Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Nomination Predictions – Television

When trying to predict the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) its always best to expect repeat winners and nominees. Most new shows and performers are overlooked for their first season making their first appearance for season two.

SAG Awards Committee Chair JoBeth Williams and SAG Awards Committee Member Elizabeth McLaughlin will open the nominations announcement at 6:50am PT with the Stunt nominees during a live webcast on sagawards.tntdrama.com and sagawards.org. America Ferrera and Danai Gurira will reveal the 26th Screen Actors Guild Award nominations on Wednesday, December 11 live at 7:00am PT on TNT, TBS and truTV and stream at tntdrama.com/sag-awards, truTV.com and sagawards.org.

As previously announced, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award will go to Robert De Niro.

Let’s take a look at what performers and series could get nominated this year.

DRAMA CATEGORIES

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Should be safe:

• The Crown
• Game of Thrones
• This Is Us

Fighting it out for the last two spots:

• Big Little Lies
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Killing Eve
• The Morning Show
• Pose
• Stranger Things
• Succession
• Watchmen

This is Us, may be the two-time defending champion but with an influx of possibilities the network Drama could be on the outs. The Handmaid’s Tale and past winner Stranger Things could hold on to their spots but after so-so season could be in trouble of being snubbed.

My Predictions:

• The Crown
• Game of Thrones
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Succession
• This Is Us

Most likely to spoil: Big Little Lies

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Fighting it out for the five spots:

• Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
• Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
• Olivia Colman, The Crown
• Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
• Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
• Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies
• Regina King, Watchmen
• Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
• Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
• Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies
• Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies or The Morning Show

 This is by far the MOST competitive category at this year’s SAG Awards with dozens of ladies vying for just five spots—snubs are inevitable. Kidman and Streep are possibilities but Big Little Lies Season Two was not as acclaimed as its first. Apple is a new player and it’s hard to tell if enough people have seen The Morning Show. Should an actress from Game of Thrones receive a nomination this will give the series the necessary boost to finally win Ensemble. 

My Predictions:

• Olivia Colman, The Crown
• Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
• Regina King, Watchmen
• Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies
• Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

Most likely to spoil:  Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Should be safe:

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Fighting it out for the last four spots:

• Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
• Steve Carell, The Morning Show
• Brian Cox, Succession
• David Harbour, Stranger Things
• Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
• Jeremy Irons, Watchmen
• John Krasinski, Jack Ryan
• Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
• Tobias Menzies, The Crown
• Billy Porter, Pose
• Jeremy Strong, Succession

While I believe Brown should be safe since he’s never missed with a lot of strong contenders he could be in trouble. Porter on the other hand will likely follow his recent Emmy win with his first SAG Award nomination. The race will likely come down to Porter and Dinklage.

My Predictions:

• Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
• Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
• Brian Cox, Succession
• Tobias Menzies, The Crown
• Billy Porter, Pose

Most likely to spoil: Jeremy Strong, Succession

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series

• Game of Thrones
• GLOW
• Stranger Things
• The Walking Dead
• Watchmen

Yes, I didn’t change my predictions! Game of Thrones will be nominated and win its eighth consecutive prize setting a record that may never be broken.

COMEDY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

While the general SAG Awards rule is most new series do not show up till their second seasons. One streaming service has proven to be the exception—Netflix. Every year, Netflix has amassed nominations that many were not predicting. Will their Comedies prove to be unbeatable? Or will Amazon or HBO spoil their win streak?

Appears to be safe:

• Barry
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Veep

Looking to grab one of the two remaining spots:

• Fleabag
• GLOW
• The Good Place
• The Kominsky Method
• Modern Family
• Orange is the New Black
• The Politician
• The Righteous Gemstones
• Schitt’s Creek

Comedy Ensemble appears to be a three way race between HBO, Amazon and Netflix. However, the trio should look out for cult favorite Schitt’s Creek and NBC’s The Good Place. Both will try to crash the party for their respective series last seasons.

My Predictions:

• Barry
• The Good Place
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Schitt’s Creek
• Veep

Most likely to spoil: The Politician

That old saying “winning isn’t everything” definitely applies to the SAG Awards. The nomination can sometimes be enough to propel an actor or actress to an Emmy win. Just ask Julia Garner (Ozark) who propelled a surprise nomination on the Drama side to an Emmy win. And there are several actors hoping to do so this year in the comedy races.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

More than likely safe:

• Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Fighting it out for the last two spots:

• Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
• Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
• Kristen Bell, The Good Place
• Alison Brie, GLOW
• Sarah Goldberg, Barry
• Jessica Lange, The Politician
• Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
• Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
• Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
• Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag

My Predictions:

• Christina Applegate, Dead to Me
• Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek

Most likely to spoil: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag or Jessica Lange, The Politician

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Should be on the safe side:

• Bill Hader, Barry
• Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Vying for the last three spots:

• Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Don Cheadle, Black Monday
• Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
• Ted Danson, The Good Place
• Tony Hale, Veep
• Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
• Ben Platt, The Politician
• Paul Rudd, Living with Yourself
• Andrew Scott, Fleabag
• Henry Winkler: Barry

My Predictions:

• Ted Danson, The Good Place
• Bill Hader, Barry
• Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
• Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Henry Winkler: Barry

Most likely to spoil: Ben Platt, The Politician or Paul Rudd, Living with Yourself