Best Drama Series
Winner - Heartstopper
Runners Up - Better Call Saul, Euphoria, Pachinko, Severance, Stranger Things, Succession, This is Us, Yellowjackets
Commentary - Better Call Saul, Succession, and This is Us are all previous winners, and had great seasons. So did Stranger Things, Yellowjackets, Severance, and Pachinko. I am going out on a limb for a show that didn't even submit for these Emmys (they went for the upcoming youth ones where they will probably clean up in the nominations). When I thought about the Drama series this year that I enjoyed every single moment of, and was also incredibly well done, I always came back to Heartstopper. Heartstopper is the show that every one of us who ever felt different in high school needed back in the day. It is sweet, happy, and tackles challenging issues with care and concern, and never turns itself into a tragedy (Euphoria could learn a little here). Impeccably acted, beautifully wrought, and joyful to a fault, Heartstopper was my heart-stopping favorite of the bunch.
Best Comedy Series
Winners - (TIE) Abbott Elementary and Hacks
Runners Up - Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Better Things, What We Do in the Shadows, Somebody Somewhere, Insecure,
Commentary - A lot of great shows ended this year, and I will dearly miss them. There were also some delightful surprises in the form of new and returning shows. I got my list down to two, and I couldn't narrow it any further. First, there is Hacks, returning for its second season and managing to expand its world, make the show sharper and darker while still uproariously funny, and deepen the disturbing yet beautiful relationship between its two main characters. Second, there is Abbott Elementary. Every year we hear about the death of broadcast television, and then a show comes along that proves that there is still creativity and quality on an old medium. This year, that show was Abbott Elementary. From the mind of the fantastic Quinta Brunson, with an outstanding cast, whose chemistry is astounding, this show was funny, fresh, tackles the struggles of public school teachers, and is also heartfelt. A surprising and welcomed addition to the comedy landscape.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Winners - (TIE) Sterling K. Brown "This is Us" and Brian Cox "Succession"
Runners Up - Jason Bateman "Ozark", Kit Connor and Joe Locke "Heartstopper", Adam Scott "Severance", Jeremy Strong "Succession"
Commentary - Brian Cox had an amazing season on Succession, continuing to bring his brand of ferocity, evil, and yet subtle charm to the patriarchal role. But I could not leave this year without recognizing the amazing talents of Sterling K. Brown. He has been magnetic and jaw-dropping on This is Us for the last several years, and is an amazing talent. His iconic role in this show will not be forgotten anytime soon.
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Mandy Moore “This is Us”
Runners Up - Christine Baranski “The Good Fight”, Laura Linney “Ozark”, Melanie Lynskey “Yellowjackets”, Zendaya “Euphoria”
Commentary - How in the holy hell of the television gods did Mandy Moore miss an Emmy nomination this year? This final season saw her character's declining health become the emotional core of story, and she was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The TCA voters got it right, and Emmy voters will not be left off the hook anytime soon for not following suit.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - (TIE) Matt Berry “What We Do in the Shadows” and Kayvan Novak “What We Do in the Shadows”
Runners Up - Steve Martin “Only Murders in the Building”, Martin Short “Only Murders in the Building”, Diedrich Bader “Better Things”
Commentary - Everyone is talking about the dynamic duo of Martin and Short in Only Murders (they are great by the way, make no mistake), but I thought there was another dynamic lead male duo that crushed this season. Of course I am talking about Matt Berry and Kayvan Novak for What We Do in the Shadows. This show is just so funny and ridiculous, and these actors do an excellent job of leaning into the crazy, including these two great lead performers.
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Bridget Everett “Somebody Somewhere”
Runners Up - Pamela Adlon "Better Things", Quinta Brunson "Abbott Elementary", Issa Rae "Insecure", Jean Smart "Hacks", Robin Thede "A Black Lady Sketch Show"
Commentary - Somebody Somewhere was this little gem of a dramedy series that made you laugh and cry. It was so good, and so underrated. At its center is a devastating, beautiful, funny, and magnetic performance from the great cabaret performer Bridget Everett. In a year of magnificent performances, Everett rose to the top.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Kieran Culkin “Succession”
Runners Up - Jonathan Banks “Better Call Saul”, Billy Crudup “The Morning Show”, Matthew Macfayden “Succession”, and Chris Sullivan “This is Us”
Commentary - Culkin's character in Succession is engaging, funny, horrible, psychologically screwed, vulnerable, and no matter how grotesque he can be, you cannot look away. Culkin brings a swagger and confidence, while exploring the sad side of a character that makes TV more fun.
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - (TIE) J. Smith-Cameron “Succession” and Sarah Snook “Succession”
Runners Up - Julia Garner “Ozark”, Sadie Sink “Stranger Things”, and Sydney Sweeney “Euphoria”
Commentary - These two awesome women bring ferocity and depth to Succession, a very male-dominiated show. Snook is sarcastic, vulnerable, and can challenge her brothers and father in a way that only a sister and daughter can. Smith-Cameron is a quiet storm that slowly, but assuredly, works her way into your heart and conscious. Two magnificent performances for the ages.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Andre Braugher “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Runners Up - Harvey Guillen “What We Do in the Shadows”, Brett Goldstein “Ted Lasso”, Paul W. Downs “Hacks”
Commentary - Brooklyn Nine-Nine ended this year, and while it never really recovered from its initial cancellation, and had to navigate and incredible influx of important civic discussions about policing in America, it still managed to be one of the most refreshing, funny, and honest comedy series of the last decade. At its heart is Captain Holt, played with deadpan greatness by the legendary Andre Braugher. Of all the characters, Holt is who I will miss most. That is proof of the endearing talent of this television treasure.
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Winners - (TIE) Janelle James “Abbott Elementary” and Sheryl Lee Ralph “Abbott Elementary”
Runners Up - Erika Alexander “Run the World”, Hannah Einbinder “Hacks”, Lisa Ann Walter “Abbott Elementary”
Commentary - I love these two performances in Abbott Elementary. James is raucous, ridiculous, and, just when you thought she was a caricature, shows a depth of character rarely reserved for the comedic support. Sheryl Lee Ralph is an underrated, hardworking character acting legend. Her finally getting the recognition she deserves is the highlight of the Emmy season. As the matriarch Barbara, she warmed our hearts, made us miss our lost parents and grandparents, and made us laugh with a warmth that is irreplaceable.
Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Winner - Colman Domingo “Euphoria”
Runners Up - Alexander Skarsgaard “Succession” and Ron Cephas Jones “This is Us”
Commentary - YAY!!! Colman Domingo's Emmy win ranks as one of my favorites of this Emmy season. His character in Euphoria is the moral conscious, and I chalk this win up to not only this season, but to his fantastic performance in the off-shoot Rue episode that came out last year. A hard-working actor finally getting his due is a phenomenon I will never get tired of witnessing, and Domingo is just the latest to join that elusive club.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Winner - Harriet Walter “Succession”
Runners Up - Martha Kelly “Euphoria”, Olivia Colman “Heartstopper”, Sanaa Lathan “Succession”
Commentary - Walter's recurring brutality on Succession is brilliant, scene-stealing, and at times jaw-dropping.
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner - Nathan Lane “Only Murders in the Building”
Runners Up - Craig Robinson “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, and Jerrod Carmichael “Saturday Night Live”
Commentary - Nathan Lane never won a Primetime Emmy until last weekend, and while I hate that this was his first, he definitely deserved recognition for his role in Only Murders in the Building. His character takes a turn that defines the entire season, and ups the intrigue for the mystery unfolding. Another great turn from an acting legend.
Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner - Harriet Samson Harris “Hacks”
Runners Up - Jane Lynch “Only Murders in the Building”, Kaitlin Olson “Hacks”, Sharon Stone “The Flight Attendant”
Commentary - Laurie Metcalf is great, and I am happy she finally won another Emmy after a thirty-year drought. But, the episode I loved the most this season was the one featuring Harriet Sansom Harris. Her funny and emotional episode arch provided the perfect foil for the sharpness of Jean Smart's Deborah, and gave us a deeper look at a well-defined character. Only an actress of Harris' skills could pull off such a mirroring performance with grace and humor.
Best Directing in a Drama Series
Winner - The Duffer Brothers “Stranger Things – Chapter Seven – The Massacre at Hawkins Lab”
Runners Up - Sam Levinson “Euphoria – Stand Still Like a Hummingbird”, Ken Olin “This is Us – The Train”, Thomas Schnauz “Better Call Saul – Plan and Execution”
Commentary - Damn that Hawkins Lab episode. It was horrifying, entertaining, and had a cinematic quality that few television shows master. Shoutout to the Duffer Brothers for raising the stakes and elevating a show that felt like it was past its peak back into the cultural zeitgeist.
Best Writing in a Drama Series
Winner - (TIE) Alice Oseman “Heartstopper – Boyfriends” and Dan Fogelman “This is Us – Miguel”
Runners Up - Jesse Armstrong “Succession – All the Bells Say”
Commentary - This is Us broke our hearts with its final season, and the backstory that was presented on the episode Miguel was beautifully wrought. Plus, this is a way to honor the great Dan Fogelman for his amazing work across many seasons of This is Us. I also wanted to give a shoutout to the delicate, charming, funny, and emotional work of Alice Oseman, who took her own Heartstopper graphic novels, and beautifully translated them to the screen.
Best Directing in a Comedy Series
Winner - (TIE) Pamela Adlon “Better Things – We Are Not Alone” and Lucia Aniello “Hacks – There Will Be Blood”
Runners Up - Claire Scanlon “Brooklyn Nine-Nine – The Last Day Pt. 2”, Prentice Penny “Insecure – Everything Gonna Be Okay?!”, Erica Dunton “Ted Lasso – Rainbow”,
Commentary - Hacks is so sharply directed, so funny, and does a beautiful job with its many set pieces across this season. There is a reason Lucia Aniello won the Emmy last year. But I also needed to reward Pamela Adlon and her beautiful work in Better Things one more time. This show was a gem, and its fanbase understood just how good it was. We will be miss Pam aka Sam, these beloved characters, this beautifully drawn little world, and this amazing show
Best Writing in a Comedy Series
Winner - Quinta Brunson “Abbott Elementary – Pilot”
Runner Up - Adam Reed and Mark Ganek “Archer - Dingo, Baby, Et Cetera”, Joe Hortua and Pamela Adlon “Better Things – London”, Kenya Barris and Robb Chavis “black-ish – If a Black Man Cries in the Woods…”, and Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen “Somebody Somewhere – Tee-Tee Pa-Pah”, and Stefani Robinson “What We Do in the Shadows – The Wellness Center”
Commentary - Quinta Brunson created one of the most clever and popular new shows on broadcast television in a long time. Her Pilot was funny, ingenious, clever, and set the stage for a fantastic season.
Best Limited Series
Winner - The White Lotus
Runners Up - Dopesick, We Own This City, Maid
Commentary - Dopesick, We Own This City, and Maid are all powerful and timely stories that need to be seen. But, like so many, I absolutely loved The White Lotus. It was a dark, raunchy, ridiculous satire about horrible people, that landed perfectly. Awkward, funny, intense, timely, and subversive, with one of the best casts in recent memory, The White Lotus was a treasure of a series.
Best Television Movie
Winner - The Survivor
Runner Up - The Fallout
Commentary - In another weak year for this category, Barry Levinson's The Survivor featuring an excellent turn from Ben Foster, stands out as a pretty solid, albeit not great, winner.
Best Actor in a Limited Series/Television Movie
Winner - Michael Keaton “Dopesick”
Runners Up - Andrew Garfield “Under the Banner of Heaven” and Ben Foster “The Survivor”
Commentary -
Best Actress in a Limited Series/Television Movie
Winner - Margaret Qualley "Maid"
Runners Up - Amanda Seyfried “The Dropout” and Wunmi Mosaku “We Own This City”
Commentary - Margaret Qualley's beautiful performance in Maid is hauntingly important and impeccably wrought by a young actress that is one to watch for in the next couple of years. She keeps this up, and a lot more awards are coming her way.
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Murray Bartlett “The White Lotus”
Runners Up - Will Poulter “Dopesick” and Michael Stuhlbarg “Dopesick”
Commentary - Murray Bartlett had the breakout performance of the year on The White Lotus. His character Armond is the glue that holds the ensemble together. He holds a mirror up to their ridiculousness, while dealing with his own issues at the same time. He is so funny, and his character's journey is so intriuging.
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Jennifer Coolidge “The White Lotus”
Runners Up - Kaitlyn Dever “Dopesick”, Rosario Dawson “Dopesick”, Andie MacDowell “Maid”
Commentary - I have loved Jennifer Coolidge for years, and I am so happy to see her finally get the role that showcases not only her magnetic star power, but her magnificent gift for comedy and emotional range. If she wins tomorrow, it will be my favorite win of the night.
Best Directing in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - Mike White “The White Lotus”
Runners Up - Danny Strong “Dopesick – The People vs. Purdue Pharma”, Jeremy Podewsa “Station Eleven – Unbroken Circle”, Reinaldo Marcus Green “We Own This City”
Commentary - Mike White's beautiful settings up against his dark characters made for a masterclass in character directing.
Best Writing in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Winner - George Pelecanos and David Simon “We Own This City – Part One”
Runners Up - Mike White “The White Lotus” and Danny Strong “Dopesick – The People vs. Purdue Pharma”
Commentary - I will never understand how David Simon shows keep getting ignored. We Own This City was yet again a powerful, potent, and timely series that slowly built over several episodes in brilliant fashion. Simon and Pelecanos have a knack for creating unflashy stories that pack a punch through subtlety and honest. Their work here is yet another great example of their brilliant writing skills.
Best Variety Series
Winner - (TIE) Conan and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Runners Up - A Black Lady Sketch Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers
Commentary - Trevor Noah has really found his groove on The Daily Show, and has made it his own. It was great season. I also have to give a farewell hug to Conan, an under-rewarded show from an under-appreciated talent.
Best Variety Special
Winner - The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar And 50 Cent
Runners Up - Come From Away, Adele: One Night Only, and One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Commentary - Most Super Bowl Halftime shows are eh. But this one was the cultural event of the year. Bringing hip-hop legends to the stage brought a spark to the show that had people dancing in their living rooms and humming the tunes for weeks. A spectacular show.
Best Directing in a Variety Series/Special
Winner - Bridget Stokes “A Black Lady Sketch Show – Save My Edges, I’m a Donor!”
Runners Up - Paul Dugdale “Adele: One Night Only and Hamish Hamilton “The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar And 50 Cent”
Commentary - One of my favorite Creative Art Emmy wins was Bridget Stokes. She made history, and boy she did deserve it. Her creativity and artistry on A Black Lady Sketch Show is unmatched.
Best Writing in a Variety Series/Special
Winner - Jerrod Carmichael “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel”
Runners Up - A Black Lady Sketch Show , The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Commentary - So funny and timely, Rothaniel is an impeccably written stand-up special.
Best Animated Series
Winner - Archer
Runners Up - Arcane, Bob’s Burgers, Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Commentary - Archer wins again for me for that episode that is a nod to the late-great Jessica Walter.
