SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

The competition: The Handmaid’s Tale, The Morning Show, Squid Game, Succession, Yellowstone

For your information: While only “Squid Game” is a freshman series, the only returning nominee in this category is “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which earns its fourth overall nomination after it took last year off the air. It has one performer nominated, while “Squid Game” has two, “The Morning Show” has three, and “Succession” has four. Only “CSI” managed to win this prize, in 2004, with no performers singled out, which is the situation for “Yellowstone” this year. Repeat winners are very common. “Squid Game” is the first non-English series nominated in this category.

Who should win? I haven’t watched “Yellowstone” since the pilot and didn’t finish “Squid Game.” While it’s taken me a while to come around to it, I do think “Succession” is the right choice here, though “The Handmaid’s Tale” would still be a solid choice.

Who will win? It could be “Squid Game,” but I’m sticking with Succession.

SAG Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Better Call Saul, Bridgerton, The Crown, Lovecraft Country, Ozark

None of these shows is eligible this year, and there are exactly two shows that have been nominated before that are still on. The Handmaid’s Tale is pretty much a sure thing given that it was cited for all three of its previous seasons. This Is Us, which won two years in a row and then wasn’t nominated again, should return but it’s not guaranteed. It’s hard to believe that Succession wasn’t nominated for seasons one or two, but that should change this year. The Morning Show was also an unexpected snub for season one, but its three individual cast nominations suggest it will show up this time. Pose wasn’t nominated for seasons one or two, but its third and final season may be when it finally gets recognized. New and popular international shows Squid Game and Lupin may have a shot, as could a new Showtime series with a superb ensemble, Yellowjackets.

Current predictions:
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Morning Show
Pose
Squid Game
Succession

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

The competition: Better Call Saul, Bridgerton, The Crown, Lovecraft Country, Ozark

For your information: Last year’s only eligible series, defending champion “The Crown,” is back for its fourth bid. It has four performers nominated. “Better Call Saul” and “Ozark” both earn their second nominations after taking last year off the air. The former has one performer nominated, while the latter has three. Freshman series “Bridgerton” has one actor nominated, while another freshman series, “Lovecraft Country,” has none. Only “CSI” managed to win this prize, in 2004, with no performers singled out. Repeat winners are very common.

Who should win? I didn’t watch past “Bridgerton” episode one. This is a very solid list. I think I’d choose “Better Call Saul” or “The Crown.”

Who will win? I don’t see how The Crown falters.

SAG Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Big Little Lies, The Crown, Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things

I did a very intensive deep-dive on this category for AwardsWatch back in November. This category offered surprises last year by welcoming back two shows that were far from sure things, “Big Little Lies” and “Stranger Things,” while snubbing two-time defending champ This Is Us and the Golden Globe and Emmy winner for Best Drama Series that earned nine individual acting bids, “Succession.” Now, just one show from last year, winner The Crown is eligible, and there’s no way it won’t be back. Two shows that took 2019 off are back in contention again, Ozark and Better Call Saul, and there’s every reason to expect them to be here this time. It’s less clear what will join them. The Mandalorian is popular but I don’t even know who would qualify as part of an ensemble since Zazie Beetz wasn’t even a nominee when “Atlanta” showed up in the comedy ensemble category. Lovecraft Country and Perry Mason are distinctly possible but may be too new, and perhaps that means it’s time for Killing Eve in its third season? I doubt that Westworld, nominated only for its first season, scores for number three. Maybe a hit like Bridgerton or The Boys takes a slot?

Current predictions:
Better Call Saul
The Crown
Ozark

Perry Mason
This Is Us

AFT Awards: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

This is the twenty-fourth category of the 14th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2019-2020 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Counterpart, Doom Patrol, Game of Thrones, Humans, Pose

Finalists: This Is Us, Orange is the New Black, Better Call Saul, The Handmaid's Tale, Westworld, Succession, Ozark

The nominees:

The Crown
Pose
The Morning Show
Stranger Things

The winner:

Perpetual Grace, LTD made every member of its ensemble matter thanks to the selection of performers uniquely equipped to represent characters with vastly different life experiences and attitudes.

Next up: Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

The competition: Big Little Lies, The Crown, Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things

For your information: Only one of last year’s nominees, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is back for a second bid. Only two-time winner “This Is Us” was also eligible and snubbed. Three shows that were previously nominated are back after a season off. This is the seventh nomination for “Game of Thrones” and the third for “The Crown.” It’s also the third for “Stranger Things,” which won in 2016. “Big Little Lies” competed as a limited series in 2017, so it wasn’t eligible then. It’s the only show with no individual acting nominations, though “CSI” did win this prize in 2004 with no performers singled out. “The Crown” has two, while all the others have one. “The Morning Show,” which has three solo bids, isn’t represented here. “Game of Thrones” won the Emmy, while “Succession,” which won the Globe and Critics Choice Award, isn’t nominated.

Who should win? This is a fantastic list. I liked “Big Little Lies” season two better than the first, and the cast was definitely strong. While “Game of Thrones” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” continue to be superb, I’d pick either “The Crown” or “Stranger Things” for an absolutely stunning assemblage of talent.
Who will win? I think Game of Thrones finally wins, unless “The Crown” can take it down.

SAG Nominees: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

My predictions: 3/5, missing “Big Little Lies” and “Stranger Things”
Who’s missing? This Is Us, The Morning Show, Succession, Killing Eve

Lineups like these are part of the reason that I enjoy predicting awards so much and that it’s good to have different groups out there. Only two of these shows – The Crown and Big Little Lies - earned corresponding Golden Globe bids for Best Drama Series. The former has two performers nominated here, while the latter has zero (though two for film performances), which makes it worthwhile to have a specific category recognizing the entire cast. I really expected “The Morning Show” to be announced after three of its individual players earned recognition, the most for any drama series this year, and it’s a shame that it wasn’t. It’s surprising that two-time defending champ “This Is Us” fell off the list, while past winner Stranger Things returned for a third bid following its hiatus year. “Succession” also wasn’t strong enough to merit a mention, leaving room for The Handmaid’s Tale, a show now forgotten entirely by the Golden Globes, to be honored again. And who could forget Game of Thrones, a show that did indeed have quite the cast in its final season. This is a pretty good list even if there are plenty of other series that are also worthy of inclusion. Now, I have to make sure to finish the most recent seasons of “The Crown” and “Stranger Things” before I predict the winners!

Who will win? I think Game of Thrones wins, but it could be “The Crown” or “Big Little Lies” too.

SAG Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: The Americans, Better Call Saul, The Handmaid’s Tale, Ozark, This Is Us

Three of last year’s nominees won’t be back since they didn’t air in 2019, and it seems likely that the other two, both vying for their third consecutive bids (and win in the latter case), will be back: The Handmaid’s Tale and This Is Us. The simplest theory is that they’ll join the three shows that were left off last year because they weren’t eligible: past winner Stranger Things, a revitalized cast on The Crown, and the last chance for Game of Thrones to win this thing. It may not be that easy if SAG decides to embrace Succession, Pose, Killing Eve, The Morning Show, or Big Little Lies. SAG isn’t known to move on from shows they like, so I’m tempted to stick mostly to what they’ve proven to adore in the past.

Current predictions:
The Crown
Game of Thrones
The Handmaid’s Tale 
Succession
This Is Us

AFT Awards: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

This is the seventeenth category of the 13th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2018-2019 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Good Behavior, The Handmaid’s Tale, Narcos, Sneaky Pete, Stranger Things

Finalists: None

The nominees:

Counterpart
Pose
Game of Thrones
Humans

The winner:

Doom Patrol brought together a band of super-powered misfits made fantastically and often hilarious real by the excellent team of actors portraying them.

Next up: Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

The competition: The Americans, Better Call Saul, The Handmaid’s Tale, Ozark, This Is Us

For your information: This is the second consecutive nomination for both “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “This Is Us,” which won last year. Elisabeth Moss and Joseph Fiennes are nominated from the former, while Sterling K. Brown is nominated for the latter. “The Americans” earns its first and only SAG bid for its sixth and final season. “Ozark,” which was nominated for two of its stars last year, is new to this category, and has three individual bids, for stars Jason Bateman, Julia Garner, and Laura Linney. “Better Call Saul” earns its first bid in this category this year, along with a third solo nomination for star Bob Odenkirk. Three shows have won this award without any individual nominations – “Six Feet Under” in 2002, “CSI” in 2004, and “Lost” in 2005. “The Americans” took home the Golden Globe for Best TV Series – Drama as well as the corresponding Critics’ Choice Award.

Who should win? I haven’t seen any of this season of “Ozark.” I watched most of this year of “The Americans” and I’m actually fine with it taking this sine the ensemble is good. I’m happy “Better Call Saul” is finally nominated, and “This Is Us” is a solid choice too. “The Handmaid’s Tale” definitely deserves this, however, due to the exceptional contribution of every cast member.

Who will win? The smart choice might be “The Americans,” but I’ll pick The Handmaid’s Tale instead.

SAG Nominees: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

My predictions: 4/5, missing “Ozark”
Who’s missing? Westworld, Pose, Killing Eve, Homecoming, Succession

I only missed one nominee here, and that was Ozark, a show I don’t particularly like but can appreciate for its range of talent. It’s the surprise top drama nominee today, with individual bids for Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and, most excitingly, Julia Garner. No freshmen made the cut here, with that show joining two other already established series, The Americans and Better Call Saul, earning their first nominations. The former made the cut even without either of its stars recognized, and I’m particularly happy for the latter, which has too many times not been honored for its great cast. Despite Golden Globe snubs in the top race, The Handmaid’s Tale and last year’s winner here, This Is Us, are both back.

Who will win? I think that The Handmaid’s Tale gets it, but it could be any of these.

SAG Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: The Crown, Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things, This Is Us

Three of last year’s nominees won’t be back since they didn’t air in 2019, and the other two are all but guaranteed to return. Even though they both experienced snubs in the top Golden Globe category, don’t expect The Handmaid’s Tale and defending champ This Is Us to be written off so quickly by SAG. The same goes for Westworld, which was nominated when it was last eligible. Newcomers nominated at the Golden Globes like Pose, Killing Eve, Homecoming, Bodyguard, and Succession don’t seem likely to crack this race, whereas departing seasoned series The Americans very well may. Better Call Saul has never been nominated in this category but might for the first time this year, as could Ozark for its second season.

Current predictions:
The Americans
Better Call Saul
The Handmaid’s Tale 
This Is Us
Westworld

AFT Awards: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

This is the seventeenth category of the 12th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2017-2018 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Goliath, The Handmaid’s Tale, Legion, Sneaky Pete, Westworld

Finalists: Westworld, Game of Thrones, Counterpart, Longmire, Mr. Robot

The nominees:

Narcos
The Handmaid's Tale
Sneaky Pete
Good Behavior

The winner:

Stranger Things united its great cast of mostly young actors for an even more enlivening second season full of wonder and terror as seen through their eyes.

Next up: Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

The competition: The Crown, Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things, This Is Us

For your information: This is the sixth nomination for “Game of Thrones” and the second for both “The Crown” and “Stranger Things,” which won last year. Sophomore series “This Is Us” and freshman series “The Handmaid’s Tale” are new to the race. Only “Stranger Things” has two performers nominated; the rest all have one. Multiple wins for one show are common in this category: “Downton Abbey” won three times, “Boardwalk Empire” won twice, and “Mad Men” won twice in recent years.

Who should win? I like “The Handmaid’s Tale” is strongest but I’d be fine with “Stranger Things” or “Game of Thrones” too.

Who will win? I think that we’ll see a repeat of Stranger Things though it could be “This Is Us” or “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

SAG Nominees: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

My predictions: 5/5!
Who’s missing? Ozark, House of Cards, Homeland, The Deuce

Is there anyone who didn’t get this right? This list matches the Globes exactly, inserting 2017’s top new Emmy-winning drama and another nominee that inexplicably wasn’t here last year. Only last year’s winner Stranger Things managed two individual bids, while the other four each got one: The Crown, Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale, and This Is Us. I thought “Ozark” might have gotten it after seeing it reap twin acting bids, but apparently not, which I’m completely fine with it since I didn’t like the pilot.

Who will win? I feel like The Handmaid’s Tale could take it unless “Stranger Things” repeats.

AFT Awards: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

This is the seventeenth category of the 11th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2016-2017 season. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: The Affair, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Jessica Jones, Narcos

Semi-finalists: 12 Monkeys, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Billions, Dark Matter, Good Behavior, House of Cards, Legends of Tomorrow, Longmire, Narcos, National Treasure, Rectify, The Affair, The Crown, The Flash, The Leftovers, The OA, This Is Us

Finalists: Stranger Things smartly showcased its children, full of such energy and wonder, and paired them with adults who definitely didn’t have a handle on their lives. Ray Donovan utilized its talented cast to typically excellent effect in its strong fourth season. Sense8 grew into itself largely by letting its actors take the spotlight and show off their abilities. Humans charted new territory with extremely interesting characters portrayed by an exceptional cast. Better Call Saul was more people-focused than ever, honing in on its small ensemble to tremendous effect.

The nominees:

Westworld created synthetic people incapable of controlling their own actions, and watching the actors on all sides portray that was nothing short of incredible. The Handmaid's Tale made its many personalities in a world supposedly devoid of individuality work superbly thanks to its featured talent. Sneaky Pete was enhanced greatly by actors utilized in very fitting roles. Goliath had more great performers that it knew what to do with, making nearly every scene and character interaction above-average.

The winner:

Legion never let up for a second, thanks in no small part to its astonishing cast, led by Dan Stevens but featuring so many important supporting members.

Next up: Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

The competition: The Crown, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Westworld

For your information: This is the fifth nomination for departing series “Downton Abbey,” which has won three times, including the past two years. This is also the fifth nomination for “Game of Thrones.” We have three freshmen in the bunch this year. “Stranger Things” has two players nominated, and all the others but “Downton Abbey” have one each.

Who should win: I don’t watch two of these shows, but I’d be excited to see “Westworld” win this.

Who will win: I’ll put my money on Downton Abbey winning again.

SAG Nominees: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

My predictions: 2/5, picking only “Downton Abbey” and “Game of Thrones”
Who’s missing: Better Call Saul, House of Cards, Mr. Robot, Ray Donovan

So much for SAG trends in the drama races this year. It’s the final year for Downton Abbey, and Game of Thrones is at the height of its popularity. Instead of other fan favorites, we get three new shows that are immensely hot right now. I opted not to even watch the pilots of The Crown and Stranger Things for different reasons, and I’m regretting that decision now, especially after both series earned two individual acting nominations. I’ll have to revisit those as soon as I’m finally caught up on the shows I do watch. And we also have Westworld, a formidable inclusion in this race.

Who could win? I haven’t seen two of the shows, but I still think that Downton Abbey will make it three in a row.

SAG Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, House of Cards, Mad Men

The rundown: This category tends to reward shows up until their finales, so that means that all but “Mad Men” could easily be back this year. I didn’t realize initially that “Homeland” didn’t air in 2016, so count that out too. The question is, what could replace it? I wouldn’t expect SAG voters to go for a cool choice like Better Call Saul or Mr. Robot, or a truly awesome one like Narcos. Could it be The Americans? Or maybe Westworld or Stranger Things? I doubt it will be the new series beloved by the Globes, This Is Us, but maybe. I’m expecting a surprise here – and I’ll predict that to be Ray Donovan.

Current predictions: Better Call Saul, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Ray Donovan

AFT Awards: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

This is the seventeenth category of the 10th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2015-2016 season. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Justified, The Leftovers, The Newsroom, Ray Donovan, Sons of Anarchy

Semi-finalists: Banshee, Dark Matter, Humans, Legends of Tomorrow, Limitless, Longmire, Orphan Black, Person of Interest, Rectify, Sense8, The Catch, The Flash, The Good Wife, The Leftovers

Finalists: Ray Donovan added rich recurring players to its already multi-faceted and highly effective dramatic team. Better Call Saul focused on its supporting personalities, enabling them to add their experiences to the main story. Mr. Robot had an electric lead and surrounded him with even more dynamic and gripping characters. Billions was all about the scenery-chewing on many fronts, pairing two fierce rivals and giving them plenty of support on either side. House of Cards scored eight acting Emmy nominations this season, and that doesn’t even account for some of the richest performances in this crowded but compelling ensemble.

The nominees:

The Affair gave its two scorned spouses a spotlight and made their lives and the people in them just as intriguing. Narcos utilized an international cast to utmost effect, dramatizing an incredible saga with a superb showcase of actors from all over. Game of Thrones has so much going on that there’s bound to be dozens of great turns in a given episode, and this season only expanded on that. Downton Abbey aired its final year with an acutely committed cast prepared to offer period entertainment until the very end.

The winner:

Jessica Jones centered on two magnetic enemies, yet it spared no expense on its other players, ensuring that they had rich storylines to enhance the overall show.

Next up: Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series