The daylight hours are getting longer â which might mean youâd rather not spend all your free time catching up on the best TV youâve missed this past year. Fear not, the Emmys BuzzMeter panelists are here to cut through the clutter with our Round 1 picks.
This early round is all about the âbuzzâ: a mix of shows and names that already have peopleâs attention as well as those we think deserve to be in the conversation as the 2024 Emmys race heats up. Use it as a viewing guide or tell us why weâre wrong (we know how the internet works). The six of us have ranked our picks in 14 of the main categories, with our top choices earning the most points. Round 2 will be our predictions for what will actually get nominated by the Television Academy on July 17. In Round 3, weâll predict the winners ahead of the Sept. 15 ceremony.
1. âShĆgunâ
2. âFalloutâ
3. âThe Gilded Ageâ
4. âThe Crownâ
5. âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ
6. âSlow Horsesâ
7. (tie) âThe Curseâ
7. (tie) âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ
9. â3 Body Problemâ
10. âThe Morning Showâ
11. (tie) âElsbethâ
11. (tie) âFor All Mankindâ
13. (tie) âAhsokaâ
13. (tie) âFoundâ
13. (tie) âSugarâ
16. âTokyo Viceâ
Nearly every series nominated last year is nowhere to be found for the 2024 race â reigning winner âSuccessionâ and perennial nominee âBetter Call Saulâ concluded their runs last year and new seasons of âAndor,â âHouse of the Dragon,â âThe Last of Us,â âThe White Lotusâ and âYellowjacketsâ have yet to air (most are still in various stages of production).
With the race seemingly wide open, most panelists have thrown their weight behind new shows. Coming out on top in these early rankings is âShĆgun,â FXâs historical drama that many had initially presumed would be competing in the limited series categories until FX made the Season 2 (and 3) renewal official. That shakeup reverberated throughout all the drama categories. âIt deserves to win everything,â says Times columnist Glenn Whipp.
Other new shows the panelists are enthusiastic about include Prime Videoâs stylish postapocalyptic video game adaptation âFalloutâ and its character-driven spy thriller âMr. & Mrs. Smith.â
Two different sorts of period dramas, HBOâs frivolously fun âThe Gilded Ageâ and Netflixâs past winner âThe Crownâ (a âTelevision Academy favorite,â laments Times columnist Lorraine Ali) round out the top five.
While panelist Matt Roush makes his case for âtwo neglected Apple TV+ favorites, âSlow Horsesâ and âFor All Mankind,ââ to finally âpique Emmy votersâ interest,â Trey Mangum says new network TV standouts âElsbethâ and âFoundâ âshould be injected into the conversation.â And I think an Emmy nod for Apple TV+âs âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ would pair nicely with Godzillaâs Oscar win (visual effects for âGodzilla Minus Oneâ) from earlier this year.
Also among the whopping 16 shows the panelists think you should add to your FYC viewing queue are Apple TV+âs media workplace drama âThe Morning Show,â Netflixâs sci-fi epic â3 Body Problem,â Disney+âs latest Star Wars installment, âAhsoka,â and Maxâs cross-cultural crime thriller âTokyo Vice.â
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. âShĆgunâ
2. âFalloutâ
3. âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ
4. âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ
5. âLupinâ
6. (tie) â3 Body Problemâ
6. (tie) âElsbethâ
6. (tie) âThe Gilded Ageâ
The intense and beautiful FX drama âShĆgunâ tops my nominee list in most every drama category. Based on James Clavellâs 1975 novel, the compelling story of power and politics in 1600s Japan is told largely from the perspective of the Japanese rather than the European interlopers. But itâs up against the Television Academy favorite âThe Crown,â and colonialism always wins. Sigh.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. âShĆgunâ
2. âFalloutâ
3. âThe Gilded Ageâ
4. âThe Crownâ
5. âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ
6. âThe Curseâ
7. âSlow Horsesâ
8. âThe Morning Showâ
This could be the seasonâs most exciting race, since so many repeat contenders (âSuccession,â âBetter Call Saul,â âThe White Lotus,â âThe Last of Us,â âYellowjacketsâ) arenât eligible this year. And âShĆgunâsâ last-minute switch from limited series to drama will shake up many of the acting categories as well.
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. âShĆgunâ
2. âFalloutâ
3. âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ
4. âThe Gilded Ageâ
5. âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ
6. â3 Body Problemâ
7. âAhsokaâ
8. âElsbethâ
With so many of last yearâs nominees out of contention this year, the drama race seemed wide open. At least until the news of âShĆgunâsâ renewal bumped it from being a limited series. FXâs jidaigeki should clean house, but Iâd like to see another big Japanese icon, Godzilla (the elusive monster of âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ), get some Emmy recognition after winning an Oscar earlier this year.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. âFalloutâ
2. âThe Gilded Ageâ
3. âShĆgunâ
4. âThe Crownâ
5. â3 Body Problemâ
6. âThe Morning Showâ
7. âFoundâ
8. âElsbethâ
âFalloutâ would be a very strong contender here, with âThe Morning Show,â âThe Crownâ and more returning shows proving a huge threat. However, seeing that a second season of âShĆgunâ has been announced, this category has been completely upended. Two shows that are on network television that, if any, should be injected into the conversation should be newbie standouts âElsbethâ and âFound.â
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. âShĆgunâ
2. âSlow Horsesâ
3. âThe Gilded Ageâ
4. âThe Crownâ
5. âFor All Mankindâ
6. âFalloutâ
7. âThe Curseâ
8. âThe Morning Showâ
âShĆgunâsâ surprise entry spices up what was an intriguing if not particularly thrilling year for TV drama. Iâm still hoping two neglected Apple TV+ favorites, âSlow Horsesâ and âFor All Mankind,â will eventually pique Emmy votersâ interest, and am curious how the final season of âThe Crownâ will fare, given the timing after the queenâs passing.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. âShĆgunâ
2. âThe Crownâ
3. âThe Curseâ
4. âFalloutâ
5. âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ
6. âSlow Horsesâ
7. âSugarâ
8. âTokyo Viceâ
Between the strikes and shows like âSuccessionâ and âBetter Call Saulâ leaving the airwaves, the drama series cupboard is pretty bare this year, making it a relief that âShĆgunâ moved here from limited series. It deserves to win everything.
1. Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ)
2. Ella Purnell (âFalloutâ)
3. Emma Stone (âThe Curseâ)
4. Carrie Coon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
5. Maya Erskine (âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ)
6. Imelda Staunton (âThe Crownâ)
7. Shanola Hampton (âFoundâ)
8. Jennifer Aniston (âThe Morning Showâ)
9. (tie) Carrie Preston (âElsbethâ)
9. (tie) Reese Witherspoon (âThe Morning Showâ)
11. Jess Hong (â3 Body Problemâ)
Nobody from last yearâs class of nominees is eligible this time, which leaves the field wide open for new faces. At (or near) the top of every panelistâs list for this round is Anna Sawai, who, as Lorraine Ali says, âimpresses with her quiet-storm performance in âShĆgunâ as the conflicted interpreter, Mariko.â
âFalloutâsâ breakout star Ella Purnell, who plays an upbeat and (bomb-) sheltered survivor who learns some harsh truths about her postapocalyptic world after venturing out to the surface, also has won over a majority of the panelists.
Rounding out the top three is Emma Stone, who just won her second Oscar. âWere it not for Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ), I wouldnât begrudge her winning an Emmy for expertly playing the least self-aware person in the history of the world in âThe Curse,ââ says Glenn Whipp.
Panelist Kristen Baldwin says, âMaya Erskine deserves her first acting nod for her delightfully deadpan turn in âMr. & Mrs. Smith.ââ Matt Roush insists Carrie Coon also âdeserves noticeâ for ârising above the fluff of âThe Gilded Age.ââ Trey Mangum, meanwhile, makes the case for Shanola Hampton, who âmakes anchoring her own vehicle look easy on NBCâs âFound.ââ
Also on the panelistsâ radar are âThe Morning Showâsâ Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon â the only contenders whose nominations would be repeats â as well as an expected nod for Imelda Staunton for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in âThe Crown.â
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ)
2. (tie) Maya Erskine (âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ)
2. (tie) Ella Purnell (âFalloutâ)
4. (tie) Carrie Preston (âElsbethâ)
4. (tie) Reese Witherspoon (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. Jess Hong (â3 Body Problemâ)
Dream list of nominees: Anna Sawai, who impresses with her quiet-storm performance in âShĆgunâ as the conflicted interpreter Mariko. Ella Purnell for her darkly humorous depiction of a sheltered creampuff turned survivalist in the dystopian video game adaptation âFallout.â Maya Erskine as a dangerous spy posing as a benign spouse in âMr. and Mrs. Smith.â
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Emma Stone (âThe Curseâ)
2. Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ)
3. Carrie Coon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
4. Maya Erskine (âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ)
5. Imelda Staunton (âThe Crownâ)
6. Jennifer Aniston (âThe Morning Showâ)
With only one repeat nominee (Jennifer Aniston) likely, this category will be refreshingly unpredictable. Imelda Staunton, passed over in this category for season 5 of âThe Crown,â will get a farewell nomination for her final turn as Queen Elizabeth, and Maya Erskine deserves her first acting nod for her delightfully deadpan turn in âMr. & Mrs. Smith.â
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ)
2. Ella Purnell (âFalloutâ)
3. Maya Erskine (âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ)
4. Carrie Coon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
5. Jess Hong (â3 Body Problemâ)
6. Carrie Preston (âElsbethâ)
There is no âShĆgunâ without Anna Sawai. But Iâd also really like to see Ella Purnell, who plays an upbeat (bomb-) sheltered kid who learns a lot of harsh truths about her postapocalyptic world in âFallout,â and Jess Hong, as a theoretical physicist whose science can hopefully save humanity in â3 Body Problem,â break into the category.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Shanola Hampton (âFoundâ)
2. Ella Purnell (âFalloutâ)
3. Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ)
4. Carrie Coon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
5. Reese Witherspoon (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. Jennifer Aniston (âThe Morning Showâ)
Itâs not often that this category has the potential to be a wide-open field, but it seems more likely this year. You have âThe Morning Showâ ladies in Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, who could easily dominate the conversation. Carrie Coon could be coming for that Emmy for âThe Gilded Age,â and if she can command as much buzz for her performance as the show has, I definitely wouldnât count out âFalloutâ lead Ella Purnell. But after starring for years on âShameless,â Shanola Hampton makes anchoring her own vehicle look easy on NBCâs âFound.â
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Emma Stone (âThe Curseâ)
2. Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ)
3. Carrie Coon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
4. Jennifer Aniston (âThe Morning Showâ)
5. Imelda Staunton (âThe Crownâ)
6. Carrie Preston (âElsbethâ)
âThe Curseâ was polarizing, but thereâs no denying Emma Stone nailed her excruciating character, another triumph in a banner year. Anna Sawai as âShĆgunâsâ enigmatic interpreter also deserves notice, along with Carrie Coon rising above the fluff of âThe Gilded Age.â Imelda Staunton was fine as âThe Crownâsâ elder queen, but she felt like a supporting character this year.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ)
2. Emma Stone (âThe Curseâ)
3. Ella Purnell (âFalloutâ)
4. Imelda Staunton (âThe Crownâ)
5. Maya Erskine (âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ)
6. Carrie Coon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
Emma Stone just won a second Oscar and were it not for Anna Sawai (âShĆgunâ), I wouldnât begrudge her winning an Emmy for expertly playing the least self-aware person in the history of the world in âThe Curse.â
1. Hiroyuki Sanada (âShĆgunâ)
2. Walton Goggins (âFalloutâ)
3. Donald Glover (âMr. & Mrs. Smithâ)
4. Gary Oldman (âSlow Horsesâ)
5. Ncuti Gatwa (âDoctor Whoâ)
6. Cosmo Jarvis (âShĆgunâ)
7. (tie) Jacob Anderson (âInterview With the Vampireâ)
7. (tie) Dominic West (âThe Crownâ)
9. (tie) Idris Elba (âHijackâ)
9. (tie) Zahn McClarnon (âDark Windsâ)
11. (tie) Nathan Fielder (âThe Curseâ)
11. (tie) Omar Sy (âLupinâ)
Much like drama lead actress, the lead actor category will see a completely new slate of names compared to last yearâs nominees. Panelists have used the opportunity to advocate for a mix of new and overlooked favorites to make the cut this year.
The overwhelming front-runner in this round is Hiroyuki Sanada, who is the shĆgun of âShĆgun.â As the quietly ambitious Lord Toranaga, âThe Japanese martial arts star has room to stretch beyond impressive swordfighting scenes ⊠and he slays,â says Lorraine Ali.
A close second is Walton Goggins, whose string of âmorally ambiguous characters that you canât help but love,â as panelist Glenn Whipp puts it, continues with his role on âFallout.â Kristin Baldwin echoes the sentiment, insisting, âThis is the year that Emmy voters shall rain down accolades on Walton Goggins, who commands the screen as the fearsome and funny Ghoul.â
Besides these buzziest newcomers, panelists are urging Emmy voters to finally consider actors from returning shows whose performances were previously overlooked. Matt Roush is ârooting for Gary Oldman to finally be recognized for bringing âSlow Horsesâââ Jackson Lamb to curmudgeonly life.â Trey Mangum insists, âWe especially need to be talking about Jacob Andersonâs performance [in âInterview With the Vampireâ], which only gets better in year two.â
My under-the-radar pick is Ncuti Gatwa, who has infused new energy into the long-running British sci-fi staple âDoctor Whoâ as the newest Doctor (the Fifteenth, for those keeping count). Also in the conversation are Donald Glover, for his turn as the undercover newlywed spy in the character-driven spy thriller âMr. & Mrs. Smith,â as well as Cosmo Jarvis, as the shipwrecked Englishman experiencing culture shock in âShĆgun.â
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Hiroyuki Sanada (âShĆgunâ)
2. Donald Glover (âMr. & Mrs. Smithâ)
3. Walton Goggins (âFalloutâ)
4. Omar Sy (âLupinâ)
5. Zahn McClarnon (âDark Windsâ)
6. Idris Elba (âHijackâ)
Sanada was one of the only reasons I stuck with âWestworldâ after the first season. As the lovelorn samurai Musashi, he was a grounding presence inside a confusing-as-hell narrative. Now as âShĆgunâsâ Lord Toranaga, the Japanese martial arts star has room to stretch beyond impressive swordfighting scenes ⊠and he slays.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Hiroyuki Sanada (âShĆgunâ)
2. Walton Goggins (âFalloutâ)
3. Donald Glover (âMr. & Mrs. Smithâ)
4. Nathan Fielder (âThe Curseâ)
5. Gary Oldman (âSlow Horsesâ)
6. Dominic West (âThe Crownâ)
Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known throughout the land: This is the year that Emmy voters shall rain down accolades on Walton Goggins, who commands the screen as the fearsome and funny Ghoul in Prime Videoâs hit adaptation of âFallout.â Formerly a frontrunner for lead actor in a limited series, âShĆgunâsâ Hiroyuki Sanada should have strong momentum in this category as well.
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Hiroyuki Sanada (âShĆgunâ)
2. Walton Goggins (âFalloutâ)
3. Ncuti Gatwa (âDoctor Whoâ)
4. Cosmo Jarvis (ShĆgunâ)
5. Donald Glover (âMr. & Mrs. Smithâ)
6. Zahn McClarnon (âDark Windsâ)
Hiroyuki Sanada seems like a shoo-in as the ShĆgun (to be) of âShĆgun,â though Walton Goggins as âFalloutâsâ charismatic but ruthless Ghoul makes a very strong case here too. One performance I hope doesnât get overlooked is Ncuti Gatwa as the charming, enthusiastic new Doctor (the Fifteenth, for those keeping count) who brings a fresh energy to the long-running British sci-fi favorite âDoctor Who.â
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Jacob Anderson (âInterview With the Vampireâ)
2. Ncuti Gatwa (âDoctor Whoâ)
3. Hiroyuki Sanada (âShĆgunâ)
4. Idris Elba (âHijackâ)
5. Walton Goggins (âFalloutâ)
6. Dominic West (âThe Crownâ)
Not only do we need to be heavily talking about âInterview With the Vampire,â we especially need to be talking about Jacob Andersonâs performance, which only gets better in year 2. Walton Goggins is the glue that draws you into âFallout,â Idris Elba getting in for âHijackâ would be a welcome surprise and the new Disney+ home for âDoctor Whoâ could translate into some well-deserved love for Ncuti Gatwa. But Hiroyuki Sanada is ShĆgun, and at this point I canât see it going any other way.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Hiroyuki Sanada (âShĆgunâ)
2. Gary Oldman (âSlow Horsesâ)
3. Donald Glover (âMr. & Mrs. Smithâ)
4. Walton Goggins (âFalloutâ)
5. Dominic West (âThe Crownâ)
6. Zahn McClarnon (âDark Windsâ)
Lee Jung-jaeâs âSquid Gameâ win provides precedent for a lead actor to win for a non-English-language performance. Sanadaâs majestic Lord Toranaga surely qualifies, though Iâm also rooting for Gary Oldman to finally be recognized for bringing âSlow Horsesââ Jackson Lamb to curmudgeonly life; ditto for Zahn McClarnonâs poignant portrayal of âDark Windsââ Navajo policeman Joe Leaphorn.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Hiroyuki Sanada (âShĆgunâ)
2. Cosmo Jarvis (âShĆgunâ)
3. Walton Goggins (âFalloutâ)
4. Gary Oldman (âSlow Horsesâ)
5. Dominic West (âThe Crownâ)
6. Donald Glover (âMr. & Mrs. Smithâ)
Is there a better actor than Walton Goggins when it comes to playing morally ambiguous characters that you canât help but love? If youâve seen the postapocalyptic âFalloutâ (or âJustifiedâ or âThe Hateful Eightâ or ⊠well, itâs a long list), you know thatâs a rhetorical question.
1. Fumi Nikaido (âShĆgunâ)
2. Christine Baranski (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
3. Moeka Hoshi (âShĆgunâ)
4. Elizabeth Debicki (âThe Crownâ)
5. Nicole Beharie (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. Sarita Choudhury (âFalloutâ)
7. Audra McDonald (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
8. Holland Taylor (âThe Morning Showâ)
9. Lesley Manville (âThe Crownâ)
10. (tie) Karen Pittman (âThe Morning Showâ)
10. (tie) Leslie Uggams (âFalloutâ)
12. (tie) Greta Lee (âThe Morning Showâ)
12. (tie) Olivia Williams (âThe Crownâ)
14. (tie) Kristen Scott Thomas (âSlow Horsesâ)
14. (tie) Mari Yamamoto (âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ)
16. (tie) Cynthia Nixon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
16. (tie) Amy Ryan (âSugarâ)
18. Kiersey Clemons (âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ)
The ongoing theme in the drama races is that there will be very little overlap with last yearâs nominees because most of those are not eligible this year. âThe Crownâsâ Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Diana, the doomed peopleâs princess, in the royal historical drama, is one of the few exceptions.
Besides Debicki, frontrunners include âShĆgunâ scene stealers Fumi Nikaido and Moeka Hoshi. Nikaido is captivating as the quietly calculating Lady Ochiba, the mother of the young lord expected to rule Japan once he comes of age, while Hoshi impresses as the mourning young mother-turned-consort Usami Fuji.
A number of the panelists are rallying behind Christine Baranski. After being overlooked for the entirety of âThe Good Fightâsâ six-season run, Baranski is just as impressive as an old-money socialite in âThe Gilded Age.â âI canât keep my eyes off Christine Baranski,â says Lorraine Ali. Kristen Baldwin is more direct: âDo not make me fight you, Emmy voters!â Baranskiâs castmates Audra McDonald and Cynthia Nixon also picked up some votes.
And speaking of grudges against Emmy voters, Glenn Whipp says he still hasnât forgiven them for overlooking Amy Ryan a couple of years ago. âSheâs terrific in âSugar,â playing a one-time rock singer who canât hide her tenderness behind a tough exterior,â he says.
The supporting cast of âThe Morning Showâ also make a strong showing in our BuzzMeter rankings. âNicole Beharieâs tour de force in Season 3 has not left my mind,â says Trey Mangum. âHer co-star Karen Pittmanâs great performance is not mentioned as much but needs to be as well.â Matt Roush says heâs fond of âHolland Taylor raging against ageism and sexism,â and Greta Lee also made the list.
The postapocalyptic âFalloutâ also has a pair of actresses in the running. To avoid spoilers, letâs just say both Sarita Choudhuryâs and Leslie Uggamsâ characters are both much more than they initially seem.
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Fumi Nikaido (âShĆgunâ)
2. (tie) Christine Baranski (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
2. (tie) Moeka Hoshi (âShĆgunâ)
4. Nicole Beharie (âThe Morning Showâ)
5. Olivia Williams (âThe Crownâ)
6. (tie) Sarita Choudhury (âFalloutâ)
6. (tie) Leslie Uggams (âFalloutâ)
8. Lesley Manville (âThe Crownâ)
I want to like HBOâs âThe Gilded Age,â but I keep hitting the same roadblock: Itâs âDownton Abbeyâ with American accents and 1800s trimmings. That said, I canât keep my eyes off Christine Baranski. She stands out, even against the blinding opulence of monied New York.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Christine Baranski (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
2. Elizabeth Debicki (âThe Crownâ)
3. Audra McDonald (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
4. Holland Taylor (âThe Morning Showâ)
5. Greta Lee (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. Moeka Hoshi (âShĆgunâ)
7. Kristen Scott Thomas (âSlow Horsesâ)
8. Cynthia Nixon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
There is literally no reason to believe that Christine Baranski â snubbed six times over for âThe Good Fightâ â wonât get back in the race this year for âThe Gilded Age.â Literally. No. Reason. Do not make me fight you, Emmy voters!
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Fumi Nikaido (âShĆgunâ)
2. Christine Baranski (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
3. Moeka Hoshi (âShĆgunâ)
4. Sarita Choudhury (âFalloutâ)
5. Nicole Beharie (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. Mari Yamamoto (âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ)
7. Audra McDonald (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
8. Kiersey Clemons (âMonarch: Legacy of Monstersâ)
Iâm usually an advocate of spreading the love in the supporting acting categories but both Fumi Nikaido and Moeka Hoshi were outstanding in âShĆgun.â Christine Baranski was criminally overlooked for her work on âThe Good Fightâ and I hope that trend doesnât continue with âThe Gilded Age.â And Sarita Choudhury was a pleasant surprise in âFallout.â
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Nicole Beharie (âThe Morning Showâ)
2. Karen Pittman (âThe Morning Showâ)
3. Audra McDonald (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
4. Sarita Choudhury (âFalloutâ)
5. Leslie Uggams (âFalloutâ)
6. Elizabeth Debicki (âThe Crownâ)
7. Fumi Nikaido (âShĆgunâ)
8. Moeka Hoshi (âShĆgunâ)
Since âThe Morning Showâ was released pretty early in the cycle, many may have moved on, but Nicole Beharieâs tour de force in Season 3 has not left my mind. Her co-star Karen Pittmanâs great performance is not mentioned as much but needs to be as well. But this pair may get outdone by a couple of âShĆgunâ scene stealers, although Iâd love it if the category was stolen by one of the âFalloutâ women.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Christine Baranski (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
2. Elizabeth Debicki (âThe Crownâ)
3. Holland Taylor (âThe Morning Showâ)
4. Moeka Hoshi (âShĆgunâ)
5. Fumi Nikaido (âShĆgunâ)
6. Lesley Manville (âThe Crownâ)
7. Nicole Beharie (âThe Morning Showâ)
8. Cynthia Nixon (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
While their seasons left much to be desired, âThe Morning Show,â âThe Crownâ and âThe Gilded Ageâ provided plenty of opportunity for juicy scene-stealing. Elizabeth Debicki could easily repeat as the doomed Princess Diana, but Iâm fond of Christine Baranskiâs âGildedâ dragon lady and âMorning Showâsâ Holland Taylor raging against ageism and sexism.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Fumi Nikaido (âShĆgunâ)
2. Elizabeth Debicki (âThe Crownâ)
3. Moeka Hoshi (âShĆgunâ)
4. Sarita Choudhury (âFalloutâ)
5. Lesley Manville (âThe Crownâ)
6. Nicole Beharie (âThe Morning Showâ)
7. Amy Ryan (âSugarâ)
8. Kristen Scott Thomas (âSlow Horsesâ)
Iâm still holding a grudge against Emmy voters for overlooking Amy Ryanâs brilliant turn in the first season of âOnly Murders in the Building.â Sheâs terrific in âSugar,â playing a one-time rock singer who canât hide her tenderness behind a tough exterior.
1. Tadanobu Asano (âShĆgunâ)
2. Nathan Lane (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
3. Takehiro Hira (âShĆgunâ)
4. MoisĂ©s Arias (âFalloutâ)
5. Benny Safdie (âThe Curseâ)
6. (tie) Khalid Abdalla (âThe Crownâ)
6. (tie) Billy Crudup (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. (tie) Jon Hamm (âThe Morning Showâ)
9. Benedict Wong (â3 Body Problemâ)
10. Jonathan Pryce (âThe Crownâ)
11. Barkhad Abdi (âThe Curseâ)
12. Jovan Adepo (â3 Body Problemâ)
13. Aaron Moten (âFalloutâ)
14. Wendell Pierce (âElsbethâ)
15. (tie) Jack Lowden (âSlow Horsesâ)
15. (tie) Ke Huy Quan (âLokiâ)
17. (tie) Hayden Christiansen (âAhsokaâ)
17. (tie) Richard Schiff (âThe Good Doctorâ)
17. (tie) Ken Watanabe (âTokyo Viceâ)
The overwhelming front-runner in this early round is Tadanobu Asano, who charms as âShĆgunâsâ wily and opportunistic Yabushige. Asano, as Glenn Whipp notes, is âa legit movie star in Japanâ and he âbrings a boisterous joy, bracing intelligence and rock-star presence to the role.â
Asanoâs castmate Takehiro Hira, whose ambitious Lord Ishido is leading the charge against Hiroyuki Sanadaâs Lord Toranaga, also has momentum. Perched between the âShĆgunâ pair is Nathan Lane, who portrays the snobbish arbiter of who and what are considered elite in the glitzy âThe Gilded Age.â
Also with a strong showing is âFalloutâsâ MoisĂ©s Arias, who portrays the cowardly younger brother turned determined sleuth who lives in an underground bomb shelter in the video game adaptation. Also making the list from the show is Aaron Moten, who portrays an aspiring knight of a paramilitary order.
A pair from â3 Body Problemâ also have support from the panelists. âJovan Adepo is one of the best parts, if not the best part of â3 Body Problem,ââ says Trey Mangum. Matt Roush shouts out Benedict Wong for âbringing some welcome humanity and humor as the [showâs] beleaguered detective.â
And while feelings may be mixed about âThe Curseâ overall, the acting was solid. âIn addition to Benny Safdie, who was so unsettling as âThe Curseâsâ creepy-sad reality TV producer, hereâs hoping voters also nominate Barkhad Abdi, who was mesmerizingly stoic as a local squatter named Abshir,â says Kristen Baldwin.
Also in the mix are âThe Morning Showâsâ Billy Crudup and Jon Hamm; the latter has the potential to be a double nominee with his role on âFargo.â âThe Crownâsâ Khalid Abdalla and Jonathan Pryce also are among the 19 names that made the panelistsâ lists.
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Tadanobu Asano (âShĆgunâ)
2. Takehiro Hira (âShĆgunâ)
3. MoisĂ©s Arias (âFalloutâ)
4. (tie) Nathan Lane (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
4. (tie) Benedict Wong (â3 Body Problemâ)
6. (tie) Khalid Abdalla (âThe Crownâ)
6. (tie) Jon Hamm (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. (tie) Jonathan Pryce (âThe Crownâ)
Another plus for âShĆgunâ? Tadanobu Asanoâs nuanced portrayal of the charismatic and deadly Kashigi Yabushige. The famous Japanese actor brings treachery and playfulness to his depiction of the Lord of Izu, creating an unpredictable character whose shifty and oddly endearing persona stays with viewers.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Benny Safdie (âThe Curseâ)
2. Tadanobu Asano (âShĆgunâ)
3. Nathan Lane (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
4. Barkhad Abdi (âThe Curseâ)
5. Billy Crudup (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. Jon Hamm (âThe Morning Showâ)
7. Jonathan Pryce (âThe Crownâ)
8. Khalid Abdalla (âThe Crownâ)
In addition to Benny Safdie, who was so unsettling as âThe Curseâsâ creepy-sad reality TV producer, hereâs hoping voters also nominate Barkhad Abdi, who was mesmerizingly stoic as a local squatter named Abshir. Jon Hamm, meanwhile, is probably going to be a double nominee this year. (See lead actor in a limited series.)
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Tadanobu Asano (âShĆgunâ)
2. MoisĂ©s Arias (âFalloutâ)
3. Takehiro Hira (âShĆgunâ)
4. Nathan Lane (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
5. Benedict Wong (â3 Body Problemâ)
6. Ke Huy Quan (âLokiâ)
7. Wendell Pierce (âElsbethâ)
8. Hayden Christiansen (âAhsokaâ)
It was really great seeing Tadanobu Asano get to show why heâs a star in Japan in âShĆgun,â where he plays the charismatic Yabushige, a lord happy to play whatever cards he needs to to get ahead. I also hope MoisĂ©s Arias can generate enough buzz for his turn as Norm, who grows from timid younger brother to resourceful sleuth over the course of the first season of âFallout.â
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Jovan Adepo (â3 Body Problemâ)
2. Aaron Moten (âFalloutâ)
3. MoisĂ©s Arias (âFalloutâ)
4. Barkhad Abdi (âThe Curseâ)
5. Billy Crudup (âThe Morning Showâ)
6. Khalid Abdalla (âThe Crownâ)
7. Wendell Pierce (âElsbethâ)
8. Jon Hamm (âThe Morning Showâ)
Jovan Adepo is one of the best parts, if not the best part of â3 Body Problem,â and if youâre talking about the show, you have to be talking about his performance. Same thing could be said for Oscar winner Barkhad Abdi for âThe Curse.â While Billy Crudup is just as stellar as heâs ever been in âThe Morning Show,â the understated but equally great âFalloutâ performances from Aaron Moten and MoisĂ©s Arias are two of my top highlights as well.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Tadanobu Asano (âShĆgunâ)
2. Jon Hamm (âThe Morning Showâ)
3. Billy Crudup (âThe Morning Showâ)
4. Benedict Wong (â3 Body Problemâ)
5. Benny Safdie (âThe Curseâ)
6. Nathan Lane (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
7. Takehiro Hira (âShĆgunâ)
8. Richard Schiff (âThe Good Doctorâ)
Donât be surprised if Jon Hamm double-dips this year as âFargoâsâ evil sheriff and âThe Morning Showâsâ duplicitous mogul. âShogunâsâ Tadanobu Asano could upstage his better-known rivals as the wily Yabushige. Dark horse: Benedict Wong, bringing some welcome humanity and humor as the beleaguered detective in Netflixâs â3 Body Problem.â
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Tadanobu Asano (âShĆgunâ)
2. Khalid Abdalla (âThe Crownâ)
3. Jonathan Pryce (âThe Crownâ)
4. Takehiro Hira (âShĆgunâ)
5. Benny Safdie (âThe Curseâ)
6. Jack Lowden (âSlow Horsesâ)
7. Nathan Lane (âThe Gilded Ageâ)
8. Ken Watanabe (âTokyo Viceâ)
Tadanobu Asano is a legit movie star in Japan, and anyone making his acquaintance for the first time in âShogunâ can now understand why. Playing the charismatic, opportunistic Lord Kashigi Yabushige, Asano brings a boisterous joy, bracing intelligence and rock-star presence to the role.
1. âAbbott Elementaryâ
2. âReservation Dogsâ
3. âThe Bearâ
4. âHacksâ
5. âIâm a Virgoâ
6. âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ
7. (tie) âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ
7. (tie) âGhostsâ
7. (tie) âWe Are Lady Partsâ
10. (tie) âDiarra From Detroitâ
10. (tie) âGen Vâ
12. âPalm Royaleâ
13. âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ
14. âOur Flag Means Deathâ
15. âThe Brothers Sunâ
16. âThe Gentlemenâ
Comedy series is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races. Among the frontrunners is the broadcast TV favorite âAbbott Elementary,â which always has a strong showing. The other titan in the race is âThe Bear,â which cleaned house at last yearâs ceremony even as it was bombarded with questions about its status as a comedy.
âDoes the answer even matter? No. Iâm fine with another Emmy sweep for âThe Bear,ââ says Glenn Whipp.
Elbowing its way into the conversation is âReservation Dogs,â the heartfelt coming-of-age series about a group of teens growing up on the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma, which has yet to receive any love from Emmy voters. âIts third and final season was a masterpiece so itâs time,â says Lorraine Ali. I agree! Meanwhile, panelist Matt Roush is pushing for âGhostsâ to finally get some attention for its âgreat ensemble cast and clever humor that used to score before network TV became invisible.â
Among the shows that panelists are urging people to notice are âIâm a Virgo,â âBoots Rileyâs searing social satire about the evils of capitalism,â says Kristen Baldwin. Trey Mangum is throwing his support behind superhero spinoff âGen Vâ and contemporary whodunit âDiarra From Detroit,â which he calls âone of the best comedies on television that fully needs to be on everyoneâs watchlist.â
Previous nominees that also made the list include âHacks,â âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ and âOnly Murders in the Building.â
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. (tie) âReservation Dogsâ
1. (tie) âWe Are Lady Partsâ
3. âPalm Royaleâ
4. âAbbott Elementaryâ
5. âThe Brothers Sunâ
6. (tie) âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ
6. (tie) âGen Vâ
8. âGhostsâ
This is the most competitive category of 2024. âReservation Dogsâ has never won an Emmy and its third and final season was a masterpiece, so itâs time. âPalm Royale,â which is set in the socialite scene of â60s Palm Beach, is a perfectly hilarious journey into an absurd subculture. And my pipe dream? Season two of âWe Are Lady Parts,â the British comedy about a female, Muslim punk band where hijab jokes abound.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. âIâm a Virgoâ
2. âReservation Dogsâ
3. âThe Bearâ
4. âAbbott Elementaryâ
5. âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ
6. âHacksâ
7. âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ
8. âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ
Last year, two freshman series, âWednesdayâ and âJury Duty,â made the cut along with regulars like âThe Bear,â âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ and âAbbott Elementary.â This year, that newcomer slot needs to go to âIâm a Virgo,â Boots Rileyâs searing social satire about the evils of capitalism. And it streamed on Prime Video, owned by Amazon! Mmmm ⊠that irony is delicious.
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. âReservation Dogsâ
2. âAbbott Elementaryâ
3. âThe Bearâ
4. âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ
5. âOur Flag Means Deathâ
6. âHacksâ
7. âIâm a Virgoâ
8. âWe Are Lady Partsâ
There is only one thing I need the Emmy voters to get right this year: Finally give âReservation Dogsâ the recognition it deserves. The show was fantastic throughout its entire run but its third and final season, which saw its young characters grow toward the adults theyâll become, really nailed it. It also would be great to see my favorite pirates (âOur Flag Means Deathâ) and Muslim punk rockers (âWe Are Lady Partsâ) make the cut.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. âDiarra From Detroitâ
2. âAbbott Elementaryâ
3. âGen Vâ
4. âThe Bearâ
5. âGhostsâ
6. âIâm a Virgoâ
7. âHacksâ
8. âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ
In our early thoughts, itâs looking like the battle of two juggernauts, âAbbott Elementaryâ and âThe Bear.â But one of the best comedies on television that needs to be on Emmyâs watchlist is BET+âs âDiarra From Detroit,â and everyone needs to get on board. âGen Vâ on Prime Video had a solid first season. âHacks,â of course, is always great, as was the first-year thought-provoker âIâm a Virgo.â
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. âThe Bearâ
2. âAbbott Elementaryâ
3. âReservation Dogsâ
4. âHacksâ
5. âGhostsâ
6. âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ
7. âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ
8. âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ
Put aside the drama-vs.-comedy debate regarding âThe Bear,â which would dominate in any field. The comedy Iâd love to see get some attention after three seasons is CBSâ delightful âGhosts,â with the sort of great ensemble cast and clever humor that used to score before network TV became invisible.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. âThe Bearâ
2. âAbbott Elementaryâ
3. âHacksâ
4. âReservation Dogsâ
5. âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ
6. âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ
7. âIâm a Virgoâ
8. âThe Gentlemenâ
Is a series a comedy if youâre in tears at the end of nearly every episode? Not the âI laughed so hard, I criedâ kind of tears but honest-to-God weeping at the emotional heartbreak unfolding before your eyes. Does the answer even matter? No. Iâm fine with another Emmy sweep for âThe Bear.â
1. Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ)
2. Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. (tie) Devery Jacobs (âReservation Dogsâ)
3. (tie) Jean Smart (âHacksâ)
5. (tie) Natasia Demetriou (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
5. (tie) Diarra Kilpatrick (âDiarra From Detroitâ)
5. (tie) Kristen Wiig (âPalm Royaleâ)
8. (tie) Maya Rudolph (âLootâ)
8. (tie) Jaz Sinclair (âGen Vâ)
10. Selena Gomez (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
11. (tie) Kaley Cuoco (âBased on a True Storyâ)
11. (tie) RenĂ©e Elise Goldsberry (âGirls5evaâ)
11. (tie) Michelle Yeoh (âThe Brothers Sunâ)
Lead actress in a comedy series is another competitive category, with just two points of separation between the top four frontrunners. Last yearâs supporting actress winner, Ayo Edebiri, who plays ambitious young chef Sydney in âThe Bear,â has been promoted to lead for this second campaign and in this early round holds the slimmest of leads.
The field also includes last yearâs category winner, Quinta Brunson, the multihyphenate âAbbott Elementaryâ star, as well as Jean Smart of âHacks,â who won back-to-back before the showâs health- and strike-related hiatus. Back as legendary stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, Smart âremains divine â funny, real and raw in conveying vulnerability and intelligence,â says Glenn Whipp.
A number of panelists plead for the TV academy to finally recognize Devery Jacobs for her portrayal of Elora Danan, the moral and emotional center of the close-knit teens at the center of âReservation Dogs.â âThis WILL be the year that âReservation Dogsâ gets its shamefully overdue recognition from Emmy voters,â says Kristen Baldwin.
Trey Mangum makes the case for Diarra Kilpatrick, who âwears multiple hats on âDiarra From Detroitâ and knocks all of them out of the park, not only anchoring the creative behind the show but fronting it as the lead actress as well.â And Lorraine Ali insists that a nomination for âPalm Royaleâsâ Kristen Wiig should be a âno-brainerâ for her âirresistible and hilarious [performance] as the desperate Southern beauty queen whoâll do anything to become part of the elite set in a Palm Beach country club.â
Also on the the list are âOnly Murder in the Buildingâsâ Selena Gomez, âLootâsâ Maya Rudolph and Natasia Demetriou of âWhat We Do in the Shadows.â
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Kristen Wiig (âPalm Royaleâ)
2. Devery Jacobs (âReservation Dogsâ)
3. Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ)
5. Jean Smart (âHacksâ)
6. Michelle Yeoh (âThe Brothers Sunâ)
Nominating Kristen Wiig is a no-brainer if the true goal of the Emmys is to recognize the yearâs best performances (naive, I know). She is irresistible and hilarious as the desperate Southern beauty queen whoâll do anything to become part of the elite set in a Palm Beach country club.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Devery Jacobs (âReservation Dogsâ)
2. Jean Smart (âHacksâ)
3. Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ)
5. Natasia Demetriou (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
6. Selena Gomez (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
Ayo Edebiri could very well follow her January win as supporting actress with a frontrunner spot in the lead category, where she probably should have been all along. And this WILL be the year that âReservation Dogsâ gets its shamefully overdue recognition from Emmy voters â both here and in the comedy series category.
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Devery Jacobs (âReservation Dogsâ)
2. Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ)
4. Jean Smart (âHacksâ)
5. Natasia Demetriou (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
6. RenĂ©e Elise Goldsberry (âGirls5evaâ)
I imagine this competitive category will be loaded with past winners Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ), Jean Smart (âHacksâ) and supporting-turned-lead Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ) rightfully recognized again. And both Natasia Demetriou (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ) and RenĂ©e Elise Goldsberry (âGirls5evaâ) might be long shots, but they consistently shine on shows I find laugh-out-loud funny.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Diarra Kilpatrick (âDiarra From Detroitâ)
2. Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ)
3. Jaz Sinclair (âGen Vâ)
4. Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. Maya Rudolph (âLootâ)
6. Jean Smart (âHacksâ)
Just like itâs âAbbott Elementaryâ vs. âThe Bear,â it seems like Quinta Brunson and Ayo Edebiri will be neck and neck. Diarra Kilpatrick wears multiple hats on âDiarra From Detroitâ and knocks them all out of the park, not only anchoring the creative behind the show but fronting it as the lead actress as well.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Jean Smart (âHacksâ)
2. Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ)
3. Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Devery Jacobs (âReservation Dogsâ)
5. Natasia Demetriou (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
6. Kaley Cuoco (âBased on a True Storyâ)
One of the tougher toss-ups will be choosing among several Emmy winners: âHacksââ transcendent Smart, âThe Bearâsâ Edebiri promoted to lead, and lauded âAbbottâ creator Brunson. It would be a pleasant shock if the Emmys finally noticed âReservation Dogsâ in its final year, but for this round, we can at least hope.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Jean Smart (âHacksâ)
2. Ayo Edebiri (âThe Bearâ)
3. Quinta Brunson (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Devery Jacobs (âReservation Dogsâ)
5. Maya Rudolph (âLootâ)
6. Selena Gomez (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
Between the strikes and a heart procedure for star Jean Smart, we had to wait a while for âHacksâ to return for its third season. But itâs back and Smart, fully recovered, remains divine â funny, real and raw in conveying vulnerability and intelligence.
1. Jharrel Jerome (âIâm a Virgoâ)
2. Jeremy Allen White (âThe Bearâ)
3. DâPharaoh Woon-A-Tai (âReservation Dogsâ)
4. Martin Short (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
5. Steve Martin (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
6. (tie) Larry David (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
6. (tie) Theo James (âThe Gentlemenâ)
8. (tie) Matt Berry (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
8. (tie) Kayvan Novak (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
10. (tie) Utkarsh Ambudkar (âGhostsâ)
10. (tie) Drew Tarver (âThe Other Twoâ)
Just two of last yearâs nominees are eligible this year: Jeremy Allen White, who won for his portrayal of Carmy, a classically trained chef who took over his late brotherâs sandwich shop before deciding to transform it into the restaurant of their dreams in âThe Bear,â and âOnly Murders in the Buildingâsâ Martin Short, who plays the self-obsessed, over-the-top director Oliver Putnam.
Among those the panelists think should join them in this yearâs race is Shortâs âMurdersâ counterpart Steve Martin, who was nominated for his work in the showâs first season. Glenn Whipp says nominating just one half of the power couple is an âomission [that] canât happen again.â Matt Roush agrees, saying, âWatching a panicked Steve Martin try to master a tongue-twisting musical theater song was a comedy highlight of the year.â
Trey Mangum is among the panelists heaping praise on Jharrel Jerome â a past winner for âWhen They See Usâ â for his portrayal of a very tall, sheltered teen in âIâm a Virgo.â âIf weâre talking about sheer performance, this one should be his,â says Mangum. Kristen Baldwin also expects Jerome to âearn another nod here for his hilariously earnest performance.â
Among the actors Lorraine Ali is advocating for is âDâPharaoh Woon-A-Tai for his authenticity and depth as Bear in âReservation Dogs.ââ âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ duo Matt Berry and Kayvan Novak also got some shoutouts.
âCurb Your Enthusiasmâsâ Larry David and âThe Gentlemenâsâ Theo James also are among those who made the panelistsâ list.
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. DâPharaoh Woon-A-Tai (âReservation Dogsâ)
2. Jharrel Jerome (âIâm a Virgoâ)
3. Jeremy Allen White (âThe Bearâ)
4. (tie) Larry David (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
4. (tie) Martin Short (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
6. Utkarsh Ambudkar (âGhostsâ)
DâPharaoh Woon-A-Tai for his authenticity and depth as Bear in âReservation Dogs.â Jharrel Jerome for his outsize performance in âIâm a Virgo.â Martin Short for bringing the insufferable ego of Oliver to life in âOnly Murders in the Building.â And Jeremy Allen White for being so likable in âThe Bear,â even though itâs not a comedy.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Jharrel Jerome (âIâm a Virgoâ)
2. Jeremy Allen White (âThe Bearâ)
3. DâPharaoh Woon-A-Tai (âReservation Dogsâ)
4. Matt Berry (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
5. Kayvan Novak (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
6. Drew Tarver (âThe Other Twoâ)
In my dream world, voters would eschew knee-jerk nominations for the Old White Guy trifecta (Steve Martin, Martin Short, Larry David) and give those slots to deserving Emmy newbies DâPharoah Woon-A-Tai, Matt Berry and Kayvan Novak. In reality, though, Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome will earn another nod here for his hilariously earnest performance in âIâm a Virgo.â
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. DâPharaoh Woon-A-Tai (âReservation Dogsâ)
2. Jharrel Jerome (âIâm a Virgoâ)
3. Jeremy Allen White (âThe Bearâ)
4. Kayvan Novak (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
5. Matt Berry (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
6. Utkarsh Ambudkar (âGhostsâ)
Is there room in this category for both Kayvan Novak and Matt Berry from âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ? There should be. Iâd also love to see DâPharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Jharrel Jerome be recognized for their earnest performances in âReservation Dogsâ and âIâm a Virgo,â respectively.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Jharrel Jerome (âIâm a Virgoâ)
2. Jeremy Allen White (âThe Bearâ)
3. Theo James (âThe Gentlemenâ)
4. Drew Tarver (âThe Other Twoâ)
5. Utkarsh Ambudkar (âGhostsâ)
6. Martin Short (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
Itâs time to polish another Emmy for Jharrel Jerome, because if weâre talking about sheer performance this one should be his. But, of course, thereâs Jeremy Allen White in this category, and overcoming âThe Bearâ is not going to be easy.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Jeremy Allen White (âThe Bearâ)
2. Steve Martin (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
3. Jharrel Jerome (âIâm a Virgoâ)
4. Martin Short (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
5. Larry David (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
6. Theo James (âThe Gentlemenâ)
Watching a panicked Steve Martin try to master a tongue-twisting musical theater song was a comedy highlight of the year, and itâs too easy to take for granted the mastery of veteran talents like the âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ stars and, in the so-so reboot of a classic, âFrasierâsâ Kelsey Grammer.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Jeremy Allen White (âThe Bearâ)
2. Martin Short (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
3. Jharrel Jerome (âIâm a Virgoâ)
4. Steve Martin (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
5. Larry David (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
6. Theo James (âThe Gentlemenâ)
I still donât understand how voters nominated Martin Short for the second season of âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ but left Steve Martin out in the cold. Theyâre a team, like PB&J, mac and cheese, SpongeBob and Patrick. That omission canât happen again.
1. Sheryl Lee Ralph (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
2. Janelle James (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Hannah Einbinder (âHacksâ)
4. Lisa Ann Walter (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. (tie) Paulina Alexis (âReservation Dogsâ)
5. (tie) Meryl Streep (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
7. (tie) Abby Elliott (âThe Bearâ)
7. (tie) Allison Janney (âPalm Royaleâ)
9. (tie) Carol Burnett (âPalm Royaleâ)
9. (tie) Claudia Logan (âDiarra From Detroitâ)
11. (tie) Liza ColĂłn-Zayas (âThe Bearâ)
11. (tie) Michaela JaĂ© Rodriguez (âLootâ)
13. Susie Essman (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
14. Paula Pell (âGirls5evaâ)
15. Kaya Scodelario (âThe Gentlemenâ)
16. Ego Nwodim (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
With previous winner Ayo Edebiri getting promoted to lead, âAbbott Elementaryâ duo Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James are the only remaining contenders from last yearâs batch of nominees. Ralph won in 2022 for her portrayal of the faithful veteran kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard. James is a fan favorite for her portrayal of outrageous principal Ava Coleman.
The panelists expect âAbbottâ castmate Lisa Ann Walters also will get recognized this year. âAny ranking of these talented women is silly,â says Glenn Whipp. âTheyâre all superb in the series and deserving of the love sure to come their way.â
Kristen Baldwin is among the panelists hoping to âmanifest a nomination for âReservation Dogsââ Paulina Alexis, âwho was so endearingly eccentric as Willie Jack.â Matt Roush is pushing for âOnly Murders in the Buildingâsâ âsublime Meryl Streepâ and âCurb Your Enthusiasmâsâ Susie Essman, while Trey Mangum would âlove to seeâ Michaela JaĂ© Rodriguez in contention for her work on âLoot.â
A pair from âPalm Royaleâ get the support of Lorraine Ali. âWith just one eye roll or grunt, [Carol Burnettâs] comedic genius is apparent,â says Ali, adding, âAllison Janneyâs love affair with a beached whale in the series also deserves some Emmy love.â
With the return of âHacks,â panelists expect Hannah Einbinder will be among the nominees again. âThis could be the year she actually takes it,â says Mangum.
âThe Bearâsâ Abby Elliott and Liza ColĂłn-Zayas, as well as âDiarra From Detroitâsâ Claudia Logan, also are among the 16 names that made the panelistsâ list.
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Allison Janney (âPalm Royaleâ)
2. Janelle James (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Sheryl Lee Ralph (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Paulina Alexis (âReservation Dogsâ)
5. Carol Burnett (âPalm Royaleâ)
6. Susie Essman (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
7. (tie) Hannah Einbinder (âHacksâ)
7. (tie) Meryl Streep (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
Carol Burnett rarely speaks in âPalm Royale,â but with just one eye roll or grunt, her comedic genius is apparent. Allison Janneyâs love affair with a beached whale in the series also deserves some Emmy love. Then thereâs âAbbott Elementaryâsâ Janelle James (Sheryl Lee Ralph is a past winner), Susie Essman of âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ (âShut up, Larry!â) and Hannah Einbinder of âHacks.â
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Janelle James (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
2. Hannah Einbinder (âHacksâ)
3. Sheryl Lee Ralph (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Abby Elliott (âThe Bearâ)
5. Paulina Alexis (âReservation Dogsâ)
6. Lisa Ann Walter (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
7. Liza ColĂłn-Zayas (âThe Bearâ)
8. Meryl Streep (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
The absence of âTed Lassoâ and âThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselâ frees up several slots in the category, which will be good news for the supporting players in âAbbott Elementaryâ and âThe Bear.â Letâs also manifest a nomination for âReservation Dogsââ Paulina Alexis, who was so endearingly eccentric as Willie Jack.
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Paulina Alexis (âReservation Dogsâ)
2. Janelle James (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Sheryl Lee Ralph (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Lisa Ann Walter (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. Hannah Einbinder (âHacksâ)
6. Michaela JaĂ© Rodriguez (âLootâ)
7. Paula Pell (âGirls5evaâ)
8. Ego Nwodim (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
The women of âAbbott Elementaryâ should have a strong showing in this category, and I think itâs time Lisa Ann Walter to get a nod for portraying the no-nonsense Melissa Schemmenti. Iâm also rooting for âReservation Dogsââ Paulina Alexis, whose Willie Jack had one of my favorite arcs in the series as the teen who finds her way through tradition and community.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Claudia Logan (âDiarra From Detroitâ)
2. Sheryl Lee Ralph (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Janelle James (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Lisa Ann Walter (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. Michaela JaĂ© Rodriguez (âLootâ)
6. Hannah Einbinder (âHacksâ)
7. Liza ColĂłn-Zayas (âThe Bearâ)
8. Meryl Streep (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
The âAbbott Elementaryâ trifecta of Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lisa Ann Walter are the it girls in this category once again. Of the three, Iâm leaning toward Ralph as the standout. Hannah Einbinder from âHacksâ always inches toward upset territory â this could be the year she actually takes it. One person Iâd love to see in contention is Michaela JaĂ© Rodriguez for what she does in âLootâ on Apple TV+.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Hannah Einbinder (âHacksâ)
2. Sheryl Lee Ralph (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Meryl Streep (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
4. Janelle James (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. Carol Burnett (âPalm Royaleâ)
6. Susie Essman (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
7. Paula Pell (âGirls5evaâ)
8. Lisa Ann Walter (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
You know a show missed its mark when you have to think twice about whether to include a comedy legend like âPalm Royaleâsâ poorly used Carol Burnett. No such hesitation for âOnly Murders in the Buildingâsâ sublime Meryl Streep. And who wouldnât want to hear âCurbâsâ Susie Essman erupt on the Emmy stage?
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Meryl Streep (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
2. Sheryl Lee Ralph (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Lisa Ann Walter (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Hannah Einbinder (âHacksâ)
5. Abby Elliott (âThe Bearâ)
6. Liza ColĂłn-Zayas (âThe Bearâ)
7. Kaya Scodelario (âThe Gentlemenâ)
8. Janelle James (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
Sheryl Lee Ralph won an Emmy for the first season of âAbbott Elementary,â and sheâs sure to be nominated here again, along with castmates Lisa Ann Walter and Janelle James. Any ranking of these talented women is silly. Theyâre all superb in the series and deserving of the love sure to come their way.
1. Tyler James Williams (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
2. Ebon Moss-Bachrach (âThe Bearâ)
3. Lionel Boyce (âThe Bearâ)
4. Lane Factor (âReservation Dogsâ)
5. Chris Perfetti (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
6. Walton Goggins (âIâm a Virgoâ)
7. Harvey GuillĂ©n (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
8. Oliver Platt (âThe Bearâ)
9. Bowen Yang (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
10. Kenan Thompson (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
11. Chance Perdomo (âGen Vâ)
12. Paul Rudd (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
13. Richard Lewis (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
14. (tie) Carl Clemons-Hopkins (âHacksâ)
14. (tie) Daniel Ings (âThe Gentlemenâ)
14. (tie) Matty Matheson (âThe Bearâ)
17. (tie) William Stanford Davis (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
17. (tie) Paul W. Downs (âHacksâ)
19. Joel Kim Booster (âLootâ)
With the conclusion of shows like âTed Lassoâ and âBarry,â this is another race where only two nominees from last year are eligible this year: âAbbott Elementaryâsâ Tyler James Williams, who has been nominated twice for his portrayal of substitute-turned-full-time first grade teacher Gregory Eddie, and âThe Bearâsâ Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who won last year for his portrayal of the abrasive but faithful Richie.
âMoss-Bachrach invests so much of himself into this flawed, loyal, loving character,â says Glenn Whipp. Matt Roush asks, âCan anything stop a second sweep of âThe Bearâ?â
Trey Mangum is pushing for Moss-Bachrachâs âThe Bearâ castmate Lionel Boyce as well as âGen Vâsâ âsecret weapon,â Chance Perdomo, to get noticed. Kristen Baldwin shouts out âJoel Kim Booster as Maya Rudolphâs narcissistic bestie in âLootâ; Chris Perfetti as âAbbott Elementaryâsâ endearingly anxious Jacob; and Marcello Hernandez, whose manic charm makes him âSNLâsâ most valuable featured player.â
Lane Factor of âReservation Dogsâ also has the support of panelists. Lorraine Ali says, âAs Cheese, [Factor] embodied the hopes and aspirations of the teens we followed from high school to the brink of adulthood, anchoring the crew with empathy, humor and depth.â
Also deserving of notice, says Roush, are âWhat We Do in the Shadowsââ Harvey GuillĂ©n, âOnly Murders in the Buildingâsâ Paul Rudd and âCurb Your Enthusiasmâsâ Richard Lewis. âIâm a Virgoâsâ Walton Goggins also gets a mention here, meaning he could potentially be a double nominee this year.
Also among the 19 actors the panelists touted are âThe Bearâsâ Oliver Platt and Matty Matheson, âAbbott Elementaryâsâ William Stanford Davis, âSNLâsâ Bowen Yang and Kenan Thompson and âHacksââ Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Paul W. Downs.
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Lane Factor (âReservation Dogsâ)
2. Bowen Yang (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
3. (tie) Lionel Boyce (âThe Bearâ)
3. (tie) Kenan Thompson (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
5. (tie) Walton Goggins (âIâm a Virgoâ)
5. (tie) Daniel Ings (âThe Gentlemenâ)
7. (tie) Ebon Moss-Bachrach (âThe Bearâ)
7. (tie) Oliver Platt (âThe Bearâ)
One of the more understated performances of the year came from Lane Factor of âReservation Dogs.â As Cheese, he embodied the hopes and aspirations of the teens we followed from high school to the brink of adulthood, anchoring the crew with empathy, humor and depth.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Ebon Moss-Bachrach (âThe Bearâ)
2. Walton Goggins (âIâm a Virgoâ)
3. Tyler James Williams (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Oliver Platt (âThe Bearâ)
5. Lionel Boyce (âThe Bearâ)
6. Kenan Thompson (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
7. Paul W. Downs (âHacksâ)
8. Harvey GuillĂ©n (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
A few shoutouts for the folks who probably wonât make it onto the ballot but gave great performances nonetheless: Joel Kim Booster as Maya Rudolphâs narcissistic bestie in âLootâ; Chris Perfetti as âAbbott Elementaryâsâ endearingly anxious Jacob; and Marcello Hernandez, whose manic charm makes him âSNLâsâ most valuable featured player.
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Lane Factor (âReservation Dogsâ)
2. Tyler James Williams (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Harvey GuillĂ©n (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
4. Chris Perfetti (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. Lionel Boyce (âThe Bearâ)
6. Walton Goggins (âIâm a Virgoâ)
7. Ebon Moss-Bachrach (âThe Bearâ)
8. Joel Kim Booster (âLootâ)
Besides some familiar faces from âAbbott Elementaryâ and âThe Bearâ getting repeat nods, Walton Goggins might pull off a double nomination this year between âFalloutâ and âIâm a Virgo.â But one of my favorite performances is Lane Factor as the lovable elder whisperer Cheese in âReservation Dogs.â
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Tyler James Williams (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
2. Chance Perdomo (âGen Vâ)
3. Lionel Boyce (âThe Bearâ)
4. Chris Perfetti (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. Ebon Moss-Bachrach (âThe Bearâ)
6. Carl Clemons-Hopkins (âHacksâ)
7. William Stanford Davis (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
8. Kenan Thompson (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
From âChilling Adventures of Sabrinaâ to now, Chance Perdomo was always a secret weapon to the projects he was part of, and a posthumous nod for Prime Videoâs âGen Vâ would be an amazing sendoff. Also, one potential nominee Iâm liking right now who seems to be generating a lot of buzz is Lionel Boyce for âThe Bear.â
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Ebon Moss-Bachrach (âThe Bearâ)
2. Harvey GuillĂ©n (âWhat We Do in the Shadowsâ)
3. Paul Rudd (âOnly Murders in the Buildingâ)
4. Tyler James Williams (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
5. Bowen Yang (âSaturday Night Liveâ)
6. Lionel Boyce (âThe Bearâ)
7. Richard Lewis (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
8. Walton Goggins (âIâm a Virgoâ)
Can anything stop a second sweep for âThe Bearâ? Probably not, but Harvey GuillĂ©n as âShadowsââ not-quite-vampire deserves notice, as does Paul Ruddâs deliciously deserving âMurdersâ victim. And a posthumous nomination for âCurbâsâ Richard Lewis as Larry Davidâs best friend and foil would be a memorable tribute to a terrific talent.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Ebon Moss-Bachrach (âThe Bearâ)
2. Tyler James Williams (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
3. Chris Perfetti (âAbbott Elementaryâ)
4. Oliver Platt (âThe Bearâ)
5. Lionel Boyce (âThe Bearâ)
6. Matty Matheson (âThe Bearâ)
7. Richard Lewis (âCurb Your Enthusiasmâ)
8. Walton Goggins (âIâm a Virgoâ)
My favorite episode of âThe Bearâ is, hands-down, âForks,â in which we follow Ebon Moss-Bachrachâs impulsive Richie to a fancy restaurant where he learns the value of showing up, as well as a well-timed slice of deep-dish Pequodâs Pizza. Moss-Bachrach invests so much of himself into this flawed, loyal, loving character. I was spellbound watching.
1. âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ
2. âFellow Travelersâ
3. âRipleyâ
4. âFargoâ
5. âBaby Reindeerâ
6. (tie) âEchoâ
6. (tie) âLessons in Chemistryâ
8. (tie) âExpatsâ
8. (tie) âGenius: MLK/Xâ
10. (tie) âA Murder at the End of the Worldâ
10. (tie) âThe Sympathizerâ
12. (tie) âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ
12. (tie) âMasters of the Airâ
14. âMary & Georgeâ
The great âShĆgunâ switcheroo also rocked the limited-series race, but with only five possible nominees, the field remains competitive with 14 shows getting mentions from the panelists.
Showrunner IssĂĄ Lopezâs Alaska-set âTrue Detective: Night Country,â starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, has been hailed as one of the anthology seriesâ best seasons (sorry, Nic Pizzolatto) and is among the frontrunners. The latest installment of âFargoâ has been similarly praised as a âcomeback season.â âFargoâ previously won this category in 2014 for its first season (its second and third seasons also earned nods), while the first season of âTrue Detectiveâ was nominated as a drama series the same year.
Multiple panelists also rallied behind a pair of literary adaptations. One is âRipley,â based on the 1955 Patricia Highsmith novel, starring Andrew Scott as the eponymous sociopath who takes over the life of a trust-fund kid. Glenn Whipp says the ârivetingâ show is âgorgeous to behold and a marvel in its plotting.â
The other is âFellow Travelers,â based on Thomas Mallonâs 2007 novel about two men who meet at the height of the McCarthy era and their secret, decades-long romance. The series âdeserves to break through for its fascinating window into Americaâs troubled and closeted past,â says Matt Roush.
Trey Mangum notes that the buzzy and unsettling âBaby Reindeer,â based on creator Richard Gaddâs one-man autobiographical show, âhas been racking up the attention for some time now,â which could translate to some love from Emmy voters. Kristen Baldwin thinks the âstar-studded âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ could ⊠squeak in.â
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ
2. (tie) âFellow Travelersâ
2. (tie) âRipleyâ
4. âFargoâ
5. âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ
Itâs another strong year for limited series. Netflix series adaptation âRipleyâ is certain to be nominated. âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ is also a likely contender, and not just because itâs my favorite installation of the creepy HBO anthology series. Less likely but worth a nod is âFellow Travelers,â Showtimeâs political saga that follows a clandestine romance between two men from the height of the McCarthy era to the 1980s AIDS crisis.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ
2. âFargoâ
3. âRipleyâ
4. âBaby Reindeerâ
5. âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ
With âShĆgunâ graduating to drama, Netflixâs word-of-mouth hit âBaby Reindeerâ is now the frontrunner. FXâs star-studded âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ could still squeak in here, but it probably will have to settle for nominations in the acting categories.
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. âEchoâ
2. âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ
3. âA Murder at the End of the Worldâ
4. âFellow Travelersâ
5. âThe Sympathizerâ
I tend to like my fictional murder mysteries and amateur sleuths to be a bit lighter, but âA Murder at the End of the Worldâ successfully pulled me in. A gay love story wrapped up in a history lesson, âFellow Travelersâ is on that prestige end of queer storytelling that draws on the devastating reality that LGBTQ+ people have had to live through in this country.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. âFellow Travelersâ
2. âGenius: MLK/Xâ
3. âLessons in Chemistryâ
4. âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ
5. âMary & Georgeâ
âBaby Reindeerâ has been racking up the attention for some time now, but we arenât really sure if itâll translate into awards love just yet. Until then, itâs âFellow Travelersâ for me, especially if âShĆgunâ is now in the drama series category.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. âFellow Travelersâ
2. âFargoâ
3. âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ
4. âThe Sympathizerâ
5. âLessons in Chemistryâ
Of all categories to limit to five picks, this is the worst. The limited series is where much of TVâs best work is being produced, and in a crowded field, Showtimeâs Peabody-winning âFellow Travelersâ deserves to break through for its fascinating window into Americaâs troubled and closeted past. âFargoâ and âTrue Detectiveâ each enjoyed comeback seasons.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. âRipleyâ
2. âExpatsâ
3. âBaby Reindeerâ
4. âMasters of the Airâ
5. âLessons in Chemistryâ
âRipleyâ is riveting in delivering slow-burn suspense, following its titular sociopath on a quest to extend his European vacation and live a life of luxury. Gorgeous to behold and a marvel in its plotting, I can only hope it makes good on its open-ended promise to return for another season.
1. âRed, White and Royal Blueâ
2. âScoopâ
3. âQuiz Ladyâ
4. âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ
5. âNo One Will Save Youâ
6. âShooting Starsâ
7. âMĂșsicaâ
8. âThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martialâ
9. âGood Burger 2â
Can Mr. Monk solve the mystery of what killed the television movie? Never mind, the TV movie category is still kicking and may outlive us all.
Sidestepping the question of what a television movie even is, the frontrunners according to the panelists include âRed, White and Royal Blue,â a frothy gay rom-com involving the son of a U.S. president and a British prince, and âQuiz Lady,â a road-trip buddy comedy about a pair of estranged sisters.
But, says Trey Mangum, ââMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ should absolutely be seen as a title that could come through and take it.â Matt Roush, meanwhile, says the TV movie that stuck with him is the âharrowing âNo One Will Save Youâ with its masterful use of silence.â And Lorraine Ali is âpulling for âShooting Stars,â a basketball superhero origin story based on the book by LeBron James and author Buzz Bissinger.â
Among the titles that also made the panelistsâ list: âScoop,â which tells the story behind how Prince Andrewâs interview about his associations with Jeffrey Epstein came together; the musical coming-of-age rom-com âMĂșsicaâ; and the wacky comedy sketch-based sequel âGood Burger 2.â
(And for the record, according to the Television Academyâs rules, âA television movie is defined as an original program, which tells a story with a beginning, middle and end, and is broadcast/streamed in one part with a minimum running time of 75 minutes.â)
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. âRed, White and Royal Blueâ
2. âShooting Starsâ
3. (tie) âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ
3. (tie) âQuiz Ladyâ
3. (tie) âScoopâ
This category is always befuddling. Using the term âTV movieâ in 2024 is like calling the internet the World Wide Web. But if I must comment, Iâm pulling for âShooting Stars,â a basketball superhero origin story based on the book by LeBron James and author Buzz Bissinger. Otherwise itâs anyoneâs guess.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ
2. âScoopâ
3. âQuiz Ladyâ
4. âGood Burger 2â
5. âRed, White and Royal Blueâ
Honestly, I just canât get excited about this category. Wouldnât it be way more interesting (and timely) if the Emmys chose to recognize the very specific art of naming basic-cable holiday movies? So many contenders from the 2023 season alone: âNever Been Chrisâdâ! âCatch Me If You Clausâ! âWeâre Scroogedâ! âYuletide the Knotâ! âTwas the Text Before Christmasâ!
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. âRed, White and Royal Blueâ
2. âQuiz Ladyâ
3. âScoopâ
4. âNo One Will Save Youâ
5. âMĂșsicaâ
This category is always the hardest for me to wrap my head around unless we are talking made-for-TV movies of a bygone era. âQuiz Ladyâ is fun and funny, particularly the always terrific Sandra Oh. And who doesnât love a frothy gay rom-com? (Donât answer that.) âRed, White and Royal Blueâ doesnât break any new ground, but thatâs profound in its own way.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. âRed, White and Royal Blueâ
2. âShooting Starsâ
3. âMĂșsicaâ
4. âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ
5. âQuiz Ladyâ
The television movie category is always the one that could truly go either way, and this year that sentiment couldnât be any stronger. âRed, White and Royal Blueâ is the pic that seems to have both critic and viewer love, so I canât see a world where this isnât our winner. âQuiz Ladyâ could provide some competition, but âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ should absolutely be seen as a title that could come through and take it.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. âScoopâ
2. âNo One Will Save Youâ
3. âThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martialâ
4. âQuiz Ladyâ
5. âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ
As usual, not much to say about the anemic crop of made-for-TV movies, Given its Emmy history, the final (so they say) âMonkâ movie is a sure bet to be nominated, but the only candidate that stuck with me was Huluâs harrowing âNo One Will Save Youâ with its masterful use of silence.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. âRed, White and Royal Blueâ
2. âScoopâ
3. âNo One Will Save Youâ
4. âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ
5. âQuiz Ladyâ
âRed, White & Royal Blueâ is sweet, funny froth, a rom-com about a love affair between the son of an American president (Uma Thurman, sporting a gloriously awful Southern accent) and a British prince. Talk about a fantasy! And people were talking about this fantasy all through the end of last summer. Hey, sometimes beach reads deserve awards too.
1. Jodie Foster (âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ)
2. Juno Temple (âFargoâ)
3. Brie Larson (âLessons in Chemistryâ)
4. Naomi Watts (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
5. Annie Murphy (âBlack Mirrorâ)
6. (tie) Emma Corrin (âA Murder at the End of the Worldâ)
6. (tie) Sofia Vergara (âGriseldaâ)
8. (tie) Alaqua Cox (âEchoâ)
8. (tie) Nicole Kidman (âExpatsâ)
8. (tie) Julianne Moore (âMary & Georgeâ)
11. Ji-young Yoo (âExpatsâ)
12. (tie) Carla Gugino (âFall of the House of Usherâ)
12. (tie) Kate Winslet (âThe Regimeâ)
Academy Award winners and nominees account for about half of those who made the panelâs cut for lead actress in a limited series or movie. Although there is not much consensus among the panelists, the current frontrunner is Jodie Foster, who portrays the grizzled police chief investigating the disappearance of a group of scientists in âTrue Detective: Night Country.â
Also ahead of the pack is Juno Temple, who was nominated for three acting Emmys over the course of âTed Lassoâsâ run. In âFargo,â Temple plays a Midwestern housewife with a secret past, and âsheâs never been better,â says Glenn Whipp.
No matter your feelings on âFeud: Capote vs. the Swans,â âNaomi Watts was fantastic,â says Lorraine Ali. Watts portrayed Babe Paley, a socialite who had been friends with Truman Capote. Trey Mangum, on the other hand, says heâs â still completely obsessed with Annie Murphy, the shining light of the most recent season of âBlack Mirror.ââ
While Matt Roush thinks âThe Regimeâ âfumbledâ its attempt at satire, he does commend Kate Winslet for being fully committed âto her ridiculous and flamboyant character,â a chancellor of a crumbling authoritarian regime. Kristen Baldwin pushes for âFall of the House of Usherâsâ Carla Gugino to be recognized for being âso elegantly eerie as the malevolent spirit Verna.â
Brie Larson, who portrays a scientist turned cooking show host on âLessons in Chemistry,â and Emma Corrin, who plays an amateur detective in âA Murder at the End of the World,â also are among those who made the list.
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Jodie Foster (âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ)
2. Juno Temple (âFargoâ)
3. Naomi Watts (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
4. (tie) Carla Gugino (âFall of the House of Usherâ)
4. (tie) Julianne Moore (âMary & Georgeâ)
Hereâs what should happen: Jodie Foster is nominated for her portrayal as the grizzled and emotionally stunted detective Liz Danvers in âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ (true perfection). Juno Temple is recognized for her stellar performance as a mild-mannered soccer mom with a brutal secret in âFargo.â And in âFeud: Capote vs. the Swans,â Naomi Watts was fantastic (even if the series wasnât).
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Jodie Foster (âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ)
2. Naomi Watts (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
3. Juno Temple (âFargoâ)
4. Brie Larson (âLessons in Chemistryâ)
5. Sofia Vergara (âGriseldaâ)
I donât have Kate Winslet on my list, even though sheâs for sure going to get nominated for HBOâs disappointing mess âThe Regime.â Instead, letâs give that hypothetical slot to Carla Gugino, so elegantly eerie as the malevolent spirit Verna in Netflixâs otherwise silly âFall of the House of Usher.â
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Jodie Foster (âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ)
2. Emma Corrin (âA Murder at the End of the Worldâ)
3. Alaqua Cox (âEchoâ)
4. Sofia Vergara (âGriseldaâ)
5. Ji-young Yoo (âExpatsâ)
Jodie Foster is Jodie Foster, and the latest âTrue Detective,â in which she played a police chief in Alaska, is the best the anthology series has been in a while. Also great was Emma Corrin as the captivating hacker-sleuth in âA Murder at the End of the World.â
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Annie Murphy (âBlack Mirrorâ)
2. Brie Larson (âLessons in Chemistryâ)
3. Jodie Foster (âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ)
4. Julianne Moore (âMary & Georgeâ)
5. Sofia Vergara (âGriseldaâ)
Maybe itâs just me, but Iâm still completely obsessed with Annie Murphy, the shining light of the most recent season of âBlack Mirror.â Also, âMary & Georgeâ is another show that needs to be talked about more, and a lot of that is due to some of the things that Julianne More is doing this season.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Juno Temple (âFargoâ)
2. Jodie Foster (âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ)
3. Brie Larson (âLessons in Chemistryâ)
4. Naomi Watts (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
5. Kate Winslet (âThe Regimeâ)
Some heavy hitters in this field, with Oscar winners Jodie Foster (âTrue Detectiveâ) and Brie Larson (âLessons in Chemistryâ) among the presumed front-runners. Juno Temple was a delight as âFargoâsâ resourceful heroine, and while âThe Regimeâ fumbled its political satire, Kate Winslet committed fully to her ridiculous and flamboyant character.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Juno Temple (âFargoâ)
2. Jodie Foster (âTrue Detective: Night Countryâ)
3. Nicole Kidman (âExpatsâ)
4. Brie Larson (âLessons in Chemistryâ)
5. Ji-young Yoo (âExpatsâ)
Iâm quite familiar with Juno Temple, having watched her since she began her career as a teenager and, of course, captured everyoneâs hearts in âTed Lasso.â And yet, it took me a minute watching the new season of âFargoâ to clock it was indeed Temple playing this cheery Midwestern woman hiding a secret past. Sheâs never been better.
1. Matt Bomer (âFellow Travelersâ)
2. Andrew Scott (âRipleyâ)
3. Tom Hollander (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
4. (tie) Jon Hamm (âFargoâ)
4. (tie) Kelvin Harrison Jr. (âGenius: MLK/Xâ)
4. (tie) Ewan McGregor (âA Gentleman in Moscowâ)
7. Aaron Pierre (âGenius: MLK/Xâ)
8. (tie) Richard Gadd (âBaby Reindeerâ)
8. (tie) Hoa Xuande (âThe Sympathizerâ)
10. Luke James (âThem: The Scareâ)
11. Tony Shalhoub (âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ)
12. (tie) Austin Butler (âMasters of the Airâ)
12. (tie) David Oyelowo (âLawmen: Bass Reevesâ)
There was not one consensus pick among the contenders for lead actor in a limited series or movie, but Matt Bomer came the closest, with a number of panelists noting that his portrayal of a closeted bureaucrat in âFellow Travelersâ is a career high. A past Emmy nominee, Bomer already was nominated for a SAG Award for this performance.
Among those whom Matt Roush shouts out is Tom Hollander for his âconvincing impersonation of the self-destructive Truman Capoteâ in âFeud: Capote vs. the Swans.â Glenn Whipp also commends him for âcapturing the writerâs tragic flaws and winning charm.â
Trey Mangum advocates for âthe dynamic duoâ of Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre, who he says âare outstanding as their respective historical figures in âGenius: MLK/X.ââ Kristen Baldwin, meanwhile, notes that itâs inevitable that Tony Shalhoub will get a nomination for reprising the title obsessive-compulsive sleuth in âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movie.â
Jon Hamm, who plays âFargoâsâ creepy, villainous sheriff, also was praised by a number of panelists. âHeâs wonderfully terrifying,â says Lorraine Ali. But speaking of wonderfully terrifying, Ali also notes that âRipleyâsâ Andrew Scott âis the one to beat.â
Lorraine Ali
Los Angeles Times
1. Andrew Scott (âRipleyâ)
2. (tie) Matt Bomer (âFellow Travelersâ)
2. (tie) Jon Hamm (âFargoâ)
4. Ewan McGregor (âA Gentleman in Moscowâ)
Itâs scary how convincing Jon Hamm is as a cult leader (remember âUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidtâ?), and he does it again in âFargo.â But this time around heâs wonderfully terrifying. Matt Bomer, on the other hand, exudes the suave sexiness and bottled dysfunction of Don Draper in âFellow Travelers.â But Andrew Scott of âRipleyâ is the one to beat.
Kristen Baldwin
Entertainment Weekly
1. Andrew Scott (âRipleyâ)
2. Tom Hollander (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
3. Matt Bomer (âFellow Travelersâ)
4. Richard Gadd (âBaby Reindeerâ)
5. Tony Shalhoub (âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ)
Honestly, I never watched âMonkâ or âMr. Monkâs Last Case,â but when voters have an opportunity to nominate the wonderful Tony Shalhoub for something, they should. Can you even imagine an Emmy ballot without him? (Donât answer that.)
Tracy Brown
Los Angeles Times
1. Matt Bomer (âFellow Travelersâ)
2. Hoa Xuande (âThe Sympathizerâ)
3. Andrew Scott (âRipleyâ)
4. Kelvin Harrison Jr. (âGenius: MLK/Xâ)
5. Aaron Pierre (âGenius: MLK/Xâ)
Andrew Scott as the eponymous creepy con man of âRipleyâ is the presumed early frontrunner here. And Matt Bomer should definitely be recognized for some career-best work as the closeted bureaucrat in âFellow Travelers.â Perhaps a long shot but Iâm going to give a shout to Hoa Xuande as âThe Sympathizerâsâ complicated Captain.
Trey Mangum
Shadow and Act
1. Kelvin Harrison Jr. (âGenius: MLK/Xâ)
2. Aaron Pierre (âGenius: MLK/Xâ)
3. Luke James (âThem: The Scareâ)
4. Matt Bomer (âFellow Travelersâ)
5. David Oyelowo (âLawmen: Bass Reevesâ)
The dynamic duo of Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre are outstanding as their respective historical figures in âGenius: MLK/X,â and Matt Bomer was doing some career-best work in âFellow Travelers.â A performance that slides in right near the end of the eligibility period with some excellent character work is Luke James in âThem: The Scare,â a role that I think will pay off for him big-time in the future.
Matt Roush
TV Guide
1. Matt Bomer (âFellow Travelersâ)
2. Tom Hollander (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
3. Jon Hamm (âFargoâ)
4. Ewan McGregor (âA Gentleman in Moscowâ)
5. Tony Shalhoub (âMr. Monkâs Last Case: A Monk Movieâ)
This is one of the toughest fields to narrow down. Good luck choosing among âFellow Travelersââ Matt Bomer, doing career-high work, Jon Hammâs menacing âFargoâ sheriff, Tom Hollanderâs convincing impersonation of the self-destructive Truman Capote and Ewan McGregorâs charming âMoscowâ count. And youâd be foolish to dismiss Tony Shalhoubâs and âMonkâsâ appeal among Emmy voters.
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
1. Andrew Scott (âRipleyâ)
2. Tom Hollander (âFeud: Capote vs. the Swansâ)
3. Ewan McGregor (âA Gentleman in Moscowâ)
4. Richard Gadd (âBaby Reindeerâ)
5. Austin Butler (âMasters of the Airâ)
Itâs hard to escape the shadow of Philip Seymour Hoffmanâs Oscar-winning portrayal of Truman Capote, but Tom Hollander did just that in âFeud,â capturing the writerâs tragic flaws and winning charm.