First, there are no GIFs that I could find of Somebody, Somewhere. The Internet has let me down.
Next: HOTT EMMY ACTION. As predicted, September promises to be a slugfest between Severance, The White Lotus, The Pitt, and to a degree The Last of Us, with Paradise making a sneaky case for itself in there too. Comedy-wise, The Studio is coming in hot. When it first started, I thought it was aggressively fine — the technical aspects are well-executed, but it’s also smug and full of characters who are unpleasant to watch, and no one learns anything. Then more episodes aired and the Internet started to LOVE it and that made me crabbier and shoved me further in the opposite direction and now I hate it, I guess? I am contrary!!!! It cleaned UP though, including almost every single guest actor in a comedy nomination. REALLY. Nobody else in ANY comedy show AT ALL this year had a worthy guest actor, other than The Effing Bear? I guess that’s what happens when you have the capital to make famous people play themselves.
Also, justice for Taylor Dearden of The Pitt, who was robbed!
Drum roll…
Best Drama Series
Andor
The Diplomat
The Last of Us
Paradise
The Pitt
Severance
Slow Horses
The White Lotus
For my money, The Diplomat deserves some kind of honorary statue that says, “We’re sorry you’re up against such a monster slate of shows, because you are amazing and in any other time period you’d win something.”
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Adam Scott, Severance
Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Sentimentally, I want Wyle to take it.
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, Matlock
Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
Britt Lower, Severance
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
I’m surprised by Horgan in here — I thought round 1 of Bad Sisters was mid, and didn’t bother with the second one — and can only conclude that it’s because nobody from The White Lotus put themselves in lead. I can’t root against Britt Lower, or even Kathy Bates really, but Keri Russell is SO GOOD.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Zach Cherry, Severance
Walton Goggins, The White Lotus
Jason Isaacs, The White Lotus
James Marsden, Paradise
Sam Rockwell, The White Lotus
Tramell Tillman, Severance
John Turturro, Severance
How do you even choose. My inclination is to go Severance over The White Lotus in just about every category because I often find the latter to be a TAD too proud of itself, and the Severance actors have to hit a lot of complicated notes. Milkshake’s marching band scene ALONE. The way he blends charm and menace. I mean, should it be his? Or does Turturro win for the ORTBO episode?!?
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Patricia Arquette, Severance
Carrie Coon, The White Lotus
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Parker Posey, The White Lotus
Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus
Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus
I was a little surprised to see Rothwell and Wood get nods. Having watched all of these performances, I’m going with Katherine LaNasa as my personal winner, but I feel like this is another impossible vote. Taylor Dearden of The Pitt should be in here! Of the Lotii, I think voters will pick the showier performance of either Posey or Coon. But I wouldn’t pick any of them over LaNasa or Arquette, and also, damn, Allison Janney ought to be in here for The Diplomat. They could have argued her in for Guest Actress in a Drama, also. WHY is she not represented?!? Aimee Lou Wood is so charming but she didn’t need to be in here.
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys
Scott Glenn, The White Lotus
Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
Joe Pantoliano, The Last of Us
Forest Whitaker, Andor
Jeffrey Wright, The Last of Us
Did Scott Glenn have enough to do?!? Are we grasping? Is Shawn Hatosy REALLY a guest actor in that show? He could win, but I debate the semantics of putting him in here.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Jane Alexander, Severance
Gwendoline Christie, Severance
Kaitlyn Dever, The Last of Us
Cherry Jones, The Handmaid’s Tale
Catherine O’Hara, The Last of Us
Merritt Wever, Severance
Merritt Wever forever.
Best Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
Shrinking
The Studio
What We Do in the Shadows
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, The Residence
Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Jean Smart, Hacks
I want Uzo to take this SO MUCH. The Residence was cancelled after the voting window was closed, and that’s a pity because it could’ve landed in Limited Series instead. But honestly, though Jean Smart is formidable, Uzo was a revelation. Give it to her and make those cowards give her a Cordelia Cupp movie every three years.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
Seth Rogen, The Studio
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Whatever. Marty forever!
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ike Barinholtz, The Studio
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Michael Urie, Shrinking
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
JEFF HILLER! MY BELOVED JOEL! I AM SCREAMING. I am happy with any of these winners except Ike Barinholtz, who is playing every Ike Barinholtz character you’ve already seen; there is NOTHING new to see there. And I don’t think The Bear should win anything, although Ebon Moss-Bachrach is often the best part of it.
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Kathryn Hahn, The Studio
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Catherine O’Hara, The Studio
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Jessica Williams, Shrinking
I love Kathryn Hahn in everything EXCEPT The Studio — her performance feels like she’s in a completely different show than everyone else. I’d love to see Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, or Jessica Williams take it.
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Jon Bernthal, The Bear
Bryan Cranston, The Studio
Dave Franco, The Studio
Ron Howard, The Studio
Anthony Mackie, The Studio
Martin Scorsese, The Studio
WHATEVER. Give it to Marty.
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Olivia Colman, The Bear
Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
Cynthia Erivo, Poker Face
Robby Hoffman, Hacks
Zoë Kravitz, The Studio
Julianne Nicholson, Hacks
I haven’t seen Hacks but Robby Hoffman was also in Dying for Sex and did a great job, and frankly, I just want to thank Robby for the fact that her wife Gabby Windey will now be at the Emmys wearing something potentially crazy.
Best Limited or Anthology Series
Adolescence
Black Mirror
Dying for Sex
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
The Penguin
Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
Meghann Fahy, Sirens
Rashida Jones, Black Mirror
Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Colin Farrell, The Penguin
Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent
Brian Tyree Henry, Dope Thief
Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Javier Bardem, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Bill Camp, Presumed Innocent
Owen Cooper, Adolescence
Rob Delaney, Dying for Sex
Peter Sarsgaard, Presumed Innocent
Ashley Walters, Adolescence
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Erin Doherty, Adolescence
Ruth Negga, Presumed Innocent
Deirdre O’Connell, The Penguin
Chloë Sevigny, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Jenny Slate, Dying for Sex
Christine Tremarco, Adolescence
Best Television Movie
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
The Gorge
Mountainhead
Nonnas
Rebel Ridge
Best Reality Competition Program
The Amazing Race
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Survivor
Top Chef
The Traitors
Best Reality Host
Kristin Kish, Top Chef
Shark Tank’s sharks
Alan Cumming, The Traitors
Jeff Probst, Survivor
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race
Best Talk Series
The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Best Scripted Variety Series
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Saturday Night Live
I feel like we need to merge these two categories. TWO nominees? No.
Outstanding variety special (live)
“The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar” (Fox)
“Beyoncé Bowl” (Netflix)
“The Oscars” (ABC)
“SNL50: The Anniversary Special” (NBC)
“SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” (Peacock)
Outstanding variety special (pre-recorded)Outstanding variety special (live)
- “The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar” (Fox)
- “Beyoncé Bowl” (Netflix)
- “The Oscars” (ABC)
- “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” (NBC)
- “SNL50: The Homecoming Concert” (Peacock)
Outstanding variety special (pre-recorded)
“Adam Sandler: Love You” (Netflix)
“Ali Wong: Single Lady” (Netflix)
“Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years” (Hulu)
“Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor” (Netflix)
“Sarah Silverman: Postmortem” (Netflix)
“Your Friend, Nate Bargatze” (Netflix)
Outstanding game show
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
“Jeopardy” (ABC)
“The Price is Right” (CBS)
“Wheel of Fortune” (ABC)
“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (ABC)
“Best Writing for a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, Hacks
Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola, The Rehearsal
Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen, Bridget Everett, Somebody Somewhere
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez, The Studio
Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis, Paul Simms, What We Do in the Shadows
Best Writing for a Drama Series
Dan Gilroy, Andor
Joe Sachs, The Pitt
R. Scott Gemmill, The Pitt
Dan Erickson, Severance
Will Smith, Slow Horses
Mike White, The White Lotus
Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Charlie Brooker, Bisha K. Ali, Black Mirror
Kim Rosenstock, Elizabeth Meriwether, Dying for Sex
Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin
Joshua Zetumer, Say Nothing
Best Directing for a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Lucia Aniello, Hacks
James Burrows, Mid-Century Modern
Nathan Fielder, The Rehearsal
Seth Rogen, The Studio
Best Directing for a Drama Series
Janus Metz, Andor
Amanda Marsalis, The Pitt
John Wells, The Pitt
Jessica Lee Gagné, Severance
Ben Stiller, Severance
Adam Randall, Slow Horses
Mike White, The White Lotus
Best Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Philip Barantini, Adolescence
Shannon Murphy, Dying for Sex
Helen Shaver, The Penguin
Jennifer Getzinger, The Penguin
Nicole Kassell, Sirens
Lesli Linka Glatter, Zero Day
