We’re less than one week away from the 80th Golden Globe Awards (yes, they are back), and we have so much to discuss that it simply cannot be contained in a single predictions post. We’re in the heat of awards season now, with the Golden Globes representing the first televised awards ceremony of the 2023, and because there’s so much uncertainty across almost all of these races, today, we’ll touch on the television categories only, with the end of the week bringing my thoughts on those hotly contested film categories. And so, without further ado, let’s just dive right in.
Best Television Series – Drama
Better Call Saul
The Crown
House of the Dragon
Ozark
Severance
Will Win: Severance
Could Win: House of the Dragon
Though Better Call Saul wrapped up after six critically lauded seasons this summer, I think this win is going to come down to the two freshman hits of the year, Severance and House of the Dragon. Severance, by virtue of being an original series that surprised almost everyone, has had a bit more buzz and acclaim than Dragon, so I’ll give it the edge for now, but maybe the HFPA got GOT-fever again.
Best Television Series – Comedy
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Only Murders in the Building
Wednesday
Will Win: Abbott Elementary
Could Win: The Bear
As with Drama Series, this very clearly feels like it’s between the two freshman hits – Abbott Elementary and The Bear – though this is nowhere near as close of a competition, with Abbott leading nominations for all television shows with five (The Bear has two) and coming close to winning the top prize at the Emmys just a few months ago. There’s always a chance for an upset, especially at the Globes, but I think Abbott will be alright.
Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film
Black Bird
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The Dropout
Pam & Tommy
The White Lotus
Will Win: The White Lotus
Could Win: Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
None of these nominees have the media attention of The White Lotus, and since the Globes didn’t award the show last year (it wasn’t even nominated), I see them correcting that mistake this time out. Dahmer was a ratings juggernaut for Netflix, and it’s by far and away the biggest mainstream hit of this bunch, but The White Lotus has an artier appeal that I don’t see HFPA voters denying.
Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Jeff Bridges – The Old Man
Kevin Costner – Yellowstone
Diego Luna – Andor
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Adam Scott – Severance
Will Win: Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Could Win: Adam Scott – Severance
Now here’s where Better Call Saul will get its parting gift. Though I won’t rule out Severance‘s Adam Scott as an upset, I think the Golden Globes will be the start of Bob Odenkirk finally receiving awards recognition for his work in Better Call Saul now that it’s every ceremony’s last chance, giving him momentum that may even last all the way to this year’s Emmys. Perhaps the HFPA throws us a curveball with one of the other three nominees, but given that they all hail from shows that lack series nods, I’ll play it safe and stick with Odenkirk.
Best Actor in a Television Series – Comedy
Donald Glover – Atlanta
Bill Hader – Barry
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Will Win: Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Could Win: Bill Hader – Barry
Prior to the announcement of the nominations for the 80th Golden Globes, I would’ve said that this was Bill Hader’s to lose, especially after he was passed over at this year’s Emmys for Ted Lasso‘s Jason Sudeikis (who isn’t here this year). However, given the heat that The Bear has right now, and how the HFPA loves to anoint “the next big thing” – and how Barry wasn’t nominated for Comedy Series – I’m gonna say Jeremy Allen White will be the victor instead, which, as was the case for Bob Odenkirk above, might start his Emmy momentum as well.
Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film
Taron Egerton – Black Bird
Colin Firth – The Staircase
Andrew Garfield – Under the Banner of Heaven
Evan Peters – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Sebastian Stan – Pam & Tommy
Will Win: Evan Peters – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Could Win: Taron Egerton – Black Bird
Evan Peters, Taron Egerton, and Sebastian Stan are the nominees from shows that were also nominated for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film, and all play transformative roles, to varying degrees. However, neither Black Bird nor Pam & Tommy received the ratings or mainstream attention that Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story did, and it’s also just hard to complete with the dude playing Jeffrey Dahmer in the first place. Egerton and Stan have paths to the win, but Peters remains my pick.
Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Emma D’Arcy – House of the Dragon
Laura Linney – Ozark
Imelda Staunton – The Crown
Hilary Swank – Alaska Daily
Zendaya – Euphoria
Will Win: Zendaya – Euphoria
Could Win: Emma D’Arcy – House of the Dragon
I know above I said that I’d refrain from choosing a sole nominee for a win when there are other nominees from stronger shows that received recognition as well, but here, we’re talking about Zendaya, who is fresh off an Emmy win – her second in fact, which made her the youngest recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. And despite hailing from shows that managed Drama Series nods, her competition can’t quite compare with the heat she has. The divisiveness surrounding Season 5 of The Crown could keep Imelda Staunton out, while Ozark‘s buzz has waned significantly since its series finale. Perhaps Emma D’Arcy is our dark horse, but Zendaya’s still the favorite.
Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Jean Smart – Hacks
Will Win: Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Could Win: Jean Smart – Hacks
Jean Smart won this award last year – as well as the Emmy in September – but something tells me tides are turning in Quinta Brunson’s favor, with Abbott Elementary‘s command over the cultural conversation remaining as robust as ever, and there being a desire to anoint someone new instead of giving Smart her second win for the role of Deborah Vance. Maybe the HFPA defaults, but I’m betting big on Abbott overall.
Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film
Jessica Chastain – George & Tammy
Julia Garner – Inventing Anna
Lily James – Pam & Tommy
Julia Roberts – Gaslit
Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout
Will Win: Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout
Could Win: Lily James – Pam & Tommy
Amanda Seyfried is going to win this in a walk, end of conversation, and Lily James is the only real “competition” she might have (as the only other nominee from a show nominated for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film turning in equally transformative work), but Seyfried has made herself the core focus in this category ever since The Dropout debuted last spring, and I don’t see her slowing down any time soon.
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Drama
John Lithgow – The Old Man
Jonathan Pryce – The Crown
John Turturro – Severance
Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
Henry Winkler – Barry
Will Win: John Turturro – Severance
Could Win: Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
This perhaps the toughest category to call, since I think you can make a compelling argument for almost any contender, and there’s no real “frontrunner.” Turturro, Williams, and Winkler were all Emmy nominees last September (and Winkler is a former two-time nominee for this role in this category, but never a winner), Pryce hails from a show with a Drama Series nomination, and though Lithgow’s The Old Man didn’t make the Drama line-up, his co-star Jeff Bridges managed a nom in Lead Actor (showing that there is some interest for the series outside of him alone), and the Globes do love a truly random bonkers win from time to time, so maybe he’s that this year? I’m mostly considering Turturro or Williams, given that both star in my predicted Drama and Comedy Series winners, and I’ll give Turturro the edge by a hair for being a longer-working – and thus more overdue – actor.
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film
F. Murray Abraham – The White Lotus
Domhnall Gleeson – The Patient
Paul Walter Hauser – Black Bird
Richard Jenkins – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Seth Rogen – Pam & Tommy
Will Win: Paul Walter Hauser – Black Bird
Could Win: F. Murray Abraham – The White Lotus
Another category where you could make a pretty convincing case for any of the five nominees, but I believe Abraham and Hauser have the biggest buzz – Abraham for playing a provocative scene-stealer in the miniseries frontrunner, and Hauser for transforming into a terrifying antagonist in Black Bird – and I think Hauser’s “bigger/broader” work might put him ahead ever-so-slightly. I’m also not dismissing Richard Jenkins in Dahmer though, as he’s a known name doing reliably riveting work in that hit series.
Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Drama
Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
Julia Garner – Ozark
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary
Will Win: Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary
Could Win: Elizabeth Debicki – The Crown
The whole world is on Sheryl Lee Ralph’s side after that surprise – but wonderfully welcome – Emmy win (and her subsequent stirring speech), and after she received even more hysterical material to sink her teeth into in Season 2 of Abbott Elementary, I think she remains the frontrunner here, though she’s not unchallenged. There’s internal competition from Janelle James (an eternal fan favorite), Julia Garner won the Drama Supporting Actress Emmy this year and could have some support, and then Elizabeth Debicki is over here turning in the largest Transformation-with-a-capital-T as Princess Diana in Season 5 of The Crown. I’ll stick with Sheryl, but there is room for someone else to sneak in.
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film
Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus
Claire Danes – Fleishman Is in Trouble
Daisy Edgar-Jones – Under the Banner of Heaven
Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Aubrey Plaza – The White Lotus
Will Win: Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus
Could Win: Claire Danes – Fleishman Is in Trouble
After her fantastic work on the Season 2 finale of The White Lotus – some of the best of her career, mind you – Jennifer Coolidge is easily out ahead here, especially since the Globes can make up for passing over her last year. Aubrey Plaza was another White Lotus MVP this season (though the Coolidge-centric finale puts Jen ahead), while Niecy Nash-Betts made the most of every second of her screen time on Dahmer, but I think Jen has a pretty clear lead, unless the HFPA go for a left-field pick like Claire Danes in Fleishman Is in Trouble (the only nominee from that show, but a four-time Golden Globe winner and an oft-cited MVP from that recent Hulu miniseries).
