Who Deserves to Win This Year’s Emmy Awards? We’ve Got the Answers [CNET]

We cast our own votes for big titles and performers we would like to see earn an award this year.

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on Sunday, with a lineup of presenters that includes actors across film and television, including Viola Davis, Lily Gladstone, Steven Yeun, Selena Gomez, Colin Farrell, Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Jean Smart, Antony Starr and the legendary Dick Van Dyke.

It’s the second such ceremony this year, following the January broadcast for the previously postponed 75th annual awards presentation. The upcoming event will spotlight releases from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024, showcasing titles such as Baby Reindeer, Fargo, Shōgun and the previously snubbed Only Murders in the Building and Reservation Dogs. Shōgun racked up the most nods with 25 nominations, followed closely by The Bear’s 23. 

CNET’s team of editors have chosen predicted frontrunners — and those we’d like to see win — from a selection of the top categories up for grabs. Will a newcomer earn top honors or will The Crown and Abbott Elementary sweep the competition? Tune in on Sept. 15 to see if your favorites (and ours) take home a trophy.

Read more: 76th Emmy Awards: How to Watch the Show Without Cable

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary 
• The Bear  
• Curb Your Enthusiasm 
• Hacks
• Only Murders In the Building
• Palm Royale
• Reservation Dogs 
• What We Do in the Shadows 

Only Murders in the Building has never won this category before, but it garnered the heaviest amount of votes from our team followed by What We Do in the Shadows. Season 3 of the comedy featured Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd as guest stars, and it will be interesting to see which nominee lands an Emmy.

Commentary: As much as I enjoy the shows in this pack like Abbott Elementary, The Bear and Only Murders in the Building, I’m still rooting for Reservation Dogs to get a little bit of awards show love this year. Well-written, well-acted, endearing and funny, the entire run is worthy of a win. — Kourtnee Jackson

Outstanding Drama Series

• The Crown 
• Fallout 
• The Gilded Age
• The Morning Show 
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith 
• Shōgun 
• Slow Horses 
• 3 Body Problem 

Shōgun took the crown for Team CNET, which doesn’t really come as a surprise. The epic tale hit all the right notes from start to finish with its cinematography, performances and writing. Still, series like Fallout, The Crown and The Gilded Age caught our attention, too, so it’s anyone’s call. 

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

• Baby Reindeer 
• Fargo 
• Lessons In Chemistry 
• Ripley 
• True Detective: Night Country 

Ripley won over most of us. While Baby Reindeer, Fargo and Lessons in Chemistry got equal votes, they all trailed behind Ripley, which scored points for its rich story and throwback cinematography. According to series actor Johnny Flynn, the black-and-white shots gave the show a “Gothic noir quality.”

Outstanding Animated Program

• Blue Eye Samurai: The Tale Of The Ronin And The Bride
• Bob’s Burgers: The Amazing Rudy
• Scavengers Reign: The Signal 
• The Simpsons: Night Of The Living Wage
• X-Men ’97: Remember It 

X-Men ’97 earned the most votes, and the Remember It episode is peak TV with its nostalgic animation style, heartfelt storytelling and action. Oh, Gambit! We think it deserves an Emmy, but other favorites include Blue Eye Samurai, Scavengers Reign and Bob’s Burgers. 
Commentary: The Amazing Rudy is one of my favorite Bob’s Burgers episodes I’ve ever watched, and I’ve seen the series 10-plus times as it’s my emotional support show (aka whatever I watch when I need to get out of a funk). It paints a beautiful picture of divorce, change and the awkwardness of adjustment. Rudy has been such a great side character on the show, and seeing his point of view of his parents’ divorce while also watching them try to adjust to a new normal is just chef’s kiss perfection. –Alexandra Able, CNET 

Commentary: Everyone is talking about X-Men ’97, and for good reason. If you’re looking for another top-notch series within the genre, allow me to guide you to Blue Eye Samurai. The series uses Japanese history as a narrative foundation to chart an utterly original path for a samurai story. Before Shogun, Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai offered one of the most engaging, intense, visceral and heartfelt tales of Japan in the pre-Edo era. — Aaron Pruner, CNET

Outstanding Television Movie

• Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie 
• Quiz Lady
• Red, White & Royal Blue 
• Scoop 
• Unfrosted 

Quiz Lady is our top choice for this category, and it may be considered a sleeper hit among contenders like Netflix’s Scoop and Unfrosted. The Hulu original stars Sandra Oh and Awkwafina.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• What We Do In The Shadows: Matt Berry as Laszlo Cravensworth 
• Curb Your Enthusiasm: Larry David as Larry David 
• Only Murders In The Building: Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage; Martin Short as Oliver Putnam 
• The Bear: Jeremy Allen White as Carmy 
• Reservation Dogs: D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Bear Smallhill 

Everyone on this list earned at least one vote from our group, but Jeremy Allen White edged out Martin Short by a small margin. 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Hijack: Idris Elba as Sam Nelson 
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Donald Glover as John Smith 
• Fallout: Walton Goggins as The Ghoul
• Slow Horses: Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb 
• Shōgun: Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga 
• The Crown: Dominic West as Prince Charles 

Fallout landed the most votes with us, with Hiroyuki Sanada not too far behind. 

Commentary: It was a rough year for TV, with the writer’s strike looming large, and it’s telling that most of the nominations are for shows that have been around for years. Out of this motley crew, though, the one that I was most excited about was Fallout. I played the games — but glad the show told a new story — and think that the scenery-chewing Walton Goggins has the award in his skeletal hand. –Ty Pendlebury, CNET

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series/Movie

• Fellow Travelers: Matt Bomer as Hawkins “Hawk” Fuller 
• Baby Reindeer: Richard Gadd as Donny 
• Fargo: Jon Hamm as Roy Tillman 
• Feud: Capote vs. The Swans: Tom Hollander as Truman Capote 
• Ripley: Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley 

It was a tough call, but Andrew Scott edged out his peers. His turn as Tom Ripley was described as “transcendent” in CNET’s review by Aaron Pruner. Sunday’s ceremony may give him stiff competition from the likes of Richard Gadd and Jon Hamm, so look out.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary: Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues 
• The Bear: Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu 
• Only Murders In The Building: Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora 
• Loot: Maya Rudolph as Molly Novak 
• Hacks: Jean Smart as Deborah Vance 
• Palm Royale: Kristen Wiig as Maxine Simmons 

With so much talent in this category, it was hard to choose. Though the tally wound up in Jean Smart’s favor, hat tip to Ayo Edebiri, Quinta Brunson and Selena Gomez. 

Commentary: After three thoroughly funny seasons, I still can’t get enough of Max’s Hacks. The sharp TV series about an unlikely duo of comedians is again up for best comedy. Jean Smart has already won two Emmys for her portrayal of the legendary Deborah Vance, and best comedy actress could go to her again this year. Whether or not she wins, I’m just glad we’re getting another season of the spectacular show. — Meara Isenberg

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• The Morning Show: Jennifer Aniston
• The Gilded Age: Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell 
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Maya Erskine as Jane Smith 
• Shōgun: Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko 
• The Crown: Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II 
• The Morning Show: Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson 

In a near sweep, Anna Sawai had the highest number of votes with our staff. Her understated yet powerful turn as Lady Mariko in Shōgun deserves its accolades. 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series/Movie

• True Detective: Night Country: Jodie Foster as Detective Elizabeth Danvers 
• Lessons In Chemistry: Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott 
• Fargo: Juno Temple as Dorothy “Dot” Lyon 
• Griselda: Sofía Vergara as Griselda Blanco 
• Feud: Capote vs. The Swans: Naomi Watts as Babe Paley 

Both Jodie Foster and Brie Larson tied in our tallies for this category, and given the level of performances in every show in this list, it is hard to tell who will bring home the award. 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• The Bear: Lionel Boyce as Marcus 
• Hacks: Paul W. Downs as Jimmy Lusaque, Jr. 
• The Bear: Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard “Richie” Jerimovich 
• Only Murders In The Building: Paul Rudd as Ben Glenroy 
• Abbott Elementary: Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
• Saturday Night Live: Bowen Yang as Various Characters

Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Cousin Richie has an undeniable presence inside and outside The Bear’s kitchen, and the actor just won an Emmy during January’s event. While he earned the most votes among CNET staff, Bowen Yang and Abbott’s Tyler James Williams followed closely behind. 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Shōgun: Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige 
• The Morning Show: Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison 
• The Morning Show: Mark Duplass as Chip Black 
• The Morning Show: Jon Hamm as Paul Marks 
• Shōgun: Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari 
• Slow Horses: Jack Lowden as River Cartwright 
• The Crown: Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh 

Tadanobu Asano’s Yabushige engaged viewers with his toughness, humor and inner conflict over duplicitously serving two lords and multiple agendas. Asano’s performance won us over, too.  

Outstanding Supporting Actor in Limited or Anthology Series/Movie

• Fellow Travelers: Jonathan Bailey as Tim Laughlin 
• The Sympathizer: Robert Downey Jr. as Claude, The Congressman/Ned Godwin, The Professor/Robert Hammer, The Auteur/Nicos Damianos, The Priest/Captain’s Father 
• Baby Reindeer: Tom Goodman-Hill as Darrien 
• True Detective: Night Country: John Hawkes as Hank Prior 
• Fargo: Lamorne Morris as North Dakota Deputy Witt Farr 
• Lessons In Chemistry: Lewis Pullman as Calvin Evans 
• Feud: Capote vs. The Swans: Treat Williams as Bill Paley 

Could Fargo earn Lamorne Morris his first Prime Emmy? The actor’s role in the drama series as Deputy Witt Farr had him play a well-intentioned good guy who paid the ultimate price when outmatched.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Palm Royale: Carol Burnett as Norma Dellacorte 
• The Bear: Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina 
• Hacks: Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels 
• Abbott Elementary: Janelle James as Ava Coleman 
• Abbott Elementary: Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard 
• Only Murders In The Building: Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin 

Everyone here earned our votes, but Meryl Streep’s first-time portrayal of Loretta came out in the lead. Her quietly suspicious character kept everyone guessing in season 3 of Only Murders. 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• The Gilded Age: Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn 
• The Morning Show: Nicole Beharie as Christina Hunter 
• The Crown: Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana 
• The Morning Show: Greta Lee as Stella Bak 
• The Crown: Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret 
• The Morning Show: Karen Pittman as Mia Jordan 
• The Morning Show: Holland Taylor as Cybil Richards 

These two performers were tied for the most votes with our editors, and the real-time results will be fascinating to see. The Crown has a track record of sweeping the Emmys, but the Gilded Age has an incredibly talented cast, too. 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series/Movie

• Ripley: Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood 
• Under The Bridge: Lily Gladstone as Cam Bentland 
• Baby Reindeer: Jessica Gunning as Martha 
• Lessons In Chemistry: Aja Naomi King as Harriet Sloane 
• Feud: Capote vs. The Swans: Diane Lane as Nancy “Slim” Keith 
• Baby Reindeer: Nava Mau as Teri 
• True Detective: Night Country: Kali Reis as Detective Evangeline Navarro

Jessica Gunning received the most thumbs up from the CNET crew, and the actor has already won a slew of awards for her role as Martha in Baby Reindeer. If she snags an Emmy, it will be her first.