FINAL 2021 Emmy Predictions: The Drama categories

The Emmys race is finally coming to a close after a long summer of predictions. With the Creative Arts Emmys finished over this past weekend, the main ceremony is creeping around the corner on Sunday, September 19. The drama categories are stacked this year with talent, so it’s hard to say for sure who will be taking home the gold on Sunday night. Erik and I agree on some things and disagree on others, so we’ll see who’s right when the awards air!

Going into the ceremony, Erik and I both agree that The Crown seems destined to take the top prize for Outstanding Drama Series this year. The Crown has been the frontrunner for pretty much the entire year (honestly since the time it came out last November), and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change as the Emmys get closer. It does have some stiff competition with Pose’s final season having aired and received high praise for its entire cast. The Handmaid’s Tale looks like it could end up losing every award its up for this year, so don’t look to that series to be the winner. With Pose winning three Creative Arts Emmys before the main ceremony, it could end up taking home the win.

Gillian Anderson is set to win an Emmy this year for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in season four of The Crown with competition coming from her co-stars and four performers from The Handmaid’s Tale (and Aunjanue Ellis, too). Erik and I agree that she’ll be taking home the award. We also agree that The Crown looks like it’ll take home both Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, though for directing, we disagree on the episode: Erik thinks Jessica Hobbs will win for directing the episode “War” while I think Benjamin Caron will win for directing the episode “Fairytale.”

FINAL 2021 Emmy Predictions: Variety, Reality categories

The biggest disagreements in the Drama series categories come to the lead acting categories. The Crown is already going into the ceremony with one acting win (Guest Acting in a Drama Series for Claire Foy) and seems to be taking supporting actress along with it. I think that Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin will both win their respective races when it comes down to it for Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Erik thinks that the two leads from Pose, Billy Porter and Mj Rodriguez, could take home the statues on Emmys night. Even though I’m predicting O’Connor and Corrin, I can see the love being given to Porter and Rodriguez on the night of the ceremony. It’s a beloved show in its final season and it’s already won three Emmys; there’s definitely a chance they could take home the trophies.

FINAL 2021 Emmy Predictions: The Comedy categories

Finally, Erik and I both agree that Michael K. Williams will win a posthumous Emmy for his supporting role on Lovecraft Country, who was widely considered to be the frontrunner before his death. If Williams wins he will be the first Black actor in Emmy history to triumph in this category. To date, it is the only acting category (short form or long form of any kind) without a Black winner.

FINAL 2021 Emmy Predictions: The Limited Series categories

The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, September 19, (8:00-11:00 PM, live EDT/5:00-8:00 PM, live PDT) on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+ and be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer.

Presenters include: Paulina Alexis, Anthony Anderson, Angela Bassett, Kate Beckinsale, Adrien Brody, Stephen Colbert, Jennifer Coolidge, Kaley Cuoco, Lane Factor, Beanie Feldstein, Allyson Felix, America Ferrera, Sterlin Harjo, Devery Jacobs, Ken Jeong, Mindy Kaling, Vanessa Lachey, Dan Levy, Eugene Levy, Jessica Long, Annie Murphy and Catherine O’Hara plus Sarah Paulson, Amy Poehler, Billy Porter, Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez, Seth Rogen, Tracee Ellis Ross, Hailee Steinfeld, Patrick Stewart, Wilmer Valderrama, Kerry Washington, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Bowen Yang, Annaleigh Ashford, Awkwafina, Misty Copeland, Michael Douglas, Ava DuVernay, Taraji P. Henson, Gayle King, LL Cool J, Dolly Parton, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Ellen Pompeo, Yara Shahidi, Rita Wilson and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Here are the final 2021 Emmy winner predictions in variety and reality categories by AwardsWatch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and TV Awards Editor Tyler Doster.