If there is a category
where the Critics Choice will hear its own drummer, it’s Best Limited Series. Much
of the time they lead, sometimes they follow and just as often they beat their
own path.
In 2022 while The White
Lotus took the first of many awards it would win for Murray Bartlett and
Jennifer Coolidge, the Critics Choice did not nominate it for Best Limited
Series. It gave the grand prize for Mare of Easttown which had won many
awards from the Emmys but had lost Best Limited Series to The Queen’s
Gambit. Last year the Critics Choice were ahead of the curve when they
acknowledged White Lotus was a drama – although the only nominee in that
category was Jennifer Coolidge. As a result, the big winner that night was The
Dropout and the first people the creators thanked was Mike White.
So while it is likely,
even probable the Critics Choice will follow the road and go with Beef for
Best Limited Series, it is far from a sure thing. So here are my predictions:
BEST LIMITED SERIES
At the Astra’s, like with
the Golden Globes, Beef won Best Limited Series in streaming. However
best Broadcast or Cable Limited Series went to A Small Light which like Beef
has four nominations. I won’t deny that part of me really wants Love and
Death to win, considering the Critics Choice were wise enough to nominate
it in this category. Indeed, all of the nominated series are very good choices.
I’m going to give the
barest of edges to Beef, though you can never rule out an upset by Fargo.
The first two seasons it dominated the Critics Choice awards in this
category and it might very well be able to win the grand prize here.
Should Win: Love &
Death/Fargo.
Will Win: Beef.
BEST TV MOVIE
Because many of the
nominees in this category have nominations in the acting categories, I’m going
to weigh in on this. After all, Weird did manage to win in this category
last year and it’s been a factor in awards shows ever since.
I think it will come down
to The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial or Reality. Both were
adaptations of plays, though I was not familiar of the latter being so. I’ve
seen both multiple times over the past several months and both are superior
examples of the genre. There might be sentimentality for Caine considering
that it was the last major project of both director William Friedkin and Lance
Reddick before their passing this year. But I think at the end of the day the
relevance and technical brilliance of Reality will carry the day.
Should Win: Caine
Mutiny/Reality.
Will Win: Reality.
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE
Steven Yeun should be the
odds on favorite, considering he won the Golden Globe on Sunday, but he did
lose in this category on Monday at the Astras. That being said I think this
category is actually weaker then the one he prevailed in at the Golden Globes
with the absence of Jon Hamm for Fargo. Much as I’d like to see Matt
Bomer prevail, Yeun wins this no contest.
Should Win/Will Win: Yeun.
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED
SERIES/TV MOVIE
Ali Wong, by contrast, is
facing a tougher field than she did at the Golden Globes or the Astras. Sydney
Sweeney is present as in Juno Temple for Fargo and Bel Powley for A
Small Light. I will confess
in my heart of hearts I would prefer Sweeney or Temple to win. But I think
there’s a good chance Wong continues her streak. And I’m fine with that: Temple
and Larson, the heavy favorites for Best Actress in a Limited Series, will get
their due from the Emmys later this year.
Should Win: Temple/Wong.
Will Win: Wong.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A
LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE
And for the first time in
this year’s awards season we are in uncharted territory. Paul Walter Hauser has
been winning everything in sight but he is not eligible. Liev Schreiber did win
at the Astra’s on Monday, so he might have a chance at prevailing here but I
don’t think he has enough momentum.
I would like to see Justin
Theroux win for White House Plumbers but Theroux lost to Schreiber on
Monday and the Critics Choice don’t seem to care much in honoring actors who
play Gordon Liddy. (Shea Whigham lost for playing him in Gaslit to
Hauser.) I think that it comes down to two actors Jesse Plemons for his superb
work in Love and Death and Jonathan Bailey for his masterclass in Fellow
Travelers. It’s a tough call, to be honest but I’m giving the edge to
Bailey because I’m pretty sure he’s going to be a major front runner for the
Emmy next years and this is his first chance to win.
Should Win: Theroux.
Will Win: Bailey.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN
A LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE
We’re in similar uncharted
territory here. Maria Bello and Camilia Morrone have been nominated for
multiple awards for their work in Beef and Daisy Jones respectively.
But both were defeated by Niecy Nash-Betts at the Astras. None of the nominees
in this category for Best Broadcast and Cable series are here either.
The favorite in this
category, according to Gold Derby, is Aja Naomi King for her work in Lessons
in Chemistry. Like Fellow Travelers, Chemistry is certain to be
among the major Emmy contenders in the months to come. My major doubt is
whether King’s role is significant enough to prevail over the more well-known
challengers in this category. I’ll also admit my personal preference is for
Bello as a long-time admirer of her work.
I’m going to give it to
King by an eyelash, but this category has been one that has surprised me
multiple times over the years.
Should Win: Bello.
Will Win: King.
As for the rest, I’m going
to say Best Animated Series will go to either Harley Quinn or Scott
Pilgrim takes off. I’m pretty sure that it will come down to Seth Meyers or
John Oliver for Best Talk Show; I’m giving the edge to Oliver. And another
reason Critics Choice is better than the Golden Globes; in their nominations
for Best Comedy Special, they did not nominate Ricky Gervais. I think
it’ll go to either Trevor Noah or Wanda Sykes.
I’ll be back on Monday
with my reactions to the winners, and I guarantee you I’ll be happier with the
Critics Choices than the Emmys that same night.
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