Best Actor – Limited Series/Movie
There were some pretty powerful limited series and movies released over the past year, and Darren Criss leads the way for best actor for his gripping performance in The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
Darren Criss -200
Benedict Cumberbatch +180
Antonio Banderas +1200
John Legend +1200
Jesse Plemons +3500
Jeff Daniels +4000
I’m not sure if Criss is the favorite because of how well he acted or just how intense his series was. Either way, it does feel like some pretty iconic stars are being overlooked here.
Jeff Daniels comes in with the worst odds despite crushing it in The Looming Tower, while Antonio Banderas was surprisingly fantastic (I always felt he was loudly overrated) in Genius.
If anyone is stopping Criss, though, it has to be Benedict Cumberbatch for his work in Patrick Melrose.
I think you can consider other options here, but Riz Ahmed was an explosive newcomer last year in The Night Of, and I think Criss looks like a lock to follow a similar path.
PICK Darren Criss -200
Best Limited Series
This category enters with a landslide favorite, as The Assassination of Gianni Versace was extremely well done from top to bottom and figures to be this year’s The Night Of.
The Assassination of Gianni Versace -1500
Godless +1000
Patrick Melrose +1200
Genius: Picasso +1800
The Alienist +2000
Godless has the next best shot here, but this is hands-down The Assassination of Gianni Versace’s Emmy to lose.
PICK The Assassination of Gianni Versace -1500
Best Supporting Actor – Limited Series/Movie
Jeff Daniels has developed into such a great actor that his footprint is felt all over the 2018 Emmy Awards.
He’s nominated for his part in The Looming Tower, but he enters this category as the clear favorite.
Jeff Daniels -650
Edgar Ramirez +400
Brandon Victor Dixon +2000
Finn Wittrock +3300
Michael Stuhlbarg +3300
Ricky Martin +3300
John Leguizamo +4000
I don’t think anyone here really has a case to unseat Daniels from the top spot. Ramirez has the next best odds, but the argument for these other candidates comes up pretty frail.
If anything, I’d swing for the fences and roll the dice on John Leguizamo at +4000. He was never properly honored for his impressive work on Bloodline, while he was fantastic in Waco.
A longshot flier bet isn’t a terrible try here, but Daniels looks like a lock.
PICK Jeff Daniels -650
Best Supporting Actress – Limited Series/Movie
If you thought we were done with The Assassination of Gianni Versace, think again.
Obviously, the critics loved this limited series, and it had as much to do with the tense acting as it did with the real harrowing story.
Penelope Cruz hands in yet another strong performance from this limited series, and she’s favored to take home the award for best supporting actress.
Penelope Cruz -150
Judith Light +250
Merritt Wever +350
Sara Bareilles +1200
Letitia Wright +3300
Adina Porter +5000
I probably wouldn’t go against Cruz here, especially since -150 is a nice price for a sizable favorite.
That being said, Judith Light was also great in The Assassination of Gianni Versace, and Letitia Wright (+3300) is worth a flier for her role in a Black Mirror episode.
I still think this is Cruz’s award to lose, and the value is nice.
PICK Penelope Cruz -150