2020 Emmy Picks: Limited Series and TV Movies

With virtually all FYC events canceled and almost all productions halted, voters theoretically have had a lot more time to see more shows. And with new rules regarding the number of nominees in each category (which I still don’t fully understand), there’s the possibility of newcomers and frequently overlooked performers will finally get the attention they deserve. So here’s what I think will be nominated this year.

The masked cast of Watchmen
LIMITED SERIES
Hollywood (Netflix)
Mrs. America (Hulu)
The Plot Against America (HBO)
Unbelievable (Netflix)
Watchmen (HBO)

Potential surprises:
Defending Jacob (AppleTV+)
I Know This Much Is True (HBO)
Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
The Loudest Voice (Showtime)
Normal People (Hulu)

In my dreams: Briarpatch (USA)

The skinny: There were plenty of worthy limited series this past year (though not enough to have more than five nominees, but that’s another story). But this everyone who’s not Damon Lindelof should be happy just to be nominated. It’s too bad my beloved Briarpatch won’t be one of them.

Hugh Jackman in Bad Education
TV MOVIE
American Son (Netflix)
Bad Education (HBO)
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (Netflix)
Transparent Musicale Finale (Prime)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend (Netflix)

Potential surprises:
Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones (Netflix)
Patsy and Loretta (Lifetime)
Togo (Disney+)

In my dreams: Into the Dark: Culture Shock (Hulu)

The skinny: A lot of epilogues to previous Emmy nominated shows here, plus one adaptation of a Broadway play and a movie that actually played at TIFF last year and was destined for theaters, but HBO won the bidding war so it’s technically a TV movie. It’s also the best of the bunch.

Mark Ruffalo in I Know This Much Is True
ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Russell Crowe, The Loudest Voice
Chris Evans, Defending Jacob
Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
Hugh Jackman, Bad Education
Aaron Paul, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

Potential surprises:
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Spy
Matthew Macfadyen, Quiz
Paul Mescal, Normal People
Jeremy Pope, Hollywood

In my dreams: Nick Offerman, Devs

The skinny: A truly impressive line-up of Oscar winners and nominees, plus one of the biggest movie stars in the world. But Ruffalo has this locked up.

Regina King in Watchmen
ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Kaitlyn Dever, Unbelievable
Regina King, Watchmen
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere
Merritt Wever, Unbelievable
Reese Witherspoon, Little Fires Everywhere

Potential surprises:
Michelle Dockery, Defending Jacob
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People
Shira Haas, Unorthodox
Kathryn Hahn, Mrs. Fletcher
Zoe Kazan, The Plot Against America
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
Helen Mirren, Catherine the Great
Amy Poehler, A Parks and Recreation Special
Octavia Spencer, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Kerry Washington, American Son

In my dreams: Rosario Dawson, Briarpatch

The skinny: A lot of huge names duking it out for a finite number of spots (and I suppose it’s possible we get 7-8 here, thus increasing the number of nominees in the Lead Actor category… I think), but this is a two-person race between Regina King and Cate Blanchett. Both are giving the best performances on TV and anchored their sprawling series. I give King the slimmest of leads right now.

plot_against_america-turturro
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
Darren Criss, Hollywood
Tim Blake Nelson, Watchmen
Jim Parsons, Hollywood
Jesse Plemons, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
John Slattery, Mrs. America
John Turturro, The Plot Against America

Potential surprises:
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
Robert Forster, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Louis Gossett Jr, Watchmen
Jon Hamm, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
Joe Mantello, Hollywood
Dylan McDermott, Hollywood
Ray Romano, Bad Education

In my dreams: Alan Cumming, Briarpatch

The skinny: The most unpredictable category here, where anyone could win. Don’t be surprised if more Hollywood or El Camino cast members step in.

Jean Smart in Watchmen
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America
Rose Byrne, Mrs. America
Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Allison Janney, Bad Education
Margo Martindale, Mrs. America
Sarah Paulson, Mrs. America
Jean Smart, Watchmen

Potential surprises:
Elizabeth Banks, Mrs. America
Hong Chau, Watchmen
Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
Cherry Jones, Defending Jacob
Melissa Leo, I Know This Much Is True
Patti Lupone, Hollywood
Winona Ryder, The Plot Against America
Holland Taylor, Hollywood
Emma Thompson, Years and Years
Tracey Ullman, Mrs. America
Naomi Watts, The Loudest Voice

In my dreams: Kim Dickens, Briarpatch

The skinny: Won’t be shocked if this is all Mrs. America nominees and Jean Smart. All the ladies in that show are tremendous, but this is Smart’s award to lose.

Don Johnson in Watchmen
WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Bad Education
Mrs. America
Normal People
The Plot Against America
Watchmen

Potential surprises:
American Son
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Hollywood
Unbelievable
Years and Years

In my dreams: Briarpatch

The skinny: Of all the categories, I think this is the one where Mrs. America has the best chance. But I think this is Watchmen all the way.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Watchmen
DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Bad Education
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Mrs. America
The Plot Against America
Watchmen

Potential surprises:
Hollywood
Normal People
Unbelievable

In my dreams: Briarpatch

The skinny: Vince Gilligan vs. at least one of the Watchmen directors. It’s going to be a close one.

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