The Oscars may have been pushed back, but the show will go on for the 2020 Emmys on Sunday, Sept. 20. Like most parts of the country, large, indoor gatherings are banned so the Emmys will be a virtual show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
If you know what to expect on Sunday night, then let me know because I’m clueless. I understand why the show went virtual, but I don’t want an online event to dilute the meaning and value of the ceremony. The Emmys are the pinnacle of television awards and a win could literally change someone’s life. The entire world was dealt a bad hand due to COVID so I won’t hold the decision to air a virtual ceremony against the Television Academy. However, I pray the show errs on the side of caution and presents a serious show as opposed to an influx of silly hijinks. The ceremony can still be funny, but make sure the show continues to focus on the winners and their speeches.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that this year of television was tremendous. In a year where television lost Emmy-giants like Game of Thrones, Veep, and Fleabag, shows like Succession, Schitt’s Creek, and Watchmen are ready to collect their hardware. It’s a wide-open field, especially in the dramatic categories. Below are a few storylines I’m keeping an eye on.
HBO Dominance
Goodbye Game of Thrones, hello Succession. The rich could get richer if Succession wins Outstanding Drama, which means HBO would have won five of the last six Emmys in the drama category. Succession is the favorite or second-favorite to win in six categories. The same can be said for HBO’s frontrunner in the Limited Series category, Watchmen, which received the most nominations of the night with 11. There’s a world where HBO wins every category it’s in for both Drama and Limited Series.
Can Paul Mescal Pull Off The Upset?
No show emotionally moved me more than Normal People, Hulu’s brilliant series about young love and adolescence in Ireland. Led by two stellar performances from Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People became one of the most heartbreaking and accurate depictions of young love I’ve ever seen. Although Edgar-Jones did not receive a nomination for Outstanding Actress, Mescal and the show itself garnered nominations for Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Limited Series, respectively. It’s going to be tough to beat Watchmen for Outstanding Limited Series, but Mescal has an outside chance at winning Outstanding Actor. Mark Ruffalo is the favorite, but the show itself was not as critically acclaimed as Normal People, which works in Mescal’s favor. I’ll be pulling for Connell and his chain on Sunday night.
Outstanding Drama Series
- Who Should Win: Better Call Saul
- Who Will Win: Succession
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Who Should Win: Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (not nominated)
- Who Will Win: Brian Cox, Succession
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Who Should Win: Zendaya, Euphoria
- Who Will Win: Jennifer Anniston, The Morning Show
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Who Should Win: Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (not nominated)
- Who Will Win: Kieran Culkin, Succession
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Who Should Win: R H E A S E E H O R N, Better Call Saul (all-caps are necessary)
- Who Will Win: Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
*I’m obnoxious, but it’s a sin that Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and Rhea Seehorn were snubbed from their respective categories.
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Who Should Win: What We Do in the Shadows
- Who Will Win: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Who Should Win: Ramy Youssef, Ramy
- Who Will Win: Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Who Should Win: Issa Rae, Insecure
- Who Will Win: Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Who Should Win: Mahershala Ali, Ramy
- Who Will Win: Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Who Should Win: D’Arcy Carden, The Good Place
- Who Will Win: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Outstanding Limited Series
- Who Should Win: Watchmen
- Who Will Win: Watchmen
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
- Who Should Win: Paul Mescal, Normal People
- Who Will Win: Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
- Who Should Win: Regina King, Watchmen
- Who Will Win: Regina King, Watchmen
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
- Who Should Win: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
- Who Will Win: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
- Who Should Win: Toni Collette, Unbelievable
- Who Will Win: Jean Smart, Watchmen
What are your Emmy predictions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.