In happier news – especially for the hundreds of thousands of commenters who snarled up the Emmy Facebook feed with breathless cries of “DARREN!!!”, The Assassination of Gianni Versace has finally received the recognition it couldn’t achieve through viewing figures alone. As I wrote back in April, Darren Criss’ role as serial killer Andrew Cunanan was a star-making turn on a level I haven’t seen in years. It was a performance of such sheer bruised charisma that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about all year. Criss is up against Benedict Cumberbatch, who delivered a lifetime’s worth of acting in the first episode of Patrick Melrose alone, but only a fool would think of betting against him
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Emmy Winner Predictions After The 2018 Nominations Announcement
Outstanding Limited Series
The Alienist
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Genius: Picasso
Godless
Patrick MelroseBG: Shouts to The Alienist for getting nominated for an Emmy. I didn’t watch it and I don’t think I heard a single person mention it once in real life or online, but still, an accomplishment all the same. I have no strong opinions about any of these shows so let’s say… oh, I don’t know… American Crime Story. Although Godless would definitely win if there was a category for Best Mustaches. Which there should be.
PV: American Crime Story is, without a doubt, my top choice (and not just because I refuse to look up Patrick Melrose’s deal). ACS lost a lot of people this season, but I don’t think it was trying to measure up to its first installment. It was trying to do something much different, quieter, more introspective — and it accomplished all of that. It was gripping even without the theatrics; it was practically a nine-episode long Emmy reel for its cast, and the more I sat with it afterward, the more I appreciated its existence.
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Television Movie
Antonio Banderas (Genius: Picasso)
Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose)
Jeff Daniels (The Looming Tower)
John Legend (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Jesse Plemons (USS Callister)PV: As much as I love the idea of us throwing Emmys at John Legend for playing Singing Jesus, I have a feeling that won’t happen. Jesse Plemons has a good shot to take this home, but Darren Criss is definitely the standout. The Assassination Of Gianni Versace was a tough watch — especially if you were expecting another People v. O.J. Simpson — but it was more an intimate character study than anything else and Criss effortlessly pulled off playing the real-life killer with depth, intensity, and care.
BG: Here for “throwing Emmys at John Legend for playing singing Jesus.”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jeff Daniel, Godless
Ricky Martin, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Brandon Victor Dixon, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Finn Wittrock, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Michael Stuhlbarg, The Looming Tower
John Leguizamo, WacoBG: Jeff Daniels was good in Godless and the Emmys sure does like to give awards to people who already have them but I really like the idea of Ricky Martin winning an Emmy so let’s go with that.
PV: All three men from Assassination Of Gianni Versace deserved this nomination and I’d be happy if any of them won, but especially Finn Wittrock who had a memorable, devastating performance as one of Andrew Cunanan’s victims. His central episode was, hands down, the best of the season. But I also agree with Brian about Ricky Martin — let’s get him halfway to an EGOT.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Adina Porter, American Horror Story: Cult
Letitia Wright, Black Museum (Black Mirror)
Merritt Weaver, Godless
Penelope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Judith Light, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Sara Bareilles, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in ConcertPV: I’m pleasantly surprised that Letitia Wright got recognized! And ditto Judith Light, who was my absolute favorite part of Assassination of Gianni Versace (I don’t think I’ll ever be emotionally ready to rewatch the series but I have rewatched some of her scenes). But, even though I haven’t seen Godless, wouldn’t it be great if Merritt Weaver won just based on her last Emmy acceptance speech?
BG: This is Judith Light’s award. I was not super into the second season of ACS, in general, but her performance was so good. Merritt Weaver was great, too, but I don’t know if Godless ever really penetrated enough to bump her over what Light did in a big splashy show from a big splashy showrunner. Also, if I mention Judith Light I get to post the GIF of her doing cocaine at the rodeo from the TNT version of Dallas. Quite frankly, I’m not strong enough to pass up that opportunity.
Emmy Winner Predictions After The 2018 Nominations Announcement
Sandra Oh and Darren Criss’ Historic Emmy Noms Show the Two Ways to Diversify Casting
On Thursday, Sandra Oh became the first actress of Asian descent to garner an Emmy nomination for best lead actress in a drama while Darren Criss became the second actor of Asian descent to earn an Emmy nod for best lead actor in a limited series or TV movie. Best known for her decade on Grey’s Anatomy, Oh was honored for her critically acclaimed performance as disgraced MI5 detective Eve Polastri in BBC America’s Killing Eve. A supporting player on Glee, Criss delivered a star turn as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in FX’s American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
Should these actors take home the award on Sept. 17—Criss is widelyconsidered one of the front-runners in his category, whereas Oh will have to build on her momentum to prevail against five returning nominees, including 2017 winner Elisabeth Moss—they would become only the third and fourth acting Emmy winners of Asian descent, after Riz Ahmed for The Night Of in 2017 and Archie Panjabi for The Good Wife in 2010.
The serendipitous pairing of Oh’s and Criss’ roles also suggests that initiatives toward inclusiveness in Hollywood should be two-pronged: through colorblind casting when it comes to characters whose stories aren’t about their race (as was the case with Oh’s Polastri), as well as through stories specific to the Asian American experience (such as that of the half-Filipino Cunanan, who suffered racial discrimination within the gay community).
These record-breaking achievements are all the more poignant for arriving one day after news broke that a movie studio intends to make a fictionalized version of the Thai cave rescue as “a major Hollywood film with A-list stars”—a phrase that has previously served as a justification for whitewashing stories. Criss’ and Oh’s performances illustrate that acting talent among performers of Asian descent is out there—but won’t be given a chance to reveal itself without the opportunities necessary to create new A-listers.
Sandra Oh and Darren Criss’ Historic Emmy Noms Show the Two Ways to Diversify Casting
Queer Performances We Think Deserve Emmy Nominations This Year
Nominations for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced today, Thursday, July 12, and in this era of peak TV there are far too many great shows for all of them to get a nod.
But, below is a list of queer series and actors we would love to see get some love from the Television Academy on Thursday morning.
1. The actors of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Sarah Paulson won an Emmy for her work as Marcia Clark in The People vs. O.J. Simpson, the first season of Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story, and hopefully voters will give some love to the cast of The Assassination of Gianni Versace, who gave some of the best performances of the year. Penelope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Judith Light, and Cody Fern stood out in the cast, but it was Darren Criss who delivered every single episode as Versace’s killer, Andrew Cunanan.
Queer Performances We Think Deserve Emmy Nominations This Year
Will ‘Versace’ be the fourth straight limited series to win three acting Emmys?
Three is the magic number for limited series. For the past three Emmy ceremonies, the eventual Best Limited Series winner also won three acting trophies and that trend could continue in September with “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”
“Versace” is the odds-on favorite to win Best Limited Series and our odds are forecasting three acting victories for it as well: Darren Criss in lead actor, and Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez in the supporting races. All of these wins are definitely possible, as voters have shown that if they really like your limited series, they’re more than happy to shower you with multiple statuettes.
That was the case last year with “Big Little Lies,” which ruled the ceremony with five wins, including acting trophies for Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgard and Laura Dern. In 2016, “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” cleaned up with five wins as well, with triumphs for Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vanceand Sterling K. Brown. And in 2015, “Olive Kitteridge” earned Emmys for Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins and Bill Murrayas part of its six-trophy haul.
“Olive Kitteridge” was the only one that even had a chance to sweep the four acting categories, but Zoe Kazan lost to Regina King(“American Crime”). “O.J.” did not have a supporting actress contender and “Big Little Lies” didn’t have a leading man. “Versace,” meanwhile, isn’t fielding a lead actress hopeful.
“Versace” is most similar to “Olive Kitteridge” — well-made series that didn’t quite capture the zeitgeist the way “O.J.” and “Big Little Lies” did. Like the HBO mini, “Versace” is also competing in a comparably weaker year unlike “O.J.” and “Big Little Lies,” That could be a good or bad thing: easier for one show to dominate or it could lead to spreading the wealth.
Will ‘Versace’ be the fourth straight limited series to win three acting Emmys?
The 3rd Annual ADTV Coolie Awards Nominations!!!
You voted! We voted! And now it’s time to reveal the 3rd Annual ADTV Coolie Awards nominations! Be sure to check out Awards Daily TV during the Primetime Emmy® Phase 2 nominations starting August 13. You can vote for the winner and help award the Coolie to your favorite show or performer!
Two shows led the 2018 Coolie nominations. Both The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and The Handmaid’s Tale received six mentions each. On the comedy front, Awards Daily TV favorite Schitt’s Creek receive four nominations, matching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in both series and acting races.
Here are this year’s nominees! Sound off in the comments as usual!
Limited Series
The Alienist
American Horror Story: Cult
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Howards End
Patrick Melrose
Picnic At Hanging Rock
The SinnerActor in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Melrose
Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks
Al Pacino, Paterno
Evan Peters, American Horror Story: Cult
Michael Shannon, WacoSupporting Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Ellen Burstyn, The Tale
Penelope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Laura Dern, Twin Peaks
Dakota Fanning, The Alienist
Angela Lansbury, Little Women
Judith Light, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Nicole Kidman, Top of the Lake: China Girl
Naomi Watts, Twin Peaks
Merritt Wever, GodlessSupporting Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie
Jon Jon Briones, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Jeff Daniels, Godless
Brandon Victor Dixon, Jesus Christ Superstar
Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Jason Ritter, The Tale
Michael Stuhlbarg, The Looming Tower
From ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Patrick Melrose,’ predictions for shows that will get Emmys 2018 nominations
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
The second season that focuses on the murder of the designer Gianni Versace is the latest offering in the crime anthology television series. Already a strong contender in Emmyhistory, it is set to come back again in the form a nomination in the limited series category. It might bag various acting nominations, with Darren Criss being nominated for ‘lead actor in a limited series’. Edgar Ramirez as the famous Designer might also be in the running for the best supporting actor nomination.
Television Critics nominations offer a guide for the Emmys and what to watch this summer
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve” – BBC America
Darren Criss, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” – FX
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale” – Hulu
Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve” – BBC America
Matthew Rhys, “The Americans” – FX
Keri Russell, “The Americans” – FXMy prediction: Moss. But they all deserve to win.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIE OR MINISERIES
“Alias Grace” – Netflix
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” – FX
“Howards End” – Starz
“Patrick Melrose” – Showtime
“The Tale” – HBO
“Twin Peaks: The Return” – ShowtimeMy prediction: “Versace” didn’t get the audience it deserved.
Television Critics nominations offer a guide for the Emmys and what to watch this summer
Emmys 2018: Predictions and Proclamations, Nominations Edition
Limited Series
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)
Godless (Netflix)
Howards End (Starz)
The Looming Tower (Hulu)
Twin Peaks: The Return (Showtime)The first four slots more or less in hand, the wild card here, to my mind, is Godless—a star-studded Western that would seem to scratch the TV Academy’s every itch, yet premiered last fall to relatively little fanfare and hasn’t had a major “For Your Consideration” push from the streaming giant, that I can tell. I’m going to stick with it here, but onyl by a nose: It could easily be leapfrogged by Showtime’s Patrick Melrose, with Emmy golden boy Benedict Cumberbatch, or even Genius: Picasso, with Antonio Banderas as the famed artist.
Lead Actor (Limited Series/TV Movie)
Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Melrose (Showtime)
Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace (FX)
Jeff Daniels, The Looming Tower (Hulu)
Michael B. Jordan, Fahrenheit 451 (HBO)
Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks: The Return (Showtime)
Al Pacino, Paterno (HBO)Whew! This category has some big names! Which is how I arrived at a list that doesn’t include Antonio Banderas as Pablo Picasso in Genius (for which Geoffrey Rush nabbed a nomination last year). The only non-supernova on here is Criss, and his frightening, magnetic performance as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace might be the cream of the crop. (MacLachlan’s multi-character turn in Twin Peaks is sure to give him a run for his money.) I suppose it’s theoretically possible for Daniels’ supporting campaign for Godless to knock him out and allow Banderas to slip in, but I’m not gonna bet the house on it.
Supporting Actor (Limited Series/TV Movie)
Jeff Daniels, Godless (Netflix)
Ricky Martin, The Assassination of Gianni Versace (FX)
Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Gianni Versace (FX)
Michael Shannon, Fahrenheit 451 (HBO)
Michael Stuhlbarg, The Looming Tower (Hulu)
Peter Sarsgaard, The Looming Tower (Hulu)Along with Lead Actor (Drama), this is the list that reflects the biggest shift from my own preferences: Only Ramirez, as a very convincing Gianni Versace, appears on both. I suppose I can’t complain if Michael Shannon or Michael Stuhlbarg(the stalwart character actors of the decade, for my money) win an Emmy, but this category is the ultimate consequence of Emmy voters’ traditional inability to reach deep. Tahar Rahim (The Looming Tower), Alex Lawther (Howards End), Cody Fern and Finn Wittrock (The Assassination of Gianni Versace) are the lesser-known names that immediately come to mind as more deserving than most of the mailed-in performances listed above, but I’m just one lowly, increasingly-despondent-as-this-story-goes-on TV critic.
Outstanding Supporting Actress (Limited Series/TV Movie)
Penelope Cruz, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace (FX)
Laura Dern, Twin Peaks: The Return (Showtime)
Nicole Kidman, Top of the Lake: China Girl (Sundance TV)
Angela Lansbury, Little Women (PBS)
Judith Light, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace (FX)
Merritt Wever, Godless (Netflix)If my predictions hold, I’ll be thoroughly sad not to see Anna Paquin’s terrifying performance in Alias Grace, or Tracey Ullmann’s devilishly funny one in Howards End, go unacknowledged. But the list above is basically the gay TV critic’s dream field, so: I know when to hold my tongue.
Emmys 2018: Predictions and Proclamations, Nominations Edition
Final Emmy Nomination Predictions: Which Shows Will Be Up for Awards?
Limited Series
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX)
“Godless” (Netflix)
“Howards End” (Starz)
“The Looming Tower” (Hulu)
“Twin Peaks” (Showtime)This feels like the likely quintet but programs such as “Genius: Picasso” (NatGeo), “Patrick Melrose” (Showtime) and “Top of the Lake: China Girl” (Sundance) are in the mix as well. The story here will be Hulu expanding its Emmy game with “The Looming Tower,” a new potential for awards success after scoring with “The Handmaid’s Tale” last year. And if “Twin Peaks” misses the cut (it could), expect rioting from David Lynch’s obsessed fanbase.
Lead Actor – Limited Series/TV Movie
Antonio Banderas, “Genius: Picasso”
Darren Criss, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Patrick Melrose”
Jeff Daniels, “The Looming Tower”
John Legend, “Jesus Christ Superstar”
Al Pacino, “Paterno”Virtuoso performances from Criss and Cumberbatch lead the way here. Banderas and Pacino are safe bets, along with Daniels (a likely double nominee this year with his supporting “Godless” performance in play as well). Meanwhile, Legend or Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks”) could really liven things up. We’ll lean to the former.
Supporting Actor – Limited Series/TV Movie
Bill Camp, “The Looming Tower”
Jeff Daniels, “Godless”
Brandon Victor Dixon, “Jesus Christ Superstar”
Edgar Ramirez, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Peter Sarsgaard, “The Looming Tower”
Michael Stuhlbarg, “The Looming Tower”Multiple players from “Gianni Versace” and “The Looming Tower” are taking aim here. In fact, nearly the whole slate could be filled out with stars from the latter. The only contender that could really shake things up is Brandon Victor Dixon from “Jesus Christ Superstar,” but Michael Shannon is often an awards favorite even when the project isn’t, so he’s a possibility with “Fahrenheit 451.” And if voters can get past the ick factor, Jason Ritter could even find a spot for his unsettling turn in “The Tale.”
Supporting Actress – Limited Series/TV Movie
Penelope Cruz, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Nicole Kidman, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
Angela Lansbury, “Little Women”
Jennifer Jason Leigh, “Patrick Melrose”
Judith Light, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”
Merritt Wever, “Godless”Laura Dern will be angling for a double nomination to go along with her sure-fire bid for “The Tale,” but how much will voters really embrace “Twin Peaks”? Sharon Stone is an outside possibility for HBO’s “Mosaic.” If anyone is a weak link in the lineup it might be Leigh, overshadowed by Cumberbatch’s tour-de-force work.
Final Emmy Nomination Predictions: Which Shows Will Be Up for Awards?
ACS news 