I find it ironic that I am here writing about “the best in TV” for my final Emmy Predictions when some of the best television has been happening over the last few weeks with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What more could you want? Lots of suspense, drama, and edge-of-your-seat thrills. Honestly, there haven’t been too many shows this year that have given me this level of excitement. Unfortunately, none of that matters when it comes to the Emmys.
I find predicting the Emmys to be challenging, and yet predictable, all at the same time. On one hand, they choose their repeated favorites over and over again, especially when it comes to the winners. But then you can’t predict which show they will suddenly go cold on or get fired up for. So, I suspect there will be a healthy mix of all of that typical oddness when the Emmys announce their nominations Wednesday morning.
Before I get to my final predictions, I just want to give some shoutouts to a few of my favorite shows and performances that I hope to see nominated this year:
- Landman – I am surprised by how much I love this show. Billy Bob Thornton is absolutely brilliant, as is Sam Elliott. I really hope to see several nominations for this show, but I fear it isn’t the taste of many voters. It really deserves all the love, in my opinion.
- Shrinking – I will forever be upset with myself for not getting into this show sooner. I don’t know if there is a better ensemble cast on TV right now. Everyone is working in perfect unison in every scene. Jason, Harrison, Jessica, Michael, Christa, and Ted are all wonderful and deserve nominations.
- Rooster – I loved this show so much. There was something incredibly comforting about watching it. I thought it was hilarious and exactly the kind of show that draws you into a community of unique personalities. Steve Carell is back, and I would love to watch him win if he got nominated, even if it is a long shot!
- The Gilded Age – I do not care what anyone has to say about this show. It is wonderful. I get so swept up in period shows and films, and this one does not disappoint. The costumes, the sets, the acting…it is a show that has it all!
- Kathy Bates, Matlock – The show itself has a lot of cheesiness to it, but Kathy is just so good. I love her as an actress, and I love seeing her get work that brings her back into the awards conversation.
- Michelle Pfeiffer – This is a comeback year for Pfeiffer, who is in contention for two shows, The Madison and Margo’s Got Money Problems. I would give her the Emmy for either one, honestly. Michelle is a force to be reckoned with in both series. The Madison is more my style than Margo’s Got Money Problems, but that’s just me. Both shows and performances rightly deserve their place in the Emmy conversation, and they would be very welcome nominations!
Now, let’s get to my final predictions. I am only predicting the main series and acting categories.
Jerm’s Final Main Category Emmy Predictions
Drama Series
- The Diplomat
- The Gilded Age
- Landman
- Paradise
- The Pitt
- Pluribus
- Slow Horses
- Task
Drama Actress
- Kathy Bates, Matlock
- Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
- Michelle Pfeiffer, The Madison
- Keri Russell, The Diplomat
- Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
Drama Actor
- Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
- Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
- Mark Ruffalo, Task
- Billy Bob Thornton, Landman
- Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Drama Supporting Actress
- Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
- Fiona Dourif, The Pitt
- Allison Janney, The Diplomat
- Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
- Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt
- Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
- Karolina Wydra, Pluribus
Drama Supporting Actor
- Patrick Ball, The Pitt
- Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
- Sam Elliott, Landman
- Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
- Gerran Howell, The Pitt
- Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
- Tom Pelphrey, Task
Comedy Series
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- The Comeback
- Hacks
- Margo’s Got Money Problems
- Only Murders in the Building
- Shrinking
- Widow’s Bay
Comedy Actress
- Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
- Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
- Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Problems
- Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
- Jean Smart, Hacks
Comedy Actor
- Steve Carell, Rooster
- Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
- Jason Segel, Shrinking
- Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
- Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Comedy Supporting Actress
- Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
- Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
- Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
- Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Problems
- Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
- Megan Stalter, Hacks
- Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Comedy Supporting Actor
- Paul W. Downs, Hacks
- Harrison Ford, Shrinking
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
- Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Problems
- Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
- Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
- Michael Urie, Shrinking
Limited Series
- Beef
- The Beast in Me
- DTF St. Louis
- Half Man
- Love Story
Movie
- Deep Cover
- Miss You, Love You
- People We Meet on Vacation
- Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Swiped
Movie/Limited Actress
- Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
- Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Carey Mulligan, Beef
- Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story
- Sarah Snook, All Her Fault
Movie/Limited Actor
- Jamie Bell, Half Man
- Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Oscar Isaac, Beef
- Paul Anthony Kelly, Love Story
- Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Movie/Limited Supporting Actress
- Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
- Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault
- Grace Gummer, Love Story
- Cailee Spaeny, Beef
- Naomi Watts, Love Story
- Youn Yuh-jung, Beef
Movie/Limited Supporting Actor
- Jonathan Banks, The Beast in Me
- Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis
- Richard Gadd, Half Man
- David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
- Troy Kotsur, Black Rabbit
- Charles Melton, Beef
Now, does any of this mean I’m going to get everything right? Absolutely not. The Emmys have a way of humbling even the most confident predictor. Every year there’s a surprise nominee, a shocking snub, and at least one category that leaves us all scratching our heads wondering what the voters were thinking. That’s part of the fun, though! Hopefully my predictions will hold up, but like I said, with the Emmys, you just never know!
With that, my friends, let me know your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see how it all shakes out Wednesday morning!
As always, be kind, be respectful, and of course…Let’s Talk Television!
