2022 Emmy Awards: The Wrap Up

So, how’d I do? Over the last week or two, I’ve been inundating you with essays about who is going to win the acting Emmys, as well as who I thought should win if there was any justice. I never suggested that my predictions should inspire betting, but since I did hit all four acting winners at this year’s Oscars, one might think that my opinion carried some weight.

Still, that was just four categories. This was 12. As in, three times as many. That degree of difficulty is far higher than just picking the Oscars, but still, I’m probably not worth much as a prognosticator if I can’t hit more than half of the winners.

So, again, the question is, how many did I get right?

THE ONES I GOT RIGHT

Let’s start with the no-brainers, the ones that were dead solid picks of which I had absolutely no doubt. Supporting Actor and Actress in a Movie or Miniseries, I had The White Lotus’ Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge. Both hoisted trophies last night, as did Actor in a Movie or Miniseries, Michael Keaton, for Dopesick, which to me was the surest thing of all.

Then there’s two repeat winners. The first being Actress in a Comedy, Jean Smart for Hacks. Quinta Brunson won her award for writing, appropriately enough, so that the acting award could be handed off to the beloved Smart. The second was Euphoria’s Zendaya winning again for Actress in a Drama, in a season that was not to everyone’s taste, but her performance was every bit as remarkable as the one for which she took the trophy the first time around. Again, piece of cake.

So that’s five easy ones. Anyone can get credit for those. Or, anyone paying attention, anyway. How about the trickier ones? Ozark‘s Julia Garner earned her third win in the Supporting Actress in a Drama category, which some might have thought was a given, but with the increased competition this year, it was anything but. Likewise, Squid Game‘s Lee Jung-jae, a winner for Lead Actor in a Drama was a toss up, what with the spectacular competition from Better Call Saul‘s Bob Odenkirk and not one, but two members of the Succession cast, Brian Cox and previous winner Jeremy Strong.

Then there are the two Ted Lasso winners, Jason Sudeikis for Actor in a Comedy, and Brett Goldstein for Supporting Actor in a Comedy. Both were repeat winners, but both also had to fight off serious challenges from Barry’s Bill Hader and Henry Winkler and Anthony Carrigan, respectively.

Add them up, and that’s nine. Nine winners out of 12 categories. Not bad.

THE ONES I GOT WRONG

Let’s keep it simple: Actress in a Movie or Miniseries, Supporting Actor in a Drama, and Supporting Actress in a Comedy. In the first category, I said that American Crime Story: Impeachment, Sarah Paulson was going to win, in the second, Succession‘s Kieran Culkin, in the third, Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham. None of them took home the gold, because they were beaten by, in order, The Dropout’s Amanda Seyfried, Succession’s Matthew MacFadyen, and Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph.

But here’s the thing: in each of those three categories, I said that the first person would win, but the actual winners were the ones who should win. So do I get partial credit for pointing out that these three actually deserved it?

I’m going with yes. It’s still nine out of 12 correct predictions, but I am awarding myself some bonus points for giving love to the work Seyfried, MacFadyen, and Ralph all turned in.

It also means you’re probably going to see me in this space next year. For Oscar season, too. Because I’m clearly just too good at this.

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Related articles:
Emmy Essays: Predicting the Best Actor and Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Winners
Emmy Essays: Predicting the Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Winners
Emmy Essays: Predicting the Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series Winners