The Golden Globes has a very nice cross-section of nominees this year, and that makes predictions even more difficult.
That’s not going to stop us from giving it a go.
Read on for our predictions on who will win the Golden Globes in the TV categories, who should win and who could.
We’ll see you back here on Sunday night, January 8th with all the winners!
Best Drama Series
Nominees:
The Crown
Game of Thrones
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld
Who Will Win: Stranger Things
Who Should Win: This Is Us
Who Could Win: Westworld
Stranger Things was a worldwide sensation when it hit. It brought thrills, chills and reminders of their childhood to too many people to discard. However, This Is Us is the first drama series that isn’t snuggled into a genre into which I can drag someone kicking and screaming and 8 hours later have a dedicated viewer analyzing what they’ve watched. It’s a well-written and superbly acted marvel which SHOULD win. Westworld was similarly engaging and incredibly well done, but a lot of that was due to the performances.
Drama Series – Actor
Nominees:
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath
Who Will Win: Matthew Rhys
Who Should Win: Matthew Rhys
Who Chould Win: Rami Malek
This isn’t the popular opinion. In fact, it’s the longshot. But The Americans has become more popular and Mr. Robot has lost its tarnish, giving Rhys the edge over Malek. Bob Odenkirk is still in play.
Drama Series – Actress
Nominees:
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Claire Foy, The Crown
Keri Russell, The Americans
Wynona Ryder, Stranger Things
Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld
Who Will Win: Wynona Ryder
Who Should Win: Evan Rachel Wood
Who Could Win: Claire Foy
Ryder seems to have tugged at the heartstrings with her uber-emotional turn as the distraught mother in Stranger Things, but Wood was one of the threads who held Westworld together as her performance was essential to the overall narrative to the story. Without her, Westworld would have been incomprehensible. Then again, how can the Hollywood Foreign Press miss a chance to award the Queen?
Best Comedy or Musical Series
Nominees:
Atlanta
black-ish
Mozart in the Jungle
Transparent
Veep
Who Will Win: Atlanta
Who Should Win: Atlanta
Who Could Win: Transparent
If they had the guts to put Atlanta on the ballot, we have the faith they’ll follow through with this original series. Then again, sometimes they just take the road already known.
Comedy or Musical Series – Actress
Nominees:
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Sarah Jessica Parker, Divorce
Issa Ree, Insecure
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Who Will Win: Sarah Jessica Parker
Who Should Win: Issa Rae
Who Could Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus or Issa Rae
It’s been a while since Sarah Jessica Parker has been on TV, and her performance in Divorce was strangely compelling and a lot different from her last role on HBO. Issa Rae is a breakout on Insecure, though, and deserves the recognition for Insecure. Another HBO show altogether could get Julia Louis-Dreyfus another nod, though.
Comedy or Musical Series – Actor
Nominees:
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Donald Glover, Atlanta
Nick Nolte, Graves
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Who Will Win: Donald Glover
Who Should Win: Donald Glover
Who Could Win: Any of the others
Donald Glover is such a strong contestant in this category for Atlanda and all of the others have either been here before are Nick Nolte. It’s really hard to guess if it isn’t Glover.
Best TV Movie or Miniseries
Nominees:
American Crime
The Dresser
The Night Manager
The Night Of
People v. O.J. Simpson
Who Will Win: People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
Who Should Win: People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
Who Could Win: The Night Of
None of these series was as straight up perfect as the OJ series, but four were crime sagas and one not. It’s a really tough call.
TV Movie or Miniseries – Actor
Nominees:
Riz Ahmed, The Night Of
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
John Turturro, The Night Of
Courtney B. Vance, People v. O.J. Simpson
Who Will Win:
Who Should Win: Riz Ahmed
Who Could Win: John Turturro
The Night Of supplies the best actors in this category, and Riz Ahmed gave an alarming performance as the teen who either murdered, or didn’t, a young girl on a night out in New York. His ambiguity was mysterious and frightening. Ahmed’s international recognition gives him a leg up.
TV Movie or Miniseries – Actress
Nominees:
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Riley Keough, The Girlfriend Experience
Sarah Paulson, People v. O.J. Simpson
Charlotte Rampling, London Spy
Kerry Washington, Confirmation
Who Will Win:
Sarah PaulsonWho Should Win: Sarah Paulson
Who Could Win: Any of the others, because they all come in second to Paulson.
There’s really no contest here, or at least there shouldn’t be.
TV Series, TV Movie or Miniseries Supporting Actress
Nominees:
Olivia Coleman, The Night Manager
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Chrissy Metz, This Is Us
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Thandie Newton, Westworld
Who Will Win: Thandie Newton
Who Should Win: Thandie Newton
Who Could Win: Lena Headey
Thandie Newton came out very strong in Westworld and should and will win. Lena Headey has gone through hell as Cersei and wouldn’t be a disappointment to take home the Globe.
TV Series, TV Movie or Miniseries Supporting Actor
Nominees:
Sterling K. Brown, People v O.J. Simpson
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
John Lithgow, The Crown
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
John Travolta, People v. O.J. Simpson
Who Will Win: Sterling K. Brown
Who Should Win: Sterling K. Brown
Who Could Win: John Lithgow
Sterling K. Brown could have been nominated twice in this category, once for People v OJ and another for This Is Us. Although the latter hasn’t yet been renewed (WTH NBC?), Brown has a boatload of nominations coming with This Is Us as the series gestates. Let’s consider this a 2016 body of work win, because Brown is sensational. John Lithgow has turning heads on The Crown, too, though, so if he creeps onto that stage, don’t be surprised.
