1st Annual Hollywood Critics Association Television Award Winners

Best Broadcast Network Series, Drama

New Amsterdam

Best Cable Series, Drama

Cruel Summer

Best Streaming Series, Drama

The Mandalorian

Best Broadcast Network Series, Comedy

Young Rock

Best Cable Series, Comedy

Resident Alien

Best Streaming Series, Comedy

Ted Lasso

Best Broadcast Network or Cable Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Live-Action Television Movie 

Mare of Easttown

Best Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Live-Action Television Movie

WandaVision

Best Broadcast Network or Cable Docuseries, Documentary Television Movie, or Non-Fiction Series

Welcome to Chechnya

Best Streaming Docuseries, Documentary Television Movie, or Non-Fiction Series

Kid 90

Best Broadcast Network or Cable Sketch Series, Variety Series, Talk Show, or Comedy/Variety Special

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Best Streaming Sketch Series, Variety Series, Talk Show, or Comedy/Variety Special

Bo Burnham: Inside

Best Broadcast Network Reality Series, Competition Series, or Game Show

The Masked Singer

Best Cable or Streaming Reality Series, Competition Series, or Game Show

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Best Animated Series or Animated Television Movie

Harley Quinn

Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama

Billy Porter, Pose

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama

Josh O’Connor, The Crown

Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama

Mj Rodriguez, Pose

Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama

Emma Corrin, The Crown

Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy

Ted Danson, Mr. Mayor

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy

Jane Levy, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy

Jean Smart, Hacks

Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie

Colman Domingo, Euphoria Two-Part Special

Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie

Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit

Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama

Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama

Rupert Grint, Servant

Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama

Tatiana Maslany, Perry Mason

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama

Gillian Anderson, The Crown

Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy

Nico Santos, Superstore

Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy

Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso

Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy

Mary Steenburgen, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy

(TIE) Hannah Einbinder, Hacks and Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie

Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie

Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision

Legacy Award

Cobra Kai

Spotlight Award

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Impact Award

New Amsterdam

Pop Culture Icon Award

Tom Ellis, Lucifer

TV Icon Award

Marta Kauffman

Virtuoso Award

Bo Burnham

Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) Dorian Television Award Winners

BEST TV DRAMA

Pose (FX)

BEST TV COMEDY

Hacks (HBO Max)

BEST LGBTQ SHOW

It’s A Sin (HBO Max)

BEST TV MOVIE OR MINISERIES

I May Destroy You

BEST UNSUNG SHOW

Love, Victor (Hulu)

BEST TV PERFORMANCE 

(TIE) Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You (HBO) and Jean Smart, Hacks (HBO Max)

BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE

Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision (Disney+)

BEST TV MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Kathryn Hahn and singers, “Agatha All Along,” WandaVision (Disney+)

BEST TV DOCUMENTARY OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES

The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears (FX)

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOW

ZIWE (Showtime)

BEST ANIMATED SHOW

Big Mouth (Netflix)

BEST REALITY SHOW

RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)

MOST VISUALLY STRIKING SHOW

WandaVision (Disney+)

CAMPIEST TV SHOW

Eurovision Song Contest (Peacock)

WILDE WIT AWARD 

(TIE) Michaela Coel and Bowen Yang

GALECA LGBTQIA+ TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

2021 Emmy Predictions: Competition Series, Unstructured and Structured Reality Series, Reality Host

Best Competition Series

Will Win - RuPaul's Drag Race

Could Win - Nailed It! 

Should Win - Nailed It!

Commentary - RuPaul's Drag Race has dominated this category for years now, and if I have learned anything about his category over the last decade, is that these voters love consistency. The Amazing Race won an obscene amount of awards in this category before they moved on. I am predicting it triumphs once again, but if this is the moment that voters move on, lookout for Nailed It! It was a surprise nominee not too long ago, but it has built a fanbase. If voters are ready to move on, I expect this is the successor to the crown.

Best Structured Reality Series

Will Win - Queer Eye

Could Win - Shark Tank

Should Win - Queer Eye

Commentary - Shark Tank won this category a lot before voters finally rewarded Queer Eye. It deserves a repeat win, and I expect it will do just that.

Best Unstructured Reality Series

Will Win - RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked

Could Win - Becoming

Should Win - Becoming

Commentary - A lot of folks are jumping on the fact that Untucked will be a continuation of the Drag Race love. But it has been nominated twice before, and has lost. So I am skeptical that something else will win. Lebron James and his Disney series Becoming feel like the upset. 

Best Reality Host

Will Win - RuPaul Charles "RuPaul's Drag Race"

Could Win - Nicole Byer "Nailed It!" or Queer Eye Host

Should Win - Nicole Byer "Nailed It!"

Commentary - Again, this is one where I wonder if voters are ready to move on. RuPaul has already won this category more than any other winner, and I don't know if there is a competitor that can break the streak. Nicole Byer and the Queer Eye hosts seem like the natural successors, but until RuPaul loses one of these awards, I am predicting him. 

The Oscar Narrative: First 2022 Nomination Predictions - Best Picture

First 2022 Nomination Predictions

CODA

Don't Look Up

Dune

House of Gucci

Nightmare Alley

The Power of the Dog

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson

Untitled David O. Russell

West Side Story

Other Contenders - Tick Tick....Boom!, Being the Richardos, King Richard, Belfast, Flee, Spencer, The French Dispatch, The Hand of God, A Hero, C'Mon C'Mon, Cry Macho, The Last Duel, Last Night in Soho, Passing, Parallel Mothers, Mass, In the Heights, Dear Evan Hansen, Zola, The Lost Daughter, Cyrano, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, The Harder They Fall, Red Rocket, The Green Knight, Mothering Sunday, Respect, Bruised, Black Widow, Cruella, A Quiet Place Part II, Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Velvet Underground, The Tender Bar, Eternals, Blue Bayou, Candyman, The Many Saints of Newark, No Time to Die, Halloween Kills, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Luca, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Matrix 4

Commentary - Venice starts this week, and over the next two months or so, the Oscar race is going to go from a lot of speculation to a contender tsunami. I will, of course, do a post-festival update to my prediction, because it always changes after the major festivals. I am starting with the big names. Steven Spielberg is remaking West Side Story, which could either be great or pale in comparison. Spielberg doesn't make a lot of bad movies, so I am leaning towards the former. CODA is quickly rising in the ranks, and being compared to feel good comedies like Little Miss Sunshine, that found an audience with Oscar voters. Marlee Matlin was recently on CBS Sunday Morning, and there has been a lot of press and buzz. This Sundance favorite could be a contender throughout the fall. Adam McKay has been a favorite recently, and is pairing up with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, and Cate Blanchet. Guillermo Del Toro's first major film since The Shape of Water won Best Picture, Nightmare Alley is going to be one to watch. David O. Russell is teaming up with an all-star cast for his upcoming untitled work. He is hoping this is Silver Living Playbook and not Joy. Jane Campion returns with her first film in over a decade with a great cast. There is a lot of buzz surrounding the project. Dune, of course, looks like this year's genre piece that will breakthrough, Paul Thomas Anderson's last film Phantom Thread did surprisingly well with voters, and House of Gucci looks like an entertaining film that could be a huge contender. Finally, The Tragedy of Macbeth could be the one to beat. Those ten though, have a lot of challengers. Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut, Joe Wright's latest, Being the Richardos, King Richard, Flee, Spencer, The Hand of God, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, A Hero, and Belfast all are Oscar bait. Other indie and foreign contenders include Annette, Passin, Mass, The Lost Daughter, Bruised, Last Night in Soho, Red Rocket, Mothering Sunday, The Velvet Underground, The Tender Bar, Zola, Blue Bayou, The French Dispatch and C'Mon, C'Mon are waiting in the wings. Finally, big blockbuster films, animated films, and genre pieces like In the Heights, Dear Evan Hansen, The Last Duel, The Green Knight, Respect, Cruella, A Quiet Place Part II, Candyman, Shang Chi, The Many Saints of Newark, Ghostbuster: Afterlife, Halloween Kills, Luca, Raya and the Last Dragon, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Spider-Man, Encanto, The Matrix 4, No Time to Die, and last, but certainly not least, Chloe Zhao's return, Eternals, are hoping Oscar voters notice them in a year where people started going back to theaters. 

The Oscar Narrative: First 2022 Nomination Predictions - Best Director

First 2022 Nomination Predictions

Adam McKay "Don't Look Up" 

Denis Villeneuve "Dune" 

Ridley Scott "House of Gucci" 

Joel Coen "The Tragedy of Macbeth" 

David O. Russell "Untitled David O. Russell" 

Other Contenders - Paul Thomas Anderson "Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson", Guillermo Del Toro "Nightmare Alley", Jane Campion "The Power of the Dog", Steven Spielberg "West Side Story", Asghar Farhadi "A Hero", Sian Heder "CODA", Lin-Manuel Miranda "Tick, Tick...Boom", Pedro Almodovar "Parallel Mothers", Rebecca Hall "Passing",  Clint Eastwood "Cry Macho", Wes Anderson "The French Dispatch", Aaron Sorkin "Being the Ricardos", Denzel Washington "A Journal for Jordan", Pablo Lorrain "Spencer", Michael Showalter "The Eyes of Tammy Faye", Paul Schrader "The Card Counter", John Krasinski “A Quiet Place Part II”, Joe Wright "Cyrano", David Lowery "The Green Knight", Chloe Zhao "The Eternals", Stephen Chbosky "Dear Evan Hansen", Questlove “Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”, Heidi Ewing “I Carry You With Me”, Pablo Sorrentino "The Hand of God", Taika Waiiti "Next Goal Wins", Julia Ducournau "Titane", Kenneth Branagh "Belfast", Jonas Poher Rasmussen "Flee", Jon M. Chu "In the Heights", Mike Mills "C'Mon, C'Mon" George Clooney "The Tender Bar", Sean Baker "Red Rocket", Eva Husson "Mothering Sunday", Janicza Bravo “Zola”, Francois Ozon “Summer of 85”, Sean Penn "Flag Day", Cary Joji Fukunaga "No Time to Die", David Gordon Green "Halloween Kills", Edgar Wright "Last Night in Soho", Halle Berry "Bruised"

Commentary - So many contenders, my top five right now are placeholders to see how everything is going to shake down. Joel Coen is going solo with Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington, this has Oscar written all over it, and he has won this award before. Ridley Scott is still overdue for an Oscar and the first trailer for House of Gucci seems promising. It might finally be his time (he also has The Last Duel). Denis Villeneuve has yet to make a bad movie, and Dune might be the genre piece that breaks through. Finally, while critics can be mixed on their films, both Adam McKay and David O. Russell have a signature style that has done with the Academy voters before, including this branch, and both their projects are stacked in terms of the talent on and off the screen. But there are a lot of folks hoping to take their slots. Guillermo Del Toro returns after his Oscar win, Paul Thomas Anderson was nominated for his last film, Jane Campion's film is getting a ton of buzz, and you can never ever count out Steven Spielberg. There are previous nominees and winners like Pedro Almodovar, Clint Eastwood, Wes Anderson, Taika Waititi, and George Clooney. Female directors like Rebecca Hall, Heidi Ewing, Janizca Bravo, Halle Berry, Eva Husson, Julia Ducournau, and Sian Heder are hoping to continue to uptick in female filmmaker recognition. Aaron Sorkin hopes to avenge his snub from last year, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is looking to breakthrough as a big screen director. Indie and foreign contenders include Asghar Fahardi, Pablo Sorrentino, Michael Showalter, Pablo Lorrain, Paul Schrader, Questlove, Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Francois Ozon, Sean Penn, Mike Mills, and Sean Baker. Finally, bigger films and genre pieces are hoping to have their work recognized by Chloe Zhao, John Krasinski, Stephen Chbosky, Denzel Washington, Joe Wright, David Lowery, Kenneth Branagh, Jon M. Chu, Cary Joji Fukunaga, David Gordan Green, and Edgar Wright. 

2021 Black Reel Television Award Winners

DRAMA

Outstanding Drama

Lovecraft Country | HBO

Outstanding Actor

Jonathan Majors | Lovecraft Country

Outstanding Actress

Jurnee Smollett | Lovecraft Country

Outstanding Supporting Actor

Michael K. Williams | Lovecraft Country

Outstanding Supporting Actress

Adjoa Andoh | Bridgerton

Outstanding Directing

Misha Green  | “Jig-a-Bobo” (Lovecraft Country)

Outstanding Writing

Kay Oyegun & Eboni Freeman | “Birth Mother” (This Is Us)

Outstanding Guest Actor

Courtney B. Vance | Lovecraft Country

Outstanding Guest Actress

Phylicia Rashad | This Is Us

COMEDY

Outstanding Comedy

A Black Lady Sketch Show | HBO

Outstanding Actor

Anthony Anderson | black*ish

Outstanding Actress

Robin Thede | A Black Lady Sketch Show

Outstanding Supporting Actor

Kenan Thompson | Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actress

Gabrielle Dennis | A Black Lady Sketch Show

Outstanding Directing

Maurice Marable | “Black People for Rent” (Woke)

Outstanding Writing

Rochee Jeffrey | “Black People for Rent” (Woke)

Outstanding Guest Actor

Dave Chappelle | Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Guest Actress

Erika Alexander | Run the World

TV MOVIE/LIMITED SERIES

Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series

I May Destroy You | HBO

Outstanding Actor

Leslie Odom, Jr. | Hamilton

Outstanding Actress

Michaela Coel | I May Destroy You

Outstanding Supporting Actor

John Boyega | “Red, White and Blue” (Small Axe)

Outstanding Supporting Actress

Weruche Opia | I May Destroy You

Outstanding Directing

Steve McQueen | “Lovers Rock” (Small Axe)

Outstanding Writing

Eugene Ashe | Sylvie’s Love

TV DOCUMENTARY/MUSIC

Outstanding TV Documentary/Special

Daniel Lindsay & T.J. Martin | Tina

Outstanding Music (Comedy, Drama, Limited Series)

Hamilton

2021 MTV VMA Award Nominations

Video of the Year

"WAP" – Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, Atlantic Records

"Popstar" – DJ Khaled ft. Drake (starring Justin Bieber) OVO / We The Best / Epic Records

"Kiss Me More" – Doja Cat ft. SZA, Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

"Bad Habits" – Ed Sheeran, Atlantic Records

"Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" – Lil Nas X, Columbia Records

"Save Your Tears" – The Weeknd, XO / Republic Records

Artist of the Year

Ariana Grande, Republic Records

Doja Cat, Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Justin Bieber, Def Jam

Megan Thee Stallion, 300 Entertainment

Olivia Rodrigo, Geffen Records

Taylor Swift, Republic Records

Song of the Year

"Mood" – 24kGoldn ft. Iann Dior, Records LLC / Columbia Records

"Leave the Door Open" – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records

"Dynamite" – BTS, Bighit Music

"WAP" – Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, Atlantic Records

"Levitating" – Dua Lipa, Warner Records

"Drivers License" – Olivia Rodrigo, Geffen Records

Best New Artist

24kGoldn, Records LLC / Columbia Records

Giveon, Epic Records / Not So Fast

The Kid Laroi, Columbia Records

Olivia Rodrigo, Geffen Records

Polo G, Columbia Records

Saweetie, Warner Records

Push Performance of the Year

"Are You Bored Yet?" – Wallows, Atlantic Records

"Daisy" – Ashnikko, Warner Records

"Gorgeous" – Saint Jhn, Godd Complexx / HITCO

"Coco" – 24kGoldn, Records LLC / Columbia Records

"Break My Heart" – JC Stewart, Elektra Music Group

"Sex Lies" – Latto, RCA Records

"Selfish" – Madison Beer, Epic Records / Sing It Loud

"Without You" – The Kid Laroi, Columbia Records

"Drivers License" – Olivia Rodrigo, Geffen Records

"Serotonin" – Girl in Red, World in Red / AWAL

"My Slime" – Fousheé, RCA Records

"Think About Me" – Jxdn, DTA Records / Elektra Music Group

Best Collaboration

"Mood" – 24kGoldn ft. Iann Dior, Records LLC / Columbia Records

"WAP" – Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, Atlantic Records

"Kiss Me More" – Doja Cat ft. SZA, Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

"Laugh Now Cry Later" – Drake ft. Lil Durk, OVO / Republic Records

"Peaches" – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Def Jam

"Prisoner" – Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa, RCA Records

Best Pop

"Positions" – Ariana Grande, Republic Records

"Therefore I Am" – Billie Eilish, Darkroom / Interscope Records

"Butter" – BTS, Bighit Music

"Treat People With Kindness" – Harry Styles, Columbia Records

"Peaches" – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Def Jam

"Good 4 U" – Olivia Rodrigo, Geffen Records

"Wonder" – Shawn Mendes, Island Records

"Willow" – Taylor Swift, Republic Records

Best Hip-Hop

"WAP" – Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, Atlantic Records

"Laugh Now Cry Later" – Drake ft. Lil Durk, OVO / Republic Records

"On Me (remix)" – Lil Baby ft. Megan Thee Stallion, Quality Control / Motown

"Said Sum" – Moneybagg Yo, N-Less Entertainment / Interscope Records

"Rapstar" – Polo G, Columbia Records

"Franchise" – Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A., Cactus Jack / Epic Records

Best Rock

"Use My Voice" – Evanescence, BMG

"Shame Shame" – Foo Fighters, Roswell Records / RCA Records

"Last Train Home" – John Mayer, Columbia Records

"My Own Soul's Warning" – The Killers, Island

"The Bandit" – Kings Of Leon, RCA Records

"Raise Vibration" – Lenny Kravitz, Roxie Records / BMG

Best Alternative

"Stop Making This Hurt" – Bleachers, RCA Records

"Heat Waves" – Glass Animals, Republic Records

"Follow You" – Imagine Dragons, Kidinakorner / Interscope Records

"My Ex's Best Friend" – Machine Gun Kelly ft. Blackbear, Bad Boy / Interscope Records

"Shy Away" – Twenty One Pilots, Fueled By Ramen

"Transparent Soul" – Willow ft. Travis Barker, MSFTSMusic / Roc Nation

Best Latin

"Dákiti" – Bad Bunny x Jhay Cortez, The Orchard

"Lo Vas A Olvidar" – Billie Eilish & Rosalía, Darkroom / Interscope Records

"Girl Like Me" – Black Eyed Peas and Shakira, Epic Records

"Un Die (One Day)" – Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy, Universal Music Latino / Neon16

"Bichota" – Karol G, Universal Music Latino

"Hawái" – Maluma, Sony Music US Latin

Best R&B

"Brown Skin Girl" – Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn, WizKid, Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

"Leave the Door Open" – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic Records

"Go Crazy" – Chris Brown and Young Thug, Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records

"Heartbreak Anniversary" – Giveon, Epic Records / Not So Fast

"Come Through" – H.E.R. ft. Chris Brown, MBK Entertainment / RCA Records

"Good Days" – SZA, Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Best K-Pop

"Dumdi Dumdi" – G)I-DLE, Republic Records

"Ice Cream" – Blackpink and Selena Gomez, YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

"Butter" – BTS, Bighit Music

"Gambler" – Monsta X, Starship Entertainment

"Ready to love" – Seventeen, Pledis Entertainment

"Alcohol-Free" – Twice, JYP Entertainment Company

Video For Good

"Your Power" – Billie Eilish, Darkroom / Interscope Records

"Dancing With the Devil" – Demi Lovato, Island

"Fight For You" – H.E.R., MBK Entertainment / RCA Records

"Worldwide Beautiful" – Kane Brown, Sony Music Nashville / RCA Records

"Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" – Lil Nas X, Columbia Records

"Entrepreneur" – Pharrell Williams ft. Jay-Z, Columbia Records

Best Direction

"Your Power" – Billie Eilish, Directed by: Billie Eilish, Darkroom / Interscope Records 

"Popstar (starring Justin Bieber)" – DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Directed by: Julien Christian Lutz aka Director X, OVO / We The Best / Epic Records

"Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" – Lil Nas X directed by: Lil Nas X and Tanu Muino, Columbia Records

"Willow" – Taylor Swift, Directed by: Taylor Swift, Republic Records

"Franchise" – Travis Scott ft. Young Thug & M.I.A, Directed by: Travis Scott, Cactus Jack / Epic Records

"Lumberjack" – Tyler, The Creator, Directed by: Wolf Haley, Columbia Records

Best Cinematography

"Brown Skin Girl" – Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, WizKid, Cinematography by: Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, Mohammaed Atta Ahmed, Santiago Gonzalez, Ryan Helfant, Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

"Therefore I Am" – Billie Eilish, Cinematography by: Rob Witt, Darkroom / Interscope Records

"Shame Shame" – Foo Fighters, Cinematography by: Santiago Gonzalez, Roswell Records / RCA Records

"Holy" – Justin Bieber ft. Chance The Rapper, Cinematography by: Elias Talbot, RBMG / Def Jam

"911" – Lady Gaga, Cinematography by: Jeff Cronenweth, Interscope Records

"Solar Power" – Lorde, Cinematography by: Andrew Stroud, LAVA/Republic Records

Best Art Direction

"Already" – Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer, Art Direction by: Susan Linns, Gerard Santos, Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

"Bad Habits" – Ed Sheeran, Art Direction by: Alison Dominitz, Atlantic Records 

"911" – Lady Gaga, Art Direction by: Tom Foden, Peter Andrus, Interscope Records

"Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" – Lil Nas X, Art Direction by: John Richoux, Columbia Records

"Best Friend" – Saweetie ft. Doja Cat, Art Direction by: Art Haynes, Warner Records

"Willow" – Taylor Swift, Art Direction by: Ethan Tobman, Regina Fernandez, Republic Records

Best Visual Effects

"Build a Bitch" – Bella Poarch, Visual Effects by: Andrew Donoho, Denhov Visuals, Denis Strahhov, Rein Jakobson, Vahur Kuusk, Tatjana Pavlik, Yekaterina Vetrova, Warner Records

"Higher Power" – Coldplay, Visual Effects by: Mathematic, Atlantic Records

"You Right" – Doja Cat & The Weeknd, Visual Effects by: La Pac, Anthony Lestremau, Julien Missaire, Petr Shkolniy, Alexi Bailla, Micha Sher, Antoine Hache, Mikros MPC, Nicolas Huget, Guillaume Ho Tsong Fang, Benjamin Lenfant, Stephane Pivron, MPC Bangalore, Chanakya Chander, Raju Ganesh, David Rouxel, Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

"Tangerine" – Glass Animals, Visual Effects by: Ronan Fourreau, Republic Records

"Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" – Lil Nas X, Visual Effects by: Mathematic, Columbia Records

"All I Know So Far" – P!nk, Visual Effects by: BUF, VFX Supervisors: Dominique Vidal & Geoffrey Niquet, VFX Producers: Annabelle Zoellin & Camille Gibrat, RCA Records

Best Choreography

"34+35" – Ariana Grande, Choreography by: Brian Nicholson & Scott Nicholson, Republic Records

"Butter" – BTS, Choreography by: Son Sung with BHM Performance Directing Team, Bighit Music

"Bad Habits" – Ed Sheeran, Choreography by: Natricia Bernard, Atlantic Records

"Shame Shame" – Foo Fighters, Choreography by: Nina McNeely, Roswell Records / RCA Records

"Treat People With Kindness" – Harry Styles, Columbia Records

"Be Kind" – Marshmello & Halsey, Choreography by: Dani Vitale, Astralwerks / Capitol Records

Best Editing

"Leave the Door Open" – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, Editing by: Troy Charbonnet, Aftermath Entertainment/Atlantic Records

"Butter" – BTS, Editing by: Yong Seok Choi from Lumpens, Bighit Music

"What's Next" – Drake, Editing by: Noah Kendal, OVO / Republic Records

"Treat People With Kindness" – Harry Styles, Columbia Records

"Peaches" – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Def Jam

"Prisoner" – Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa, RCA Records 

The Oscar Narrative: First 2022 Oscar Nomination Predictions - Best Actor

First Nomination Predictions

Christian Bale "Untitled David O. Russell" 

Leonardo DiCaprio "Don't Look Up"

Adam Driver "House of Gucci" 

Will Smith "King Richard" 

Denzel Washington "The Tragedy of Macbeth" 

Other Contenders - Benedict Cumberbatch "The Power of the Dog", Andrew Garfield "Tick, Tick...Boom!", Andrew Garfield "The Eyes of Tammy Faye", Peter Dinklage "Cyrano", Javier Bardem "Being the Ricardos", Mahershala Ali "Swan Song", Michael B. Jordan "A Journal for Jordan", Bradley Cooper "Nightmare Alley", Joaquin Phoenix "C'mon C'mon", Clifton Collins Jr. "Jockey", Justin Chon "Blue Bayou", Clint Eastwood "Cry Macho",  Oscar Isaac "The Card Counter", Jonathan Majors "The Harder They Fall", Cooper Hoffman "Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson", Timothee Chalamet "Dune", Winston Duke "Nine Days", Dev Patel "The Green Knight", Michael Fassbender "Next Goal Wins", Caleb Landry Jones "Nitram", Simon Rex "Red Rocket", Nicholas Cage "Pig", Ben Platt "Dear Evan Hansen", Anthony Ramos "In the Heights", Tye Sheridan "The Tender Bar", Ansel Elgort "West Side Story", Matt Damon "The Last Duel", Matt Damon "Stillwater"

Commentary - A top heavy category with so many previous winners and nominees, it is prime for a breakthrough performer to upset. Per usual, at this stage, I am leaning on past success. Will Smith's first look in King Richard looks fantastic, and these voters always love when Will goes dramatic. Denzel Washington with Joel Coen and Frances McDormand? Pure Oscar bait. The first trailer for House of Gucci looks wild, and while Lady Gaga is definitely the centerpiece, but Driver is a recent favorite of these voters and could earn his third nomination. Leonardo Dicaprio is pairing up with Adam McKay and Christian Bale is pairing up with David O. Russell. Those dynamic duos seemed prime for Oscar attention. These five are not locked. I am this close to adding Benedict Cumberbatch, whose buzz is rising. Andrew Garfield and Lin Manuel Miranda feels like awards bait and he is also opposite Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. You have previous winners Javier Bardem, Mahershala Ali, Joaquin Phoenix, Clint Eastwood, Nicholas Cage, and Matt Damon trying to grab another trophy. Previous nominees hoping this is the time they finally here their name called include Bradley Cooper, Timothee Chalamet, Dev Patel, and Michael Fassbender. Veterans hoping for their first nod include Michael B. Jordan, Oscar Isaac, Jonathan Majors, Clifton Collins Jr. and Peter Dinklage. Young performers like Ben Platt, Anthony Ramos, Cooper Hofman, Justin Con, Ansel Elgort and Tye Sheridan are hoping for a breakthrough. Finally, Simon Rex. Yeah I know, that Simon Rex. 

13th Annual Halfway Award Winners

 This year's awards run from March 1st through July 30th, to adjust for last year's Oscar calendar. Check out my favorites from the first half of the Oscar season! 

Best Picture

Winner - Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Runners Up - The Green Knight and In the Heights

Commentary - For the first time in The Awards Psychic History, a documentary has won my top slot at the Halfway Awards! In the Heights is a great musical, and The Green Knight is a well-crafted fantasy. But for my money, no film has been as impactful this year than the fantastic Summer of Soul. Finally shedding light on a music festival that has long been eclipsed by Woodstock, Questlove and his team bring joy, showcase suffering, and add another story into the canon of Black History. It was a stunning film to watch, and easily the best so far. 

Best Director

Winner - David Lowery “The Green Knight”

Runners Up - Questlove “Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” and Commentary - David Lowery continues to prove that he is a visionary and adept director. The Green Knight is yet another one of his low-key successes. He cast his actors perfectly, and his directorial vision created a visual and auditory masterpiece that shows incredible skill. 

 

Best Actor

Winner - Nicholas Cage “Pig”

Runners Up - Dev Patel “The Green Knight” and Anthony Ramos “In the Heights”

Commentary - Cage has made his share of terrible movies over the years, but once every decade or so, he reminds us why, despite being a Razzie contender way too often, is actually one of the best actors of our time. Leaving Las Vegas, Raising Arizona, Adaptation, just to name a few, and now Pig. An odd, but wildly emotional, funny, warm, and at times brutal film that is a perfect vehicle for Cage. He is jaw-dropping in this role, and while the awards circuit will most likely ignore him, they would be stupid to do so. 

 

Best Actress

Winner - Mary Twala “This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection"

Runners Up - Taylour Paige “Zola” and Rachel Sennott “Shiva Baby”

Commentary - This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection is an incredibly brilliant work, made particular great by the performance of the legendary Mary Twala. Unfortunately, Twala died last year, leaving one lasting bookend to her already stunning legacy in African cinema. Her final performance in this film was absorbing, and she perfectly balances the sorrow and surprising joy in this enraptured performance that reminds us that our film world is lesser now that she is no longer in it. 

 

Best Supporting Actor

Winner - Colman Domingo “Zola”

Runners Up - Cillian Murphy “A Quiet Place Part II” and Joel Edgerton “The Green Knight”

Commentary - Colman Domingo, a veteran actor, has had a boon of a year. Between Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Euphoria, and Zola, he has been thrust into the spotlight, and has proven that he is an incredible screen presence. He is mesmerizing as X in Zola, steals every scene he is in, lures in the audience with his charm, then bites them with his dark side. A layered and fully-realized performance, Domingo will hopefully remain on Oscar voters' minds throughout the rest of this season. 

 

Best Supporting Actress

Winner - Olga Merediz “In the Heights”

Runners Up - Florence Pugh “Black Widow” and Emma Thompson “Cruella”

Commentary - Merediz, a stage legend, revives her Tony-nominated role for Lin-Manuel Miranda, and brings the same energy and emotional heft on the screen. Her song is one of the most memorable of the film, and her presence is felt so much throughout. She is the heart of a film that is beaming with joy and heart, which says a lot about her acting prowess. 

 

Best Screenplay

Winner - John Krasinski, Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods “A Quiet Place Part II”

Runners Up - David Lowery “The Green Knight” and Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe, and Alex Hirsch “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”

Commentary - While dialogue is scarce in this film, it is always worth it when they finally speak. Just like its predecessor, A Quiet Place II is brilliantly constructed and effective horror, in particular thanks to the talents of its screenwriters, who, unlike many horror writers, have managed to not only create an awesome concept, but have sustained that through now two successful and well-made films. 

 

Best Animated Film

Winner - The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Runners Up - Luca and Raya and the Last Dragon

Commentary - A strong start to the Animated Feature race is exciting, but this award easily belongs to The Mitchells vs. The Machines. Funny, fast-paced, with lots of clever characters and plot points, it is just plainly, put, a great time. I dare you to watch this film, and not leave with a smile on your face. A great animated achievement. 

 

Best Ensemble

Winner - A Quiet Place Part II

Runners Up - The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Black Widow

Commentary - Not only were the screenwriters able to continue this great concept, but they got a lot of help from a great cast of actors who convey more in silence than most ensembles do with thousands of words.  

13th Annual Halfway Award Nominations

This year's awards run from March 1st through July 31st, to adjust for last year's Oscar calendar. Check out my favorites from the first half of the Oscar season! 

Best Picture

The Green Knight

I Carry You With Me

Hope

In the Heights

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Moffie

Pig

A Quiet Place Part II

Raya and the Last Dragon

Shiva Baby

Summer of 85

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection

The Woman Who Ran

Zola

 

Best Director

David Lowery “The Green Knight”

Maria Sødahl “Hope”

Heidi Ewing “I Carry You With Me”

John M. Chu “In the Heights”

Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”

Oliver Hermanus “Moffie”

Michael Sarnoski “Pig”

John Krasinski “A Quiet Place Part II”

Emma Seligman “Shiva Baby”

Charlene Favier “Slalom”

Francois Ozon “Summer of 85”

Questlove “Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”

Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese “This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection”

Sang-soo Hong “The Woman Who Ran”

Janicza Bravo “Zola”

 

Best Actor

Kai Luke Brummer “Moffie”

Nicholas Cage “Pig”

Idris Elba “Concrete Cowboy” 

Armando Espitia “I Carry You With Me”

Ed Helms “Together Together”

Felix Lefebvre “Summer of 85”

Mads Mikkelson “Riders of Justice” 

Bob Odenkirk “Nobody”

Dev Patel “The Green Knight”

Anthony Ramos “In the Heights”

Stellan Skarsgård “Hope” 

Christian Vazquez “I Carry You With Me”

 

Best Actress

Noee Abita “Slalom”

Emily Blunt “A Quiet Place Part II”

Patti Harrison “Together Together”

Andrea Bræin Hovig “Hope”

Scarlett Johansson “Black Widow”

Ann Skelly “Rose Plays Julie”

Kim Man-hee “The Woman Who Ran”

Taylour Paige “Zola”

Rachel Sennott “Shiva Baby”

Emma Stone “Cruella”

Mary Twala “This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection

 

Best Supporting Actor

Nicholas Braun “Zola”

Danny Deferrari “Shiva Baby”

Gregory Diaz IV “In the Heights”

Colman Domingo “Zola”

Joel Edgerton “The Green Knight”

David Harbour “Black Widow”  

Corey Hawkins “In the Heights”

Noah Jupe “A Quiet Place Part II”

Caleb McLaughlin “Concrete Cowboy”

Cillian Murphy “A Quiet Place Part II”

Jimmy Smits “In the Heights”

Benjamin Voisin “Summer of 85”

 

Best Supporting Actress

Awkwafina “Raya and the Last Dragon”

Melissa Barrera “In the Heights”

Leslie Grace “In the Heights” 

Riley Keough “Zola”

Olga Merediz “In the Heights”

Florence Pugh “Black Widow”

Young-hwa Seo “The Woman Who Ran”

Song Seon-mi “The Woman Who Ran”

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi “Summer of 85”

Emma Thompson “Cruella”

Alicia Vikander “The Green Knight”

Best Screenplay

David Lowery “The Green Knight”

Maria Sødahl “Hope”

Heidi Ewing and Alan Page Arriaga “I Carry You With Me”

Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda “In the Heights”

Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe, and Alex Hirsch “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”

Oliver Hermanus and Jack Sidey “Moffie”

John Krasinski, Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods “A Quiet Place Part II”

Vanessa Block and Michael Sarnoski “Pig”

Qui Nguyen, Adele Lim, Paul Briggs, Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Kiel Murray, John Ripa, and Dean Wellins “Raya and the Last Dragon”

Emma Seligman “Shiva Baby”

Charlene Favier, Antoine Lacombiez, and Marie Talon “Slalom”

Francois Ozon “Summer of 85”

Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese “This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection”

Janicza Bravo and Jeremy O. Harris “Zola”

 

Best Animated Film

Luca

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Raya and the Last Dragon

 

Best Ensemble

Black Widow

Coming 2 America

Concrete Cowboy

The Green Knight

I Carry You With Me

The Mitchells vs. The Machines

A Quiet Place Part II

Raya and the Last Dragon

Summer of 85

The Woman Who Ran

Zola