Brie Larson in “Lessons in Chemistry,” clockwise from top left, Walton Goggins in “Fallout,” Anna Sawai in “Shōgun,” Matt Bomer in “Fellow Travelers,” Kristen Wiig in “Palm Royale” and Steve Martin in “Only Murders.” As the ballot deadline approaches, here’s a look at how 15 of the Emmys’ main categories will shake out and the shows that shouldn’t be overlooked by voters or viewers.
By Glenn Whipp
Columnist
Illustration by Susana Sanchez
EMMY VOTING IS UNDERWAY, AND IF YOU’RE one of the 24,000 Television Academy members wondering if there’s still time to binge-watch all three seasons of “Reservation Dogs” to finally get up to speed, the answer is: Yes. But get busy. Ballots are due June 24. Is there ever enough time to watch everything and be a fully informed Emmy voter? Probably not. There are a handful of shows I never got around to viewing, despite my best intentions. And no, I’m not revealing them because I don’t need your judgment. I didn’t chastise (beyond a little silent rebuke to myself) latecomers to “Reservation Dogs,” as I don’t think you can blame anyone for not sampling each and every one of the more than 300 series submitted. Unless you didn’t watch “Shōgun.”
Then we need to talk. Another problem vexing voters this year is that there are too many worthy contenders in the limited series categories and not enough decent dramas to reward, making balloting equally challenging but for different reasons. Comedies? Just right. As long as “Reservation Dogs” is finally rewarded. But again, no judgment. (Yet.) Here’s a quick rundown of the series and actors that seem to be registering with voters, with viewing suggestions for anyone still doing their homework. I’ll revisit these in The Times before Emmy nominations are announced July 17.
LIMITED SERIES
“BABY REINDEER”
“FARGO”
“LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY”
“RIPLEY”
“TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY”
COULD SURPRISE “Masters of the Air”
DON’T FORGET “Expats”
LIMITED SERIES
LEAD ACTRESS
JODIE FOSTER, “TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHTCOUNTRY”
NICOLE KIDMAN, “EXPATS”
BRIE LARSON, “LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY”
JUNO TEMPLE, “FARGO”
SOFÍA VERGARA, “GRISELDA”
NAOMI WATTS, “FEUD: CAPOTE VS. THE SWANS”
COULD SURPRISE Kate Winslet, “The Regime”
DON’T FORGET Julianne Moore, “Mary & George”
LIMITED SERIES
LEAD ACTOR
MATT BOMER, “FELLOW TRAVELERS”
RICHARD GADD, “BABY REINDEER”
JONHAMM, “FARGO”
TOM HOLLANDER, “FEUD: CAPOTE VS. THE SWANS”
ANDREW SCOTT, “RIPLEY”
TONY SHALHOUB, “MR. MONK’S LAST CASE”
COULD SURPRISE Hoa Xuande, “The Sympathizer”
DON’T FORGET Ewan McGregor, “A Gentleman in Moscow”
LIMITED SERIES
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
LILY GLADSTONE, “UNDER THEBRIDGE”
JESSICA GUNNING, “BABY REINDEER”
AJA NAOMI KING, “LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY”
DIANE LANE, “FEUD: CAPOTE VS. THESWANS”
JENNIFER JASON LEIGH, “FARGO”
NAVA MAU, “BABY REINDEER”
KALI REIS, “TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY”
COULD SURPRISE Kathy Bates, “The Great Lillian Hall”
DON’T FORGET Sarayu Blue, “Expats”
LIMITED SERIES
SUPPORTING ACTOR
JONATHAN BAILEY, “FELLOW TRAVELERS”
FINN BENNETT, “TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY”
ROBERT DOWNEY JR., “THE SYMPATHIZER”
JOHN HAWKES,“TRUE DETECTIVE: NORTH COUNTRY”
JOEKEERY, “FARGO”
LEWIS PULLMAN,“LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY”
SAM SPRUELL, “FARGO”
COULD SURPRISE Treat Williams, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”
DON’T FORGET Hugh Grant, “The Regime”
COMEDY SERIES
“ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”
“THE BEAR”
“CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM”
“THE GENTLEMEN”
“HACKS”
“ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING”
“RESERVATION DOGS”
“WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS”
COULD SURPRISE “Palm Royale”
DON’T FORGET “I’m a Virgo”
COMEDY ACTRESS
QUINTA BRUNSON, “ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”
AYO EDEBIRI, “THE BEAR”
SELENA GOMEZ, “ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING”
JEAN SMART,“HACKS”
KRISTEN WIIG, “PALM ROYALE”
COULD SURPRISE Maya Rudolph, “Loot”
DON’T FORGET Devery Jacobs, “Reservation Dogs”
COMEDY
LEAD ACTOR
LARRY DAVID, “CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM”
THEO JAMES, “THE GENTLEMEN”
STEVE MARTIN,“ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING”
MARTIN SHORT, “ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING”
JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, “THE BEAR”
COULD SURPRISE Kelsey Grammer, “Frasier”
DON’T FORGET Jharrel Jerome, “I’m a Virgo”
COMEDY SUPPORTING
ACTRESS
LIZA COLÓN-ZAYAS, “THE BEAR”
HANNAH EINBINDER, “HACKS”
ABBY ELLIOTT, “THE BEAR”
JANELLE JAMES, “ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”
SHERYL LEE RALPH, “ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”
MERYL STREEP, “ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING”
LISA ANN WALTER, “ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”
COULD SURPRISE Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”
DON’T FORGET Molly Gordon, “The Bear”
COMEDY SUPPORTING
ACTOR
LIONEL BOYCE, “THE BEAR”
PAUL W. DOWNS, “HACKS”
MATTY MATHESON, “THE BEAR”
EBON MOSS-BACHRACH, “THE BEAR”
OLIVER PLATT, “THE BEAR”
TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS, “ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”
BOWEN YANG, “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”
COULD SURPRISE Carl Clemons-Hopkins, “Hacks”
DON’T FORGET Chris Perfetti, “Abbott Elementary”
DRAMA SERIES
“THE CROWN”
“THE CURSE”
“FALLOUT”
“THE GILDED AGE”
“MR. & MRS. SMITH”
“THE MORNING SHOW”
“SHŌGUN”
“SLOW HORSES”
COULD SURPRISE “Loki”
DON’T FORGET “Sugar”
DRAMA
LEAD ACTRESS
JENNIFER ANISTON, “THE MORNING SHOW”
MAYA ERSKINE, “MR. & MRS. SMITH”
ANNA SAWAI, “SHŌGUN”
IMELDA STAUNTON, “THE CROWN”
EMMA STONE, “THE CURSE”
REESE WITHERSPOON, “THE MORNING SHOW”
COULD SURPRISE Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”
DON’T FORGET Ella Purnell, “Fallout”
DRAMA
LEAD ACTOR
DONALD GLOVER, “MR. & MRS. SMITH”
WALTON GOGGINS, “FALLOUT”
COSMO JARVIS, “SHŌGUN”
GARY OLDMAN, “SLOW HORSES”
HIROYUKI SANADA, “SHŌGUN”
DOMINIC WEST, “THE CROWN”
COULD SURPRISE Tom Hiddleston, “Loki”
DON’T FORGET Colin Farrell, “Sugar”
DRAMA SUPPORTING
ACTRESS
CHRISTINE BARANSKI, “THE GILDED AGE”
ELIZABETH DEBICKI, “THE CROWN”
MOEKA HOSHI, “SHŌGUN”
LESLEY MANVILLE, “THE CROWN”
FUMI NIKAIDO, “SHŌGUN”
CYNTHIA NIXON, “THE GILDED AGE”
KAREN PITTMAN, “THE MORNING SHOW”
HOLLAND TAYLOR, “THE MORNING SHOW”
COULD SURPRISE Greta Lee, “The Morning Show”
DON’T FORGET Kristin Scott Thomas, “Slow Horses”
DRAMA SUPPORTING
ACTOR
KHALID ABDALLA, “THE CROWN”
TADANOBU ASANO, “SHŌGUN”
BILLY CRUDUP, “THE MORNING SHOW”
MARK DUPLASS, “THE MORNING SHOW”
JON HAMM, “THE MORNING SHOW”
TAKEHIRO HIRA, “SHŌGUN”
NATHAN LANE, “THE GILDED AGE”
JONATHAN PRYCE, “THE CROWN”
COULD SURPRISE Ke Huy Quan, “Loki” Don’t forget Tokuma Nishioka, “Shōgun”
