Offred (Elisabeth Moss) lives in the Biblically-based dystopia of The Handmaid's Tale.
Offred (Elisabeth Moss) lives in the Biblically-based dystopia of The Handmaid's Tale.
The Emmy Awards are on today, and the most exciting categories this year might all involve the limited-run series. The addictive Big Little Lies (and its cast of A-list stars) is up against heavy hitters like The Night Of and Feud: Bette and Joan. But don't forget about the weepy This Is Us, the first broadcast TV show to land a best drama series nod in six years.
Saturday Night Live is tied with Westworld for the most nominations, with 22. Here are some predictions for what will probably win, who actually deserves to win, and who could sneak through and surprise everyone.
Outstanding drama series
The Crown (Netflix) The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) Westworld (HBO) Stranger Things (Netflix) This Is Us (NBC) Better Call Saul (AMC) House of Cards (Netflix)
This is the toughest field of the night, but Post TV critic Hank Stuever said it best - America needed a hug and a good cry this year, and broadcast TV's big breakout hit delivered.
Deserves to win: The Handmaid's Tale
The oddly relevant series, based on the terrifying 1985 dystopian novel, will linger with you long after you've watched it.
Because you can never count out a prestige series about Brits, especially one on Netflix.
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us (NBC) Matthew Rhys, The Americans (FX) Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix) Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan (Showtime) Anthony Hopkins, Westworld (HBO) Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us (NBC) Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (AMC)
Will probably win: Sterling K. Brown
In a show filled with devastating moments, Brown steals nearly every episode with the portrayal of a man reconnecting with his biological father.
Deserves to win: Sterling K. Brown
See above.
Dark horse: Bob Odenkirk
He might turn out to be the guy who's always nominated and never wins - yet you can't count him out, especially with his excellent portrayal of a shady lawyer.
Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley star in Big Little Lies
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series
Claire Foy, The Crown (Netflix) Keri Russell, The Americans (FX) Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder (ABC) Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix) Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld (HBO)
Even post-Mad Men, Moss is still an Emmy favourite, and she made the most headlines for her performance.
Deserves to win: Keri Russell
The fact that she's finally nominated for The Americans (two years in a row now) doesn't excuse the academy for overlooking her during the show's peak.
Dark horse: Claire Foy
Again, it's Netflix - and Foy has earned raves for her work as Queen Elizabeth.
Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (AMC) John Lithgow, The Crown (Netflix) Mandy Patinkin, Homeland (Showtime) Michael Kelly, House Of Cards (Netflix) David Harbour, Stranger Things (Netflix) Ron Cephas Jones, This Is Us (NBC) Jeffrey Wright, Westworld (HBO)
Ann Dowd, The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) Samira Wiley, The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black (Netflix) Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things (Netflix) Thandie Newton, Westworld (HBO) Chrissy Metz, This Is Us (NBC)
Will probably win: Thandie Newton
Her character went through a lot (that's an understatement), and Newton expertly tackled every emotion.
Deserves to win: Chrissy Metz
Metz deserves all the praise she's received as she nails a role that TV doesn't usually do very well - the story of a woman struggling with her weight.
While it would be unusual for the 13-year-old to take the prize from the vets, Brown was riveting as the young girl with a scary secret on Stranger Things.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep.
Outstanding comedy series
Black-ish (ABC) Atlanta (FX) Veep (HBO) Master of None (Netflix) Silicon Valley (HBO) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix) Modern Family (ABC)
Will probably win: Veep
It's Veep's world and we're just living it - expect the political satire to take home the trophy for the third year in a row.
Deserves to win: Atlanta
Donald Glover's inventive take on the rap scene in Atlanta was a delight in its freshman season.
Could broadcast TV win best drama and best comedy? If any show could pull it off, Black-ish can.
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series
Donald Glover, Atlanta (FX) Anthony Anderson, Black-ish (ABC) Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent (Amazon) Aziz Ansari, Master of None (Netflix) William H. Macy, Shameless (Showtime) Zach Galifianakis, Baskets (FX)
Will probably win: Donald Glover
If Atlanta doesn't take the main prize, like it did at the Golden Globes, Glover will certainly win - just like he did at the Golden Globes.
Seriously, has a part ever fitted an actress better than Kemper with Kimmy Schmidt?
Dark horse: Pamela Adlon
She was the surprise nominee here, so she just might eke out a surprise victory, too.
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in The Americans.
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series
Louie Anderson, Baskets (FX) Ty Burrell, Modern Family (ABC) Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live (NBC) Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix) Tony Hale, Veep (HBO) Matt Walsh, Veep (HBO)
He dominated the zeitgeist last fall with his Trump impression.
Dark horse: Louie Anderson
Because he won last year, and the Emmys always throw a few surprises in there.
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series
Vanessa Bayer, Saturday Night Live (NBC) Leslie Jones, Saturday Night Live (NBC) Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live (NBC) Kathryn Hahn, Transparent (Amazon) Judith Light, Transparent (Amazon) Anna Chlumsky, Veep (HBO)
The HBO series had tons of critical acclaim - it just aired so long ago.
Sterling K. Brown in This Is Us.
Outstanding TV movie
Black Mirror (Netflix) Dolly Parton's Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love (NBC) Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO) Sherlock: The Lying Detective (PBS) The Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Will probably win: The Wizard of Lies
Robert de Niro as Bernie Madoff has the right elements for an Emmy victory: recognisable name, famous story and on HBO.
Deserves to win: Black Mirror
Yes, it's technically an episode of a TV show - just trust us, San Junipero is that good.
Billy on the Street (truTV) Documentary Now! (IFC) Drunk History (Comedy Central) Portlandia (IFC) Saturday Night Live (NBC) Tracey Ullman's Show (HBO)
Will probably win: Saturday Night Live
With the political news cycle, there's no way it can be anything else.
They deserve it for the sheer volume of events to parody this year.
Dark horse: Billy on the Street
Finally, Billy Eichner is getting his due for more than viral videos that result from his show.
Outstanding variety talk series
Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS) Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO) Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS) Late Late Show With James Corden (CBS) Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
Will probably win: Late Show With Stephen Colbert
This is an unusually tough category (don't disregard John Oliver). But no one had a better second year - after a solidly mediocre first year - than Colbert.
Kimmel has proved himself as a host who can interview political figures with toughness and pull off an emotional monologue, which is no easy task - and he doesn't always get the credit he deserves.
Dark horse: Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
Though she's a newer host, Bee has lots of fans in the industry.
Outstanding reality-competition programme
The Voice (NBC) The Amazing Race (CBS) Top Chef (Bravo) Project Runway (Lifetime) RuPaul's Drag Race (Logo) American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
