Emmys 2022 Predictions – Who Will Win vs. Who Should Win
The 2022 Emmy Awards are hours away. Ah yes, tonight is the television equivalent of the Oscars, almost. As we
Toni Gonzales
The 2022 Emmy Awards are hours away. Ah yes, tonight is the television equivalent of the Oscars, almost. As we write this teams of stylists are earning their keep by brushing, steaming and stitching together the perfect look – and then there are the outfits. Actors and creatives are prepping their speeches and downing more caffeine than all of Starbucks have in Seattle.
Before we predict the winners let’s first give you some context and some information that you’ll need to know for tonight’s broadcast.
What You Need To Know – Emmy Edition
The 74th Emmy Awards ceremony is airing live across the country beginning at 8pm EST/5pm PST on NBC. It will stream live for the first time on Peacock. Saturday Night Live’s Keenan Thompson will host from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Emmy Voters
I say this every year but it bears repeating. The Emmys are one of the hardest awards shows to predict. This is especially true this year with more than 20,000 industry professionals voting on the awards. That said, there are certainly some nominees that have been Emmy favorites in years past – I’m looking at you "Succession' and "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver."
Emmy Tidbits
"Succession" on HBO has the most nominations in 2022 with 25 Emmy nominations. "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+) and "The White Lotus" (HBO) each have 20 each. "Hacks" (HBO) and "Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu) tie for the show with the third most nominations with 17 a piece. And in 4th place is HBO’s "Euphoria" with 16 nominations.
Women certainly made their mark this year. Almost half of the directors nominated for a scripted category are female. The same is true in the writing category with almost 40% of the noms going to women.
Believe it or not there are some major A-list celeb names who are nominated for an Emmy for the first time ever. They include Chadwick Boseman ("What If…?"), Jennifer Coolidge ("The White Lotus"), Elle Fanning ("The Great"), Andrew Garfield ("Under the Banner of Heaven"), Oscar Isaac ("Scenes From A Marriage") Peter Sarsgaard ("Dopesick"), and Amanda Seyfried ("The Dropout").
While other actors are getting double the love with more than one nomination. That includes Jason Bateman for both performing in and directing in "Ozark," Quinta Brunson (performing in and writing for "Abbott Elementary"), Julia Garner for acting in both "Ozark" and "Inventing Anna"), Bill Hader (performance, writing and directing for "Barry" and performance for "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), and Steve Martin (performance and writing for "Only Murders in the Building").
Ok, now let’s talk winners. Below is a list of nominees along with our picks of who will win, and who should win in a select few categories.
Who Will Win vs. Who Should Win
Outstanding drama series
“Better Call Saul”
“Euphoria”
“Ozark”
“Severance”
“Squid Game”
“Stranger Things”
“Succession”
“Yellowjackets”
Will Win: “Succession”
This show has rounded up the most unlikable characters and put them on screen for our entertainment. The Emmys have nothing but love for the show about a backstabbing family of the highest order. “Succession” has won in this category twice. Not bad considering tonight's nomination is for their third season.
Should Win: “Better Call Saul”. “Better Call Saul” aired its final season just weeks ago and it was among some of the best television ever – not just for a spinoff, but for any show. BCS has been nominated every year it has aired but never taken home a statue. That said, if they don’t secure the win tonight, there is still hope next year as the show's second part of season six is still eligible.
Lead actor in a drama series
Jason Bateman, “Ozark”
Brian Cox, “Succession”
Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game”
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”
Adam Scott, “Severance”
Jeremy Strong, “Succession”
Should Win: This is perhaps the hardest category to predict. An argument could be made for either Brian Cox or Jeremy Strong of “Succession.” We’ve already established that the Emmys love “Succession.” Then again, Lee Jung-jea killed it (pun fully intended) on “Squid Games.” But, the winner we predict will be Bob Odenkirk. His performance as Gene/Saul/Jimmy was a newborn's hair away from brilliant. Not too bad for a role that started on “Breaking Bad” with just a few episodes before it turned into an entire spin off.
Will Win: Bob Odenkirk. Aside from the above, let us not forget that the man suffered a heart attack while in production on the show's final season. If that does not get him an Emmy we don’t know what will.
Lead actress in a drama series
Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve”
Laura Linney, “Ozark”
Melanie Lynskey, “Yellowjackets”
Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve”
Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”
Zendaya, “Euphoria”
Will Win: We take it back – this may be the hardest category to predict. Melanie Lynskey in “Yellowjackets” is superb as is Laura Linney in “Ozark.” But, that said, we think the name called on stage will be Zendaya.
Should Win: Laura Liney. I would say Linney did her best work as Wendy Byrde in the final season on Netflix. Her “win at all costs” motto was quite the evolution from her character's beginnings. It is comparable to Bryan Cranston’s transformation of Walter White on “Breaking Bad,” but in heels and makeup.
Outstanding comedy series
“Abbott Elementary”
“Barry”
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Hacks”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Ted Lasso”
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
“What We Do in the Shadows”
Will Win: “Ted Lasso”
Should Win: “Ted Lasso” In fact, “Ted Lasso,” for everything – including the President of the United States. Though, I won’t be mad one bit if “Abbot Elementary” brings home the win. Any show that can get people tuning back into a network channel in this day of streaming deserves an award for sure!
Lead actor in a comedy series
Donald Glover, “Atlanta”
Bill Hader, “Barry”
Nicholas Hoult, “The Great”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”
Will Win: Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”
Should Win: Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” But (and this is a big sized but) Bill Hader is excellent in “Barry.” How he manages to get better and better with the role of assassin turned actor is a skill that Hader could sell and make some serious coin on.
Lead actress in a comedy series
Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant”
Elle Fanning, “The Great”
Issa Rae, “Insecure”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Will Win: Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Should Win: Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” Not only does Quinta star in “Abbott Elementary,” she also created it. Now that is a boss-ass move. She made her character not only idealistic and loveable, she made us consider how freaking hard teachers have it today and that alone is worth a lot.
Supporting actor in a comedy series
Anthony Carrigan, “Barry”
Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”
Toheed Jimoh, “Ted Lasso”
Nick Mohammed, “Ted Lasso”
Tony Shalhoub, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”
Henry Winkler, “Barry”
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”
Other hotly debated nominations are in the supporting categories. For the fellas in the category of comedy, three actors from “Ted Lasso” are in the mix with veteran Henry Winkler of “Barry.” Our money is on Brett Goldstein to take home the statue.
Supporting actress in a comedy series
Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
Sarah Niles, “Ted Lasso”
Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”
Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso”
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”
Over in the supporting comedy for the ladies it is a similar situation. “Ted Lasso” has three actresses up for the Emmy. Our money is on Juno Temple or Hannah Waddingham.