2019 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

2019 Nomination Predictions
Christine Baranski "The Big Bang Theory"
Cate Blanchett "Documentary Now"
Jane Lynch "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Sandra Oh "Saturday Night Live"
Maya Rudolph "The Good Place"
Wanda Sykes "black-ish"

Other Contenders - Rachel Brosnahan "Saturday Night Live", Emma Thompson "Saturday Night Live", Ann-Margaret "The Kominsky Method", Awkwafina "Saturday Night Live", Fiona Shaw "Fleabag", Sally Phillips "Veep", Molly Shannon "Will & Grace", Octavia Spencer "black-ish", Regina King "The Big Bang Theory", Blythe Danner "Will & Grace"

Commentary - In terms of predicting, Guest acting races are a crap shoot. There is always some jaw-dropper, out-of-nowhere nomination. I am going to play it safe, because I never get the odd-ball nomination right. You can bet that last year's nominee, and perennial Emmy winner Jane Lynch will return for her scene-stealing turn in Mrs. Maisel. I also think that the star power and 2 Oscars behind Cate Blanchett's name will be enough to easily earn her a nomination for Documentary Now. As The Good Place continues to rise in its awards fortunes, I also expect Maya Rudolph to get back in for her turn as The Judge. Beyond those three though, I am not so certain. Of the Saturday Night Live slots, I am picking Sandra Oh for reviews and buzz, but it could easily be Rachel Brosnahan (beloved actress, reviews mixed on performance), Emma Thompson or Awkwafina. Wanda Sykes has been nominated two years in a row for black-ish, over much better competition. I suspect voters will continue to check off her name. Same can be said for Christine Baranski, who has a winning tape, if tapes still mattered. But that leaves off Ann-Margaret, the SNL ladies, Fiona Shaw, Sally Phillps, Molly Shannon, Regina King, Blythe Danner, Octavia Spencer, and the aforementioned unknown quantity that could come out of nowhere.