Who Will Win Big At The Emmy Awards? Read On For Our Predictions

The most important day for television lovers is finally here. Tonight, the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live at 8pm ET on ABC. In a few hours, we’ll see our favorite TV stars walk along the red carpet, and we’ll see some very deserving performers getting recognized for their work.

In the meantime, let’s talk about who we at PopWrapped think will win and who we think should win. Take a look at our predictions below:

OUTSTANDING DRAMA

The Americans

Better Call Saul

Game of Thrones

Homeland

House of Cards

Mr. ROBOT

Will win: Game of Thrones
Should win: Mr. ROBOT
Dark horse: The Americans

Game of Thrones is already in the lead. It got more nominations and wins after the Creative Arts Emmy Awards were handed last weekend. The HBO darling won nine Emmy Awards and is set to make Emmy history tonight since it only needs one more win (which it will obviously get) in order to take Frasier‘s spot as biggest award-winning series. Best drama will go to Game of Thrones without a doubt, but, if there were one show it would have to look out for, it would be the newly-nominated The Americans.

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Kyle Chandler, Bloodline

Rami Malek, Mr. ROBOT

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Matthew Rhys, The Americans

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Will win: Rami Malek
Should win: Rami Malek
Dark horse: Kevin Spacey

Rami Malek was a revelation in Mr. ROBOT‘s astounding first season. He has already won pretty much everything, and the Emmy won’t be the exception. Kevin Spacey, though, is the only other actor who we think could take it from him, since the Academy loves him; however, House of Cards‘ MVP for this season was Robin Wright.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Claire Danes, Homeland

Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

Taraji P. Henson, Empire

Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

Keri Russell, The Americans

Robin Wright, House of Cards

Will win: Robin Wright
Should win: Robin Wright
Dark horse: Viola Davis

As mentioned, Robin Wright was the best thing of the (much improved) last season of House of Cards. She played Claire Underwood to a T, and she also directed, so the Academy will probably recognize her double work and give her the award. Viola Davis, who won last year and was the first African American to win the Best Actress Emmy, might edge past Wright.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Michael Kelly, House of Cards

Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Kit Harington, Game of Thrones

Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Will win: Kit Harington
Should win: Peter Dinklage
Dark horse: Peter Dinklage

The two Game of Thrones stars are the ones in the lead of this category. Harington has the advantage because of the whole Jon Snow drama, and he’s never been nominated before, so the Academy might like to acknowledge his performance this time. Dinklage, on the other hand, is a better actor, and the Academy loves him. If he won over Harington, he would be the second actor, after Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul, to win the award three times for the same character.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones

Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Maura Tierney, The Affair

Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

Constance Zimmer, UnREAL

Will win: Maggie Smith

Should win: Maura Tierney

Dark horse: Lena Headey

This one is a toss-up between Smith and Headey. We are giving the edge to Smith — first of all, because she’s Maggie Smith and also because she was the only performer nominated from Downton Abbey, a show loved by the Academy and which happened to be on its last season. Headey, on the other hand, is on the most nominated show this year, so she could take it from Smith. I do want to acknowledge Maura Tierney, though. Her performance as tough but broken, happy and high-strung, Helen Solloway in The Affair was stellar. 

OUTSTANDING COMEDY

black-ish

Master of None

Modern Family

Silicon Valley

Transparent

Veep

Will win: Veep
Should win: black-ish
Dark horse: Transparent

Transparent was last year’s breakthrough show, but this season hasn’t been as even as its first one, so, even if it might steal this from Veep, I think the latter will win again for the second consecutive year. black-ish had no sophomore slump; its second year was better than its first. As the only network show in this category and with the impediments that being a network comedy entail, it has done a remarkable job.

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Anthony Anderson, black-ish

Aziz Ansari, Master of None

Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth

William H. Macy, Shameless

Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley

Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Will win: Jeffrey Tambor
Should win: Jeffrey Tambor
Dark horse: Anthony Anderson

Jeffrey Tambor will take this again, but Anthony Anderson could surprise everyone by getting his first Emmy for his role as Dre, the Johnson family patriarch. He consistently knocks it out of the park, and the episode he submitted (“Hope”) was very buzzy. Tambor, though, not only deserves the win, but he would be a repeat winner and the Academy loves that.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Laurie Metcalf, Getting On

Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish

Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer

Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Will win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Should win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Dark horse: Laurie Metcalf

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is going to beat Mary Tyler Moore’s Emmy record by winning her fifth consecutive Emmy for her role as VP turned POTUS Selina Meyer tonight. Louis-Dreyfus has expert comedic timing, but, this season, she was astonishing in more serious moments, too, as Meyer went through the loss of her mother and the confirmation that she would not be able to run for president again. There is a slim chance that Laurie Metcalf might get the award instead (she was, after all, the only performer to get three acting nominations), but I think Louis-Dreyfus has this in the bag.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Louie Anderson, Baskets

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele

Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Matt Walsh, Veep

Tony Hale, Veep

Will win: Louie Anderson
Should win: Andre Braugher
Dark horse: Tony Hale

This category is a tough one to predict because many of the performers could very well get the award. Tony Hale has won before and might possibly win again this year, but I predict Louie Anderson will take the Emmy home for his amazing portrayal as Christine Baskets in Baskets. We would love to see Braugher get the Emmy, though; we love us some Captain Ray Holt.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent

Allison Janney, Mom

Judith Light, Transparent

Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Niecy Nash, Getting On

Will win: Allison Janney
Should win: Niecy Nash
Dark horse: Anna Chlumsky

Allison Janney will keep breaking records and win again for Mom. This season, Janney’s Bonnie went through a lot, and Janney didn’t miss a beat in her performance. She has been an Academy favorite since her West Wing days, and there’s a reason for that: she is incredible. Anna Chlumsky could, instead, take the Emmy this year since she’s been long overdue, but we would love for Niecy Nash to win it instead. It won’t happen though.

REALITY SHOW COMPETITION

American Ninja Warrior

Dancing With the Stars

Project Runway

Top Chef

The Voice

Will win: The Voice
Should win: The Amazing Race
Dark horse: The Amazing Race

The Voice will get the Emmy again this year. It’s still fresh and buzzy, now especially with new judges Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys, so the Academy will reward that. But don’t discount The Amazing Race, which has won ten times before. The show is an obvious favorite of the Academy and might edge over The Voice. I really love the singing competition, but the amount of work that goes into a season of The Amazing Race can not be underestimated.

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Late Late Show with James Corden

Real Time with Bill Maher

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Will win: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Should win: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Dark horse: Late Late Show with James Corden

With Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert out of the race, the Emmy will go to The Daily Show alum John Oliver — and for good reason. He has been funny, consistent and sharp all season. However, Corden and his crowd-pleasing segment “Carpool Karaoke”, could very well take the gold instead.

LIMITED SERIES

American Crime

American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

The Night Manager

Roots

Will win: American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson
Should win: American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson
Dark horse: Fargo

The People v. O.J. Simpson has this in the bag. It already got more awards than any other show, except for Game of Thrones, in the Creative Arts Emmys. It was, without a doubt, one of the best television shows (if not the best) this season. Fargo was great on its second season and would definitely win this category in a different year, but it absolutely can not compare to American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.

TV MOVIE

A Very Murray Christmas

All the Way

Confirmation

Luther

Will win: All the Way
Should win: All the Way
Dark horse: Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

It was a lackluster year for TV movies, and, from all of them, the HBO adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play All the Way has the biggest chance to win this. Not only was it the best production of them all, but it also has Bryan Cranston and plenty of status since it came from Broadway. Sherlock might rear its head, but it’s unlikely.

LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Bryan Cranston, All the Way

Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Idris Elba, Luther

Cuba Gooding Jr., American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager

Courtney B. Vance, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Will win: Courtney B. Vance
Should win: Courtney B. Vance
Dark horse: Bryan Cranston

Courtney B. Vance was electrifying and completely embodied Johnny Cochran in The People v. O.J. Simpson; he will get his first Emmy tonight. The dark horse in this race is perennial Academy favorite Bryan Cranston. He already won a Tony for his performance of LBJ in All the Way, so he could still upset and take the gold.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Kirsten Dunst, Fargo

Felicity Huffman, American Crime

Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

Sarah Paulson, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Lili Taylor, American Crime

Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Will win: Sarah Paulson
Should win: Sarah Paulson
Dark horse: Kirsten Dunst

There is no doubt in my mind that, as Vance, Sarah Paulson will take home her first Emmy tonight. She was the MVP of The People v. O.J. Simpson, and, with so many incredible performances, that is quite a compliment. Kirsten Dunst would have been a contender another year. Her performance was very good, and the Academy loves movie stars, but there is no way that Paulson won’t take this one.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Sterling K. Brown, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager

Jesse Plemons, Fargo

John Travolta, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

David Schwimmer, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson

Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo

Will win: Sterling K. Brown
Should win: Sterling K. Brown
Dark horse: Hugh Laurie

I absolutely loved Sterling K. Brown’s nuanced and heartbreaking performance as Chris Darden in The People v. O.J. Simpson; he will and should take the Emmy tonight. The only way, in my opinion, he would go home empty-handed would be if the voting is split between the three nominees from The People v. O.J. Simpson: Brown, Travolta and — the also very deserving — Schwimmer. If that is the case, Hugh Laurie might get it (and I will riot!)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel

Olivia Colman, The Night Manager

Regina King, American Crime

Melissa Leo, All the Way

Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel

Jean Smart, Fargo

Will win: Jean Smart
Should win: Jean Smart
Dark horse: Regina King

Jean Smart was a standout in Fargo, and she will be recognized for her performance. I would love for Paulson to win this one, too, so she goes home with two Emmys, but I must admit that Smart’s interpretation was better, probably because of the writing. King, who shocked last year when she won, might shock as all again, but it’s unlikely she’ll beat Smart.

We’ll have to wait a few more hours to see how many we got right! We are sure, however, that Game of Thrones and American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson will be the belles of the ball tonight. Do you agree with out predictions? Let us know in the comments below!