Month: July 2017

Welcome to our Emmy predictions chat with your favorite awards-chasers, David and TJ. We’re splitting up the work into a couple different conversations to cover the major acting and series categories. Check out Supporting Acting and Lead Acting we’ve already done… Today we’re looking at the big ones – Best Comedy Series and Best Drama Series

TJ: Best Comedy and Best Drama… The awards people would be waiting for if the Emmys were more like the Academy Awards.

David: wut.

TJ: …Exactly. WHODYA PICK DAVID!?!

Best Comedy SERIES

Last Year’s Nominees:
Veep (Winner)
Black-ish
Master of None
Modern Family
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

David’s Picks:
Atlanta
Veep
Black-ish
Master of None
Transparent
Silicon Valley
Catastrophe

TJ’s Picks:
Atlanta
Veep
Black-ish
Master of None
Transparent
Silicon Valley
Modern Family

David: Of these, all are eligible to come back. You and I have a lot of overlap in shows coming back – we have Black-ish, Master of None, Silicon Valley and Transparent. We both dropped Kimmy.

TJ: I didn’t really get that to begin with. That show is okay and all. Seems to me it’s carried by it’s supporting cast. Never blew me away like the others did.

David: I liked the first season, but I felt like it wore out its welcome from the funny premise. So with the open slot, you kept the rambling corpse of Modern Family and I took a wild and brave shot at Catastrophe.

So TJ… Why do you hate hope?

TJ: Because the last time Modern Family didn’t get nominated was last decade. MOVE BITCH GET OUT THE WAY.

David: That is true for the zero-th season of Modern Family because every single season has been nominated. I went for Catastrophe – with Carrie Fisher’s work on the show being some of the last work she did, I think that show might get a bump – it got a writing nomination last year. Who knows… I’m thoroughly out of the way now.

TJ: Finally…

David: We both have Atlanta and Veep here – both vying for the win. What show do you think is going to win for best comedy?

TJ: Right now? Atlanta. It did so well through last season and Donald Glover is on fire. Veep could definitely pull it off though. I kind of predict them to be my pick come ceremony time.

David: I’m in the same boat – I think Veep will win, but I think this has been the weakest season. I think most still love the show, but I’d be pretty disappointed if Atlanta didn’t win, I’ll be honest.

TJ: Talking about hope, my vote would be for Master of None. My prediction, however, is Atlanta, at the moment. And I’d be perfectly happy if Atlanta won the night.

David: I just finished Master of None recently – a great season with some outstanding episodes in there. What nominee beside our sole difference (Modern Family, Catastrophe) do you think is the most vulnerable?

TJ: Silicon Valley? It seemed to have the least exciting season. And the lack of history, or maybe pedigree, might make it liable for the boot.

David: This morning I had Silicon Valley out… But I put it back in – when I think back on it, I’d much rather watch Silicon Valley than Veep. It’s just more entertaining to me. I might guess Transparent actually… Feels like it’s losing its luster.

But that’s crazy. It’ll never not be nominated.

TJ: Yea…

Best Drama Series

Last Year’s Nominees:
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Homeland
House of Cards
Mr. Robot
Game of Thrones (Winner)
Downton Abbey

David’s Picks:
The Crown
Stranger Things
This Is Us
The Americans
The Handmaid’s Tale
Better Call Saul
The Leftovers

TJ’s Picks:
The Crown
Stranger Things
This Is Us
The Americans
The Handmaid’s Tale
Better Call Saul
Westworld

David: Of these shows, Downton Abbey has concluded, and Game of Thrones is premiering too late for the 2017 Emmys.

TJ: I’ve only got two returning. What about you?

David: Only two here as well. This feels like the year of great new dramas. We share Americans and Better Call Saul returning.

TJ: Sadly, I feel like the winner of this category might be the least kept secret of the Emmys.

David: I do too. I feel like The Crown is gonna take it, and it’s probably the least interesting of the shows we have here (although I did like it). We share all but one nom – you have Westworld, where I went with The Leftovers. Tell me why Westworld is going to make it, where other Sci-Fi shows have not.

TJ: Yea, I liked The Leftovers plenty. But no more or less than Westworld. I also think Westworld is more likely to fill the void left by GoT in the hearts of voters. HBO is also more likely to throw their backing with the show of the future.

David: Good point. I just think that the Westworld cultural phenomenon was so long ago. Sometimes, distance with a show makes the flaws more pronounced. I think The Leftovers finishing up has dominated the stage at the point where Emmy voters are turning in ballots.

TJ: Perhaps.

David: We both think The Crown is gonna win – so let’s close this out. which other show winning would make you the happiest? And which of your slate do you feel is the most vulnerable of missing out on a nomination?

TJ: One: Stranger Things, and two: Stranger Things. That’s not a great feeling, but it’s the only one of my picks that I don’t have a ton of confidence in. Maybe Better Call Saul, but the acting in that show is just too good.

David: Good picks – I’d love if Stranger Things won, but my world would be completely rocked if The Leftovers won – last chance, and such an idiosyncratic treat every week. Most vulnerable… ehh… Maybe The Americans – it came out of nowhere last year, and Emmy history is littered with one-hit wonders that vanish just as fast…

That does it for our main category predictions – we’ll figure out on Wednesday July 13th who comes out on top. And who comes out in the upside-down…

TJ: Sounds good.

~fin~

Well this has been The Media By Us award-chasing the Emmys, looking at our definitive 100% correct predictions for Best Comedy and Drama Series. Check back after 7/13 to see who won!