Emmy Awards 2021: Top predictions for who will win

TV’s biggest night is finally back on the big stage and these are the shows that are tipped to win a gong at the Emmy Awards.

An unhappy princess, the world’s favourite soccer coach, a superhero breakthough and a posthumous win for a much-loved star, are just some of the many talking points as the Emmy Awards make their very welcome return to the big stage after last year’s drab virtual event.

While Monday’s gala ceremony in Los Angeles is likely to look a little different to previous years, the stars will be back on the red carpet, albeit in limited numbers.

Host Cedric the Entertainer has hinted he will live up to his moniker and wow viewers with a massive opening to the ceremony which celebrates all things on the small screen.

While she’s not likely to win, all Aussies will be cheering on Yvonne Strahovski to win best supporting actress in a Drama for her role in The Handmaid’s Tale. Picture: Supplied

Seems he won’t be one of those hosts who disappears for long periods of time either, telling Variety “I don’t want to be the maitre d’ walking you in and sitting you down, just being a traffic cop.”

Unfortunately, there is little in the way of homegrown talent for us to cheer on. Yvonne Strahovski is the only Aussie flying the flag this year after Nicole Kidman and Joel Edgerton missed out.

But all eyes are on heavyweight productions The Crown and The Mandalorian which topped the list of nominations for the 73rd Emmy Awards with 24, WandaVision received 23, followed by The Handmaid’s Tale and Saturday Night Live with 21 each and then Ted Lasso with 20.

But there will be room for some shocks among the winners.

Outstanding Drama Series

The Boys

Bridgerton

The Crown

The Mandalorian

Lovecraft Country

Pose

The Handmaid’s Tale

This Is Us

Lisa Woolford: Let’s just, well, crown The Crown here, the fourth season of the royal drama was its most impressive yet and deserves to reign supreme.

James Wigney: My inner nerd is cheering for the very worthy The Mandalorian – or even The Boys – but The Crown looks like a pretty safe bet to ascend to the throne at last.

Tiffany Bakker: This looks to be the year the royal family period piece The Crown finally walks away with the top gong.

Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard and Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso. Picture: Supplied

Outstanding Comedy Series

Black-ish

Cobra Kai

Pen15

Emily in Paris

Hacks

Ted Lasso

The Flight Attendant

The Kominsky Method

LW: Give all of the awards to Ted Lasso, for all of the categories it’s nominated in. Let’s hope, to quote the inspirational coach, they all go out like Willie Nelson – on a high!

JW: I’ve been banging the Ted Lasso drum since before the first series even came out and I’m not about to stop now. Believe.

TB: Hacks, Hacks, Hacks, Jean Smart, Hacks.

UK actor Josh O'Connor has grown into the role of Prince Charles in this fourth season of the The Crown. Picture: Netflix.

Lead Actor, Drama

Regé-Jean Page, Bridgerton

Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us

Billy Porter, Pose

Jonathan Majors, Lovecraft Country

Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason

Josh O’Connor, The Crown

LW: Look we all want to see Rege-Jean Page taking home the statue for his, um, passionate role in Bridgerton. But, it’s more likely to be O’Connor.

JW: Matthew Rhys’ understated title role in Perry Mason was impressive, but O’Connor really grew into his portrayal of Prince Charles this year and will make a worthy winner.

TB: O’Connor’s performance as Prince Charles in The Crown pegged him as a star on the rise. Watch for Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page as a smokey.

Mj Rodriguez in Pose faces some stiff competition in her category. Picture: Supplied

Lead Actress, Drama

Emma Corrin, The Crown

Olivia Colman, The Crown

Uzo Aduba, In Treatment

Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale

Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country

Mj Rodriguez, Pose

LW: My money’s on Olivia Colman. Unless art imitates life and her co-star Crown newcomer Emma Corrin as Princess Diana steals the Queen’s thunder. Again.

JW: Emma Corrin was an absolute revelation in a role that asked a lot and should see her edge past the excellent Rodriguez and on-screen mother-in-law Colman.

TB: She made history as the first transgender actress nominated in the lead actress category, but MJ Rodriguez’s performance was the heart and soul of groundbreaking series, Pose.

Michael K. Williams was already a favourite in the supporting actor category, before he was found dead in his Brooklyn home earlier this month. Picture: Rodrigo Varela

Supporting Actor, Drama

Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country

Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid’s Tale

Max Minghella, The Handmaid’s Tale

O-T Fagbenle, The Handmaid’s Tale

John Lithgow, Perry Mason

Tobias Menzies, The Crown

Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian

Chris Sullivan, This Is Us

LW: There’s some seriously stiff competition in this category, but Lovecraft Country’s Michael K. Williams should win posthumously for his heart-wrenching performance.

JW: Pretty hard to go past Michael K. Williams deservedly winning his first major award posthumously, with Menzies and Esposito the only serious other contenders.

TB: Michael K. Williams should have won for The Wire, the Night Of, When They See Us … the list goes on. He’ll win posthumously for the cancelled fantasy series.

Gillian Anderson was stunning as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown. Picture: Netflix

Supporting Actress, Drama

Gillian Anderson, The Crown

Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

Emerald Fennell, The Crown

Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale

Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale

Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale

Madeline Brewer, The Handmaid’s Tale

Aunjanue Ellis, Lovecraft Country

LW: My heart wants it to be the only Aussie nominated this year in Strahovski, but my head says Gillian Anderson has an iron-fisted grip on the trophy after stepping seamlessly into Maggie Thatcher’s very practical shoes.

JW: Despite its strong showing here, The Handmaid’s Tale has been spinning its wheels for more than a season now, while Anderson absolutely knocked Maggie Thatcher out of the park. Scully for the win.

TB: With apologies to Aussie Yvonne Strahovski, it’s got to be Gillian Anderson who killed it as Margaret Thatcher.

Give all the awards to Jason Sudeikis and Ted Lasso. Picture: Supplied

Lead Actor, Comedy

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish

Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method

William H. Macy, Shameless

Kenan Thompson, Kenan

LW: Already said – all the Emmys to Ted Lasso and especially to Jason Sudeikis as the man behind the main man.

JW: Sudeikis is an absolute lock and for very good reason. Bonus points if he wears that hoodie again.

TB: What Ted Lasso fatigue? Ted and his biscuits all the way!

Hannah Einbinder as Ava and Jean Smart as Deborah Vance in Hacks. Picture: HBOMax

Lead Actress, Comedy

Aidy Bryant, Shrill

Jean Smart, Hacks

Allison Janney, Mom

Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant

Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

LW: Tracee Ellis Ross and Allison Janney are mainstays in this category, but Jean Smart was ah-may-mazing in Hacks and should earn her first Emmy in two decades

JW: My rule of thumb is when in doubt, give the award to Alison Janney. But there’s no doubt here, the smart money’s on Smart.

TB: Smart with the performance of the year – there’s no one else! Except for maybe Kaley Cuoco.

He’s here, he’s there, he’s every-f***ing-where, Roy Kent, Roy Kent! Brett Goldstein for the win. Picture: Frazer Harrison/FilmMagic

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series

Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live

Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live

Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso

Brendan Hunt, Ted Lasso

Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso

Jeremy Swift, Ted Lasso

Paul Reiser, The Kominsky Method

Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Hacks

LW: I know I said all the awards to that show, but if I’m being true to myself – as Coach Lasso would want me to be – actors in final seasons attract the sentimental vote, so Reiser might get the nod.

JW: He’s here, he’s there, he’s every-f***ing-where, Roy Kent, Roy Kent! Brett Goldstein to score big.

TB: If there’s a better character on TV than Goldstein’s brilliantly grouchy Roy Kent, I’ll give you a Kent-esque f*** o** in response.

Hannah Waddingham is the ultimate Boss girl in Ted Lasso. Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Supporting Actress, Comedy

Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Cecily Strong, Saturday Night Live

Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live

Rosie Perez, The Flight Attendant

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks

Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Juno Temple, Ted Lasso

LW: It happened at the Olympics, so why not Waddingham and Temple as the first joint Emmy winners? If I’m forced to pick, it’s Waddingham by a hair – a very immaculately groomed hair.

JW: Waddingham and Temple are both worthy winners but might just split the vote for Einbinder to score a last-minute winner.

TB: Waddingham gives a beating heart and charm to a character that could be stand-offish.

Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in the mega Netflix series The Queen's Gambit. Picture: Supplied

Outstanding Limited Series

Mare of Easttown

I May Destroy You

WandaVision

The Queen’s Gambit

The Underground Railroad

LW: Mare of Easttown could race away with the win, but I think we’ve all forgotten how The Queen’s Gambit was Netflix’s biggest-scripted series to date with 62 million household views. I say checkmate.

JW: Maybe the night’s hardest category to pick. WandaVision was a super impressive TV debut for Marvel, Mare Of Easttown was riveting start to finish, but in the end The Queen’s Gambit had all the best moves.

TB: Mare of Easttown. Because viewers love murder mysteries. But they love the messy entanglements of family more.

Kate Winslet as the Philly cheesesteak-eating, flannel-wearing detective in from Mare Of Easttown. Picture: Supplied

Lead Actor, Limited Series or Movie

Paul Bettany, WandaVision

Hugh Grant, The Undoing

Ewan McGregor, Halston

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton

Leslie Odom Jr., Hamilton

LW: Ewan McGregor was super impressive as Roy Halston. But Hugh Grant was at his absolute best in the whodunit mystery/psychological thriller.

JW: Hate to see Lin-Manuel Miranda miss out, and superheroes generally don’t feel the love at awards shows, but Bettany will break the mould for his dual role.

TB: As one half of a superhero couple, Bettany put in the performance of his career.

Lead Actress, Limited Series or Movie

Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown

Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You

Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit

Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision

Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha

LW: All five pulled amazing performances, and plenty of pundits are tipping Kate Winslet, but there was major pushback when Coel and I May Destroy You were snubbed at the Globes – you’d think that wouldn’t be repeated here.

JW: Kate the great is hard to go past, but Taylor-Joy made chess both sexy and suspenseful and surely deserves an award for that.

TB: It’s Detective Kate in flannel eating a Philly cheesesteak for me.

We knew it was Agatha all along ... Kathryn Hahn was fabulous in WandaVision. Picture: Frazer Harrison

Supporting Actress, Limited Series or Movie

Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown

Julianne Nicholson, Mare of Easttown

Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision

Phillipa Soo, Hamilton

Renee Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton

Moses Ingram, The Queen’s Gambit

LW: I would so love to see Smart do the double on the night. However, Hahn is firming as a favourite.

JW: It turns out it WAS Agatha all along – Hahn’s witchy woman to cast an irresistible spell here.

TB: It’s Jean’s world and we’re just living in it.

Evan Peters in Mare of Easttown. Picture: Supplied

Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie

Daveed Diggs, Hamilton

Jonathan Groff, Hamilton

Anthony Ramos, Hamilton

Thomas Brodie-Sangster, The Queen’s Gambit

Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown

Paapa Essiedu, I May Destroy You

LW: Peters was the talk of social media for his role as Detective Colin Zabel, give it to him for his shocking final ep.

JW: Peters has a good shot for his ill-fated cop, but all-singing, all-dancing Diggs just dazzled in the difficult dual role of Lafayette/Jefferson and should be rewarded.

TB: It’s a toss-up between Peters for Mare and Essiedu in I May Destroy You.

Last Week Tonight host John Oliver has won five years in a row - Can Conan’s farewell season knock him off his perch?. Picture: Supplied/Foxtel

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

A Black Lady Sketch Show

Saturday Night Live

Conan

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

LW: While there’ll be a swell of nostalgia for Conan as he farewells his talk show this year – I’m not sure he can end Oliver’s five-year streak.

JW: It has to be Oliver – one of the few bright spots of the Trump era was the Brit making comedy gold from his lunacy and lies.

TB: A Black Lady Sketch Show might just knock SNL off its perch.

Ru Paul's Drag Race is the most feel-good reality show on TV. Picture: Supplied

Outstanding Competition Program

The Amazing Race

Nailed It!

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Top Chef

The Voice

LW: Third time could be a charm for Nailed it!, but it probably needs to bake a little longer to shake RuPaul’s Drag Race.

JW: The Amazing Race has proved to be an impressive stayer, but RuPaul looks like the winner of this race.

TB: The most feel-good reality show on TV – RuPaul’s Drag Race for the win.

Host Nicole Byer - can she nail this nomination? Picture: Supplied

Host, Reality

RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race

Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye

Nicole Byer, Nailed It!

Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons, Top Chef

Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, and Kevin O’Leary, Shark Tank

LW: Love, love, love Nicole Byer – so here’s hoping she truly nails this nom.

JW: There’s no RuPaul’s Drag Race without the queen, so start polishing that crown.

TB: No competition, it’s the eleganza extravaganza of RuPaul.

73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, Monday, 8am Red Carpet, E!, 10am Ceremony (encore 7.30pm), Fox Arena. Or On Demand on Binge

Originally published as Emmy Awards 2021: Top predictions for who will win