Golden Globes: Predicting Who Will Win The TV Awards
Half of Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards show will give prizes to TV shows — a wide range of shows, most from cable and streaming outlets, few from the major networks. There are a lot of big names and big talent involved. Here are my predictions for who will win — and please feel free to add your own predictions in the comments section.
TV series, drama
Nominees: Empire, Game of Thrones, Mr. Robot, Narcos, Outlander
Will Globes voters opt for the big spectacle of Game of Thrones, the big spectacle of Empire, or the small-scale triumph of Mr. Robot? That’s what this category comes down to, I believe. And I think Empire will take the Globe.
TV series, comedy
Nominees: Casual, Mozart in the Jungle, Orange Is the New Black, Silicon Valley, Transparent, Veep
What a surprising assortment of shows, both for what was included (Casual? Mozart in the Jungle?) and what was shut out (no Modern Family? No Big Bang Theory? No network sitcom at all?) Of the remaining trio, Transparent has the hype and the momentum. I’d much rather see Silicon Valley win, but I think it’s Transparent for the win, its second in a row.
Actress in a TV series, comedy
Nominees: Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep; Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin; Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
The CW won a surprise victory last year here with Rodriguez, but don’t expect the network to do it again this year with Bloom. I think Louis-Dreyfus, as superb as she is, may be out-voted by those with a fondness for Lily Tomlin, even if Grace and Frankie is a much weaker show than Veep.
Actress in a TV series, drama
Nominees: Caitriona Balfe, Outlander; Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder; Eva Green, Penny Dreadful; Taraji P. Henson, Empire; Robin Wright, House of Cards
This race can be rapidly narrowed down to two contenders: Davis and Henson. Davis won an Emmy, but I think the Globe will go to Henson, who deserves it for a performance that’s artful in the way it never goes so over the top that you tire of Cookie.
Actor in a TV series, drama
Nominees: Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Rami Malek, Mr. Robot; Wagner Moura, Narcos; Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul; Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Come on: How can the Globes voters not give it to Hamm? Sure, he’s won one before (in 2007), and sure, there’s momentum behind Malek’s frequently amazing Mr. Robot performance. But I think if there’s any sentimentality among voters for the exit of Mad Men, it will benefit Hamm’s chances here.
Actor in a TV series, comedy
Nominees: Aziz Ansari, Master of None; Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle; Rob Lowe, The Grinder; Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk; Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
I’d love to see Ansari win this — he demonstrated a range in Master of None that was only hinted at in his supporting role on Parks and Recreation. But I think Tambor will make it two-in-a-row for his excellent Transparent performance.
TV movie or miniseries
Nominees: American Crime, American Horror Story: Hotel, Fargo, Flesh and Bone, Wolf Hall
Will I be shocked if the superb Fargo does not win? Not really: Globes voters from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association are suckers for shows with Profound Truths About The Flaws Of America, and American Crime fits that bill very well.
Actress in a TV movie or limited series
Nominees: Kirsten Dunst, Fargo; Queen Latifah, Bessie; Felicity Huffman, American Crime; Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone; Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
Kirsten Dunst deserves it for Fargo, but she’ll have stiff competition from Queen Latifah and Felicity Huffman, and I think Huffman, with her flinty American Crime performance, is going to win.
Actor in a TV movie or limited series
Nominees: Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero; Patrick Wilson, Fargo; Idris Elba, Luther; David Oyelowo, Nightingale; Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Again, a Fargo actor deserves to win here, but Patrick Wilson’s subtle portrayal of a quiet, thoughtful man is so studiously un-showy, he’ll probably lose. If so, I wish Oscar Isaac would win and bring attention to the underrated Show Me a Hero, but I think David Oyelowo will win here.
Supporting actor in a TV series, limited series or TV movie
Nominees: Alan Cumming, The Good Wife; Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall; Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline; Tobias Menzies, Outlander; Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
This category has the possibility of an upset and a victory for a cult favorite. No, I’m not talking about Slater in Robot; I mean Menzies in Outlander. Bet on Menzies if, like me, you like to go with long shots.
Supporting actress in a TV series, limited series or TV movie
Nominees: Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black; Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey; Regina King, American Crime; Judith Light, Transparent; Maura Tierney, The Affair
With her expanded role on The Affair — the past season including her point of view to make this a true four-hander of a series — I believe Maura Tierney has the best chance to win. Unless Judith Light wins for Transparent. But, nope, I’m predicting Tierney.
Who do you think will win?
The 73rd Golden Globe Awards premieres Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. on NBC
