2017 Emmy Predictions: Technical Categories

Best Animated Program - Archer

Best Short Form Animated Program - Adventure Time 

Best Character Voice-over - Kevin Kline "Bob's Burgers" 

Best Narrator - Meryl Streep "Five Came Back" 

Best Production Design for a Contemporary/Fantasy - Westworld

Best Production Design for a Period - The Crown

Best Production Design for a Half-Hour Program - Transparent

Best Production Design for a Variety/Reality/Nonfiction Series - Saturday Night Live

Best Production Design for a Variety/Reality/Nonfiction Special - Hairspray Live! 

Best Casting for a Comedy Series - Veep

Best Casting for a Drama Series - This is Us

Best Casting for a Limited Series/TV Movie - Big Little Lies

Best Casting for a Reality Program - RuPaul's Drag Race

Best Choreography - So You Think You Can Dance

Best Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series - K.C. Undercover

Best Cinematography for a Half-Hour Single Camera Series - Veep

Best Cinematography for a Hour Single Camera Series - Westworld
Best Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie - Fargo
Best Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program - Planet Earth II
Best Cinematography for a Reality Program - Life Below Zero
Best Commercial - We Are America - Ad Council: Love Has No Labels
Best Costumes, Period/Fantasy - The Crown
Best Costumes, Contemporary - Big Little Lies
Best Costumes for a Variety/Nonfiction/Reality - Hairspray Live!
Best Directing for a Nonfiction Program - Ezra Edleman "O.J.: Made in America"
Best Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series - Stranger Things
Best Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series - Master of None
Best Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series - The Big Bang Theory
Best Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or TV Movie - Big Little Lies
Best Picture Editing for a Variety Program - Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Best Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program - O.J.: Made in America
Best Picture Editing for a Competition or Structured Reality Program - The Amazing Race
Best Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program - Life Below Zero
Best Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series - The Crown
Best Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Program - Saturday Night Live
Best Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie - Feud: Bette and Joan
Best Interactive Program - The Late Late Show with James Corden
Best Original Interactive Program - The People's House - Inside The White House With Barack And Michelle Obama
Best Creative Achievement in Interactive Media within a Scripted Program - Stranger Things VR Experience
Best Creative Achievement in Interactive Media Within an Unscripted Program - Stand for Rights: A Benefit for the ACLU
Best Lighting Design for a Variety Series - The Voice
Best Lighting Design for a Variety Special - Super Bowl LI Halftime Show Starring Lady Gaga
Best Main Title Design - Westworld
Best Makeup for a Single-Camera Series - Westworld
Best Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series - RuPaul's Drag Race
Best Makeup for a Limited Series or TV Movie - Feud: Bette and Joan
Best Prosthetic Makeup - Westworld
Best Music Composition for a Series - Planet Earth II
Best Music Composition for a Limited Series or TV Movie - Feud: Bette and Joan
Best Music Direction - Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come
Best Music and Lyrics - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Hell No!
Best Original Main Title Theme Music - Stranger Things
Best Music Supervision - Stranger Things
Best Actor in a Short Form Series - Ty Burrell "Boondoggle"
Best Actress in a Short Form Series - Jane Lynch "Dropping the Soap"
Best Short Form Comedy or Drama Series - Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training
Best Short Form Variety Series - Honest Trailers
Best Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series - Jay Leno's Garage
Best Children's Program - Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas
Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special - 13th
Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series - Planet Earth II
Best Informational Series or Special - Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking - O.J.: Made in America
Best Sound Editing for a Series - Stranger Things
Best Sound Editing for a Limited Series or Movie - Fargo
Best Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program - Planet Earth II
Best Sound Mixing for a One-Hour Comedy/Drama Series - Stranger Things
Best Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or TV Movie - Sherlock: The Lying Detective
Best Sound Mixing for a Half-Hour Comedy/Drama Series - Mozart in the Jungle
Best Sound Mixing for a Variety Program - 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Best Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program - The Beatles: Eight Days a Week
Best Special Visual Effects - Westworld
Best Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role - The Handmaid's Tale
Best Stunt Coordination for a Comedy or Variety Series - Shameless
Best Stunt Coordination for a Drama, Limited Series, or TV Movie - Marvel's Luke Cage
Best Technical Direction for a Series - Dancing With the Stars
Best Technical Direction for a Special - Hairspray Live!
Best Writing for a Nonfiction Program - 13th 

2017 Emmy Predictions: Best Limited Series and Best TV Movie

Best Limited Series
Will Win - Big Little Lies

Could Win - Feud: Bette and Joan or The Night Of

Should Win - Feud: Bette and Joan

Commentary - This really is a tight race, and every year seems to get more competitive. The Night Of is a dark horse, and Feud will win over a lot of voters, and is the best of the bunch. But I think that with HBO behind it, the cast that is top to bottom fantastic, and the momentum, that Big Little Lies will win this tight race. Honestly though, this is one that will leave us all guessing until the envelope is opened.

Best TV Movie
Will Win - Sherlock: The Lying Detective

Could Win - Black Mirror: San Junipero or The Wizard of Lies

Should Win - Black Mirror: San Junipero

Commentary - While the Limited Series race gets more and more competitive, this race seems to become less so every year. That being said, this really is a three-way race, I just wish the competitive were more worthy. Black Mirror is the only one of the bunch that deserves this award, and Netflix is pushing it hard. But I don't know if they are going to go for such a unique genre piece. The Wizard of Lies was less than stellar, but it has a great cast and HBO behind it. All of that being said, I think that Sherlock, after beating out two HBO films last year, will once again surprise at the Emmys. I have always underestimated this series, and even though it has long since peaked, these voters clearly love it. I think that in a weak year, it once again wins the case.

2017 MTV VMA Winners

Video of the Year 
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”

Artist of the Year 
Ed Sheeran

Best New Artist
Khalid

Best Collaboration
Zayn & Taylor Swift “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever ”

Best Pop Video
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane “Down”

Best Hip Hop Video
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.”

Best Dance Video
Zedd and Alessia Cara “Stay”

Best Rock Video
Twenty One Pilots “Heavydirtysoul”

Best Fight Against the System
Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson “Black SpiderMan” (Race & LGBTQ)
The Hamilton Mixtape “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” (Immigration)
Big Sean “Light” (Race)
Alessia Cara “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Body image)
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley“Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL” (Environment)
John Legend “Surefire” (Immigration & Anti-Muslim hate)

Best Cinematography
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.” (Scott Cunningham)

Best Direction
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.” (Dave Meyers & the little homies)

Best Art Direction
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.” (Spencer Graves)

Best Visual Effects
Kendrick Lamar “HUMBLE.” (Company: Timber/Lead: Jonah Hall)

Best Choreography
Kanye West “Fade”(Teyana Taylor, Guapo, Jae Blaze & Derek ‘Bentley’ Watkins)

Best Editing
Young Thug “Wyclef Jean” (Ryan Staake & Eric Degliomini)

Song of the Summer
Lil Uzi Vert “XO Tour Llif3”

Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
Pink

2017 Emmy Predictions: Best Actor and Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie

Best Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Will Win - Riz Ahmed "The Night Of"

Could Win - Robert DeNiro "The Wizard of Lies" or Geoffrey Rush "Genius"

Should Win - Riz Ahmed "The Night Of"

Commentary - This is a three-way race that could go each way. There are no contenders from Big Little Lies or Feud, so this one opens it up a bit. First, even Ewan McGregor should not be discounted, but I think he is a solid fourth place. Robert DeNiro is a living legend, but Wizard of Lies was not that well received, and probably only got the nominations it did because of the names involved. Geoffrey Rush is a previous winner, and Genius did a lot better than expected. Playing Albert Einstein, with Ron Howard at the helm feels like an Emmy winner. But I think that two-time nominee this year Riz Ahmed is having the kind of breakout year that smells like Emmy success. He has two nods, Star Wars, and HBO behind him, and in a tough year, I think he breaks through.

Best Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Will Win - Nicole Kidman "Big Little Lies"

Could Win - Jessica Lange "Feud: Bette and Joan" or Carrie Coon "Fargo"

Should Win - Jessica Lange "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Commentary -  This is another tough race, with three in the running. Jessica Lange has won so many of these things, and she once again is brilliant as Joan Crawford. Carrie Coon could surprise with her awesome year between Fargo and The Leftovers. But with Big Little Lies probably sweeping most of these categories, I think that Nicole Kidman will win her first Emmy award. She is an Oscar winner, has the meatiest role in a series they love, and I think will beat out her stiff competition.

2017 Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Will Win - Laura Dern "Big Little Lies"

Could Win - Regina King "American Crime" or Judy Davis "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Should Win - Shailene Woodley "Big Little Lies" or Judy Davis "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Commentary - This is Dern's sixth Emmy nomination, and the fact that she has managed to never win is shocking to me, considering how respected she is in the acting community, and how incredible she is every time she is on-screen. I think this is the year that she finally wins an Emmy for Big Little Lies, which is widely popular with voters this year. There is a hitch in this plan, and its Shailene Woodley. Sometimes multiple contenders help and sometimes vote splitting hurts. Judy Davis is a big contender here, and is an Emmy favorite. She could sway enough voters, but once again, having Jackie Hoffman in the race could split votes. The person who could benefit from all the vote splitting is the actress people have underestimated the last two years in this category. While American Crime dipped this year in terms of nominations, and missed out on the series category, King is clearly well-liked enough by these voters to overcome declining popularity and win a third in a row.

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Will Win - Stanley Tucci "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Could Win - Alexander Skarsgard "Big Little Lies", Alfred Molina "Feud: Bette and Joan", or David Thewlis "Fargo"

Should Win - Stanley Tucci "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Commentary - This race is such a toss-up, I really have no idea. David Thewlis was great in an uneven season of Fargo and just co-starred in Wonder Woman, which doesn't hurt. Alfred Molina was a force in Feud, and Alexander Skarsgard could ride a wave of Big Little Lies love. But in a close race, I will stick with the Emmy favorite. Stanley Tucci was delicious in Feud, and chewed scenery. He is also an eight time Emmy nominee, with three wins, including one just last year, under his belt. In a close race, I pick the guy with the most support across his peers.

2017 Emmy Predictions: Writing and Directing for Comedy, Drama, and Limited Series/TV Movie

Best Writing in a Comedy Series
Will Win - Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe "Master of None - Thanksgiving"
Could Win - Donald Glover "Atlanta - B.A.N" or David Mandel "Veep - Groundbreaking"
Should Win - David Mandel "Veep - Groundbreaking"
Commentary - Over the last decade or so, this category has alternated between rewarding the front runners and rewarding the auteur/out of the box. For every Veep, Modern Family, 30 Rock, and The Office win, there has been a win for Malcolm in the Middle, My Name is Earl, Louie, Louie and Master of None. This year, there is (I think), a three-way race between two auteurs, and one front runner. After its win last year, which was a bit of a surprise, Master of None comes back into the race with Thanksgiving, which is the type of episode that writers eat up. I think it wins again. But watch out for the likes of Donald Glover (who is clearly a favorite among voters this year), and the always powerful Veep, whose Groundbreaking episode showcased veep at its nasty and hilarious best.

Best Directing in a Comedy Series
Will Win - Donald Glover "Atlanta - B.A.N."
Could Win - David Mandel "Veep - Groundbreaking"
Should Win - David Mandel "Veep - Groundbreaking"
Commentary - Veep has never won a directing award, despite racking up a total of six nominations over two years. I think this is for several reasons. 1) Vote splitting. They submitted way too many episodes and if they had combined all those votes into one episode, they probably would have won. 2) Directors like big, they like a lot of moving parts, and most of Veep is the ensemble sitting in a room saying horrible things to each other (which works by the way). This is how shows with lots of color and pop like Pushing Daisies, Glee, Modern Family, and Ugly Betty have won here as of late. I think that Donald Glover's auteur sense, and attempts to build something aesthetically different were successful, and will catch the eye of his fellow directors.

Best Writing in a Drama Series
Will Win - Bruce Miller "The Handmaid's Tale - Offred (Pilot)"
Could Win - The Duffer Brothers "Stranger Things - Chapter 1: The Vanishing of Will Byers" or Gordon Smith "Better Call Saul - Chicanery" or Peter Morgan "The Crown - Assassins"
Should Win - Gordon Smith "Better Call Saul - Chicanery"
Commentary - This one really is a toss up, and I could see a scenario where any of the six nominees could win. The Duffer Brothers are definitely in the mix, but I think they have a better shot in directing, where their mood and mystery will play better with voters. Peter Morgan is a real threat for The Crown, as he is an Emmy nominated and Oscar nominated screenwriter. Finally, I think that Chicanery is one of the best episodes of the season, and was beautifully constructed. All of this being said, I think that the darkness, the tension, and the modern applicability of the haunting and brilliant Handmaid's Tale's pilot will take the prize in a close and tough race to call.

Best Directing in a Drama Series
Will Win - The Duffer Brothers "Stranger Things: Chapter 1: The Vanishing of Will Byers"
Could Win - Stephen Daldry "The Crown - Hyde Park Corner", Reed Morano "The Handmaid's Tale - Offred (Pilot)", or Jonathan Nolan "Westworld - The Bicameral Mind"
Should Win - The Duffer Brothers "Stranger Things: Chapter 1: The Vanishing of Will Byers"
Commentary - I think this is a four-way race, that like its writing counterpart, is a tough call. Stephen Daldry is a favorite among Oscar voters, and may find a similar audience with Emmy voters (this is his first nomination). The Handmaid's Tale Pilot could go 2/2 with writing and directing, and is a real threat for its almost auteur feel and aesthetic. Finally, Westworld is stylish and mysterious, and could appeal to fellow directors. It doesn't hurt that Jonathan is the son of Christopher Nolan. But I think that Stranger Things was so popular and so well-liked across the board to not take something of substance. Plus, the first Chapter was a great combination of character development, plot development, and perfectly set the tone, mood, and feel for an addicting and stylish series. In a close race, I pick the Duffer brothers.

Best Writing in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Will Win - David E. Kelly "Big Little Lies"
Could Win - Ryan Murphy "Feud: Bette and Joan - And the Winner is...(The Oscars of 1963)" or Richard Price and Steve Zaillian "The Night Of - Call of the Wild"
Should Win - Ryan Murphy "Feud: Bette and Joan - And the Winner is...(The Oscars of 1963)"
Could Win - This race and its directing counterpart will be bellwethers for how the rest of the night is going to go in the great battle between Feud and Big Little Lies. I think this is brewing to be a big night for Big Little Lies, and David E. Kelly is an Emmy legend. But Ryan Murphy and Steve Zaillian are names on a ballot that cannot be ignored, and could provide an upset.

Best Directing in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Will Win - Jean-Marc Vallee "Big Little Lies"
Could Win - Ryan Murphy "Feud: Bette and Joan - And the Winner is...(The Oscars of 1963)"  or Ron Howard "Genius - Einstein: Chapter One"
Should Win -  Ryan Murphy "Feud: Bette and Joan - And the Winner is...(The Oscars of 1963)"
Commentary - This is a big battle between three popular directors. Ryan Murphy's take on the 1963 Oscars was so juicy and awesome, and Ron Howard is an Oscar-winning director whose name will inspire votes on a ballot. But, if Big Little Lies is as popular as it seems and with Jean-Marc Vallee at the helm, I think it sweeps both these categories on its way to a lot of Emmy glory.

2017 Emmy Predictions: Reality Categories

Best Reality-Competition Series
Will Win -  The Voice
Could Win -  RuPaul's Drag Race or The Amazing Race
Should Win - RuPaul's Drag Race
Commentary - This is a race that doesn't change much. All those years that The Amazing Race won, and then The Voice has dominated since. I would not forget The Amazing Race and the newest entry RuPaul's Drag Race could be a sleeper (and deserves to be). But until the voters go another way, I pick The Voice.

Best Reality Host
Will Win - RuPaul Charles "RuPaul's Drag Race"
Could Win - Alec Baldwin "Match Game" or Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn "Project Runway"
Should Win - RuPaul Charles "RuPaul's Drag Race"
Commentary - Last year's upset by RuPaul was won of the best surprises of the three nights. Alec Baldwin is on such a roll that he could upset. But these voters repeat, and RuPaul is a true reality star. I think they reward him a second year in a row.

Best Structured Reality Series
Will Win - Shark Tank
Could Win - Who Do You Think You Are? or Lip Sync Battle
Should Win - Lip Sync Battle
Commentary -  Once again, I think voters will continue to reward Shark Tank. They love to repeat, and I don't know if any of the other contenders are strong enough to take it over. Who Do You Think You Are feels like a threat, and Lip Sync Battle is a lot of fun, and is the most popular of the bunch in terms of media buzz. But, like I said in the Competition commentary, until voters go another way, I'm sticking with the proven winner.

Best Unstructured Reality Series
Will Win - Born This Way
Could Win - United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell or RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked or Deadliest Catch
Should Win - United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell
Commentary - Like the other three categories, I am picking a repeat winner, but this is one is a lot closer than the other ones. Born This Way is still a favorite, but with the political environment, I think that W. Kamau Bell, who did really well across these categories has a real shot at upsetting. I would also look out for perennial favorite Deadliest Catch, and RuPaul, who is clearly another favorite among these voters.

2017 Emmy Predictions: Best Variety Series Talk and Sketch, Variety Special and Special Class Program

Best Variety Series - Talk
Will Win - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Should Win - Late Show with Stephen Colbert or Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Could Win - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Commentary -  This is brewing into an epic three-way battle between the three leading anti-Trump voices in primetime. I am so happy to see Samantha Bee here, and she deserves to win. She is definitely in the running, and is the only female in the lineup which helps on a more populist ballot. Stephen Colbert is finally back in form with this political season, and he could topple the reigning champ. But this category repeats, and John Oliver has once again had a great season. I think that voters stick with him, but this time around, the competition is much tougher.

Best Variety Series - Sketch
Will Win - Saturday Night Live
Could Win - Portlandia
Should Win - Saturday Night Live
Commentary - Let's face it, without some of the other recent winners like Key and Peele and Inside Amy Schumer, Saturday Night Live was already in good standing going into this race. It doesn't hurt that it had one its best seasons in recent memory, buoyed by the political climate and some awesome performances. In this weaker category, SNL is an easy winner.

Best Variety Special
Will Win - Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going To Clean Up This Sh*t?
Could Win - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents Dinner or Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special
Should Win -  Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going To Clean Up This Sh*t?
Commentary - Once again, the political commentators battle it out. Normally Sarah Silverman or Louis C.K. would have a shot, but with politics dominating these variety categories this is between Samantha Bee and Stephen Colbert. In this case, I think Colbert will make a bigger splash. If voters are looking for an alternative, watch out for James Corden's reliably entertaining Carpool Karaoke.

Best Special Class Program
Will Win - The 70th Annual Tony Awards
Could Win - The Oscars or Hairspray Live!
Should Win - Hairspray Live!
Commentary - The Oscars hasn't won here in awhile, and The Tonys have taken two years off. Hairspray Live should be in the running, but it had mixed reaction from a lot of folks (I think they are wrong), and it didn't land as well as Grease and Sweeney Todd did the last two years. I think the Tony's return to the winning circle.

Aaron Sorkin's Molly's Game Trailer

Jessica Chastain is one of our finest actresses working today and Aaron Sorkin is one of the finest screenwriters in the history of American cinema and television. Molly's Game looks entertaining, its a biopic, and has a great cast and a whip smart script (or so it seems). I smell an Oscar contender. 

2017 Emmy Predictions: Directing and Writing in a Variety Series

Best Directing in a Variety Series
Will Win - Don Roy King "Saturday Night Live - Host: Jimmy Fallon"
Could Win - Paul Pennolino "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Multi-Level Marketing"
Should Win - Don Roy King "Saturday Night Live - Host: Jimmy Fallon"
Commentary - Last Week Tonight could sweep just because it is the favorite, but I think that Saturday Night Live, which wins this category even in its worst years, will take this one as Don Roy King adds to his Emmy haul with a seventh win. Plus, he actually does deserve it. It is not an easy job manipulating all the sets, characters, musical acts, and keeping it entertaining and moving at a great pace. Plus, this has been a banner year for the show and I think voters across the board are going to look for places to reward it.

Best Writing in a Variety Series
Will Win - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Could Win - Late Night with Stephen Colbert or Full Frontal with Samantha Be
Should Win - Last Week Tonight will probably win the top category because they repeat often. Although this year, with Samantha Bee and Stephen Colbert in top form the competition is a lot tougher. That also means that Bee, who deserves to win this category, and Colbert, who even beat out the Daily Show here during its historic sweep, are contenders here and could take down the front runner.

2017 Emmy Predictions: Best Directing and Writing for a Variety Special

Best Directing for a Variety Special
Will Win - Jerry Foley "Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come"
Could Win - Glenn Weiss "The Oscars" or Jim Hoskinson "Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going To Clean Up This Sh*t?"
Should Win - Jerry Foley "Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best is Yet to Come"
Commentary - This is an interesting battle. Glenn Weiss has won like 11 of these things, and his two biggest competitors are historic losers. Hoskinson has 12 nomination with no wins, and poor Jerry Foley has had a stunning 24 nominations and no win. Weiss has a good shot at winning again, as big awards shows like that tend to do well in this category. But I think that after all these years Foley is going to win for the fun and eventful Tony Bennett celebration. Tony Bennett himself has won two Emmys for his specials, which have always been popular among Emmy voters. I could also see liberal Emmy voters rewarding the Stephen Colbert special, so watch out for Hoskinson.

Best Writing for a Variety Special
Will Win - Louis C.K. "Louis C.K.: 2017"
Could Win - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents Dinner or Stephen Colbert's Live Election Night Democracy's Series Finale: Who's Going To Clean Up This Sh*t?
Should Win - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents Dinner
Commentary -  Louis C.K. is beloved by this writing branch, and this is a category that rewards stand up specials (Patton Oswalt just won last year for his last special). But watch out for Stephen Colbert and Samantha Bee. Once again, if the voters are feeling political, both of these specials might be appealing. Plus, personally, Louie's latest was disappointing, and Samantha Bee deserves an Emmy this year.

2017 Television Critics Association (TCA) Award Winners

Program of the Year
The Handmaid's Tale

Outstanding Achievement in Drama
The Handmaid's Tale

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
Atlanta

Outstanding New Program
This is Us

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials
Big Little Lies

Individual Achievement in Drama
Carrie Coon "The Leftovers" and "Fargo"

Individual Achievement in Comedy
Donald Glover "Atlanta"

Outstanding Achievement in News and Information
O.J.: Made in America

Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming
Speechless

Career Achievement Award
Ken Burns

Heritage Award
Seinfeld

The 7th Annual Awards Psychic Television Award Winners

Best Drama Series
Winner - This is Us
Runners Up -  Stranger Things, The Americans, The Handmaid's Tale, The Leftovers,
Commentary - Broadcast dramas have gotten a bad rap in recent years, and in many ways, it is reserved. But this year, NBC proved that great dramas can still stake their claim on broadcast networks, and can more than succeed. This is Us was a smash hit, easily hitting every demographic, and constantly defying its expectations. That is because This is Us is an emotional powerhouse, beautifully acted, impeccably constructed, and utterly genuine. It made you cry and laugh, and it drew you in immediately because it cared about its characters and it made sure you did to. This is Us might be an anomaly in modern television, but I'm hoping that its success opens the eyes of broadcast television executives to pursue more quality programs in the future.

Best Comedy Series
Winner - black-ish
Runners Up - Atlanta, Girls, Veep, and Better Things
Commentary - Atlanta was great, Veep continues to prove why its one of the best, Better Things is what Louie thought it was, and Girls ended on a high note. But black-ish upped its game this year. It was just as funny as it has always been, but at just the right moments it broke your heart. Lemons, and that fantastic season finale are just two examples of why black-ish is one of the best shows on television: honest, funny, warm, and heartbreaking. Three seasons in, it continues to knock it out of the park.

Best Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Justin Theroux "The Leftovers"
Runners Up - Sterling K. Brown "This is Us" and Ian McShane "American Gods"
Commentary - Sterling K. Brown was fantastic in This is Us, and Ian McShane's mystery was intriguing in American Gods. But The Leftovers just exploded this year. It went from being a decent HBO drama to being one of the best dramas on television. With only one season left to tell their story, the showrunners put everything into the final season, and it was worth it. At it's center is the magnificent performance by Justin Theroux. If the Emmy gods were kind this year, they would have find room for him.

Best Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Elisabeth Moss "The Handmaid's Tale"
Runners Up - Claire Foy "The Crown" and Christine Baranski "The Good Fight"
Commentary - Elisabeth Moss has been a staple on television for almost twenty years now. Between The West Wing, Mad Men, and Top of the Lake, she has built an impressive career. After all those years she finally gets her star role in The Handmaid's Tale, a brutal, timely, and brilliant new series from Hulu, and she does not disappoint. Showing both sides of a character, Moss's performance is one of the most complete and intriguing on television. She may finally win an Emmy this year, and if so, it will be one of the most deserved of the night.

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Donald Glover "Atlanta"
Runner Up - Anthony Anderson "black-ish"
Commentary - Anthony Anderson was once again fantastic on black-ish, but I could not leave this year without honoring the achievement that is Atlanta. Donald Glover has created one of the most fascinating shows on television, and at its heart and soul is his fantastic, warm, and layered performance. His authenticity and commitment on screen is magnificent, and I honestly cannot wait to see his acting career as it grows, as I have no doubt it will be a fascinating one to watch.

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Tracee Ellis Ross "black-ish"
Runners Up - Pamela Adlon "Better Things", Justina Machado "One Day at a Time", and Issa Rae "Insecure"
Commentary - Pamela Adlon is fantastic, Justina Machado is emotional and funny, and Issa Rae is a star in the making. But man did Tracee Ellis-Ross step up her game this year. As the matron of the family, she was fierce, funny, and particularly in the season finale, she broke our hearts. She once again proves why she is one of the best comediennes working in television today.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Ron Cephas Jones "This is Us"
Runners Up - John Lithgow "The Crown" and Christopher Eccleston "The Leftovers"
Commentary - This is Us has plenty of talented cast members, but Ron Cephas Jones, as William, was one of the most intriguing and powerful characters on television this year. There are two reasons for it, one, it was a well-written and emotionally deep character. But two, and most importantly, it was beautifully wrought by Jones. He is a veteran actor whose career has stretched over two decades, and he received his first Emmy nomination for this role. It was definitely deserved.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - (TIE) Chrissy Metz "This is Us" and Millie Bobby Brown "Stranger Things"
Runners Up - Cush Jumbo "The Good Fight"
Commentary - This one was so tough, I had to choose two. First, comes Chrissy Metz, whose on screen and off-screen struggle with weight loss and love was intriguing, and introduced us to one of our newest stars. The other was the instant cult-favorite performance of Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things. At such a young age, Brown is a star in the making, whose stock will only continue to rise.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Tituss Burgess "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
Runners Up - Timothy Simons "Veep" and Tony Hale "Veep"
Commentary - The Veep guys had another great season, but Tituss Burgess, who won this category for me last year, managed to raise his own bar. This season, he grew emotionally, had that extraordinary Lemonade episode, and proved why he is one of the best actors working on television today.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Kate McKinnon "Saturday Night Live"
Runners Up - Rita Moreno "One Day at a Time" and Kether Donohue "You're the Worst"
Commentary - Kate McKinnon has won this category for me before, and every season she is on SNL, I am reminded of why she is simply the best. The moment she won me over this season was when she, as Hillary Clinton, mourned the election and Leonard Cohen, with a brilliant rendition of Hallelujah. She looked right at the camera and said exactly what we all needed to hear: "I'm not giving up, and neither should you". Kate is one of the funniest actresses working today, and also full of surprising depth. I really cannot wait to see where the future takes her.

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Gerald McRaney "This is Us"
Runners Up - Dylan Baker "The Good Fight" and Matthew Perry "The Good Fight"
Commentary - Gerald McRaney is one of the finest veteran actors working in television. In his forty year career though, he has never managed an Emmy nomination until this year with his magnificent performance in This is Us. He was the pivotal character in the stunning Pilot, and his presence on the show was filled with warmth, emotion, and proved why he is a living legend, and worthy of some long overdue recognition.

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - (TIE) Kristin Chenoweth "American Gods" and Gillian Anderson "American Gods"
Runners Up - Alexis Bledel "The Handmaid's Tale" and Ann Dowd "The Leftovers"
Commentary - American Gods had a tremendous first season, and I was immediately hooked. At first, this award was reserved for Gillian Anderson as Media, playing Marliyn Monroe, David Bowie and a whole host of iconic characters. She was brilliant. But then the season finale came, and Bryan Fuller's favorite Kristin Chenoweth just knocked it out of the park. She was emotional, hilarious, and just the perfect combination of what makes her one of my favorite actresses. So since I can't choose between the two, I pick both.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Dave Chappelle "Saturday Night Live"
Runners Up - Hugh Laurie "Veep" and Matthew Rhys "Girls"
Commentary - Not a great year for this category, but the return of Dave Chappelle to sketch comedy was great. It was nice to see one of the form's finest talents work out some new stuff. His post-election stand up opening, by itself, was reason enough to watch. But we also got to see why his absence from comedy was hard on all of us.

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Carrie Fisher "Catastrophe"
Runners Up - Melissa McCarthy "Saturday Night Live" and Becky Ann Baker "Girls"
Commentary - McCarthy joined the five time club and outdid herself as Sean Spicer, and Becky Ann Baker has been a revelation on Girls. But I am an emotional sap (which should not surprise you at this point), and I am a huge Star Wars fan. So losing Carrie Fisher was devastating to me. It was one of those loses that has stayed with me for so long. Luckily, we got to see Fisher's funny (darkly funny) side one last time on Catastrophe, a great role for an incredibly brave, tough, and beautiful princess, general, and person.

Best Limited Series
Winner - Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Runners Up - Feud: Bette and Joan and The Night Of
Commentary - Feud and The Night Of were great, and there is no denying that. In all sincerity, they were probably superior series to my pick. But this is my party and I will do what I want. It had been ten years since Gilmore Girls went off the air, and despite lack of recognition from much of the awards world, it was one of the funniest, most honest, and best series of the last decade, and its fan base, which I am a part of, was passionate. A Year in the Life had its issues, and some of its story lines were nothing more than distractions. But for those of us who had missed this series, to be able to go back to Stars Hollow, to witness the quirk, the humor, and the heartbreak of all of our favorite characters, was so worth the trip. It was nice to see how its show runner Amy Sherman-Palladino wanted to see her characters end up, it was great to see how they used Edward Herrmann's death to create a beautiful and emotional story line for Emily. It was everything I could have hoped for, and even if they never come back again, it was nice to take a trip down memory lane.

Best Made for Television Movie
Winner - Hairspray Live!
Runners Up - Looking: The Movie and Black Mirror: San Junipero
Commentary - This is another one, where I'm sure folks are going to disagree. At the Emmys this is nominated as a Special Class Program, not in TV Movie, but once again, its my party, so I'll do what I want. Critics were unnecessarily harsh to Hairspray Live! I even wrote about it a bit when it first came out. I think television critics are so muddled in their dramas and dark comedies that joy is not something they appreciate anymore. Hairspray Live! had some of its technical glitches, and the interludes were a distraction. But after everything that happened in 2016: the bitter election, the multitude of deaths and tragedies, Hairspray Live! is exactly what we needed. It was about different people coming together to make a better society, it was fun, it was exuberant, the songs were great, and we got to see talented veterans like Kristin Chenoweth, Harvey Fierstein and Jennifer Hudson light up the screen with magnificent performances. For three hours, I tapped my toe and sang along. And with all of the lackluster Emmy contenders failing to make a mark, this was the one that stood out to me.

Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Winner - Harvey Fierstein "Hairspray Live!"
Runners Up - Riz Ahmed "The Night Of" and John Turturro "The Night Of"
Commentary - I have a bucket list, and then I have an unattainable bucket list. On the list was a very specific rendering of Hairspray that I never thought I would actually see. It was seeing Harvey Fierstein as Edna. Well, every once in a while, dreams do come true, and the unattainable actually happens. Check!

Best Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Winner - Lauren Graham "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life"
Runners Up -  Jessica Lange "Feud: Bette and Joan", Susan Sarandon "Feud: Bette and Joan", and Carrie Coon "Fargo"
Commentary - Lauren Graham is one of my favorite actresses, and one of the big reasons why is Lorelai Gilmore. I got the chance to watch Graham revisit her iconic role, and it made me remember why this character and this actress were so special. She was criminally under-rewarded for this role, and even this year managed to once again not score an Emmy nomination. That's okay. If the Television Academy wants to continue to ignore her. Her fans, and fans of this show will always give her the love and reward she deserves.

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie
Winner - Stanley Tucci "Feud: Bette and Joan"
Runners Up - David Thewlis "Fargo" and Alexander Skarsgard "Big Little Lies
Commentary - Feud was delicious, and Tucci was delicious in it. He was funny, over the top, dark, and just a pleasure to watch start to finish.

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Winner - Kelly Bishop "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life"
Runners Up - Jennifer Hudson "Hairspray Live!" and Shailene Woodley "Big Little Lies"
Commentary - Like Graham, Kelly Bishop was criminallly under-rewarded for Gilmore Girls. Emily Gilmore was a force of nature, but in this revival, with the death of her on-screen partner Edward Herrmann, we got to see a different side of Emily. She let her hair down, she got emotional, she changed her life because her life changed around her. It was not only a beautiful story line (the most effective of the trio in the revival), but it proved that Bishop is a master of what she does, and is an incredible performer.

Best Animated Program
Winner - BoJack Horseman
Runner Up - Bob's Burgers
Commentary - Bob's Burgers had another great season, but BoJack Horseman, which somehow managed to miss out on a Emmy nomination this year, has quickly risen to the top of the animation ladder. It is clever, dark, funny, and simply brilliant.

Best Variety Series
Winner - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Runners Up  - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Commentary - The boys stepped up this year, but none of them, in my opinion, could manage to top Samantha Bee, which has been my cathartic release once a week for the last two years. She is so funny, so angry, and this year, is an Emmy nominee. It's about damn time.

Call Me By Your Name Trailer

One of this year's Sundance favorites is positioning itself as a major Oscar player. Check out the trailer for Call Me By Your Name below: