ted Lasso last night…
William: I’ve already seen all of the released episodes.
Annie: I’m so delighted by this show. It’s everything I love in a TV show. It’s very cozy. And I would encourage everyone to get a subscription or a free trial to binge all of Ted Lasso once season two wraps (and also watch CODA). One of the things that’s bad in the marketing of this show is you just see Jason Sudeikis with a mustache and you’re like, oh no… what is this? But it’s so much more than that. And Jason Sudeikis is doing an amazing job acting as this character and he really transforms.
William: It’s the best new show in a while.
Annie: Everyone is so nice to each other.
William: And it continues to be great, you’re only a few episodes in!
Final Prediction: Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)
Lead Actress, Drama
William: This is tough between Emma Corrin (The Crown) and Mj Rodriguez (Pose). I keep going back and forth in my brain. I think I’m going to predict Emma Corrin, which is unfortunate because Mj Rodriguez is really great.
Annie: I hope to be wrong in my predictions, mostly those related to The Crown, it would be nice to see other shows recognized.
Final Prediction: Emma Corrin (The Crown)
Lead Actress, Comedy
Annie: I think this is where Hacks is going to come in and Jean Smart is going to win.
William: I think that’s it.
Final Prediction: Jean Smart (Hacks)
Supporting Actress, Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Final Prediction: Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision)
Lead Actress, Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Final Prediction: Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit)
Lead Actor, Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
William: This is a toss-up between any of these.
Final Prediction: Hugh Grant (The Undoing)
Supporting Actor, Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Final Prediction: Evan Peters (Mare of Easttown)
Supporting Actor, Drama
Final Prediction: Michael K. Williams (Lovecraft Country)
Supporting Actress, Drama
Final Prediction: Gillian Anderson (The Crown)
Supporting Actor, Comedy
William: This is an interesting one. For a long time, I thought Kenan was going to get it, but then it seemed like maybe it wouldn’t be his last season [of Saturday Night Live] and I think if he said it was, he would have won. Then all of a sudden Bowen Yang [started getting buzz]. Brett Goldstein has been campaigning hard and everyone has been talking about him because the new season is airing now.
Annie: Love him. Do you think the buzz around him is more for his season two performance and not season one?
William: I think it’s both.
Annie: I’ve kept Kenan as my prediction. They often like to give a win to SNL in these categories and I think it’s insane he hasn’t won an Emmy for his work on SNL yet.
Final Prediction: Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) - William // Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live) - Annie
Supporting Actress, Comedy
Annie: We’ve got two Ted Lasso nominees. Three SNL nominees.
William: But did Cecily sing enough this season?
Annie: I do have Cecily as my prediction. But here’s my argument… it might have been her last season and I think she does a solid job when she’s not singing.
William: I think Hannah Waddingham is going to win. Again, maybe if Cecily had announced it was her last season, she would win.
Final Prediction: Hannah Waddigham (Ted Lasso) - William // Cecily Strong (Saturday Night Live) - Annie
Variety Special Recording
William: Bo Burnham’s Inside. Chef’s kiss. He better win, but I just don’t know. He won three Emmys in Creative Arts. But it’s not enough… he might be the runner-up, after Hamilton.
Final Prediction: Inside
Variety Talk Series
William: Every year this category goes to John Oliver. But it was Conan’s last season… what if you just gave it to Conan?
Final Prediction: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
In other award show news... next Sunday (Sept. 26) the Tony Awards will air on Paramount Plus, followed by a Broadway's Back special on CBS
William: Put this in your newsletter… everyone watch the Broadway’s Back broadcast on CBS next Sunday. Because let’s celebrate Broadway being back. Exclamation point!
