2021 Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress in a Drama and Comedy Series

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Will Win - Michael Kenneth Williams "Lovecraft Country"

Could Win - Giancarlo Esposito "The Mandalorian" or Tobias Menzies "The Crown"

Should Win - Michael Kenneth Williams "Lovecraft Country" 

Commentary - Maybe I'm just hopeful. Michael Kenneth Williams is one of my favorite actors, and this was his chance to win a well-deserved, and way overdue Emmy Award. His death happened after voting ended, so it probably won't have much impact. But he was strong going into this race. Lovecraft Country overperformed, and he is a living legend. Giancarlo Esposito has also never won an Emmy, and he is always great. Although if he wins for The Mandalorian, it would feel like a cheap win compared to his other roles. Tobias Menzies is also a threat, as The Crown continues to loom large. I hope Williams wins, he deserves to win, and it would be a poignant and sad reminder of the talent we lost way too soon. 

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Will Win - Gillian Anderson "The Crown"

Could Win - Aunjanue Ellis "Lovecraft Country", Ann Dowd "The Handmaid's Tale", or Helena Bonham Carter "The Crown"

Should Win - Gillian Anderson "The Crown"

Commentary - Gillian Anderson has dominated this season, and for a good reason. She is jaw-dropping as Thatcher in The Crown. But when Emmy voters also threw in Emerald Fennell, I did hesitate a little bit. It is really easy to win with one co-star nominated. But when you add in a third or a fourth, it gets much more difficult. Only one actor, Peter Dinklage, has ever pulled off that feat. But if anyone can do it again, it is Gillian Anderson, a beloved Emmy-winning veteran. She is also helped by the even thinner vote splitting occurring with The Handmaid's Tale, which got four nominations. This helps Anderson. It also creates an interesting scenario where the fantastic Aunjanue Ellis benefits from all of the vote-splitting, and surprises with a win. 

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Will Win - Bowen Yang "Saturday Night Live"

Could Win - Kenan Thompson "Saturday Night Live" or Brett Goldstein "Saturday Night Live"

Should Win - Bowen Yang "Saturday Night Live" 

Commentary -  Saturday Night Live characters that win Emmys tend to be tied to the most zeitgeist elements of the the season. Kate McKinnon, Alec Baldwin, Maya Rudolph are recent winners that dominated the headlines throughout the seasons they won. Of the two SNL guys, Kenan Thompson is the most overdue for an acting Emmy, but Bowen Yang is the zeitgeisty of the two. His sketches and Weekend Update appearances have dominated the Sunday headlines, and he has had some great guest appearances across other shows as well. He and Thompson also benefit from the four Ted Lasso nominees. Three maybe, but four is hard to overcome. Brett Goldstein is the most obvious of the four, and if he wins, it will show the power of that show. But I think they will split the votes helping Yang or Thompson rise to the podium. 

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Will Win - Hannah Waddingham "Ted Lasso" 

Could Win - Hannah Einbinder "Hacks"

Should Win - Hannah Waddingham or Juno Temple "Ted Lasso"

Commentary - This is a battle of the Hannah's. Hannah Einbinder benefits from not having any internal competition, but I think she loses out to the power of Hannah Waddingham. These voters clearly love Ted Lasso, and she is fantastic in the show. I would love to see her win, or even her co-star Juno Temple, who is equally great. This race though, is Waddingham's to lose.