As we remarked while focusing on the Emmy race for Outstanding Comedy series last week, thousands of Television Academy members spent months at home in front of their screen due to the coronavirus pandemic. All streaming services were up in regards to viewership across the board. And with very few members “at work” (we see you scribes) the question for the Emmys overall is whether enough voters checked out series they normally wouldn’t have time for. When it comes to the Outstanding Drama Series category, well, let’s hope they didn’t forget what they saw a year ago.
READ MORE: “Watchmen,” “Dickinson” and “Stranger Things” win 2020 Peabody Awards
Many have joked about how the past few months feel like three years. In this context, consider that programming schedules that saw the third season of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the winner in 2017, debut on June 5, 2019 (and allowed it to be partially eligible for 2019’s Emmys), “Stranger Things” season three arrived on July 4, 2019 and the second season of “Pose” walked the runway on June 11, 2019. That means three of the most recent nominees (and winners) in this category aired over a year before nomination voting for the 2020 Emmys will end on July 13. Even “Big Little Lies,” which won the Limited Series Emmy in 2017, saw its second season begin over a year ago. So, perhaps the question for the Drama Series category isn’t what voters watched, but what stuck with them over such a long period of time?
Three series that likely won’t suffer from this problem are “Succession,” “The Crown” and “Ozark.” While the latter arrived this spring at the peak of the stay at home orders, the former two played out in the fall and earned major guild kudos just six months ago. “Succession” took home top honors from the PGA and WGA while “The Crown” won the SAG Ensemble honor. All three are former nominees in this category and “Ozark” is coming off arguably its best and most buzzworthy season to date. In theory, all three are pretty safe to repeat as nominees.
Now that there are officially eight nominees, that means five slots are wide open. And there are eight former nominees, including the programs mentioned earlier, that are battling for those slots. Yes, eight. Who’s out? Who’s in? Let us ponder, shall we?
“The Crown”
A lock for a nomination, pt. 1
“Ozark”
A lock for a nomination, pt. 2
“Succession”
A lock for a nomination, pt. 3
“Killing Eve”
It was definitely not as beloved as the first two seasons were. It could miss out, but it also may just have enough fans (and familiarity) to earn another nod.
“Better Call Saul”
The most critically acclaimed season of an already critically acclaimed series? Yeah, it’s in.
______
“Big Little Lies”
If they love it like the loved the limited series (six Emmy wins overall) then it’ll crack this field. If they thought it was a step back like most critics (and viewers)? Well, Meryl Streep and Laura Dern will likely still get in.
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
The least lauded season so far (and granted, the first season is an all-timer), the Hulu staple and former winner in this category also earned its highest ratings in its third season. Will that familiarity help with voters?
“Pose”
The good news for the Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy series is that the second season just hit Netflix this past weekend. That could give it a huge boost.
“This Is Us”
Great gowns, beautiful gowns.
“The Morning Show”
The industry watches it. It wouldn’t have earned three individual SAG nominations if they didn’t. But that’s the only guild that nominated it for anything and we mean anything. Has that much changed in half a year?
“Stranger Things”
We thought it was out of the mix for sure this year, but then it won a freakin’ Peabody Award so, three for three?
“Homeland”
Never count out the four-time nominee and 2012 winner, but its been four years and three seasons since the Showtime staple last made the cut.
“The Outsider”
Had genuine buzz earlier in the year, but, boy, it faded fast.
“The Mandalorian”
Could be a serious party crasher, but Disney Plus has not gone all out on an Emmy campaign like you might expect them too. Puzzlingly to be honest.
“Euphoria”
You never know with a highly rated HBO show, but the guilds didn’t really show much love when they could.
_____
“Hunters”
Maybe an Al Pacino nomination.
“Homecoming”
Maybe a Janelle Monae, Joan Cusack or Chris Cooper nomination.
“The Good Fight”
I’m not convinced that enough members of the Television Academy watch CBS All Access. That’s what it’s come down to.
“Westworld”
It was so bad. I mean, so bad. But Emmy voters will do what Emmy. voters will do.
Emmy Season Prediction Pages
Drama Series
Comedy Series
Limited Series
TV movie
Competition Series
Actress in a Drama Series
Actor in a Drama Series
Actress in a Comedy Series
Actor in a Comedy Series