OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
• Better Call Saul
• Downton Abbey
• Game of Thrones
• Homeland
• House of Cards
• Mr. Robot
• The Americans
Predicted Winner: Game of Thrones
No matter how you look at it Game of Thrones is the biggest show on TV, and after winning last year it’s the odds-on favorite to win again in 2016. The series has a lot going for it in addition to having so many members of its expansive cast amongst the nominees in the acting categories. Its lavish production from all over the globe makes it uniquely appealing to voters, as it most closely resembles the sort of epic blockbuster that typically does very well at these things.
Potential Upset: Mr. Robot
As far as wildcards go, look no further than Sam Esmail’s remarkable Mr. Robot. Its first season is still fantastic and even better upon a second viewing (seriously, go back and re-watch it if you haven’t). The little show came out of nowhere, so if anyone is going to turn the show upside down, it’s the gang from fsociety.
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LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA
• Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
• Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
• Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
• Matthew Rhys, The Americans
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Predicted Winner: Rami Malek
While it might be too much to think that Mr. Robot can come in and take the Outstanding Drama Series away from GoT, it’s not too much to think that the show’s star, Rami Malek, will walk away a winner for the best lead actor. Malek’s performance throughout season 1 was enthralling to say the least. He was asked to carry the load of a particularly heavy series and to help sell a familiar twist so that it came of as something fun and exciting (and deliberately familiar) instead of eye rolling. He did it, and continues to do it in season 2. Malek will be hard to beat.
Should Win: Matthew Rhys
The thing is that Matthew Rhys has just as hard a job on The Americans as Malek does on Mr. Robot. And he’s been doing it for four seasons now. When thinking about The Americans and the Emmys it can’t be said enough how ridiculous it is that it’s taken this long for the series and its cast to be recognize for the amazing work they’ve done. Rhys continues to turn Philip Jennings’ emotional turmoil into the most captivating performance by anyone on television right now and it is high time he is acknowledged for something he has done consistently for four seasons.
*There is a chance that Kevin Spacey could pop up and steal the award from both Malek and Rhys. It’s not going to be easy, this one.
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LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA
• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
• Taraji P. Henson, Empire
• Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
• Keri Russell, The Americans
• Robin Wright, House of Cards
Predicted Winner: Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson has been a favorite since Empire premiered. Henson’s role as Cookie has more or less defined the series and gone on to be the only good thing about it, especially as Empire‘s burn-the-candle-at-both-ends style of storytelling often leaves little time for things like nuance. Still, Henson can always be relied upon to handle both the big and little moments, and deliver a satisfying performance.
Should Win: Keri Russell
Keri Russell’s story is the same with everything that has to do with The Americans this time around. The show has been inexplicably left out of the running for so long everyone involved needs to go home a winner. Russell has consistently been great on the show and has risen to the challenge as the material has become more dense and emotional. But the season 4 storyline and especially her interactions with daughter Paige have demonstrated why Russell deserves to take home the trophy.
*Again, there’s someone else waiting in the wings. Viola Davis’s role as Annalise Keating is How To Get Away With Murder is also in the running.
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Other key categories
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
• Black-ish
• Master of None
• Modern Family
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Veep
LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY
• Anthony Anderson, black-ish
• Aziz Ansari, Master of None
• Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
• William H. Macy, Shameless
• Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY
• Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Laurie Metcalf, Getting On
• Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
• Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
• Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA
• Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
• Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
• Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
• Michael Kelly, House of Cards
• Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
• Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA
• Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
• Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
• Maura Tierney, The Affair
• Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
• Constance Zimmer, UnREAL
SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY
• Louie Anderson, Baskets
• Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Tony Hale, Veep
• Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele
• Matt Walsh, Veep
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY
• Anna Chlumsky, Veep
• Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
• Allison Janney, Mom
• Judith Light, Transparent
• Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
• Niecy Nash, Getting On
OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES
• American Crime
• Fargo
• Roots
• The Night Manager
• The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE
• A Very Murray Christmas
• All the Way
• Confirmation
• Luther
• Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
• Bryan Cranston, All The Way
• Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
• Idris Elba, Luther
• Cuba Gooding Jr, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
• Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
LEAD ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
• Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
• Felicity Huffman, American Crime
• Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
• Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Lili Taylor, American Crime
• Kerry Washington, Confirmation
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Top five programs with most overall nominations (including last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys):
Game of Thrones - 23
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story - 22
Fargo - 18
Veep - 17
Saturday Night Live - 16
