Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 2/5
Who’s missing? Jason Bateman (Ozark), Dominic West (The Crown), Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon)

I didn’t do great here, predicting only Adam Scott (Severance) and Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul). Bateman, West, and Considine seemed especially likely after hearing the nominees in other categories and that they had costars nominated as well as their shows in the top categories. But instead there were actors from three shows that likely just missed the top race: Kevin Costner (Yellowstone) on a series I didn’t watch past the pilot, Jeff Bridges (The Old Man) on a show I did like, and Diego Luna (Andor) on one that I find very overrated and would have expected more in the drama series race instead.

Who will win? This one is tough. I’ll pick Scott for now.

Golden Globe Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama

I’ve been predicting the Golden Globe nominations for more than fifteen years, and even if the group doesn’t have the same industry relevance as in the past, it’s still helpful and fun to see what shows and performances get honored. Here’s my assessment of the contenders in this category.

Last year’s nominees:
Brian Cox (Succession)
Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game)
Billy Porter (Pose)
Omar Sy (Lupin)
Jeremy Strong (Succession)

None of last year’s nominees will return this year. Two men were last nominated the time they were eligible and could be running for the final time this year: Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) and Jason Bateman (Ozark). Only two other actors are also eligible this time around, but both were only nominated once, in 2017: Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) and Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor). Expect an Emmy nominee, Adam Scott (Severance), to join the lineup, along with Dominic West (The Crown) and Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon). I’m still not seeing Kevin Costner (Yellowstone) and his show surging, but everyone else seems to think they will. The same could be true for Antony Starr (The Boys) and Karl Urban (The Boys), but that show’s awards rollout has also been lackluster. There are a handful of new contenders, including Diego Luna (Andor), Jeff Bridges (The Old Man), Sylvester Stallone (Tulsa King), and Morgan Spector (The Gilded Age).

Current predictions:
Jason Bateman (Ozark)
Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
Adam Scott (Severance)
Dominic West (The Crown)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition:
Brian Cox (Succession) plays cutthroat businessman Logan Roy in the third season of HBO’s family dynasty drama. He won this award two years ago for season two, and was previously nominated for his supporting work in the miniseries “Nuremberg” back in 2000. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and costars Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook are also nominated. He’s up against Jeremy Strong in this category, who beat him at the Emmys for season two.

Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game) plays Seong Gi-hun in the first season of Netflix’s insanely popular Korean drama. This is his first Globe nomination. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and costar O Yeong-su is also nominated.

Billy Porter (Pose) plays Pray Tell, a ball emcee in the third and final season of the popular FX series set in the late 1980s. This is his third consecutive bid, though his show wasn’t in contention last year because it skipped the season. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama and his costar Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is also nominated.

Jeremy Strong (Succession) plays troubled businessman Kendall Roy in the third season of the HBO drama. This is his first Globe bid, but he did beat nominated costar Brian Cox on his first try at the Emmys for season two. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and costars Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook are also nominated.

Omar Sy (Lupin) plays the famous main character in Netflix’s French-language series. This is Sy’s first Globe nomination. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama.

Additional notes: None of last year’s winners were eligible, with all of them slated to return at some point with three out of five of the performers starring in subsequent seasons. Previous winner Sterling K. Brown wasn’t included despite being eligible and never nominated again after his one and only successful bid. This award has gone to an actor from a freshman series six out of the past fifteen years. The last time two actors from the same show were nominated was in 2000, when Martin Sheen beat Rob Lowe for “The West Wing.” Wagner Moura was nominated in 2015 for his foreign-language performance but didn’t win.
Who should win? I haven’t seen Sy’s show or all of Jung-jae’s. I’ve gotten more into Cox and Strong’s show and appreciate their talents. Porter, however, is my clear choice, and it would be wonderful to see him win.
Who will win? A foreign-language performer hasn’t won this prize before, but I have a feeling that Globes voters will go nuts for Jung-jae and his show. Otherwise, Strong is likely to win.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition:

Jason Bateman (Ozark) plays criminal entrepreneur Marty Byrd in the third season of the Netflix series. He’s back after his show took a year off for this third bid for this show. He has two previous nominations for “Arrested Development,” which netted him a win in 2004. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, with two costars also nominated.

Josh O’Connor (The Crown) plays Prince Charles in the fourth season of the Netflix historical drama. This is his first Globe nomination. His show is the nominations leader.

Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) plays lawyer Jimmy McGill in the fifth season of the AMC series. He was nominated for the first three seasons of the show, snubbed for season four, and now returns after his show took 2019 off. He is the lone representative from his show.

Al Pacino (Hunters) plays Nazi hunter Meyer Offerman in the first season of the Amazon period drama. Pacino has eighteen previous nominations and four wins, and received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2000. He has won two out of his three past TV bids. He is the lone representative from his show.

Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason) plays the private investigator in the first season of the HBO show of the same name. This is his third overall Globe bid, and he has now been nominated every other year, contending previously for seasons four and six of “The Americans.” He is the lone representative from his show.

Additional notes: Last year’s winner, Brian Cox, isn’t nominated because his show has yet to return for season three. Previous winner Sterling K. Brown wasn’t included despite being eligible. Only Bateman received an Emmy nomination this past season even though Odenkirk, Pacino, and O’Connor (for a different season) were all on the ballot. This award has gone to an actor from a freshman series six out of the past fifteen years.
Who should win? This is a very good list. Rhys impressed me quite a bit, and Bateman is really growing on me. I liked O’Connor better in season three but he’s still doing excellent work. Pacino did a superb job. I’d probably choose Odenkirk, however, for some of his finest work to date.
Who will win? This prize often goes to an actor on a show that’s gained popularity even if it’s not new, like Damian Lewis, Bryan Cranston, Kevin Spacey, or Cox last year. I think that means Bateman has the edge over O’Connor, which is also very likely.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Brian Cox (Succession)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
Tobias Menzies (The Crown)
Billy Porter (Pose)

New contenders:
Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country)
Ben Mendelsohn (The Outsider)
Aaron Paul (Westworld)
Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason)

Eligible again:
Jason Bateman (Ozark)

Potential first-time nominees:
Josh O’Connor (The Crown)

Past nominees:
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)

None of last year’s nominees will return this year. Only Menzies is eligible again, and now he’s been demoted to the supporting category, making room for O’Connor to take his spot. Bateman was nominated twice before his show took 2019 off, and he may be joined by Odenkirk or Brown, who both received multiple nominations before being left off in recent years (but which one?). The two performers from new series cited by the Critics Choice Association, Majors and Rhys, should have a good shot here too.

Current predictions:
Jason Bateman (Ozark)
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country)
Josh O’Connor (The Crown)
Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition:
Brian Cox (Succession) plays cutthroat businessman Logan Roy in the second season of HBO’s ensemble drama. He was previously nominated for his supporting work in the miniseries “Nuremberg” back in 2000. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and costar Kieran Culkin is also nominated.

Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) plays Jon Snow, a warrior and leader of a northern kingdom in the eighth and final season of HBO’s fantasy series. Despite two Emmy nominations, this is Harington’s first bid. He’s also the only representative of his show, which was previously nominated five times for Best TV Series – Drama.

Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) plays Elliott Alderson, a computer hacker trying to bring down an evil worldwide corporation in the fourth and final season of USA’s tech drama. He was nominated for the first two seasons of the show, winning an Emmy for the first, and he won both a Globe and the Oscar last year for his performance in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody.” His show and costar Christian Bale have been nominated in the past, but not this year.

Tobias Menzies (The Crown) plays Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the third season of Netflix’s historical drama series, taking the role over from actor Matt Smith. Menzies was previously nominated in 2015 for his work on “Outlander.” He is joined by costars Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter this year, and his show contends for Best TV Series – Drama.

Billy Porter (Pose) plays Pray Tell, a ball emcee in the second season of the popular FX series set in the late 1980s. This is his second consecutive bid, and he won the Emmy this past year for this role. His show was nominated for Best TV Series – Drama last year but isn’t up this time around, making him the sole representative for his show.

Additional notes: Last year’s winner, Richard Madden (Bodyguard), isn’t nominated because his show has yet to air its second season. The previous two winners, Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) and Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath) aren’t in contention despite their shows still being on. This category does tend to reward freshman series, but not always.
Who should win? I only watched a good portion of season one of Cox and Porter’s shows, so I can’t comment on how they were in season two. Harington was good but doesn’t need to win this award. I’m very happy Malek was included again since he did superb work as always in season four of his just-wrapped show. My choice, based on the just over half of his show’s season that I’ve watched thus far, is Menzies, who is really terrific.
Who will win? Porter didn’t win this last year, so it’s possible he’ll earn late recognition, and the same goes for Cox, who wasn’t even nominated before. I think Menzies takes it, though I’m not overly confident about that choice.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 4/5, missing Malek
Who’s missing? Jeremy Strong (Succession), Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)

I didn’t think that this category was going to turn out as I predicted, but, due to a lack of possible contenders, it pretty much did. I was very excited to hear Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) called, forgetting that he was in fact nominated for the show’s second season after losing for the first to Jon Hamm’s final victory lap and of course that he also won a film prize last year for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I think he’s been doing consistently excellent work on the show throughout its run and I’m happy to see him recognized again when all other awards bodies seem to have forgotten about him. It’s also interesting, if predictable, to see Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) nominated for the first time for his show’s final season, especially when his show and supporting star Peter Dinklage aren’t present. But I’m okay with that since he did great work in the final season of his show. I haven’t seen season two of either of their shows, but I’m all good with Brian Cox (Succession) and especially Billy Porter (Pose) being nominated. Rounding out the list is Tobias Menzies (The Crown), a past nominee for “Outlander.” I’m halfway through the most recent season of his show, and he’s doing excellent work thus far.

Who will win? I’m honestly not too sure. Right now, I’ll say Menzies.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Jason Bateman (Ozark)
Stephan James (Homecoming)
Richard Madden (Bodyguard)
Billy Porter (Pose)
Matthew Rhys (The Americans)

New contenders:
Kevin Bacon (City on a Hill)
Tobias Menzies (The Crown)
Jason Momoa (See)
Forest Whitaker (Godfather of Harlem)

Potential first-time nominees:
Brian Cox (Succession)
Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Jeremy Strong (Succesion)

Past nominees:
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)
Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath)

Last year offered a good number of surprises, and this year, only two of them are in the running again. That would be Emmy winner Porter and SAG winner Bateman, both of whom are likely to return but not guaranteed. It’s a good bet that Menzies will be included because he’s a past Globe nominee for his role on “Outlander” and now stars on a revered series with a brand-new cast. It’s actually likely that the other nominees will come from returning rather than new shows, with both Cox and Strong likely to make up for lackluster enthusiasm for their show last year and Groff also a potential beneficiary of delayed buzz. Harington is probable but far from guaranteed since Globe voters have never embraced his show too warmly. I feel like we’ll get an odd inclusion here like Bacon, but I’m really not sure what to expect – the actress and comedy races are much richer with candidates.

Current predictions:
Brian Cox (Succession)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Tobias Menzies (The Crown)
Billy Porter (Pose) Jeremy Strong/b> (Succession)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition:
Jason Bateman (Ozark) plays Marty Byrde, a reluctant money launderer trying to save his family in the second season of the Netflix crime series. After picking up Emmy bids for acting and directing in season one, Bateman was joined by two female co-stars and his ensemble on this year’s SAG nominee list. This is his second consecutive Globe bid for this role, once again as the sole representative of his series. He was twice nominated for his starring role in “Arrested Development,” taking home the comedy actor trophy in 2004.

Stephan James (Homecoming) plays Walter Cruz, a soldier returning home to participate in a privately-funded study in the first season of the Amazon drama series. His show and costar Julia Roberts are also nominated. This is James’ first nomination, and he also stars in Best Motion Picture – Drama nominee “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

Richard Madden (Bodyguard) plays David Budd, a police sergeant serving as head of security for the British Home Secretary in the first season of the BBC-Netflix series. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama. This is the first Golden Globe nomination for the Scottish star most well-known for his portrayal of Robb Stark on “Game of Thrones.”

Billy Porter (Pose) plays Pray Tell, a ball emcee in the first season of the popular FX series set in the late 1980s. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama. This is the first Golden Globe nomination for Porter.

Matthew Rhys (The Americans) plays Philip Jennings, a Russian sleeper agent posing as an American father in the sixth and final season of the acclaimed FX drama. Rhys was nominated two years ago for a Golden Globe, and took home an Emmy earlier this year on his third nomination. His series contends for Best TV Series – Drama, and costar Keri Russell is also nominated.

Additional notes: The past two winners, Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) and Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath) aren’t in contention despite their shows still being on, which means that we’re looking at new champion this year. While other categories tend to favor freshman series, this one doesn’t always do that. Jon Hamm (Mad Men) winning for the final season of his show in 2015 is the likeliest indicator that Rhys has an advantage, even though Hamm did win for the first season also, unlike Rhys.
Who should win? I’m halfway through James’ show, haven’t seen any of season two of Bateman’s, and didn’t watch past the pilot of Porter’s. I watched a good deal of Rhys’ impressive work in the final season of his show, but Madden is the one who really wowed me this year.
Who will win? It will very likely be Rhys, but I’m going to go ahead and predict freshman fever with Madden taking it.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 2/5, missing Bateman, James, and Porter
Who’s missing? Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us), John Krasinski (Jack Ryan), J.K. Simmons (Counterpart), Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor), Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)

This was my worst category, I think, and I was so overcome with my excitement for Richard Madden (Bodyguard) getting included here that I neglected to note that J.K. Simmons and his excellent show had been omitted. I also put Madden in over Jason Bateman (Ozark), who managed to return with no other mentions for his show. Matthew Rhys (The Americans) made a predicted return for the final season of his show, which also managed to do well in other races even though I didn’t expect that. Stephan James (Homecoming) is a solid mention for his show, and I think this nomination comes in part for his work in the strongly-received film “If Beale Street Could Talk.” I didn’t think it would happen, but Billy Porter (Pose) made the cut for a show that people obviously like.

Who will win? Nostalgia might favor Rhys, but I think the freshness of the Globes goes for Madden instead.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Jason Bateman (Ozark)
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)

New contenders:
John Krasinski (Jack Ryan)
Kevin Costner (Yellowstone)
Stephan James (Homecoming)
J.K. Simmons (Counterpart)

Potential first-time nominees:
Ed Harris (Westworld)
Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us)
Jeffrey Wright (Westworld)

Returning series:
Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath)

Past nominees:
Matthew Rhys (The Americans)

All of last year’s nominees are eligible again, but don’t expect them to return. Highmore in particular feels like a one-time inclusion, while Schreiber, who missed out on a repeat Emmy bid the latest time around, and Odenkirk are both on aging shows that Globe voters might choose to ignore. Both Brown and Bateman should be back, but it’s far from guaranteed. Thornton, who won the last time his show was on, probably won’t return, while Rhys, who took home the Emmy this past year, probably will. Of the new contenders, Krasinski and Simmons feel most likely because their shows are the kind that usually do well at the Globes. Half of the most recent Emmy slate has also never been nominated for these roles, so watch out for any of them as a possibility.

Current predictions:
Jason Bateman (Ozark)
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
John Krasinski (Jack Ryan)
Matthew Rhys (The Americans)
J.K. Simmons (Counterpart)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition: Jason Bateman’s financial advisor (Ozark), Sterling K. Brown’s loyal husband and father (This Is Us), Freddie Highmore’s autistic doctor (The Good Doctor), Bob Odenkirk’s crooked lawyer (Better Call Saul), and Liev Schreiber’s distraught fixer (Ray Donovan).

For your information: Schreiber is back for his fifth consecutive nomination, while Odenkirk scores his third. Emmy winner Brown is here for the first time for his show but was nominated last year for “American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson.” This is Bateman’s third overall citation – he won in 2004 for “Arrested Development.” This is Highmore’s first bid. Only “This Is Us” is nominated for the top prize.

Who should win? I didn’t watch much of Bateman and Highmore’s shows, so I’d say any of these are fine – I have no strong preference this season.

Who will win? Usually Globe voters like someone new and hot, so that could be Bateman, but I feel like Brown is more likely.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama

My predictions: 2/5, picking only Brown and Highmore
Who’s missing? James Franco, Jonathan Groff, Rami Malek

It seems I forgot to change my official predictions on GoldDerby, where I got credit for returning nominee Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) and new addition Jason Bateman (Ozark), whose show didn’t score a top bid. In fact, the only nominee here whose film is also recognized for best drama series is Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us), who wasn’t nominated last year. Surprisingly, Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) is still going with his fifth nomination, and his show has never been nominated on its own. Rounding out the list is likeable new addition Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor). I didn’t watch past the pilot of his or Bateman’s shows, and this definitely doesn’t look much like my list would.

Who will win? Highmore could get some votes, but I think Brown takes it.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a TV Series - Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
Matthew Rhys (The Americans)
Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)
Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath)

New contenders:
Jason Bateman (Ozark)
James Franco (The Deuce)
Brendan Gleeson (Mr. Mercedes)
Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter)
Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor)

Potential first-time nominees:
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us)

Count last year’s winner, Thornton, out since his show doesn’t return for its second season until 2018. Malek got snubbed by Emmy voters for season two, but he’s eligible here for season three, so I’d say he’s moderately safe. I’m surprised both Odenkirk and Schreiber lasted this long, and they’re just as likely to repeat - for the third and fifth times, respectively - as they are to be omitted from the race. The buzz for both of their shows hasn’t changed at all, and the same is true for last year’s first-timer Rhys. The only past contender whose show is still on is Kevin Spacey, who was tossed out after his win in 2014 and now has zero chance in hell or ever being nominated again. With at least one slot open, it’s a safe bet that Emmy winner Brown, who wasn’t nominated here last year, will be honored, and I think it’s unlikely that costar Ventimiglia will join him, though I wouldn’t have expected him to earn an Emmy nod either. And then we have a bunch of newbies, with Franco as the likeliest to enter this race with his film role in “The Disaster Artist” helping his momentum also. In a late-breaking announcement, Harington and costar Emilia Clarke are being submitted as leads, so the designated male star of a show that’s been much less popular here than with Emmy voters could well show up since the series continues to be immensely popular. We could very easily have an all-new lineup here, though I’m not all that enthusiastic about that idea.

Current predictions:
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
James Franco (The Deuce)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones)
Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor)
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition: Rami Malek’s antisocial hacker (Mr. Robot), Bob Odenkirk’s wannabe lawyer (Better Call Saul), Matthew Rhys’ Russian spy (The Americans), Liev Schreiber’s Hollywood fixer (Ray Donovan), and Billy Bob Thornton’s sardonic lawyer (Goliath).

For your information: This year, we have three returning nominees from last year, up from just one last year. Schreiber earns his fourth consecutive bid this year, with Malek and Odenkirk back for their second nominations. This is Thornton’s sixth career Globe nod, and he won for his only previous TV bid for “Fargo” two years ago. This is Rhys’ first nomination. Interestingly, none of these actors star in shows recognized in the Best TV Series – Drama category. Jon Hamm won this award last year.

Who should win? Malek, Odenkirk, or Thornton

Who will win? If Malek was going to win, it would have been last year. Odenkirk would actually deserve it a lot, but I think it will be the only freshman in the race, the equally great Thornton.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 2/5, picking only Malek and Odenkirk
Who’s missing? Anthony Hopkins, Wagner Moura, Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland

This is a really interesting and rare category, since it contains five men whose shows aren’t nominated for the top prize. Three nominees are back from last year, all of which I’m excited about: Rami Malek (Mr. Robot), Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), and Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan). Globe voters decided to embrace the actors but not the show with Matthew Rhys (The Americans). And then we have the one new pick, and a fantastic one: Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath). This is a cool list, and an interesting statistic that I’ll have to research in terms of its matchup with Best TV Series – Drama.

Who will win? Malek didn’t win last year, so he might, but I think it will be Thornton.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
Wagner Maura (Narcos)
Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)

New contenders:
Mike Colter (Luke Cage)
Paul Giamatti (Billions)
Anthony Hopkins (Westworld)
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
Hugh Laurie (Chance)
Damian Lewis (Billions)
Matt Smith (The Crown)
Kiefer Sutherland (Designated Survivor)
Billy Bob Thornton (Goliath)
Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us)

Potential first-time nominees:
Sam Heughan (Outlander)
Matthew Rhys (The Americans)

Past nominees:
Kyle Chandler (Bloodline)
Clive Owen (The Knick)
Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)
James Spader (The Blacklist)
Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex)
Dominic West (The Affair)

Last year, Globe voters brought back a departing contender, who won, and introduced three new actors. I see no reason that Malek, Maura, and Odenkirk wouldn’t return for the second seasons of their shows, but I know that Globe voters don’t have much institutional memory and could easily dismiss any of those shows, likeliest Maura, which is a shame given his excellent work in season two of his Netflix series. It’s possible that Globe voters might catch on to the Emmy excitement around “The Americans” and include Rhys. I would expect at least one former winner in this category, Sutherland, to be back for his new show, and it’s possible that two other Globe favorites, Giamatti and Lewis, may show up for a show that didn’t make a splash at the Emmys but could please this crowd more. He’s not a sure thing, but Hopkins should be able to ride the buzz of his show to a nomination.

Current predictions:
Anthony Hopkins (Westworld)
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
Wagner Maura (Narcos)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
Kiefer Sutherland (Designated Survivor)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition: Jon Hamm’s ad man (Mad Men), Rami Malek’s antisocial hacker (Mr. Robot), Wagner Moura’s Pablo Escobar (Narcos), Bob Odenkirk’s wannabe lawyer (Better Call Saul), and Liev Schreiber’s Hollywood fixer (Ray Donovan).

For your information: Interestingly, Schreiber is the only returning nominee from last year, earning this third consecutive bid for his show. Hamm won on his first try in 2007, was nominated again in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012, and returns now for the final season of his show. This is the first nomination for the other three. Malek and Moura’s shows are nominated for Best TV Series – Drama. Freshmen series stars and first-time nominees often win this award. Last year’s winner, Kevin Spacey, is not nominated this year despite being eligible. Working against Hamm, the last time an actor won this award twice was Hugh Laurie in 2005 and 2006, and it’s the last time that’s happened in over thirty years.

Who should win? Malek or Moura, but they’re honestly all excellent choices

Who will win? My money is on Malek.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 3/5, picking Spacey and West over Hamm and Odenkirk
Who’s missing? Kevin Spacey, Dominic West, Terrence Howard

Now this is a cool category – I regularly watch all the shows recognized here. I couldn’t be more excited about Wagner Moura (Narcos) and his show getting in for such a deserved and excellent series. Ditto Rami Malek (Mr. Robot), though that was always more likely given its English language and yesterday’s SAG nomination. I didn’t think voters would embrace Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), but, as predicted, the show didn’t go over in other places like Best Supporting Actor or Best Drama Series, just here with a well-earned nod for its star. I’m so happy that Globe voters still have room for Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan), who continues to be superb on his show. And it’s not usually their style, but I guess Globe voters wanted to pay one last tribute to Jon Hamm (Mad Men), an actor they gave a trophy to but never let him accept it since it was way back in season one during the writers’ strike.

Who will win? I’m going to go out on a limb and say Moura.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Clive Owen (The Knick) Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)
Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)
James Spader (The Blacklist)
Dominic West (The Affair)

New contenders:
Kyle Chandler (Bloodline) Terrence Howard (Empire)
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)
Wagner Maura (Narcos)

Past nominees:
Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)


Globe voters can forget all about a show they loved just a year after enthusiastically endorsing it, but I don’t think that will happen to West and his show. Schreiber will also probably stick around without the support of his show, while I expect that Owen and Spader will not. With Spacey returning, it’s a question of which new faces will show up. I think that Malek and Maura stand the strongest chance, but any one of the new contenders could take their places.

Current predictions:
Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)
Wagner Maura (Narcos)
Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan)
Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)
Dominic West (The Affair)