2020 Emmys Predictions Scored

A question, as someone who didn’t watch the Emmys once again, although I am clearly interested in them and of course television at large: why, in this era of proclaimed peak TV, are Emmys viewership numbers falling? Because for last night’s event, the 72nd Primetime Emmys, the awards show’s ratings hit an all-time low. Of course, the reduced appeal of a remote awards show is not to be discounted. But considering the previous year’s low numbers, and more people than ever left without weekend plans (although too many are forging on ahead anyways), the disparity in TV’s popularity (almost no one my age is dedicated to keeping up with the newest movies, but they are to the newest shows) and the ceremony that celebrates the medium is striking. Perhaps it’s because the media landscape is so fragmented and people are, probably wisely, out of touch with displays of celebrity. I also don’t feel that’s the entire story. In any event, let’s chalk it up to tradition not living up to its past.

Anyways, let’s talk turkey. Back in July, I made my predictions of who would win the main Emmys categories (that doesn’t include the Creative Arts awards). Before we see how I did, it’s interesting to note the big milestones, and that interest lies squarely with SCHITT’S CREEK. The biggest winner of the night with seven awards and the first comedy to win all seven major categories in a single year, the Canadian sitcom made history as the most-awarded comedy of a year in Emmys history, combined with its Creative Arts wins. Co-creator, star, all-around creative force behind SCHITT’S CREEK, Dan Levy, became the first person to win an award in acting, writing, directing, and creation/production in a single year. The show’s tremendous success at the 2020 Emmys upset my belief that WATCHMEN would carry the night with six wins (it ended up tying for four with SUCCESSION), but of course, dramas and comedies participate separately. But we can see how things shook up below. I’ve bolded who I thought would win, and marked with an * the actual winner.

Outstanding Comedy Series

• CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
• DEAD TO ME
• THE GOOD PLACE
• INSECURE
• THE KOMINSKY METHOD
• THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
• SCHITT’S CREEK*
• WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

Outstanding Drama Series

• BETTER CALL SAUL
• THE CROWN
• THE HANDMAID’S TALE
• KILLING EVE
• THE MANDALORIAN
• OZARK
• STRANGER THINGS
• SUCCESSION*

Outstanding Limited Series

• LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
• MRS. AMERICA
• UNBELIEVABLE
• UNORTHODOX
• WATCHMEN*

Outstanding Television Movie

• AMERICAN SON
• BAD EDUCATION*
• DOLLY PARTON’S HEARTSTRINGS: THESE OLD BONES
• EL CAMINO: A BREAKING BAD MOVIE
• UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT: KIMMY VS. THE REVEREND

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

• THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH
• FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE
• JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!
• LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER*
• THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

• A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW
• DRUNK HISTORY
• SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE*

Outstanding Competition Program

• THE MASKED SINGER
• NAILED IT!
• RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE* (I should have never bet against RuPaul)
• TOP CHEF
• THE VOICE

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Anthony Anderson — BLACK-ISH
• Don Cheadle — BLACK MONDAY
• Ted Danson — THE GOOD PLACE
• Michael Douglas — THE KOMINSKY METHOD
• Eugene Levy — SCHITT’S CREEK*
• Ramy Youssef — RAMY

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• 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

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Jason Bateman — OZARK
• Sterling K. Brown — THIS IS US
• Steve Carell — THE MORNING SHOW
• Brian Cox — SUCCESSION
• Billy Porter — POSE
• Jeremy Strong — SUCCESSION*

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Jennifer Aniston — THE MORNING SHOW
• Olivia Colman — THE CROWN
• Jodie Comer — KILLING EVE
• Laura Linney — OZARK
• Sandra Oh — KILLING EVE
• Zendaya — EUPHORIA*

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

• Jeremy Irons — WATCHMEN
• Hugh Jackman — BAD EDUCATION
• Paul Mescal — NORMAL PEOPLE
• Jeremy Pope — HOLLYWOOD
• Mark Ruffalo — I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE*

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

• Cate Blanchett — MRS. AMERICA
• Shira Haas — UNORTHODOX
• Regina King — WATCHMEN*
• Octavia Spencer — SELF MADE
• Kerry Washington — LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Mahershala Ali — RAMY
• Alan Arkin — THE KOMINSKY METHOD
• Andre Braugher — BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
• Sterling K. Brown — THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
• William Jackson Harper — THE GOOD PLACE
• Daniel Levy — SCHITT’S CREEK*
• Tony Shalhoub — THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
• Kenan Thompson — SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• 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

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Nicholas Braun — SUCCESSION
• Billy Crudup — THE MORNING SHOW*
• Kieran Culkin — SUCCESSION
• Mark Duplass — THE MORNING SHOW
• Giancarlo Esposito — BETTER CALL SAUL
• Matthew Macfadyen — SUCCESSION
• Bradley Whitford — THE HANDMAID’S TALE
• Jeffrey Wright — WESTWORLD

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• 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

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a 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

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

• Uzo Aduba — MRS. AMERICA*
• Toni Collette — UNBELIEVABLE
• Margo Martindale — MRS. AMERICA
• Jean Smart — WATCHMEN
• Holland Taylor — HOLLYWOOD
• Tracey Ullman — MRS. AMERICA

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

• Matt Shakman — “The Great (Pilot)” (THE GREAT)
• Amy Sherman-Palladino — “It’s Comedy or Cabbage” (THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL)
• Daniel Palladino — “Marvelous Radio” (THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL)
• Gail Mancuso — “Finale Part 2” (MODERN FAMILY)
• Ramy Youssef — “Miakhalifa.mov” (RAMY)
• Andrew Cividino and Daniel Levy — “Happy Ending” (SCHITT’S CREEK)*
• James Burrows — “We Love Lucy” (WILL & GRACE)

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

• Benjamin Caron — “Aberfan” (THE CROWN)
• Jessica Hobbs — “Cri de Coeur” (THE CROWN)
• Lesli Linka Glatter — “Prisoners of War” (HOMELAND)
• Mimi Leder — “The Interview” (THE MORNING SHOW)
• Alik Sakharov — “Fire Pink” (OZARK)
• Ben Semanoff — “Su Casa Es Mi Casa” (OZARK)
• Andrij Parekh — “Hunting” (SUCCESSION)*
• Mark Mylod — “This Is Not for Tears” (SUCCESSION)

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special

• Lynn Shelton — “Find a Way” (LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE)
• Lenny Abrahamson — “Episode 5” (NORMAL PEOPLE)
• Maria Schrader — UNORTHODOX*
• Nicole Kassell — “It’s Summer and We’re Running out of Ice” (WATCHMEN)
• Steph Green — “Little Fear of Lightning” (WATCHMEN)
• Stephen Williams — “This Extraordinary Being” (WATCHMEN)

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series

• Dime Davis — “Born at Night, But Not Last Night” (A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW)
• David Paul Meyer — “Dr. Fauci Answers Trevor’s Questions about Coronavirus” (THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH)
• Paul Pennolino and Christopher Werner — “Episode 629” (LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER)
• Jim Hoskinson — “Live Show; Chris Christie; Nathaniel Rateliff” (THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT)
• Don Roy King — “Host: Eddie Murphy” (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE)
• Linda Mendoza — “Flame Monroe” (TIFFANY HADDISH PRESENTS: THEY READY)

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

• Michael Schur — “Whenever You’re Ready” (THE GOOD PLACE)
• Tony McNamara — “The Great” (THE GREAT)
• Daniel Levy — “Happy Ending” (SCHITT’S CREEK)*
• David West Read — “The Presidential Suite” (SCHITT’S CREEK)
• Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil — “Collaboration” (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS)
• Paul Simms — “Ghosts” (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS)
• Stefani Robinson — “On the Run” (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS)

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Thomas Schnauz — “Bad Choice Road” (BETTER CALL SAUL)
• Gordon Smith — “Bagman” (BETTER CALL SAUL)
• Peter Morgan — “Aberfan” (THE CROWN)
• Chris Mundy — “All In” (OZARK)
• John Shiban — “Boss Fight” (OZARK)
• Miki Johnson — “Fire Pink” (OZARK)
• Jesse Armstrong — “This Is Not for Tears” (SUCCESSION)*

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special

• Tanya Barfield — “Shirley” (MRS. AMERICA)
• Sally Rooney and Alice Birch — “Episode 3” (NORMAL PEOPLE)
• Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon, and Ayelet Waldman — “Episode 1” (UNBELIEVABLE)
• Anna Winger — “Part 1” (UNORTHODOX)
• Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson — “This Extraordinary Being” (WATCHMEN)*

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

• THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH
• FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE
• LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER*
• LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS
• THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT

Yep, didn’t get a passing grade once again. With a 12/26, a 46 percent, I did improve over last year’s 8/26, or a 31 percent. I’m on the upswing!