Entertainment

Your Complete Guide To The Stars & Shows Destined To Win An Emmy This Year

Macall B. Polay/HBO

The time has come to award the best TV of the year, from heart-wrenching limited series to irreverent comedies. When the awards show airs on Sept. 22, predictions for the 2019 Emmys promise an exciting evening. While the Emmys have known to be a bit stale by giving the big awards to the same shows year after year, the 2019 nominees feel somewhat like a new era for the awards show. Although there will inevitably be some winners that not everyone will be satisfied with — particularly if you had strong emotions about a certain blockbuster HBO series — these predictions guess that the 2019 Emmys will have a little something for everyone.

While it's difficult to guess every winner, one thing that seems for sure is that Game of Thrones will walk away with at least one award on the big night for its final season. Another drama poised for Emmy greatness is the Netflix miniseries When They See Us with its 16 nominations. On the comedy side of things, Fleabag earned 11 nominations with all of the female actors in the Amazon Prime series getting recognized.

Game of Thrones could possibly end up the biggest winner of the night. But if that's a tough pill to swallow, remember there's more to TV than just Game of Thrones with shows like Pose and Schitt's Creek receiving Emmy love for the first time. So while acknowledging the stellar work of many of these nominees, here's who could be the big winners at the 2019 Emmys.

Outstanding Drama Series

Helen Sloan/HBO
  • Better Call Saul
  • Bodyguard
  • Game of Thrones
  • Killing Eve
  • Ozark
  • Pose
  • Succession
  • This Is Us

Will win: Love it or hate it, this is Game of Thrones' year. It's an understatement to say Season 8 was divisive, but the impressive scale of HBO's fantasy series is unlike any of the other drama nominees. Not to mention, Game of Thrones won the Emmy in this category last year for its also-rushed Season 7. So, just because many fans weren't satisfied with some major plot points doesn't mean Emmy voters won't award the cultural phenomenon for its final season.

Could win: The other HBO show nominated in this category, Succession, could win over voters thanks to the Roy family's outrageous banter. And Better Call Saul has continued to be an exquisite slow burn as Saul Goodman's story inches closer to the Breaking Bad timeline.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Colleen Hayes/HBO
  • Barry
  • Fleabag
  • The Good Place
  • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
  • Russian Doll
  • Schitt's Creek
  • Veep

Will win: Like Game of Thrones, this is the final year for Veep. Considering the political comedy won this award three straight years in a row, Emmy voters may want to give the Selina Meyer and company one last win.

Could win: Don't count out last year's Emmy winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel since voters showered the show with awards in 2018. Then, there's Fleabag. While the first season received no love from the Emmys, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's brilliant series adapted from her one-woman play is getting the Emmy attention it deserves and could be the major winner of the night. As for Barry, the "ronny/lily" episode alone could earn the win.

Outstanding Limited Series

Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix
  • Chernobyl
  • Escape at Dannemora
  • Fosse/Verdon
  • Sharp Objects
  • When They See Us

Will win: The depiction of the Central Park Five's real-life story, When They See Us, not only is socially relevant, but Ava Duvernay's four-part series is a harrowing journey full of humanity that is required viewing.

Could win: The unrelenting Chernobyl managed to be riveting even with its heavy and complex subject matter. And while Sharp Objects felt like it came out forever ago, the depiction of emotional trauma, the star-studded cast, and Jean-Marc Vallée's dream-like direction stuck with viewers long after the miniseries ended.

Outstanding Television Movie

Stuart Hendry/Netflix
  • Bandersnatch (Black Mirror)
  • Brexit
  • Deadwood: The Movie
  • King Lear
  • My Dinner with Hervé

Will win: Black Mirror has won this category the last two years and even though Bandersnatch may not be the most poignant story that the anthology series has ever made, the acting performances were solid and the ingenuity of the interactive experience is unparalleled.

Could win: HBO's Deadwood made an epic return and this farewell could earn an Emmy for a show that never got the Outstanding Drama award.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Macall Polay/FX
  • Jason Bateman, Ozark
  • Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
  • Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
  • Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
  • Billy Porter, Pose
  • Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us

Will win: Tony winner Billy Porter continues to give a dynamic and emotional performance as the ball emcee Pray Tell in Pose, so he may just be adding an Emmy to his mantle.

Could win: While he hasn't won for his iconic Saul at the Emmys yet, Bob Odenkirk expertly danced between Jimmy McGill and Saul Goodman in Season 4. And Sterling K. Brown has won for This Is Us before, so don't underestimate his chances of winning.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Helen Sloan/HBO
  • Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
  • Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
  • Viola Davis, How To Get Away with Murder
  • Laura Linney, Ozark
  • Mandy Moore, This Is Us
  • Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
  • Robin Wright, House of Cards

Will win: Even though the series did Daenerys Targaryen dirty, Emilia Clarke managed to elevate every scene she was in in a way that would make the Mother of Dragons soar with pride.

Could win: Because the final season wasn't the strongest, Clarke is far from a shoo-in. Viola Davis has consistently portrayed the unapologetic Annalise Keating for five seasons and considering this is her fourth nomination (she won back in 2015), Davis winning is always a possibility. And either of the Killing Eve stars, Sandra Oh or Jodie Comer, could win for their brilliant cat-and-mouse game.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Aaron Epstein/HBO
  • Anthony Anderson, black-ish
  • Don Cheadle, Black Monday
  • Ted Danson, The Good Place
  • Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
  • Bill Hader, Barry
  • Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek

Will win: Last year's winner Bill Hader could certainly earn a repeat award as he dove more into Barry's post-traumatic stress disorder while still being a comedic force to be reckoned with.

Could win: After giving a stellar performance every season, Ted Danson seems more likely than ever to get an Emmy for The Good Place. While Black Monday itself wasn't nominated, Don Cheadle's off-the-wall performance could earn him his first Emmy after multiple nominations for House of Lies. It's also not out of the question that Emmy voters could go the way of Golden Globes voters and give the award to Hollywood favorite Michael Douglas.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Colleen Hayes/HBO
  • Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
  • Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
  • Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
  • Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek
  • Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag

Will win: A perennial favorite at the Emmys, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her genius portrayal of the Machiavellian Selina Meyer has to be awarded one last time. The award will be all the more emotional considering she battled cancer while filming the final season.

Could win: This category is particularly stacked as every single one of these actors gave a killer performance. Rachel Brosnahan still crackled onstage in Mrs. Maisel and Catherine O'Hara is finally getting the recognition she deserves for the gloriously dramatic Moira Rose. But if the award doesn't go to Louis-Dreyfus, the next most-satisfying winner would be Phoebe Waller-Bridge for her snarkily devastating final turn (at least on TV) in Fleabag.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix
  • Mahershala Ali, True Detective
  • Benicio del Toro, Escape at Dannemora
  • Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
  • Jared Harris, Chernobyl
  • Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
  • Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon

Will win: As the only young actor to portray both the child and adult versions of his character in When They See Us, Jharrel Jerome did justice to Korey Wise's story, particularly in the fourth and final episode.

Could win: Another actor who showed ranged in his performance was Mahershala Ali, as he portrayed his character over the course of 35 years and breathed new life into the True Detective series. (Plus, Ali is an awards-show favorite.) And through all the destruction, Jared Harris was the heartbeat of Chernobyl. But again, this is a tough one with Hugh Grant and Sam Rockwell fully immersing themselves to portray real-life figures.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

Christopher Saunders/Showtime
  • Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
  • Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora
  • Aunjanue Ellis, When They See Us
  • Joey King, The Act
  • Niecy Nash, When They See Us
  • Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon

Will win: As the prison employee who assisted a real-life breakout, Patricia Arquette completely jumped into her Escape at Dannemora character for a transformative and painfully authentic-feeling performance.

Could win: Another actor who thoroughly transformed herself was Michelle Williams, who replicated Gwen Verdon's voice and mannerisms with absurd accuracy. Amy Adams' and Niecy Nash's raw performances also shouldn't be overlooked.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Helen Sloan/HBO
  • Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones
  • Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
  • Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
  • Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
  • Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul
  • Michael Kelly, House of Cards
  • Chris Sullivan, This Is Us

Will win: This is Peter Dinklage's race to lose since his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister has always been big with Emmy voters. Plus, it would be the perfect send-off to the beloved character.

Could win: While House of Cards has fallen from grace, Michael Kelly could win for his last time playing the twistedly loyal Doug Stamper.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Helen Sloan/HBO
  • Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones
  • Julia Garner, Ozark
  • Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
  • Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve
  • Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones
  • Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

Will win: Her character was one of the biggest heroes of Game of Thrones, so why shouldn't Maisie Williams take home the Emmy for her unflinching portrayal of Arya Stark? With four out of the six nominees being from Game of Thrones, the odds are in the show's favor and Williams' character arc in the final season demanded the most range.

Could win: Since Gwendoline Christie submitted herself, a win for the too-pure-for-this-world Brienne of Tarth would be particularly thrilling. If voters are Thrones weary, Julia Garner and Fiona Shaw have also consistently delivered impressive performances.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Nicole Rivelli/Amazon Prime
  • Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
  • Anthony Carrigan, Barry
  • Tony Hale, Veep
  • Stephen Root, Barry
  • Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
  • Henry Winkler, Barry

Will win: While he has won three Emmys for Monk, this may be the year Tony Shalhoub wins for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as the grouchy Abe had to reconcile with his wife and his daughter's comedic career in Season 2.

Could win: After winning his well-deserved first Emmy for Barry last year, Henry Winkler could repeat. But since Gene Cousineau didn't get as much time to shine in Season 2, there are his two other costars to contend with — Stephen Root and Anthony Carrigan (the latter providing the majority of the levity on the show). And like with Douglas, don't forget about icon Alan Arkin.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Steve Schofield/Amazon Prime
  • Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
  • Anna Chlumsky, Veep
  • Sian Clifford, Fleabag
  • Olivia Colman, Fleabag
  • Betty Gilpin, GLOW
  • Sarah Goldberg, Barry
  • Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
  • Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Will win: She won Best Actress at the Oscars earlier this year and Olivia Colman's winning streak could continue as she portrays the bitingly passive-aggressive Godmother in Fleabag.

Could win: She won last year and Alex Borstein's fast-talking Susie had some particularly hilarious bits in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 2. Colman's costar Sian Clifford also can't be ignored as she gave a searing portrayal as Fleabag's emotionally pent-up sister.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie

Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix
  • Asante Blackk, When They See Us
  • Paul Dano, Escape at Dannemora
  • John Leguizamo, When They See Us
  • Stellan Skarsgård, Chernobyl
  • Michael K. Williams, When They See Us
  • Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal

Will win: He doesn't have that much time onscreen, but Michael K. Williams' journey as Antron McCray's father stays with you, just like his past performances in The Wire and The Night Of.

Could win: As the 14-year-old Kevin Richardson, Asante Blackk movingly demonstrated the injustice that the Central Park Five experienced. Meanwhile, Ben Whishaw went all in for A Very English Scandal.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie

Anne Marie Fox/HBO
  • Patricia Arquette, The Act
  • Marsha Stephanie Blake, When They See Us
  • Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
  • Vera Farmiga, When They See Us
  • Margaret Qualley, Fosse/Verdon
  • Emily Watson, Chernobyl

Will win: The emotional impact Patricia Clarkson's character had on her daughters was palpable by viewers and is a testament to her powerful performance. So while it's a mystery why her costar Eliza Scanlen didn't get nominated in this category, Clarkson might still be able to bring home an acting Emmy for the cast.

Could win: With two nominations for two different limited series, Patricia Arquette could have a big night if she wins for The Act. This category just might come down to the battle of mothers with severe mental illness.

At the end of the day, the decisions lie with the Emmy voters. And even if they don't share your Game of Thrones views, there will be plenty of winners to cheer for.