2018 Emmy Winner Predictions: Writing and Directing Categories

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I think it will flip when it comes to directing, where I think Glover will triumph once again and where Sherman-Palladino will be a close 2nd. Atlanta has two nominations here (as they did last year) and I don’t think that’s going to cancel out their chances. Barry is the spoiler factor here.

Drama Series Directing is another face-off between Game of Thrones and The Handmaid’s Tale, both previous winners here (as in writing) with the latter the current champ. Game of Thrones is a double nominee here once again, The Handmaid’s Tale has just one (it had two last year). Out of absolutely nowhere, Ozark showed up with two nominations yet didn’t appear in Drama Series. It’s not unprecedented for a show to win in directing when it’s not nominated in series but it hasn’t happened since 2009 (for the series finale of ER – directing was one of only two nominations it got in its final season).

Limited Series is probably a closer race than it seems. The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story should be the frontrunner and another win for creator Ryan Murphy but Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert blew everyone away with 13 nominations. It’s a real force to be reckoned with here. Scott Frank is also a top contender. As the creator and sole writer/director of Godless (which has 12 nominations) voters might feel compelled to award him for such a huge undertaking. Then there’s David Lynch. Could he take one of Twin Peaks‘ nine nominations home as a win?

DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
1. Donald Glover, “Atlanta” (“FUBU”)
2. Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (“Pilot”)
3. Hiro Murai, “Atlanta” (“Teddy Perkins”)
4. Bill Hader, “Barry” (“Chapter One: Make Your Mark”)
5. Jesse Peretz, “GLOW” (“Pilot”)
6. Mike Judge, “Silicon Valley” (“Initial Coin Offering”)
7. Mark Cendrowski, “The Big Bang Theory” (“The Bow Tie Symmetry”)

DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
1. Jeremy Podeswa, “Game Of Thrones” (“The Dragon And The Wolf”)
2. Kari Skogland, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“After”)
3. Alan Taylor, “Game Of Thrones” (“Beyond The Wall”)
4. Stephen Daldry, “The Crown” (“Paterfamilias”)
5. Jason Bateman, “Ozark” (“The Toll”)
6. Daniel Sackheim, “Ozark” (“Tonight We Improvise”)
7. The Duffer Brothers, “Stranger Things” (“Chapter Nine: The Gate”)

DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, TV MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
1. Ryan Murphy, “The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (“The Man Who Would Be Vogue”)
2. David Leveaux (director) and Alex Rudzinski (Live Television Director), “Jesus Christ Superstar: Live In Concert”
3. Scott Frank, “Godless”
4. David Lynch, “Twin Peaks”
5. Edward Berger, “Patrick Melrose”
6. Craig Zisk, “The Looming Tower” (“9/11”)
7. Barry Levinson, “Paterno”

DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
1. Saturday Night Live (“Host: Donald Glover”)
2. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (“Episode 421”)
3. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (“Episode 2061”)
4. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (“Episode 438”)
5. Portlandia (“Riot Spray”)
6. The Late Late Show with James Corden (“Episode 0416”)

DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
1. Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life (Netflix)
2. The Oscars (ABC)
3. Super Bowl LII: Halftime Show Starring Justin Timberlake (NBC)
4. Jerry Seinfeld: Jerry Before Seinfeld (Netflix)
5. Dave Chappelle: Equanimity (Netflix)