In-person awards ceremonies are impossible this year, and as a result, there’s been a lot of talk about how relevant awards shows are. However, I would argue  that the streaming platforms that have made television more accessible have also made the Emmys more relevant than ever. When I reflect on the past six months, it is impossible to ignore the positive impact that television has had on my life. When I was feeling overwhelmed, I would turn on one of my favourite TV shows and regain a small sense of normalcy. I used TV as a way to connect with friends that I couldn’t see during quarantine, starting new shows and watching them together remotely. Consider the rise in popularity of certain shows during our months stuck at home. I know my family devoured Ozark this spring. Overall, quarantine has made TV more prevalent than ever. Without further ado, here is my list of who I want to win in the major Emmy categories and my predictions about who will. 

Outstanding Drama Series

Better Call SaulThe CrownThe Handmaid’s TaleKilling EveThe MandalorianOzarkStranger ThingsSuccessionWish: Killing Eve.Will: Ozark. The nominations in this category reveal a lot about the direction TV is headed. Five of the eight nominees were created by streaming services. Ozark, The Crown, and Stranger Things are three of Netflix’s 160 nominations this year. These numbers are quite staggering considering that prior to 2013, no streaming platform had ever won an Emmy. There’s some debate as to whether this category will go to Ozark or Succession, both of which are tied for the most nominations for a drama series with 18. I’m leaning towards Ozark because, as a Netflix show, quarantine would have allowed it to pick up some new fans over the past few months. A win for Ozark would indicate that streaming services have officially usurped traditional networks in their battle for the future of television.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Curb Your EnthusiasmDead to MeThe Good PlaceInsecureThe Kominsky MethodThe Marvelous Mrs. MaiselSchitt’s CreekWhat We Do in the ShadowsWish: Schitt’s Creek. Will: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.This year, we’re saying goodbye to two great comedies: Schitt’s Creek and The Good Place. Both make use of a quirky, sometimes dark, humour. Both have amassed what could be described as a cult following. Despite their popularity, neither has won an Emmy in past years (Schitt’s Creek picked up its first Emmy this past Friday for Outstanding Casting); however, the fact that these two shows were nominated may indicate an interesting shift in the mindset of the Television Academy. In past years, they have generally ignored popular opinion in favour of shows that were popular with critics. 30 Rock had notably poor ratings in its first season only to win Outstanding Comedy Series the same year. If either Schitt’s Creek or The Good Place wins, it might suggest that the Television Academy is becoming more receptive to popular opinion.

Limited Series or Movie

Little Fires EverywhereMrs. AmericaUnbelievableUnorthodoxWatchmenWish: Little Fires Everywhere.Will: Watchmen.This year’s nominees for Limited Series or Movie all sought to push boundaries and spark important conversations. Little Fires Everywhere addressed important and timely questions about race and racism. Unbelievable dealt with sexual assault and the consequences of rape culture. Unorthodox is the first largely Yiddish Netflix show and directly confronts the toxic effects that strict religious communities can have on the individual. Mrs. America makes a statement on America’s current political landscape by delving into its past. Even Watchmen, which is ostensibly a superhero drama, seeks to centre Black voices and explore racial trauma. The fact that all of these shows have political undertones demonstrates that television, particularly the limited series, is increasingly being used to make a political statement and encourage people to think critically about the world around them. The recognition that these shows have received will hopefully push more creators in this direction in the future.

Lead Actor (Drama)

Jason Bateman (Ozark)Sterling K. Brown (This is Us)Steve Carell (The Morning Show)Brian Cox (Succession)Billy Porter (Pose)Jeremy Strong (Succession)Wish/Will: Jason Bateman.

Lead Actress (Drama)

Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)Olivia Colman (The Crown)Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)Laura Linney (Ozark)Sandra Oh (Killing Eve)Zendaya (Euphoria)Wish: Jennifer Aniston. Will: Laura Linney. 

Supporting Actor (Drama)

Nicholas Braun (Succession)Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)Kieran Culkin (Succession)Mark Duplass (The Morning Show)Giancarlo Esposito (Better Caul Saul)Matthew Macfadyen (Succession)Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale)Jeffrey Wright (Westworld)Wish: Billy Crudup. Will: Matthew Macfadyen. 

Supporting Actress (Drama)

Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown)Laura Dern (Big Little Lies)Julia Garner (Ozark)Thandie Newton (Westworld)Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve)Sarah Snook (Succession)Meryl Streep (Big Little Lies)Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale)Wish: Meryl Streep. Will: Helena Bonham Carter. 

Lead Actor (Comedy)

Anthony Anderson (Black-ish)Don Cheadle (Don Cheadle)Ted Danson (The Good Place)Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method)Eugene Levy (Schitt’s Creek)Ramy Youssef (Ramy)Wish/Will: Ted Danson. 

Lead Actress (Comedy)

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)Wish/Will: Catherine O’Hara. 

Supporting Actor (Comedy)

Mahershala Ali (Ramy)Alan Arki (The Kominsky Method)Andre Braugher (Brooklyn 99)Sterling K. Brown (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)William Jackson Harper (The Good Place)Daniel Levy (Schitt’s Creek)Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)Wish: Andre Braugher. Will: Tony Shalhoub.

Supporting Actress (Comedy)

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

Lead Actor (Limited Series or Movie)

Jeremy Irons (Watchmen)Hugh Jackman (Bad Education)Jeremy Pope (Hollywood)Paul Mescal (Normal People)Mark Ruffalo (I Know This Much is True)Wish: Jeremy Pope.Will: Mark Ruffalo.

Lead Actress (Limited Series or Movie)

Cate Blanchett (Mrs. America)Shira Haas (Unorthodox)Regina King (Watchmen)Octavia Spencer (Self Made)Kerry Washington (Little Fires Everywehre)Wish/Will: Regina King.

Supporting Actor (Limited Series or Movie)

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

Supporting Actress (Limited Series or Movie)

Uzo Aduba (Mrs. America)Toni Collette (Unbelievable)Margo Martindale (Mrs. America)Holland Taylor (Hollywood)Jean Smart (Watchmen)Tracey Ullman (Mrs. America)Wish/Will: Holland Taylor.  The Emmys might look different this year, but if anything, they’re more relevant than ever. Happy watching! 

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