The biggest night in television is almost here! The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards are set to air this Sunday, September 14, and the competition is fiercer than a White Lotus guest fighting for the last cabana.
With massive hits like Severance, The Pitt, and Adolescence dominating the nominations, it’s anyone’s game. But we’re not just anyone. We’ve studied the tea leaves, felt the vibes, and analyzed every performance to bring you our predictions for who will take home the gold in the major categories.
Grab your ballot and get ready to argue in the group chat. These are our predictions of who will win as well as who should win! Let’s do this.
Drama Series: The Heavyweights Throw Down
This year, it’s a classic showdown between the cerebral, dystopian mystery of Apple TV+’s Severance (27 noms!) and the gritty, medical realism of Max’s critically adored The Pitt (13 noms). But in the acting categories, two beloved veterans are poised to steal the show.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Kathy Bates, Matlock
- Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
- Britt Lower, Severance
- Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
- Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Who WILL Win: Kathy Bates. Look, it’s simply her time. The 77-year-old legend is universally beloved and has been showered with acclaim for her turn as Madeline “Matty” Matlock. The third time’s the charm for Bates in this category.
Who SHOULD Win: Kathy Bates. Honestly, who’s going to be mad about losing to Kathy freaking Bates? No one. That’s who.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
- Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
- Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
- Adam Scott, Severance
- Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Who WILL Win: Noah Wyle. This is the performance of his career. A five-time nominee from his ER days, Wyle is long overdue for Emmy gold, and his powerful work in The Pitt is the perfect vehicle to get him there.
Who SHOULD Win: Noah Wyle. It’s a tight race, but Wyle’s emotionally raw portrayal of Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch is simply undeniable.
Comedy Series: Can Anyone Dethrone the Queens?
Hacks and The Bear continue to be critical darlings, but don’t sleep on the dark horses. This is where we get some of our spiciest takes.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Uzo Aduba, The Residence
- Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This
- Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
- Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
- Jean Smart, Hacks
Who WILL Win: Jean Smart. She’s a three-time winner in this category for a reason. Making brilliance look easy is her brand, and as comedian Deborah Vance, she remains untouchable.
Who SHOULD Win: Jean Smart. It’s nice to see Kristen Bell get her first nom, and Uzo Aduba was robbed by Netflix’s cancellation, but c’mon. It’s Jean Smart.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This
- Seth Rogen, The Studio
- Jason Segel, Shrinking
- Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
- Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Who WILL Win: Seth Rogen. The Studio is a ton of fun and a bona fide hit. Voters love to reward a showbiz satire, and Rogen’s excitable, gregarious CEO is the heart of it.
Who SHOULD Win: Jason Segel. Let’s be real. Segel is a master of goofball pathos. His work as the grieving-but-healing therapist Jimmy in Shrinking is nuanced, hilarious, and deeply heartfelt. We’re pretty sure even Seth would agree.
Supporting Categories: Where The Real Drama Is
This is where shows like The White Lotus and Severance stack the deck, making for some impossible choices.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Patricia Arquette, Severance
- Carrie Coon, The White Lotus
- Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
- Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
- Parker Posey, The White Lotus
- Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus
- Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus
Who WILL Win: Carrie Coon. Don’t come for me! She is one of our greatest living actresses, and that one epic monologue was enough to sear her into voters’ minds.
Who SHOULD Win: Aimee Lou Wood. While Coon was underutilized, Wood’s woo-woo wellness guru Chelsea was the unexpected, hilarious, and genuine heart of The White Lotus Season 3.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Zach Cherry, Severance
- Walton Goggins, The White Lotus
- Jason Isaacs, The White Lotus
- James Marsden, Paradise
- Sam Rockwell, The White Lotus
- Tramell Tillman, Severance
- John Turturro, Severance
Who WILL Win: Walton Goggins. He is LONG OVERDUE for an Emmy (see: The Shield, Justified, Fallout). His scene-stealing turn as a shady real estate mogul is the perfect excuse to finally give it to him.
Who SHOULD Win: Tramell Tillman. This was the hardest choice. But Tillman’s performance as the inscrutable, terrifying, and weirdly captivating Seth Milchick on Severance is a masterclass in subtle command. Plus, there has never been a Black winner in this category. It’s time.
Limited Series: The Adolescence Juggernaut
Netflix’s gripping legal drama Adolescence is poised to sweep, but a few standout performances from other limited series might just crash the party.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series
- Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer
- Meghann Fahy, Sirens
- Rashida Jones, Black Mirror
- Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
- Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
Who WILL Win: Michelle Williams. An impossible choice between her and Milioti, but we’re giving the edge to Williams. In Dying for Sex, she did it all: wry comedy, heart-wrenching drama, and amateur BDSM. A full, stunning display of her talent.
Who SHOULD Win: Michelle Williams. She delivered a fearless and unforgettable performance that deserves all the awards.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series
- Colin Farrell, The Penguin
- Stephen Graham, Adolescence
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Presumed Innocent
- Brian Tyree Henry, Dope Thief
- Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Who WILL Win: Colin Farrell. Voters love a physical transformation, and Farrell disappeared under layers of prosthetics to become Gotham’s Oz Cobb. But it wasn’t just the makeup; it was the soulful, desperate, and widely praised performance underneath that seals the win.
Who SHOULD Win: Colin Farrell. He completely transformed and delivered a performance with depth, pain, and ambition that went far beyond the impressive prosthetics.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series
- Javier Bardem, Monsters
- Bill Camp, Presumed Innocent
- Owen Cooper, Adolescence
- Rob Delaney, Dying for Sex
- Peter Sarsgaard, Presumed Innocent
- Ashley Walters, Adolescence
Who WILL Win: Owen Cooper. It would be shocking if the 15-year-old star of Adolescence didn’t win. His performance as an accused murderer is riveting, terrifying, and nuanced far beyond his years. He’s set to become the youngest male winner in Emmy history.
Who SHOULD Win: Owen Cooper. This isn’t a sentimental pick; it’s a recognition of a truly breathtaking breakthrough performance that anchored the entire limited series.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards air Sunday, September 14, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBS. Will our predictions come true? Tune in to find out
