Tonight is the 70th annual Primetime Emmy Awards and there are a lot of great actors, actresses, writers, and shows in contention. I have a lot of beef with the Emmys because I disagree with their selections often so I’m not going to tell you who I think will win, I’m going to tell you who deserves to win. Now to clarify I don’t watch every single show that is nominated tonight but I do watch a lot of tv so I’ve seen most of them. Also I’m not going to do every single award, only the ones that interest me. Let’s get to it.
Best Comedy Series : Always Sunny In Philadelphia
I am just going to ignore the actual nominations for this one because it is absolute bullshit that Always Sunny has NEVER been nominated for an Emmy. Not once. Are you fucking kidding me? It is so much more original, and funnier than every comedy out there. It’s a modern, darker Seinfeld. It is the perfect caricature of asshole, white northeastern urbanites. You aren’t supposed to like the characters because they are terrible people but you somehow end up loving them. There are some good comedies nominated tonight and I would pick Atlanta if I had to, but I had to give Always Sunny some love here since the Emmys won’t.
Best Drama Series: Game of Thrones
Huge clarification here that I don’t watch The Americans, Westworld, or The Handmaid’s Tale. I’m guessing one of those actually wins I just haven’t seen them, but Game of Thrones is my pick. Listen, I know GoT has dropped off in pacing and writing since they got past the end of the published books, but it is still the drama I look forward to the most. That’s how I judge best dramas: by how anxious I am to see what happens next. GoT on Sunday Nights is an event for all of Twitter. The timeline is never better than that unless there’s a good NBA game going on. That all factors into my equation which is why GoT is the best.
Best Leading Actor In A Comedy Series: Bill Hader
He probably isn’t going to win and I legitimately love everyone else nominated for this, but Bill Hader deserves to win for Barry. Barry is really good on HBO if you haven’t seen it and Hader displays such a wide range. He goes from deadpan comedy to very serious drama in the change of a scene. He really carries that show along with some good supporting actors and it is becoming one of my favorite comedies.
Best Leading Actress In A Comedy Series: Issa Rae
Issa Rae has the best smile on planet earth. Also she is so good in Insecure on HBO which is now one of my favorite comedies. She also is the writer and creator which earns her points with me. I think the situations she highlights in Insecure are as real and relatable as anything from Seinfeld. You actually end up disliking her character for doing certain things but it’s what makes her performance so good.
Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series: Zazie Beets
I love Atlanta on FX and Zazie Beets, along with the rest of the amazing cast, is a big reason why. While Earn and Paperboi give you a look into an emerging rap star and his manager, Beets’ character “Vee” gives you a look into the woman behind those men. She really captures the role of the girlfriend/baby mama of a struggling music manager. Vee is appreciative of Earn trying to earn a good living for her and her daughter but she isn’t going to put up with Earn’s shit as well. She plays a conflicted character and does a great job at it.
Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series: Brian Tyree Henry
Another Atlanta winner. This almost seems unfair since Henry isn’t really a supporting character, he carries the show just as much as Glover. But he is in the category and his performance is that good so he is my pick. His character “Paperboi” fucking kills me as much as any character on TV right now. The episode where he was trying to get a cut from his erratic barber was one of the funnier episodes of TV in recent memory. His reactions and facial expressions are such a big part of his performance and he is a really talented actor. I love his funny interactions with Darius, Tracy, and others and then his serious one-on-one scenes with Earn is some of my favorite TV out there. He really does deserve this and I hope he gets it.
Best Actor In A Drama Series: Jason Bateman
It’s The Bate Man baby. Jason Bateman is one of the most versatile actors out there starring in classic comedies like Arrested Development while also putting out a banger of a drama in Ozark. Ozark season 1 was good yet a tad slow, but season 2…Season 2 is one of the best seasons of TV I have seen in a few years and Bateman is a large reason why. His role as an asshole, in over his head, cartel money launderer/father is a perfect use of his talents. If you haven’t seen Ozark watch it now and make sure you get to Season 2.
Best Actress In A Drama Series: Elisabeth Moss
I’m going to be honest here, I don’t watch any of the shows these lovely women are in. But I am going to pick Elisabeth moss because she was a badass as Peggy Olson in Mad Men.
Supporting Actress In A Drama Series: Millie Bobby Brown
I’m going with 11 because she is a bad ass bitch in Stranger Things and I genuinely think Millie Bobby Brown (fire name by the way) gives the best performance despite being a teenager. The type of character she has to play is so unusual and rare yet she completely nails it. I really hope she takes home the hardware and I’m looking forward to seeing her in that new Godzilla movie that looks incredible.
Supporting Actor In A Drama Series: David Harbour
David Harbour was 11’s counterpart last season and their scenes together are a big reason why I still loved Season 2 of Stranger Things despite others’ complaints. His character “Hopper” has so much charm and wit but also kills the dramatic scenes he has with 11 and Winona Ryder. He is the perfect casting for this role and a big reason why the show is so good.
The Wise Guy 