‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Confirmation’ and ‘black-ish’ lead our 2016 Emmys Buzzmeter
Emmy nominations are just around the corner -- a very large corner that takes a while to get to, perhaps, but not that far away. So why not start looking at some of the top races and gathering the thoughts of our experts as to what series and performers we’re likely to be talking about come July 14? Here are their picks. What do you think? Tell us who you think the nominees will be – or should be – in the comments below.
Our panelists:
Robert Bianco/USA Today; Matt Roush/TV Guide Magazine; Tom O’Neill/Gold Derby; Mary McNamara/LA Times; Glenn Whipp/The Envelope
Their picks in 14 key categories:
Drama series | Most Buzz: "Game of Thrones" | "Mr. Robot" | "Better Call Saul" | "Downton Abbey"
“Surely this is the year Emmy voters finally recognize how good ‘The Americans’ is, and remember how good ‘The Good Wife’ has always been. Right? Please?”
— Robert Bianco
Critics' Picks
"Game of Thrones": Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Mr. Robot" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Better Call Saul" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Downton Abbey" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Orange is the New Black" Bianco, Whipp, Roush
"The Americans" Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill
"The Good Wife" Bianco, McNamara
"The Path" McNamara
"Horace and Pete" Whipp
"House of Cards" Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Homeland" O’Neill, Roush
Drama actor | Most Buzz: Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"
“Now that Bryan Cranston and Jon Hamm are out of this category, Kevin Spacey may finally win his overdue Emmy. Last year he finally won his first Golden Globe.”
— Tom O’Neill
Critics' Picks
Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Rami Malek ("Mr. Robot"): Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush
Bobby Cannavale (“Vinyl”) Bianco, Rosuh
Aaron Paul (“The Path”) Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush
Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) Bianco, O’Neill
Damian Lewis (“Billions”) Bianco, McNamara
James Spader (“The Blacklist”) McNamara
Paul Giamatti (“Billions”) McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill
Kevin Spacey ("House of Cards") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Steve Buscemi ("Horace and Pete") Whipp
Kyle Chandler ("Bloodlines") Whipp
Liev Schreiber ("Ray Donovan") Whipp, Roush
Drama actress | Most Buzz: Julianna Margulies | Viola Davis | Taraji P. Henson
“It’s time to give Tatiana Maslany an Emmy for her one-woman master class in ‘Orphan Black.’ This is not a request.”
— Mary McNamara
Critics' Picks
Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Taraji P. Henson (“Empire”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Keri Russell (“The Americans”) Bianco
Michelle Dockery (“Downton Abbey”) Bianco, McNamara
Claire Danes (“Homeland”) Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Tatiana Maslany ("Orphan Black") McNamara
Caitriona Balfe ("Outlander") Whipp, O’Neill
Michelle Monaghan (“The Path”) McNamara
Robin Wright ("House of Cards") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Carrie Coon ("The Leftovers") Roush
Drama supporting actor | Most Buzz: Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" | Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot"
“Two veterans – Alan Alda (‘Horace and Pete’) and Christian Slater (‘Mr. Robot’) -- look to challenge two-time winner Peter Dinklage’s reign. ”
— Glenn Whipp
Critics' Picks
Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Christian Slater (“Mr Robot") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp
Alan Cumming (“The Good Wife”) Bianco, McNamara, Roush
Ray Romano (“Vinyl”) Bianco, Roush
Jim Carter ("Downton Abbey") Whipp, Roush
Ben Mendelsohn ("Bloodlines") Whipp
Michael McKean (“Better Call Saul”) Bianco, Roush
Jon Voight (“Ray Donovan”) McNamara
Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) McNamara
Michael Kelly ("House of Cards") Whipp
Hugh Dancy ("The Path") O’Neill
Tobias Menzies ("Outlander") O’Neill
Alan Alda ("Horace and Pete") O’Neill
Alano Miller ("Underground") O’Neill
Drama supporting actress | Most Buzz: Uzo Aduba | Maggie Smith | Christine Baranski
“A very crowded field as usual and thus a real toss-up, but I'm especially rooting for ‘UnReal's’ Constance Zimmer to get noticed as the reality-show producer from hell.”
— Matt Roush
Critics' Picks
Uzo Aduba ("Orange is the New Black”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Christine Baranski ("The Good Wife”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Maggie Smith ("Downton Abbey”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Constance Zimmer ("UnReal") Bianco, Whipp, Roush
Regina King ("American Crime") Bianco, Whipp
Regina King ("The Leftovers”) Roush
Margo Martindale ("The Americans") Bianco
Lena Headey ("Game of Thrones") McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill. Roush
Joanne Froggatt (“Downton Abbey”) McNamara
Kate Mulgrew ("Orange Is the New Black") McNamara
Amirah Vann ("Underground") O’Neill
Jessica Lange ("Horace and Pete") O’Neill
Comedy series | Most Buzz: "Transparent" | "Veep" | "Modern Family" | "Silicon Valley" | "black-ish"
“With an outstanding second season, 'black-ish' could win one for broadcast.”
— Mary McNamara
Critics' Picks
"Transparent" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Veep" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Modern Family" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Silicon Valley" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"black-ish" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Big Bang Theory" O’Neill, Roush
"Casual" O’Neill
Comedy actor | Most Buzz: Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"
“This competitive category should have room enough for Aziz Ansari (‘Master of None’). Last year’s winner, Jeffrey Tambor, is likely to repeat for ‘Transparent.”
— Glenn Whipp
Critics' Picks
Jeffrey Tambor ("Transparent") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Anthony Anderson ("black-ish") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Aziz Ansari ("Master of None") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush
Jim Parsons ("Big Bang Theory") Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush
Rob Lowe ("The Grinder") Bianco, Roush
Rob Delaney ("Catastrophe") Bianco
Will Forte ("Last Man on Earth") McNamara, O’Neill
Jerrod Carmichael ("The Carmichael Show") McNamara
Don Cheadle ("House of Lies") Whipp
William H. Macy ("Shameless") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Gael Garcia Bernal ("Mozart in the Jungle") Whipp, O’Neill
Comedy actress | Most Buzz: Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Amy Schumer | Ellie Kemper | Rachel Bloom
“Julia Louis-Dreyfus could set a new record for most consecutive Emmy wins here (five). She’s currently tied with Helen Hunt (‘Mad About You’).”
— Tom O’Neill
Critics' Picks
Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Amy Schumer ("Inside Amy Schumer") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Ellie Kemper ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Rachel Bloom ("My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Lily Tomlin ("Frankie and Grace") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush
Tracee Ellis Ross ("black-ish") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush
Sutton Foster ("Younger") O’Neill
America Ferrera ("Superstore") O’Neill
Comedy supporting actor | Most Buzz: Tituss Burgess, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" | Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
“Competition is incredibly steep in this category, but I’m hoping Jaime Camil can beat the odds and break in - if only because almost every single line reading he gives surprises and delights me.”
— Robert Bianco
Critics' Picks
Tituss Burgess ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Ty Burrell ("Modern Family") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Tony Hale ("Veep") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush
Andre Braugher ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush
Louie Anderson ("Baskets") Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Jaime Camil ("Jane the Virgin") Bianco
Laurence Fishburne ("black-ish") McNamara
Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family") McNamara
Keegan-Michael Key ("Key and Peele") Whipp
Hugh Laurie ("Veep") O’Neill
Adam Driver ("Girls") O’Neill
Malcolm McDowell ("Mozart in the Jungle") O’Neill
TJ Miller ("Silicon Valley") Roush
Comedy supporting actress | Most Buzz: Allison Janney | Anna Chlumsky | Jane Krakowski
“A three-peat by ‘Mom's’ great Allison Janney may be unstoppable, although an election-year win for Kate McKinnon (and her devastating Hillary Clinton impersonation) would be a long shot worth cheering.”
— Matt Roush
Critics' Picks
Allison Janney ("Mom") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Anna Chlumsky ("Veep") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Jane Krakowski ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Judith Light ("Transparent") Bianco, Whipp, Roush
Gaby Hoffmann ("Transparent") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp
Niecy Nash (“Getting On") McNamara
Jenifer Lewis (“black-ish") McNamara
Kate McKinnon ("Saturday Night Live") Whipp, Roush
Mayim Bialik ("Big Bang Theory") O’Neill, Roush
Bernadette Peters ("Mozart in the Jungle") O’Neill
Priscilla Faia ("You Me Her") O’Neill
Julie Bowen ("Modern Family") Bianco
Limited series | Most Buzz: "Fargo" | "The People v. O.J. Simpson" | "American Crime"
“When a series is this great, you must nominate. (Sorry.) Look for ‘The People v. O.J. Simpson' to lead the way on Emmy nomination morning.”
— Glenn Whipp
Critics' Picks
"The People v. O.J. Simpson" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Fargo" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"American Crime" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"The Night Manager" Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush
"London Spy" Bianco
"Roots" McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Show Me a Hero" Whipp
TV movie | Most Buzz: "All the Way" | "Confirmation" | "The Dresser" | "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride"
“A stronger category than usual, dominated by HBO's politically themed docudramas—the sexual politics of ‘Confirmation’ may give it the edge over the Bryan Cranston-driven ‘All the Way’—although you never want to underestimate the charms of PBS's Sherlock franchise.”
— Matt Roush
Critics' Picks
"Confirmation" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"All the Way" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Sherlock: The Abominable Bride" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"The Dresser" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
"Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill" Bianco
"A Very Murray Christmas" McNamara
"Luther" Whipp, Roush
"Saints and Strangers" O'Neill
Movie/Limited series actor | Most Buzz: Courtney B. Vance, "The People v. O.J. Simpson" | Bryan Cranston, "All the Way"
“It’s difficult to imagine anyone beating Bryan Cranston in ‘All the Way,’ unless it’s Anthony Hopkins for ‘The Dresser.’”
— Mary McNamara
Critics' Picks
Bryan Cranston ("All the Way") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Courtney B. Vance ("The People v. O.J. Simpson") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Patrick Wilson ("Fargo") Bianco, McNamara, Roush
Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock: The Abominable Bride") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Tom Hiddleston ("The Night Manager") Bianco, O’Neill
Oscar Isaac ("Show Me a Hero") Whipp, Roush
Idris Elba ("Luther") Whipp, Roush
James Earl Jones ("Agent X") Bianco
Ben Whishaw ("London Spy") Bianco
Timothy Hutton ("American Crime") O'Neill
Ian McKellen ("The Dresser") O'Neill, McNamara
Hugh Laurie ("The Night Manager") McNamara
Anthony Hopkins ("The Dresser") McNamara
Movie/Limited series actress| Most Buzz: Kirsten Dunst | Kerry Washington | Felicity Huffman
“If there’s a better group of performances in any category, I’m not sure what it would be. What a powerhouse set of great actors in great roles.”
— Robert Bianco
Critics' Picks
Kirsten Dunst ("Fargo") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Kerry Washington ("Confirmation") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Felicity Huffman ("American Crime") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Sarah Paulson (The People v. O.J. Simpson") Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Audra McDonald ("Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill") Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush
Lili Taylor ("American Crime") Bianco, Roush
Regina King ("American Crime") McNamara
Jean Smart ("Fargo") McNamara
Anika Noni Rose ("Roots") O'Neill
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