Golden Globe predictions, Television: Will ‘The Crown’ reign again or will something ‘Ratched’ this way come?

There’s an awful lot of messy shenanigans with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who puts on the Golden Globe Awards, with the new bombshell reveal that *clutches pearls* they openly take bribes like trips to Paris and pay themselves quite handsomely, as reported by the LA Times.

But, let’s get down to predictions anyway, shall we?

Best Television Series – Drama 

The Crown won the drama series Globe in its first season, but the HFPA is rather fickle when it comes to giving the same show another win. The last time was Homeland, winning for its first and second seasons. Only The X-Files has ever won, missed a year, then came back to win again (and again, consecutively). The Globes love freshman shows more than anyone and this year Lovecraft Country, The Mandalorian and Ratched all fit that bill. While I think The Crown can mount a comeback (those five acting nominations should seal it), Ratched is probably the spoiler as it’s the only new nominee to earn mentions outside of the top prize. Maybe Ozark can eke out a win for its third season, it certainly has support elsewhere. Lovecraft Country and The Mandalorian, having no other nominations, don’t stand much of a chance as the Globes don’t reward shows without acting nominations.

• Will win: The Crown (Netflix)
• Could win: Ratched (Netflix)
• Other nominees: Lovecraft Country (HBO Max), The Mandalorian (Disney Plus), Ozark (Netflix)

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Putting aside the newest HFPA scandal (which isn’t really new), Emily in Paris as a new show has a lot of heat and popularity and super Globes-y. But just imagine if it wins… Less controversially, The Flight Attendant was also one of the season’s buzziest shows and both have complementing lead actress nominations. The Globes righted the wrong the Emmys did The Great by nominating it here. But I think the race is between Emmy sweeper Schitt’s Creek for its final season and Ted Lasso for its first. Like in drama, the Globes don’t like to reward repeating shows but this year every nominee is a first-time nominee and four are in their first seasons. Only SC is the veteran but in Globes terms it’s a first-timer as the show has never been nominated here before. For Ted Lasso, it also has a corresponding acting nomination to bolster its chances. I’m leaning Schitt’s Creek here but really, this might be one of the toughest TV races there is as there is a great argument for each of them to win since they’re all contenders in the acting categories as well.

• Will win: Schitt’s Creek (PopTV)
• Could win: Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
• Other nominees: Emily in Paris (Netflix), The Flight Attendant (HBO Max), The Great (Hulu)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

• Will win: Jason Bateman (Ozark)
• Could win: Josh O’Connor (The Crown)
• Other nominees: Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Al Pacino (Hunters) , Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama

With Olivia Colman (The Crown) having just won here for this role last year, she’s got almost no chance to repeat. In 58 years of this category only one woman has ever won back to back awards for the same role: Claire Danes in Homeland (2011-2012). In Danes’ favor was that her show also won consecutive drama series awards, another rarity. Emmy winner Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) was nominated and lost last year (to Colman), Linney has never been nominated here for Ozark until this year and Sarah Paulson (Ratched) is nominated in this category for the first time ever and this is her first nomination since her 2017 win for American Crime Story in the Limited Series section. This all points to one of the year’s biggest breakouts, Emma Corrin as Lady Diana Spencer in The Crown. A dead ringer, from looks to voice, and a lauded performance, Corrin’s is pure Golden Globes gold. 

• Will win: Emma Corrin (The Crown)
• Could win: Sarah Paulson (Ratched)
• Other nominees: Olivia Colman (The Crown), Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Laura Linney (Ozark)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

• Will win: Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)
• Could win: Eugene Levy (Schitt’s Creek)
• Other nominees: Don Cheadle (Black Monday), Nicholas Hoult (The Great), Ramy Youssef (Ramy)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Four young women in the first seasons of their shows going up against an Emmy-winning veteran final season swan song almost doesn’t seem fair. But to whom? Because this feels like a closer race than it seems at first glance. Only Lily Collins (Emily in Paris) is a previous nominee (on the film side, in comedy lead, for 2016’s Rules Don’t Apply) but both Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant) and Elle Fanning (The Great) join Collins as being in shows nominated for comedy series’ in their first seasons. Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), snubbed by the HFPA for five seasons, finally gets in as the Globes play a bit of catch up to the Emmys. Jane Levy, fantastic in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and the only nominee in a musical series, probably doesn’t have much of a chance. I think the race is between O’Hara and Cuoco with the edge going to O’Hara. But oh lord, watch out if Collins win.

• Will win: Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek)
• Could win: Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant)
• Other nominees: Lily Collins (Emily in Paris), Elle Fanning (The Great), Jane Levy (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist)

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• Will win: The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
• Could win: The Undoing (HBO)
• Other nominees: Normal People (Hulu/BBC), Small Axe (Amazon Studios/BBC), Unorthodox (Netflix)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• Will win: Mark Ruffalo (I Know This Much Is True)
• Could win: Hugh Grant (The Undoing)
• Other nominees: Bryan Cranston (Your Honor), Jeff Daniels (The Comey Rule), Ethan Hawke (The Good Lord Bird)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

A blowout if there is going to be one on the television side, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) should be able to swipe up a Golden Globe with ease. As a double nominee this year (she’s also up for comedy actress on the film side for Emma.), that just bolsters her chances. If there is a potential spoiler it’s not going to come from awards powerhouses like three-time Globe winner Cate Blanchett (Mrs. America) or four-time Globe winner Nicole Kidman (The Undoing), it will be from newcomer Shira Haas (Unorthodox).

• Will win: Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit)
• Could win: Shira Haas (Unorthodox)
• Cate Blanchett (Mrs. America), Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People), Nicole Kidman (The Undoing)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• Will win: John Boyega (Small Axe)
• Could win: Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek)
• Other nominees: Brendan Gleeson (The Comey Rule), Jim Parsons (Hollywood), Donald Sutherland (The Undoing)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Gillian Anderson (The Crown) should be able to win her second Golden Globe, and first in 24 years, playing none other than The Iron Lady herself, Great Britain Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She benefits heavily by the separation of her co-star competition in lead and that Helena Bonham Carter barely makes a blip in season four. I’d watch out for Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek) to surprise but maybe the real spoiler is 6-time nominee Cynthia Nixon in Ratched. But they all have two-time Emmy winner Julia Garner (Ozark) to contend with, making this one of the more competitive categories.

• Will win: Gillian Anderson (The Crown)
• Could win: Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek)
• Other nominees: Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown), Julia Garner (Ozark), Cynthia Nixon (Ratched)

The 78th Golden Globe Awards will be held on Sunday, February 28 on both coasts, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles and hosted by Amy Poehler and in New York City at the Rainbow Room and hosted by Tina Fey.

Announced presenters so far: Anthony Anderson, Awkwafina, Kevin Bacon, Sterling K. Brown, Michael Douglas, Cynthia Erivo, Tiffany Haddish, Kate Hudson, Annie Mumolo, Joaquin Phoenix, Margot Robbie, Kyra Sedgwick, Kenan Thompson, Susan Kelechi Watson, Kristen Wiig, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger.

People magazine also exclusively revealed that for the first time ever, the Globes, in association with Feeding America, will be inviting a limited number of frontline and essential workers to attend the show in both locations.

All audience members will be tested for COVID-19 in advance and undergo health screenings and temperature checks before entering either venue. Inside, social distancing guidelines will be in place and only guests from the same household will be seated together.

Photo: Des Willie / Netflix