Emmy Winners 2018

Lots of Emmy Award winners (below in bold) were given statues at last night’s ceremony, and last week’s Creative Arts Emmys. Here are the key category winners, with some of our thoughts on the outcome:

Outstanding drama series

*YAWN* This is such a boring choice. I love watching the hottest shows on TV but even I, who finished all of Dexter, couldn’t get too far into Game of Thrones. I’m so bored of this and disappointed that the actual best show in this list, The Crown, was overlooked here.

The Americans
The Crown
The Handmaid’s Tale
Game of Thrones
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld

Outstanding lead actress in a drama

Yes yes yes! It had to go to Claire Foy as it was her second, and final outing as the Queen in The Crown. I’m sad that Tatiana Maslany missed out for her final season of Orphan Black, but it was 100% Claire Foy’s year!

Claire Foy, The Crown
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld
Keri Russell, The Americans
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

Honestly, I don’t even know who Matthew Rhys is, so it’s a bit hard to judge. But to see Sterling K Brown not win an award is surprising to me.

Sterling K Brown, This Is Us
Ed Harris, Westworld
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Jeffrey Wright, Westworld
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

Thandie Newton is certainly the best thing about Westworld these days. Vanessa Kirby would have also been a worthy winner, but Thandie has my support for holding together an otherwise wonky show!

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things
Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale
Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale
Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid’s Tale
Thandie Newton, Westworld
Vanessa Kirby, The Crown

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

COME ON! Seriously? I am still so bored here… Matt Smith was robbed, especially in his last outing as Prince Philip in The Crown.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Matt Smith, The Crown
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
David Harbour, Stranger Things
Joseph Fiennes, The Handmaid’s Tale

Outstanding guest actress in a drama series

Guest actress has less stakes overall as a category, but I do love Samira Wiley, from her days on OITNB even more than The Handmaid’s Tale. But she beat Viola Davis???

Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones
Viola Davis, Scandal
Cicely Tyson, How To Get Away With Murder
Cherry Jones, The Handmaid’s Tale
Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale
Kelly Jenrette, The Handmaid’s Tale

Outstanding guest actor in a drama series

Sure, Ron Cephas Jones is good… but he isn’t Goode…

F Murray Abraham, Homeland
Matthew Goode, The Crown
Cameron Britton, Mindhunter
Gerald McRaney, This Is Us
Ron Cephas Jones, This Is Us
Jimmi Simpson, Westworld

Outstanding directing for a drama series

Sure. The Crown has excellent directing, of course!

Game of Thrones, Beyond The Wall
Game of Thrones, The Dragon And The Wolf
Ozark, The Toll
Ozark, Tonight We Improvise
Stranger Things, Chapter Nine: The Gate
The Crown, Paterfamilias
The Handmaid’s Tale, After

Outstanding writing for a drama series

I have never seen The Americans. Even with a couple of wins for it, I still don’t think I ever will bother.

Game of Thrones, The Dragon and the Wolf
Killing Eve, Nice Face
Stranger Things, Chapter Nine: The Gate
The Americans, Start
The Crown, Mystery Man
The Handmaid’s Tale, June

Outstanding comedy series

I have never seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but it did not have super strong competition in the comedy category this year. In spite of there being much better comedies out there (ie The Good Place), this list was weak, bar the excellent comedy-drama Barry.

Atlanta
black-ish
Barry
Curb Your Enthusiasm
GLOW
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy

Again, never seen this show, but to deny Lily Tomlin of an award seems sad.

Pamela Adlon, Better Things
Lily Tomlin, Grace & Frankie
Allison Janney, Mom
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Issa Rae, Insecure

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy

I love Bill Hader in Barry – he does an excellent job and shows that he has dramatic chops as strong as his comedic ones. But as Barry is a bit more drama than comedy, does his name really belong here? Alongside the HILARIOUS Ted Danson performance from The Good Place? Up for debate.

Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Donald Glover, Atlanta
Bill Hader, Barry
William H Macy, Shameless

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

Again, never seen Mrs Maisel so can’t judge.

Zazie Beetz, Atlanta
Leslie Jones, Saturday Night Live
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Laurie Metcalf, Roseanne
Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live
Betty Gilpin, GLOW
Megan Mullaly, Will & Grace
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

Again, Barry can swing either way as a comedy or drama (similar to Killing Eve). BUT… Henry Winkler’s performance is 100% the comic relief of the show which dips its toe in both genres, so his win is very much deserved. Saying that… Titus Burgess remains the only good thing in later seasons of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and he should win a comedy Emmy at some point for keeping it afloat, or better yet, be given his own spinoff series.

Henry Winkler, Barry
Louie Anderson, Baskets
Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta
Kenan Thomspon, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series

Sure. Why not. I can’t remember any of these performances anyway.

Wanda Sykes, black-ish
Maya Rudolph, The Good Place
Tiffany Haddish, Saturday Night Live
Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live
Jane Lynch, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Molly Shannon, Will & Grace

Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series

Yup. Guest actors again have the lowest stakes on a pop culture level, so good for them on a personal level!

Katt Williams, Atlanta
Bryan Cranston, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Donald Glover, Saturday Night Live
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Sterling K Brown, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Outstanding directing for a comedy series

This Mrs. Maisel sure is cleaning up at the Emmys!

Atlanta, FUBU
Atlanta, Teddy Perkins
Barry, Chapter One: Make Your Mark
Glow, Pilot
Silicon Valley, Initial Coin Offering
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Pilot
The Big Bang Theory, The Bow Tie Symmetry

Outstanding writing for a comedy series

Everybody loves Mrs. Maisel.

Atlanta, Barbershop
Atlanta, Alligator Man
Barry, Chapter One: Make Your Mark
Barry, Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast and Keep Going
Silicon Valley, Fifty-One Percent
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Pilot

Outstanding limited series

This was a strong category with Godless and Patrick Melrose being some of the best television of the year…. but nothing compares to American Crime Story. The Assassination of Gianni Versace was not as good as season one’s The People v. O.J. Simpson, but no television ever has been or possibly ever will be. That was masterful. The Versace season though, was some excellent television all around. Devastating.

The Alienist
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Godless
Genius: Picasso
Patrick Melrose

Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or TV movie

I haven’t seen Seven Seconds so basically can’t have an opinion here. Regina King is always good though, so no doubt this is an earned Emmy.

Jessica Biel, The Sinner
Laura Dern, The Tale
Michelle Dockery, Godless
Edie Falco, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders
Regina King, Seven Seconds
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Cult

Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or TV movie

On an average day, if someone asked me who the better actor is – Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeff Daniels or Darren Criss, there is no way my answer would have been Darren Criss, and I probably would have laughed him out of this category. But, what a revelation he is in The Assassination of Gianni Versace. He totally out-acts Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch and previous Emmy winner Jeff Daniels. Definitely a career best to date, and I’m now excited to see what the future holds for this surprisingly gifted actor!

Antonio Banderas, Genius: Picasso
Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Melrose
Jeff Daniels, The Looming Tower
John Legend, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Jesse Plemons, USS Callister (Black Mirror)

Outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie

I loved Godless even though it went under the radar for most television viewers. And this is a very strong category, especially with Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace – which was AH-MAZING! But you know what – I loved Merritt Wever in Godless. She was fantastic and totally deserves this!

Adina Porter, American Horror Story: Cult
Merritt Wever, Godless
Penelope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Letitia Wright, Black Museum (Black Mirror)
Sara Bareilles, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Judith Light, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: America Crime Story

Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie

I did like Jeff Daniels in Godless, and I’m glad to see the miniseries pick up some awards in the Supporting Acting categories… but Edgar Ramirez was so fantastic as Gianni Versace that I can’t help but be disappointed he didn’t win.

Jeff Daniels, Godless
Ricky Martin, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Finn Wittrock, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
John Leguizamo, Waco
Brandon Victor Dixon, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Giani Versace: American Crime Story
Michael Stuhlbarg, The Looming Tower

Outstanding directing for a limited series or movie

Of course Versace is cleaning up in the Limited Series category. Ryan Murphy knows his stuff!

Godless
Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert
Patrick Melrose
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
The Looming Tower
Twin Peaks

Outstanding writing for a limited series or movie

I liked the Black Mirror ‘Star Trek’ episode as much as the next nerd, but it’s been getting far too many awards, especially when up against all of these fine programmes… It’s a little too much hype for my liking. IT’S FINE! Calm down people…

American Vandal
Godless
Patrick Melrose
The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Twin Peaks
Black Mirror, USS Callister

Outstanding variety talk series

I watch lots of clips online from Samantha Bee, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, but only John Oliver ever gets my full attention with weekly appointment viewing!

Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Late Show With James Corden
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah

Outstanding variety sketch series

How many years has SNL been on for now?

At Home with Amy Sedaris
Drunk History
I Love You America With Sarah Silverman
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live
Tracey Ullman’s Show

Outstanding reality competition program

In one of its weakest seasons to date, RuPaul’s Drag Race still slayed the competition!

The Amazing Race
The Voice
Top Chef
American Ninja Warrior
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Project Runway

Outstanding directing for a variety special

The most exciting thing to come out of this win was a marriage proposal! LOVELY!

Dave Chappelle: Equanimity
Jerry Seinfeld: Jerry Before Seinfeld
Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life
Super Bowl LII Halftime Show Starring Justin Timberlake
The Oscars

Outstanding writing for a variety special

I couldn’t get through this special…I tried. Ugh. Was Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette not eligible this year?

Full Frontal With Samantha Bee: The Great American* Puerto Rico (*It’s Complicated)
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City
Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady
Patton Oswalt: Annihilation
Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life

Outstanding structured reality program

YASSS!!!!!

Antiques Roadshow
Fixer Upper
Lip Sync Battle
Queer Eye
Shark Tank
Who Do You Think You Are?

Outstanding television movie

Not at all a strong category. But The Tale was much more important and groundbreaking than this one off episode of Black Mirror.

Black Mirror: USS Callister
Fahrenheit 451
Flint
Paterno
The Tale