Friday, January 5, 2024

My Prediction for The HCA TV Awards, Conclusion: Best Limited Series/TV Movie Et Al

 The Limited Series/TV Movie Category will probably be interesting for more reasons than one. You might not be aware that all five nominees for Best Limited Series by the Emmy were all on some streaming service. The HCA acknowledged this by nominated ten limited series in streaming. None of them were Obi Wan Kenobi, which is yet another reason to celebrate them. They also ignored Love & Death completely and didn’t nominate The Patient among them which is a blow but they also nominated Black Bird and Welcome to Chippendale’s which would have been better choices than Obi-Wan.

For that reason there are far fewer choices about Best Broadcast/Cable Limited Series across the board. But having looked at many of the nominated series and performers it’s clear that the HCA is clearly racing its game as many of these series and performers should have gotten nominations from the Emmys.

So here are my predictions in all the major categories.

BEST LIMITED SERIES ON STREAMING

Much as I would like Black Bird, Chippendales or Mrs. Davis to prevail, I think this comes down to one of the two major Netflix series: Dahmer or Beef. Dahmer, for the record, was a much better series than many seem to think but given the universal and justifiable praise for Beef across the board, I think it’s pretty clear this series takes the prize.

Should Win/Will Win: Beef

 

BEST STREAMING MOVIE

I’d honestly like Reality to win here (though I’m not sure why it’s nominated as streaming rather than HBO) but I’m pretty sure it will go to Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. I can’t argue with that considering it already took that prize from the Critics Choice Awards way back last year.

Should Win: Reality.

Will Win: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

 

BEST LIMITED SERIES CABLE/BROADCAST

I don’t get why Flowers in the Attic is here and White House Plumbers isn’t.

Much as I’d love to see Accused take the prize, I think it’s going to go to George & Tammy on Showtime, for reasons that will soon become obvious.

Should Win: Accused.

Will Win: George and Tammy.

 

BEST ACTOR IN A BROADCAST OR CABLE LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES

I think that this will come down to either Woody Harrelson for White House Plumbers or Michael Shannon for George & Tammy. And it’s a tough call. Shannon’s work is more than deserving of an Emmy on dramatic terms; Harrelson’s work was overlooked by the Emmys (but not the Golden Globes for some reason). I would prefer Harrelson but since Shannon is the only contender who has a corresponding Emmy nomination, I think the HCA will go with the safer (albeit very deserving) choice.

Should Win: Harrelson.

Will Win: Shannon.

 

BEST ACTOR IN A STREAMING LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY OR MOVIE

This is much tougher. Steve Carell gave one of the most powerful performances of 2022 in The Patient and was robbed of a nomination. Taron Egerton’s work in Black Bird would win in a lesser year. Kumail Nanjiani’s work in Welcome to Chippendale’s was a revelation. And Daniel Radcliffe did win a Best Actor prize last year over Evan Peters who had taken the Golden Globe.

At the end of the day, however, this will probably come down to the same two major contenders at the Emmys: Peters and Steven Yeun. Peters won a Best Supporting Actor award for Mare of Easttown in the first HCA which proceeded his Emmy win a month later and he does have a Golden Globe. Yeun has the momentum, considering he’s already got a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Nomination, both of which he is the front runner for. It’s a tough call, but I’m going to give the barest of edges for Yeun. My personal choice would be Steve Carell, but I’m glad the HCA remembered him.

Should Win: Carell.

Will Win: Yeun.

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES/ANTHOLOGY/MOVIE FOR

BROADCAST CABLE

Easiest one. Jessica Chastain, and it’s not just because the competition is slight. It’s because her work in George & Tammy has already won a SAG award and she’s a heavy favorite for an Emmy.

Should Win/Will Win: Chastain.

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES/ANTHOLOGY/MOVIE FOR STREAMING

No Lizzy Caplan but Rachel Weisz is here for Dead Ringers. Good call. No Elisabeth Olsen for Love and Death or Sydney Sweeney for Reality, both of whom have earned nominations from either the Golden Globes or the Critics’ Choice.

This one is nearly as easy as for Broadcast and Cable. Despite the caliber of Kathryn Hahn and Riley Keough, Ali Wong will ride to victory for Beef. It’s not just the momentum, it’s that without Chastain to compete against, there’s no one in this category who gave anywhere near the performance Wong did.

Should Win/Will Win: Beef.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A BROADCAST.CABLE LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES

I won’t lie: all four of these actors are among my favorites and all four did give brilliant performances last year. But much as I’d like to see Live Schreiber win for A Small Light or Wendell Pierce for Accused, this is a no-brainer. Justin Theroux wins for his superbly comic performance in White House Plumbers. His shafting by the Emmys in this category was a huge mistake and the Critics Choice acknowledged the wrong. I think he’ll take the prize here easily, though I wouldn’t mind if Pierce took it.

Should Win: Pierce.

Will Win: Theroux (but they’re all good choices)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A STREAMING LIMITED/ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE

Credit for nominating Domhnall Gleeson for his superb work in The Patient and Timothy Olyphant, period. I actually would have preferred either to Jesse Plemons who was nominated by the Emmys.

This is a very good group with no bad choices. My personal preference, if I had to choose, would be Gleeson for one of the most frightening performances of the past year – more so, I would say that Evan Peters work for Dahmer. But I have little doubt it will go to the same actor who won the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice Award and who, barring a lightning strike, will take the Emmy this year: the incredible Paul Walter Hauser for Black Bird. He’s earned it.

Should Win: Gleeson.

Will Win: Hauser.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A BROADCAST/CABLE/LIMITED SERIES TV MOVIE

It really makes you wonder why the HCA nominated Flowers in the Attic for Best Limited Series but not White House Plumbers, even though the former has zero other major  nominations and this one has six. Oh well. They’re still working the kinks out.

Anywho, all three of the female nominees were comic fireballs in their performances and two of my favorite actress of all time are here. I’d prefer if Judy Greer took the trophy for her work as Fran Liddy, but I’m pretty sure that Lena Headey will prevail for her work as Dorothy Hunt. Headey was by the far the performer from the cast who seemed a sure thing for a nomination and many were shocked that she wasn’t among them. And while I was never a Game of Thrones fan, it’s hard not to argue she’s due a win.

Should Win: Greer.

Will Win: Headey.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A STREAMING LIMITED/ANTHOLOGY/TV MOVIE

No Juliette Lewis or Merritt Weyer, but the HCA did nominate her for Yellowjackets so I can’t exactly complain and they did nominate Sarah Pidgeon for Tiny Beautiful Things, so I can’t complain. I’m always glad to see Evan Rachel Wood nominated for anything and now I have to see her play Madonna.

Much as I would really like to see Maria Bello win for Beef (and she might get carried along on the wave for the show) there is no question whose going to win this: Niecy Nash-Betts for her incredible work in Dahmer. She’s already taking a Critics Choice, she’s a near shoo-in for an Emmy, I can’t see a scenario she doesn’t win here. She’s earned it.

Should Win: Bello.

Will Win: Nash-Betts.

 

DIRECTING AND WRITING

In streaming, I expect Beef to win for the direction of the final episode. I’m less convinced for writing: The Patient could end up being an upset victory and they might well go for Black Bird.

As for Broadcast and Cable, Direction will probably go to David Mandel for White House Plumbers and I’d like to see writing go to Accused. I don’t rule out, however, A Small Light might take both prizes.

 

As for Creative Arts I will refrain. However, speaking for myself. I would like to see Stephen Colbert win Best Talk Series and A Black Lady Sketch Show prevail over Saturday Night Live for Best Variety series. I want Jeopardy Masters to take Best Game Show. And on a side note for casting,  I want Yellowjackets to win for Drama, Abbott Elementary for Comedy and Accused for Limited Series. I can’t speak for most of the other awards but whoever did the casting for all three shows was perfect every way.

I’ll deal with the results on Tuesday. But tomorrow, I will get to my predictions for the Golden Globes. The new ownership will not change how 

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