Be honest. Did you know that the 2022 Emmys are tonight? My guess is no because you’re coming off of a 48-hour football binge which included some pizza, beer, and a dramatic plea for Justin Herbert to throw to Mike Williams.
Ok, that’s just me.
Anyways, television continues to operate at a ridiculously-high level. TV is on a three-year heater where multiple new shows come out of nowhere to dominate pop culture. Severance, Squid Game, Yellowjackets, Abbott Elementary, The White Lotus, and Only Murders in the Building are all first-year shows that had their own moment to shine, which is saying something considering how fast the Internet moves.
It’s competitive as ever this year so once again, I am here to gift you with some predictions. May B̶o̶b̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶R̶h̶e̶a̶ the best nominees win.
Outstanding Drama Series
- Better Call Saul (AMC)
- Euphoria (HBO/HBO Max)
- Ozark (Netflix)
- Severance (Apple TV+)
- Squid Game (Netflix)
- Stranger Things (Netflix)
- Succession (HBO/HBO Max)
- Yellowjackets (Showtime)
You could make cases for Better Call Saul, Severance, Squid Game, Succession, and Yellowjackets. Severance is my favorite new show of the year, and the finale is the best episode of the year—however, good luck dethroning Succession, which also had a tremendous ending.
- Who Should Win: Severance
- Who Will Win: Succession
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Jason Bateman – Ozark
- Brian Cox – Succession
- Lee Jung-jae – Squid Game
- Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
- Adam Scott – Severance
- Jeremy Strong – Succession
Did you know that Better Call Saul has zero (0) Emmy wins? Frankly, that’s a crime. I tend to think the Emmy voters will reward Odenkirk at next year’s ceremony, but there’s no time like the present. It’s Bob’s time.
- Who Should Win: Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul, but every nominee is worthy of this award.
- Who Will Win: Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Jodie Comer – Killing Eve
- Laura Linney – Ozark
- Melanie Lynskey – Yellowjackets
- Sandra Oh – Killing Eve
- Reese Witherspoon – The Morning Show
- Zendaya – Euphoria
Any other year, Melanie Lynskey would be walking away with this award. However, Euphoria’s fifth episode, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird,” is Zendaya’s crowning achievement in her young career.
- Who Should Win: Zendaya – Euphoria
- Who Will Win: Zendaya – Euphoria
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Nicholas Braun – Succession
- Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
- Kieran Culkin – Succession
- Matthew Macfadyen – Succession
- O Yeong-su – Squid Game
- Park Hae-soo – Squid Game
- John Turturro – Severance
- Christopher Walken – Severance
- Who Should Win: Kieran Culkin – Succession
- Who Will Win: Kieran Culkin – Succession
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Patricia Arquette – Severance
- Julia Garner – Ozark
- HoYeon Jung – Squid Game
- Christina Ricci – Yellowjackets
- Rhea Seehorn – Better Call Saul
- J. Smith-Cameron – Succession
- Sarah Snook – Succession
- Sydney Sweeney – Euphoria
[Takes a deep breath. Exhales. Screams.] RHEA SEEHORN. Since it took this long to give Rhea a nomination, I don’t see the Emmys awarding Rhea with the hardware that she deserves. I pray I’m wrong, but when in doubt, pick someone from Succession.
- Who Should Win: Rhea Seehorn – Better Call Saul
- Who Will Win: Sarah Snook – Succession
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- Barry (HBO/HBO Max)
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO/HBO Max)
- Hacks (HBO/HBO Max)
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
- Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
- What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
This category is extremely difficult to predict. Only Murders in the Building and Abbott Elementary are looking to crash the party with strong first seasons. In a perfect world, this award goes to Barry, one of the most impressive shows on television. (Though, it may not be a comedy anymore.) But, I’ll stick with Ted Lasso as it continues to Emmy dominance.
- Who Should Win: Barry (HBO/HBO Max)
- Who Will Win: Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Donald Glover – Atlanta
- Bill Hader – Barry
- Nicholas Hoult – The Great
- Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
- Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
- Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso
If Jason Sudeikis wins in this category again, Ted Lasso is winning Outstanding Comedy Series. This award should go to Bill Hader, and if he wins, it will be three for three in Lead Actor as Barry Berkman.
- Who Should Win: Bill Hader – Barry
- Who Will Win: Bill Hader – Barry
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
- Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant
- Elle Fanning – The Great
- Issa Rae – Insecure
- Jean Smart – Hacks
Quinta Brunson has a lot of support for her excellent work in Abbot Elementary, but the Emmys love Jean Smart even more. (Rightfully so. Jean Smart is awesome.)
- Who Should Win: Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
- Who Will Win: Jean Smart – Hacks
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Anthony Carrigan – Barry
- Brett Goldstein – Ted Lasso
- Toheeb Jimoh – Ted Lasso
- Nick Mohammed – Ted Lasso
- Tony Shalhoub – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
- Henry Winkler – Barry
- Bowen Yang – Saturday Night Live
It should be Hank, but Roy Kent will win again.
- Who Should Win: Anthony Carrigan – Barry
- Who Will Win: Brett Goldstein – Ted Lasso
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
- Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
- Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live
- Sarah Niles – Ted Lasso
- Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary
- Juno Temple – Ted Lasso
- Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso
I’m not even changing the picture from last year’s predictions. It’s Hannah Waddingham for the win. However, watch out for Kate McKinnon getting the award as the “cherry on top” of her SNL career.
- Who Should Win: Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso
- Who Will Win: Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso
Outstanding Limited Series
- Dopesick (Hulu)
- The Dropout (Hulu)
- Inventing Anna (Netflix)
- Pam & Tommy (Hulu)
- The White Lotus (HBO/HBO Max)
The toughest category of the night. While preparing for this article, Dopesick was my original selection. After much thought, I’m going with The White Lotus since it will win in a few acting categories.
- Who Should Win: Dopesick (Hulu)
- Who Will Win: The White Lotus (HBO/HBO Max)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
- Colin Firth – The Staircase
- Andrew Garfield – Under the Banner of Heaven
- Oscar Isaac – Scenes from a Marriage
- Michael Keaton – Dopesick
- Himesh Patel – Station Eleven
- Sebastian Stan – Pam & Tommy
Not many people watched Under the Banner of Heaven, but I really dug Andrew Garfield’s performance. It was weird, raw, and emotional. He might be the best working actor in Hollywood. However, I have no problem with Michael Keaton winning the Emmy.
- Who Should Win: Andrew Garfield – Under the Banner of Heaven
- Who Will Win: Michael Keaton – Dopesick
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
- Toni Collette – The Staircase
- Julia Garner – Inventing Anna
- Lily James – Pam & Tommy
- Sarah Paulson – Impeachment: American Crime Story
- Margaret Qualley – Maid
- Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout
Out of all the acting nominees, Margaret Qualley in Maid gave one of my five favorite performances. What hurts Qualley’s chances is Maid came out nearly one year ago. Amanda Seyfriend’s Elizabeth Holmes was better than Elizabeth Holmes herself.
- Who Should Win: Margaret Qualley – Maid
- Who Will Win: Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
- Murray Bartlett – The White Lotus
- Jake Lacy – The White Lotus
- Will Poulter – Dopesick
- Seth Rogen – Pam & Tommy
- Peter Sarsgaard – Dopesick
- Michael Stuhlbarg – Dopesick
- Steve Zahn – The White Lotus
- Who Should Win: Murray Bartlett – The White Lotus
- Who Will Win: Murray Bartlett – The White Lotus
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
- Connie Britton – The White Lotus
- Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus
- Alexandra Daddario – The White Lotus
- Kaitlyn Dever – Dopesick
- Natasha Rothwell – The White Lotus
- Sydney Sweeney – The White Lotus
- Mare Winningham – Dopesick
The White Lotus dominance continues.
- Who Should Win: Kaitlyn Dever – Dopesick
- Who Will Win: Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus
What are your predictions for the Emmys? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.