FINAL 2021 Emmy Predictions: Variety, Reality Categories

This weekend, the Creative Arts Emmy Awards handed out nearly 100 craft, technical and performance Emmy awards across drama, comedy, reality, variety, documentary and nonfiction including directing and writing for a Variety Special, both of which were won by Bo Burnham for his Netflix special Inside. Does that make him a frontrunner for the big prize next week? It could, but he’ll still face the behemoth that is Hamilton.

2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards Night One: ‘The Queen’s Gambit,’ ‘Pose’ dominate, ‘WandaVision’ falters

RuPaul won his sixth Emmy in a row, a new record, for host of a reality or competition program and in the process tied the record for the most Emmy wins by a person of color (10, with cinematographer Donald A. Morgan) and if Drag Race wins outstanding competition program again next weekend, he will break that record. RuPaul’s Drag Race is the reigning champion in the reality/competition program category, having won the last three years in a row and toppling former winners The Amazing Race and The Voice in the process. Can they make it four and push RuPaul into Emmy history?

2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards – Night Two, Show One: Condragulations, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ is the winner of this challenge

Variety Sketch Series suffered from the new Emmy sliding scale of nominations based on submissions and this year their are only two nominees: the veteran and venerable Saturday Night Live, in its 46th season and as the single show with the most Emmys in history (up to 87 after this weekend); and A Black Lady Sketch Show, in just its second year and already capturing a surprising win in the picture editing category against Bo Burnham’s Inside, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hamilton and two episodes of Saturday Night Live. It might not seem like much but it was a huge upset when you consider that Last Week Tonight with John Oliver had won this category for the last five years in a row.

2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards – Night Two, Show Two: ‘The Mandalorian,’ ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ surge going into the Primetime Emmys

Speaking of John Oliver, he’s still the favorite to triumph once again in the Variety Talk Series category with, you guessed it, five wins in a row under his belt here. He’s up against the same competition as before (Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah) but could find a surprise fight with Conan O’Brien for the final season of his show, Conan.

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 and Bowen Yang.

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.