2020 Emmy Predictions for Limited Series & Movies: Matt Roush’s Picks
When the 2020 Emmy Awards air on September 20 on ABC, prepare for some big changes. But with or without a pandemic, we can always count on the increasingly competitive nature of the various races, with so many more platforms and so much talent vying for recognition.
Below, critic Matt Roush analyzes the categories, suggesting which nominees are most likely to, and should, win. And after having scoured the official ballot, he also points out contenders he wishes had made the cut.
Scroll down for Matt’s picks in the categories of Limited Series, Television Movie, Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Lead Actress, in a Limited Series or Movie, Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, and Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.
72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Sunday, September 20, 8/7c, ABC
CATEGORY: Limited Series
Little Fires Everywhere, Hulu
Mrs. America, FX on Hulu
Unbelievable, Netflix
Unorthodox, Netflix
Watchmen, HBO
Much of the best work seen anywhere on TV is being produced in this format, making the limited-series category among the most prestigious. Watchmen clearly has the momentum with its provocative themes of racial injustice as context to a mind-blowing superhero parable. Its greatest challenger: the dazzlingly retro history lesson of Mrs. America, with an astonishing ensemble cast of superlative actresses giving spot-on portrayals of public figures on both sides of the feminist divide.
Most Likely to Win
Watchmen
Should Win
Mrs. America
Wish They'd Been Nominated
Devs, The Eddy, Normal People, The Plot Against America, Years and Years
CATEGORY: Television Movie
American Son, Netflix
Bad Education, HBO
Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones, Netflix
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Netflix
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend, Netflix
As strong as the limited-series field is, that’s how weak this category has become. Residual affection for Breaking Bad could carry El Camino over the finish line — although that theory didn’t help Deadwood last year. HBO used to own this category, and with no Black Mirror entries in the running (after winning the last three years), the satirical and expertly acted Bad Education may go to the head of the class.
Most Likely to Win
El Camino or Bad Education (a toss-up)
Should Win
Abstaining
Wish It Had Been Nominated
Patsy & Loretta
CATEGORY: Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
Hugh Jackman, Bad Education
Paul Mescal, Normal People
Jeremy Pope, Hollywood
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True
Nailing a physically and emotionally challenging dual role as tormented twin brothers in the year’s most relentlessly downbeat project, Mark Ruffalo is as close to a sure-thing winner as you’ll get this year. Unless … Hugh Jackman‘s charming con man or the acclaimed TV debut of Paul Mescal in the intimately observed Normal People produces an upset.
Most Likely to Win, Should Win
Mark Ruffalo
Possible Spoilers
Hugh Jackman, Paul Mescal
Wish They'd Been Nominated
Russell Crowe, The Loudest Voice (a startling snub); Sacha Baron Cohen, The Spy; André Holland, The Eddy; Nick Offerman, Devs; Aaron Paul, El Camino; Morgan Spector, The Plot Against America; Russell Tovey,Years and Years
CATEGORY: Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Shira Haas, Unorthodox
Regina King, Watchmen
Octavia Spencer, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere
Talk about your power players. Regina King will almost surely add to her bulging Emmy and Oscar trophy shelf, thrillingly breaking pop-cultural ground as a Black superhero and masked vigilante taking on white supremacists. Cate Blanchett is equally formidable as Mrs. America‘s self-assured anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly, humanizing what could easily have been a caricature. The dark horse: newcomer Shira Haas as a young Jewish woman who finds her true identity upon fleeing an arranged marriage. This is a tough call.
Most Likely to Win
Regina King
Should Win
Cate Blanchett
Possible Spoiler
Shira Haas
Wish They'd Been Nominated
Kaitlyn Dever and Merritt Wever, Unbelievable; Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People; Zoe Kazan, The Plot Against America; Megan Hilty and Jessie Mueller, Patsy & Loretta
CATEGORY: Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen
Jovan Adepo, Watchmen
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the
Reverend
Louis Gossett Jr., Watchmen
Dylan McDermott, Hollywood
Jim Parsons, Hollywood
If Watchmen sweeps, any of the three co-stars could take this — and it would be particularly satisfying for Louis Gossett Jr., as a bookend to his 1977 win for Roots. But Ryan Murphy’s colorful Hollywood provided plentiful opportunity for vivid scene stealing. And while Big Bang Theory veteran Jim Parsons is favored for playing a real-life predatory agent to the hilt, I was more taken by Dylan McDermott‘s charismatic spin as a gleefully mercenary sex merchant operating out of a gas station.
Most Likely to Win
Jim Parsons
Should Win
Dylan McDermott
Possible Spoilers
Anyone from Watchmen
Wish They'd Been Nominated
George Takei, The Terror: Infamy; John Turturro, The Plot Against America
CATEGORY: Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Holland Taylor, Hollywood
Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America
Margo Martindale, Mrs. America
Tracey Ullman, Mrs. America
Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Jean Smart, Watchmen
Couldn’t we declare a draw and let each of these fabulous talents win? Each actress in the Mrs. America triumvirate is deserving, although I have a special soft spot for Margo Martindale‘s larger-than-life Bella Abzug. Still, my vote would go to Toni Collette as the jaded detective tracking a serial rapist in the gripping Unbelievable. The Emmy, however, is probably destined for Jean Smart, bringing a witheringly acerbic edge to FBI Agent Laurie Blake.
Most Likely to Win
Jean Smart
Should Win
Toni Collette
Possible Spoilers
Any of the divine Mrs. America character actresses
Wish They'd Been Nominated
Rose Byrne and Sarah Paulson, Mrs. America; Hong Chau, Watchmen; Allison Janney, Bad Education; Emma Thompson, Years and Years
