Reality/Competition Series
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Project Runway
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice
Who will win: RuPaul’s Drag Race
Who should win: RuPaul’s Drag Race
Upset: The Voice
Lowdown: Listen, we’re biased here. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” should have won last year, but the higher rated NBC program, “The Voice” kept its three-year streak going instead. If “Drag Race” can’t break through this year it probably never will (just like “Project Runway” never took this Emmy when many thought it would the first two years it was nominated in 2005 and 2006).
Variety Sketch Series
At Home with Amy Sedaris
Drunk History
I Love You, America
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live
Tracey Ullman’s Sho
Who will win:“Saturday Night Live”
Who should win: “Saturday Night Live”
Upset: Um, no
Lowdown: Which show is supposed to upend “Saturday Night Live” here? As noted, it’s already won seven Creative Arts Emmys including one for host Tiffany Haddish in the Guest Actor category.
Variety Talk Series
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Who will win: “Last Week Tonight”
Who should win: “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”
Upset: “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Lowdown: Despite Samantha Bee’s controversial moment during the first phase of voting, “Full Frontal” is really the show that deserves some winning recognition in this category. For better or worse, however, John Oliver’s HBO staple will win for the third straight year.
Limited Series
The Alienist
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Genius: Picasso
Godless
Patrick Melrose
Who will win: “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Who should win: “Twin Peaks”
Upset: None
Lowdown: The fact “Twin Peaks” or “The Looming Tower” weren’t nominated here is embarrassing, but it just means Ryan Murphy gets another Emmy as “Assassination” will easily takes this category.
Comedy Series
Atlanta
Barry
Black-ish
Curb Your Enthusiasm
GLOW
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Silicon Valley
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Who will win: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Who should win: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maislel,” “Atlanta,” “Barry”
Upset: “Atlanta,” “Barry”
Lowdown: This is a tough one. With “Veep” not eligible this year you would have expected “Atlanta” to be the clear frontrunner, but Amazon’s “Maisel” is almost tailor made for industry voters. The same could be said for “Barry” which stunned many earning 13 nominations despite it’s unconventional tone. “Maisel” or “Atlanta” will likely win, but our gut just says “Maisel” right now.
Drama Series
Game of Thrones
The Handmaid’s Tale
Stranger Things
The Americans
This Is Us
Westworld
Who will win: “Game of Thrones”
Who should win: “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Upset: “The Americans”
Lowdown: “Game of Thrones” is just a juggernaut. We find it hard to believe despite an obvious drop of quality it won’t overtake last year’s winner, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” to win Emmy’s most prestigious honor again. The landmark Hulu series is no slouch, though, and might hold off Winter for another year. As for FX’s “The Americans,” it ended its six-season run with a critical flourish and could be a true upset winner on Monday night.
Who do you think are winning this year’s Emmys? Share your thoughts below.
The 70th Primetime Emmy Award will air at 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET on NBC this Monday, Sept. 17.
