Loud and Clear shares our predictions for the 2024 Emmy Awards! Who will, could, and should win this year? Read our guesses for every category of the Emmys!
The 2024 Emmy Awards are back in full swing after the WGA and SAG strikes of 2023. It’s another interesting year of predictions for television’s biggest night! Who will, could, and should win this year? When looking at the nominees, there seems to be a lack of “bigger” across-the-board contenders compared to previous years. Since the strikes lasted so long, not a lot of shows were able to produce an entire season of television and release it within the eligibility window.
However, this is not all bad, because the thin competition allows some lesser-known shows such as Slow Horses or Reservation Dogs to pick up some above-the-line nominations and come closer to the public consciousness. This year will certainly be an interesting one, with a lot of new shows in the drama category and an extremely large number of first-time acting nominees, so let’s look at what Loud and Clear predicts who will, could, and should win a 2024 Emmy.
DRAMA SERIES
- The Crown
- Fallout
- The Gilded Age
- The Morning Show
- Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Shōgun
- Slow Horses
- 3 Body Problem
It seems like the trend of one show dominating all categories in their genre will happen once again this year, but this time, it’s with a new series, Shōgun. While this category feels especially light this year without blockbuster shows such as Succession or House of the Dragon, Shogun does have the makings to become one of the heaviest hitters in the drama categories. It is a period piece action epic that’s able to mix large-scale storytelling with interpersonal drama, which the Television Academy loves. While these shows are quite different from each other, Shōgun feels like a Game of Thrones-level achievement, and I expect it will be showered in plenty of awards along with Best Drama Series.
- Will Win: Shōgun
- Could Win: The Crown
- Should Win: Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Should’ve Been Nominated: The Curse
ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Idris Elba, Hijack
- Donald Glover, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Walton Goggins, Fallout
- Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
- Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun
- Dominic West, The Crown
Actors in a Drama series looks like a competitive category from just looking at the nominees, but only two performances have a real shot of winning. Slow Horses has been a well-reviewed show for all three of its seasons so far, with nearly all positive remarks having to do with Gary Oldman’s performance. This is the first time the Television Academy has recognized this show with any nominations, which makes me believe that if there is one time Oldman’s performance would be recognized, it would be now. However, Shogun looks like too strong of a show overall, that it would miss out on this award. Especially since Hiroyuki Sanada is not only the lead actor but also a producer, it seems right that the academy will vote in his favor.
- Will Win: Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun
- Could Win: Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
- Should Win: Donald Glover, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Colin Farrell, Sugar
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
- Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
- Maya Erskine, Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Anna Sawai, Shōgun
- Imelda Staunton, The Crown
- Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
I will always be campaigning for Jennifer Aniston to win this category for her performance as Alex Levy in The Morning Show, but every year, it feels like she is stuck in second place. This year, Anna Sawai, who easily gives the most awards-worthy performance in Shōgun, seems like she will walk away with this award pretty easily. Even though I wish there was a little more competition here, it will be a historic moment if Anna Sawai wins since she would be the first Asian woman to win Best Actress in a Drama Series. Even though she was not nominated, the best performance in this category is easily Emma Stone for The Curse. Stone delivers one of the best performances of her career, which is saying something given the last few years of her career, and I wish she at least got the nomination this year.
- Will Win: Anna Sawai, Shōgun
- Could Win: Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
- Should Win: Anna Sawai, Shōgun
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Emma Stone, The Curse
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun
- Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
- Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
- Jon Hamm, The Morning Show
- Takehiro Hira, Shogun
- Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
- Jonathan Pryce, The Crown
While Jennifer Aniston always struggles to get the win for her performance, Billy Crudup doesn’t have the same problem at all. Crudup has always given the strongest performance out of The Morning Show cast, but this year was probably his best season yet, and I expect the Television Academy will reward him accordingly. If he doesn’t win, Jonathan Pryce probably has the second-best shot at this award because it seems like The Crown is the default winner for acting awards if there isn’t a clear frontrunner.
- Will Win: Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
- Could Win: Jonathan Pryce, The Crown
- Should Win: Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Benny Safdie, The Curse
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Christine Baranski, The Gilded Age
- Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show
- Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
- Greta Lee, The Morning Show
- Lesley Manville, The Crown
- Karen Pittman, The Morning Show
- Holland Taylor, The Morning Show
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series is unfortunately one of the least interesting categories this year. There doesn’t seem to be a clear front-runner, which means someone from The Crown will most likely take the award. Elizabeth Debicki has more precursor awards than Lesley Manville, which is why I have her as the favorite to win, but it’s pretty close to a 50/50 chance. If I had a ballot, Nicole Beharie would be my clear winner because her performance in The Morning Show is one of my favorites of the year regardless of genre or category, but I think it’s one of those cases for her that the nomination is the win.
- Will Win: Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
- Could Win: Lesley Manville, The Crown
- Should Win: Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Amy Ryan, Sugar
COMEDY SERIES
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Hacks
- Only Murders in the Building
- Palm Royale
- Reservation Dogs
- What We Do in the Shadows
This year’s theme for all the comedy categories will be The Bear vs. Hacks. For almost all the major categories, both shows are nominated in some way and both have a decent shot of winning. However, Hacks has a much better chance in some of the acting categories than in the overall series. After The Bear’s complete sweep of the comedy categories last year, and since Hacks has never been able to pull off a Comedy Series win, I think The Bear will have absolutely no problem taking this award. Hopefully, after years of audiences petitioning, The Bear will be like Orange is the New Black and make the category jump from Comedy to Drama, but until then, we’ll have to accept the most dramatic show in the category sweeping.
- Will Win: The Bear
- Could Win: Hacks
- Should Win: Abbott Elementary
- Should Have Been Nominated: Platonic
ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Matt Berry, What We Do in the Shadows
- Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
- Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
- Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
- D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Reservation Dogs
Jeremy Allen White improves on his performance in the second season of The Bear, which is reason enough to expect that he will win once again for Lead Actor. My only hesitation about being 100% confident in this prediction is Larry David. For all the years Curb Your Enthusiasm has been around, he has never won any award for the show. If the Television Academy wanted to honor David by giving him this award for his final season I wouldn’t be surprised, but I think that The Bear is too strong for that narrative to come to fruition.
- Will Win: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
- Could Win: Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Should Win: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
- Should Have Been Nominated: Seth Rogan, Platonic
ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
- Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
- Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
- Maya Rudolph, Loot
- Jean Smart, Hacks
- Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale
Actress in a Comedy Series is the true battle between Hacks and The Bear and will be the true best of The Bear’s strength as an awards vehicle. Jean Smart has won every year she has been a part of this show, but she has never had such strong competition before. I believe that this has been Smart’s best year on the show so she does have the edge, but you can’t discount the fact that everyone loves Ayo Edebiri. Both these actresses have a lot of goodwill with the academy, but ultimately since Jean Smart is an industry veteran and we know that The Bear will be back next year I’m pretty sure she’ll end up taking the gold.
- Will Win: Jean Smart, Hacks
- Could Win: Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
- Should Win: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Renee Elise Goldsberry, Girls5eva
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Lionel Boyce, The Bear
- Paul W. Downs, Hacks
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
- Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building
- Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
- Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Ebon Moss-Bachrach is one of the few cast members of The Bear who are able to use comedic skills just as much as dramatic ones, which makes him the perfect choice to win this category. Besides Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney, Moss-Bachrach’s Richie is probably the most liked character which definitely helps his case as well. Even though there are some good alternatives, especially Tyler James Williams and Paul W. Downs, I don’t see a way that anyone else can win.
- Will Win: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
- Could Win: Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
- Should Win: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
- Should Have Been Nominated: Chris Perfetti, Abbott Elementary
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Carol Burnett, Palm Royale
- Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
- Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
- Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
- Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
- Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series also has a lot of great options this year. We have industry legends such as Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett, category favorites such as Sheryl Lee Ralph, and scene stealers in Liza Colón-Zayas and Janelle James. With this tough competition, I think Hannah Einbinder has the strongest chance of winning this category. She has always been great as Ava, but this season has been without a doubt her best work yet and I think the Television Academy will reward her accordingly. If not Einbinder, Meryl Streep seems like the most likely person to be upset since she is quite delightful in Only Murders in the Building, but I would be a little disappointed if the academy doesn’t take the chance to award someone who is a little newer to the industry.
- Will Win: Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
- Could Win: Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
- Should Win: Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
- Should Have Been Nominated: Ego Nwodim, Saturday Night Live
LIMITED SERIES
- Baby Reindeer
- Fargo
- Lessons in Chemistry
- Ripley
- True Detective: Night Country
While the Limited Series is a little stronger than last year’s selections, the category still feels a little lackluster. However, if that means that Baby Reindeer, one of the best TV shows to come out in this decade, wins, I am more than content. Out of the options, this series was the only one able to dominate the cultural conversation when it was released. It was one of the rare times that almost anyone I was talking to was discussing how crazy Baby Reindeer is, and I think that the Television Academy will reward it on that merit alone. Of course, it helps that the series is extremely well produced and acted as well. I don’t think any other Limited Series has a chance of beating Baby Reindeer, but if I were to bet on one show, maybe Fargo since this season has been regarded as one the best since its widely acclaimed second season.
- Will Win: Baby Reindeer
- Could Win: Fargo
- Should Win: Baby Reindeer
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Under the Bridge
ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
- Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
- Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
- Jon Hamm, Fargo
- Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs. the Swans
- Andrew Scott, Ripley
Richard Gadd’s win is one of the most guaranteed of the night. He is the writer, director, producer, and lead of Baby Reindeer, and I believe that he will be rewarded for most if not all of those roles come Emmy night. Out of the options, he is the most deserving as well, so while this category might not be the most exciting, it will certainly be one of my most anticipated.
- Will Win: Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
- Could Win: Jon Hamm, Fargo
- Should Win: Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
- Should Have Been Nominated: Austin Butler, Masters of the Air
ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
- Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
- Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
- Juno Temple, Fargo
- Sofía Vergara, Griselda
- Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Compared to Actors in a Limited Series, Actress is not nearly as stacked with notable performances, even if there are more A-Listers nominated. Out of the options, I have a hard time veering away from Jodie Foster, especially since she is an award favorite, but I have a good feeling about Brie Larson this year. Larson has not been in a lot of “awards-worthy” projects post-Oscar win, but Lessons in Chemistry has definitely been more of a return to her dramatic acting sensibilities. Not only is she great on the show, but she also serves as the executive producer and has received some career-best reviews. If there was a time for the Television Academy to reward her, it would be now.
- Will Win: Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
- Could Win: Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
- Should Win: Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Nicole Kidman, Expats
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
- Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers
- Robert Downey Jr., The Sympathizer
- Tom Goodman-Hill, Baby Reindeer
- John Hawkes, True Detective: Night Country
- Lamorne Morris, Fargo
- Lewis Pullman, Lessons in Chemistry
- Treat Williams, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
One of the tightest races of the evening will be Supporting Actor in a Limited Series between Jonathan Bailey and Robert Downey Jr. I am leaning towards Bailey for the win because he has the most critically acclaimed performance out of the bunch. He also is in the middle of a career surge with Wicked coming out in a few months and Brigerton being an extremely popular show, so it would make sense that he wins here. However, in RDJ’s favor, he is getting a lot of goodwill from the Academy Awards, and I wouldn’t be surprised if people just vote for him since he is the most familiar name here.
- Will Win: Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers
- Could Win: Robert Downey Jr., The Sympathizer
- Should Win: Lewis Pullman, Lessons in Chemistry
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Joe Keery, Fargo
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
- Dakota Fanning, Ripley
- Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge
- Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer,
- Aja Naomi King, Lessons in Chemistry
- Diane Lane, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
- Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer
- Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
Jessica Gunning has one of the most memorable performances of the year, and on that merit alone I think she is the favorite to win in this category. I think her performance will go down as one of the most fascinating characters in television from the last few years, and an Emmy would only cement this more. Lily Gladstone and Aja Naomi King are also standouts here, and I think if Baby Reindeer wasn’t as strong as a whole, then they would have a little more of a shot to win, but it’s really Gunning’s award to lose.
- Will Win: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer,
- Could Win: Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
- Should Win: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer,
- Should’ve Been Nominated: Chloe Guidry, Under the Bridge
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live from the Peacock Theater at L.A. on ABC on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT/5:00-8:00 p.m. PDT, and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
