As the Golden Globes approaches this Sunday night on NBC, it’s time to share my predictions on who I think will WIN versus who SHOULD win at this years ceremony in the television categories. Here are my predictions, and as Sunday evening approaches.
Best Television Series – Comedy/Musical
Who Should and Will Win: The Good Place
This has been the year of The Good Place, and for that fact I put in on my Top 10 of 2018 list. I have been rooting for this win ever since nominations were announced! If we really analyze these other nominees compared to what the definition of “comedy” is, The Good Place wins by a landslide by offering true laughs that come at such a fast pace your head will spin. It’s wit, humor, and continuously innovative storytelling rises above anything else in this category. It’s also a good sign that Kristen Bell got her first nomination ever for leading the show the same year it cracked the Best Comedy/Musical race. However, on that fact, I have to point out that the star of each of the series nominees were also nominated in their respective categories as well, so that has to be taken into consideration as well.
I just want to ride the wave that is The Good Place. This is a completely open category, save for last years winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel making an expected return. While Maisel seems like the likely winner here, it’s important to point out that no show has repeated in this category since Glee in 2009 and 2010. I don’t think that’s going to happen this year either. With so much (great) television now, it’s only right, and expected, that a new show be rewarded, so I’m all in on The Good Place.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Who Should Win: Donald Glover, Atlanta
Atlanta Robbin’ Season far exceeded season one, which was an extreme feat since the first season was as close to perfect as you can get. Donald Glover also won in 2017, the last time he and the show was eligible. The “Teddy Perkins” episode is one of the pinnacles of artistic visions that entertainment was blessed with in 2018, and Glover should be rewarded for that work here since the series was shut out of the Comedy/Musical category.
Who Will Win: Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method.
The Golden Globes are known to recognize movie starts in television roles, and also first year series, so with that combination, I think the most obvious choice here is Michael Douglas for The Kominsky Method.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Who Should and Will Win: Kristen Bell, The Good Place
It’s been rare that an actress has won in this category if her show wasn’t nominated for Best Comedy Musical; It’s happened twice since 2010. That statistic leaves out Debra Messing (Will and Grace), Candice Bergan (Murphy Brown), and Alison Brie (GLOW). Between the two remaining actresses, Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Kristen Bell (The Good Place), my bet is on Bell.
Best Television Series – Drama
Who Should and Will Win: Killing Eve
There are four new shows in this category along with The Americans, which have never been nominated for a Golden Globe in this category before this year so there is no true way to know where the voters’ minds will be when rewarding this category. All five series made waves last year in their own right from the critically acclaimed series finale of The Americans, to the rave reviews from critics and fans of Bodyguard, Homecoming, Killing Eve, and Pose, but I have so say nothing was better that Killing Eve, and the Golden Globes could have the very first chance of giving it an award after the Emmys missed their chance last year! It helps that its star Sandra Oh is also nominated for her role on the show and hosting the ceremony this year! I’m putting my money on Killing Eve all the way!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Who Should Win: Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
I am the biggest champion of this show if you couldn’t already tell, It was my favorite show of 2018 by far so I would be overjoyed to see Sandra Oh win, just as excited I was to see her win in 2006 for Grey’s Anatomy.
Who Will Win: Julia Roberts, Homecoming
Julia Roberts was equally fascinating in Homecoming as Oh was in Killing Eve, but I feel she’s going to walk away with this prize. It also shows that the voters really like this show since it was nominated three times, compared to two for Killing Eve. This is important because the Globes gave out a nomination to Roberts’ co-star Stephan James, which was one of the biggest shockers on nomination morning. It’s telling that they like Roberts and James together. Oh’s co-star Jodie Comer has the equally great reviews for this show, but has failed to garner any nominations from all of her acclaim. The fact that James was unexpectedly nominated and Comer was expected to be, but ultimately snubbed, is an indication of what performances they like the most. Roberts does have to compete with last years winner, Elizabeth Moss from The Handmaid’s Tale, but that show wasn’t nominated in the Drama Series category this year so I can’t fathom her winning in this category.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Who Should Win: Billy Porter, Pose
Porter did a great job crossing over from Broadway to television this year in FX’s Pose, and he should be celebrated for his work, as well as the groundbreaking work being done on the series that highlights LGBTQ performers and performances like never before.
Who Will Win: Matthew Rhys, The Americans
I think the Globes are going to play it safe here like the usually do in this category. Sterling K. Brown won last year from This is Us and he was the safe bet. Last year there was no way that a left-field nominee like Freddie Highmore from The Good Doctor was going to win, and as exciting as it will be I find it unlikely that Porter or Stephan James from Homecoming will win.
This year the safes bet are Jason Bateman (Ozark) and Matthew Rhys (The Americans). Rhys was nominated in 2017 for the same role but didn’t win. Since this is its final chance to win for this role, I think the Globes will repeat what the Emmys did and reward Rhys. I do have a strong feeling that Jason Bateman and Ozark will have a big night at the SAG Awards.
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Sharp Objects
My favorite Limited Series of the year was Sharp Objects, and I think that it’s currently in a close 2nd place position to win this year, but…
Who Will Win: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Ryan Murphy has had a television series in this category every year dating back to 2014. He also won in this category for Versace’s American Crime predecessor The People v. O.J. Simpson, which will make me believe he will be rewarded here again for taking the American Crime Story franchise in such a different direction.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
I have no clue in this category, so this is just an opinion based off of internet research and reading good things about his role and the series. Apparently, he was amazing in Paddington 2, and there’s talk of a possible Oscar nomination for that role!? To be continued…
Who Will Win: Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Just seems likely.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Amy Adams (Sharp Objects) or Regina King (Seven Seconds)
This is one of the toughest races to call because it’s a race between Amy Adams (Sharp Objets) and Regina King (Seven Seconds). This is so difficult because both actresses are also nominated against each other in the Supporting Actress – Motion Picture race, King for If Beale Street Could Talk and Adams for Vice. Even though both are double nominees, I doubt neither of them takes both awards home, the voters will split the wins, but it’s the key to know who’s going to win, and where.
Who Will Win: Regina King (Seven Seconds)
I’m betting Regina King will win on the TV side for Seven Seconds, and Adams will be rewarded on the movie side for Vice. But once again, both actresses are equally deserving for their roles.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Kiernan Culkin, Succession
The supporting categories are always the worse to predict at the Globes because it combines the performances of actors and actresses from Comedy/Drama Series categories, Limited Series, and Motion Picture categories. Since it’s tough to judge a 30-minute comedic performance compared to an 10-episode dramatic performance in a miniseries where actors in a miniseries or drama series can have double the time on screen than someone in a comedy series, which may be the resaon why an actor from a 30-minute series hasn’t won in this category since Jeremy Piven in Entourage way back in 2008.
Out of these five nominees, I have all my support for Kiernan Culkin from Succession. Not only was Succession one of my Top 10 TV shows of 2018, I credited Culkin for his role as the snarky, moral-less younger sibling in the multi-generational family saga. If Culkin were to prevail on awards night, it would be one of the true pleasures (and surprises) of the evening.
Who Will Win: Harry Winkler, Barry
My 30-minute series theory about this category might go out the window this year. I’m going out on a hutch on this… Winkler is riding high off of his first Emmy win in his over four decade career for this role, and it’s well deserved. He was the bright spot comedic in an otherwise bleak “comedy” series. Adam Arkin could also pull a win here, but I won’t predict a win for both Arkin and Micheal Douglas for The Kominsky Method.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Who Should Win: Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale
This is a category where all five actresses could and should win, and whatever name is called on Sunday night, it will be well deserved and I’d be happy. My pick is Yvonne Strahovski, who in my opinion, did a wonderful job last season as Serena Joy.
Who Will Win: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
This is the first nomination for Borstein in this role and I believe the Globes are going to reward her here, and I think this will be the only win for Maisel of the evening, just to make sure the show gets some kind of love, but doesn’t leave completely empty handed.
Check back on Monday to see how well my predictions turned out! The Golden Globes will air live on Sunday, January 6th on NBC hosted by Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg.
TV Talk With JWalk 