Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition:
The Great premiered its ten-episode second season on Hulu on November 19th. Like with season one last year, the show is nominated along with stars Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. Season one had a disappointing showing at the 2020 Emmys, netting just two nominations, and season two will be eligible next year.

Hacks aired its ten-episode first season from May to June on HBO Max. Stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are also nominated. The show won three of its fifteen Emmy nominations this past fall, including a prize for Smart.

Only Murders in the Building aired its ten-episode first season from August to October on Hulu. Stars Steve Martin and Martin Short are both nominated for their performances. The show will compete at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Reservation Dogs aired its first season from August to September on FX. This is its only nomination. The show will compete at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Ted Lasso aired its ten-episode second season from July to October on Apple TV+. Last year’s Globe winner Jason Sudeikis is back with another nomination this year for his performance, joined by Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham. Season one was up last year but did not win. Season one earned a whopping twenty Emmy nominations and won seven of them, including the top prize, and season two will compete next year.

Additional notes: Another eligible nominee from last year, “Emily in Paris,” didn’t make the cut, and a few other past nominees – “The Kominsky Method,” “Master of None,” “Black-ish,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” – also aired this year. A freshman series has won this award eight times out of the last fifteen years.
Who should win? I only watched the pilot of “Reservation Dogs” but was intrigued. I’m a big fan of the other four. I’d be happy to see “Hacks” or “The Great,” though the other two are fine also.
Who will win? I think that, since it didn’t win last year, Ted Lasso is likely, though it could also go to “Only Murders in the Building.”

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best TV Series – Drama

The competition:
Lupin premiered the first half of its first season on Netflix on January 8th and the second half on June 11th, for a total of ten episodes. The French-language drama also has star Omar Sy nominated. It was not on the Emmy ballot for part one.

The Morning Show aired its ten-episode second season from September to November on Apple TV+. Stars Jennifer Aniston, Billy Crudup, and Mark Duplass are also nominated, giving it one more bid than it had last time it contended, two years ago for season one. This season has yet to contend at the Emmy Awards.

Pose aired its seven-episode third season from May to June on FX. It makes a return to the Best TV Series – Drama category after being snubbed for season two, and star Billy Porter is back along with first-time nominee Michaela Jaé Rodriguez. Both performers and the show were nominated at this past fall’s Emmy Awards.

Squid Game premiered its nine-episode first season on Netflix on September 17th. Stars Lee Jung-jae and O Yeong-su are also nominated. The Korean-language drama will likely contend at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Succession aired its nine-episode third season from October to December on HBO. Stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, and Sarah Snook are also nominated. The show won this prize the last time it was nominated, two years ago for season two. Though this season has yet to contend for the Emmy Awards, season two did win the top prize, along with six other trophies.

Additional notes: None of last year’s nominees were eligible, and only one other past nominee is even currently on the air, and that’s “This Is Us.” A freshman series has won this award seven times out of the last fifteen years. A non-English series, “Narcos,” was nominated in 2015 but didn’t win. Ten shows have achieved a repeat win in this category in its history, most recently “The Crown” last year, though that wasn’t consecutive.
Who should win? I haven’t seen “Lupin” and didn’t finish “Squid Game.” I’ve gotten on board with “Succession” but it’s still not my favorite show. “The Morning Show” is good but season two wasn’t as good as season one. My choice, therefore, is “Pose,” a series I would love to see celebrated.
Who will win? It could be “Succession” or maybe (!) even “Pose,” but the likelier choice is Squid Game.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Limited Series or TV Movie

The competition:
American Crime Story: Impeachment aired ten episodes on FX from September to November. This is the only nomination for the show, which is a surprise given the quality of the performances from stars Sarah Paulson, Beanie Feldstein, and Clive Owen, all of whom have been nominated for Globes in the past. It may contend at next year’s Emmy Awards. The first two iterations of this anthology series won this prize in 2016 and 2018, respectively, and each also included a performer win and multiple other acting nominations.

Dopesick aired eight episodes on Hulu from October to November. Stars Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever are also nominated. It may contend at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Maid premiered ten episodes on Netflix on October 1st. Stars Margaret Qualley and Andie MacDowell are also nominated. It may contend at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Mare of Easttown aired seven episodes on HBO from April to May. Star Kate Winslet is also nominated. This past fall, it won four prizes out of its sixteen total Emmy nominations.

The Underground Railroad premiered ten episodes on Amazon Prime Video on May 14th. This is the only nomination for the show, snubbing all of its performers just like at this past fall’s Emmy Awards, where the show racked up seven nominations and no wins.

Additional notes: For the fifth year in a row, there are no television films in contention this year.
Who should win? I didn’t finish “Dopesick” or “Maid” but was impressed by what I saw. “American Crime Story: Impeachment” shouldn’t be here, especially without its actors. Between “The Underground Railroad” and “Mare of Easttown,” I don’t really have a preference, though if I had to pick, I might choose the latter.
Who will win? This feels like an easy Mare of Easttown victory, but maybe not?

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series

The competition:
Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus) plays the wealthy and scatterbrained Tanya McQuoid in the first season of the HBO series. This is her first Globe nomination. She is the lone representative from her show. Read my interview with her.

Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick) plays miner Betsy Mallum in the Hulu limited series. She was nominated two years ago for her performance in “Unbelievable.” Her show is up for Best Limited Series, and her costar Michael Keaton is also nominated. Watch my interview with her.

Andie MacDowell (Maid) plays Paula Langley in the Netflix limited series, mother to the character played by her real-life daughter Margaret Qualley, who is also nominated. She has three previous nominations for films between 1989 and 1994, and won a special ensemble prize in 1993 for “Short Cuts.” Her show is up for Best Limited Series.

Sarah Snook (Succession) plays Shiv Roy, one of multiple children heir to a successful company, in the third season of the HBO drama. This is her first Globe nomination. Her show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and costars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, and Kieran Culkin are also nominated.

Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) plays soccer team owner Rebecca Welton in the second season of the popular Apple TV+ comedy. This is her first Globe nomination. Her show is up for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical, and costars Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein are also nominated.

Additional notes: Waddingham won an Emmy this past fall, and Snook was nominated in a different race. This category often rewards limited series players, as it has done the past five years in a row, but it’s not all that consistent.
Who should win? I didn’t watch all of MacDowell’s show or Dever’s. Coolidge and Snook are both great, but I think I’d pick Waddingham.
Who will win? I feel like this will probably go to Coolidge but it could be any of them.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series

The competition: 

Billy Crudup (The Morning Show) plays network president Cory Ellison in the second season of the Apple TV+ drama. This is his first nomination. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and his costar Mark Duplass is also nominated.

Kieran Culkin (Succession) plays Roman Roy, one of multiple children heir to a successful company, in the third season of the HBO drama. He is the only consistent part of the show to be nominated, earning his third bid for the role. He was also previously nominated for his starring role in the film “Igby Goes Down” in 2002. After his costar Brian Cox and his show won their prizes for season two, they’re now joined by fellow nominees Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook.

Mark Duplass (The Morning Show) plays producer Chip Black in the second season of the Apple TV+ drama. This is his first nomination. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and his costar Billy Crudup is also nominated.

Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) plays grumbling footballer Roy Kent in the second season of the Apple TV+ comedy. This is his firs nomination. His show is up for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical, and costars Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham are also nominated.

O Yeong-su (Squid Game) plays devoted competitor Oh Il-nam in the first season of the Korean Netflix series. This is his first nomination. His show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and costar Lee Jung-jae is also nominated.

Additional notes: Crudup beat Culkin and Duplass at the Emmys two years ago, and Goldstein triumphed in his category this past year. Multiple performers from the same series have been nominated in the past, and it often leads to one of them winning. This category is not consistent in rewarding dramas, comedies, miniseries, or TV movies, though the last four winners have all been from limited series.
Who should win? I didn’t watch all of Yeong-su’s show, but I watch the others regularly. I think Goldstein is my clear favorite, but I’m growing to appreciate Culkin more and more.
Who will win? I think Goldstein can win this.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie

The competition:
Jessica Chastain (Scenes from a Marriage) plays unhappy wife Mira Phillips in the HBO limited series. This is her first TV nomination, but she has contended five times before for her film work. She won in 2012 for “Zero Dark Thirty” and is a double nominee this year, also up for her performance in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Her costar Oscar Isaac is also nominated.

Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha) plays legendary singer Aretha Franklin in the third season of the National Geographic anthology series. Two years ago, she was nominated for her performance in “Harriet” and its original song. She is the lone representative from her show.

Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision) plays the tremendously powerful Wanda Maximoff in the Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe limited series. This is her first Globe nomination. Her costar Paul Bettany is also nominated.

Margaret Qualley (Maid) plays devoted mother Alex Russell in the Netflix limited series. This is her first Globe nomination. Her show is up for the top prize, and her costar and real-life mother Andie MacDowell is also nominated.

Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown) plays gruff detective Mare Sheehan in the HBO limited series. This is her twelfth Globe nomination. She won for her previous TV bid in 2011 for “Mildred Pierce” and also took home twin prizes in 2008 for “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader.” Her show is nominated for the top prize.

Additional notes: Winslet beat Olsen and Erivo at the Emmys.
Who should win? I didn’t watch past episode one of most of these shows, but I’d be very happy with either Winslet or Olsen triumphing, and the others impressed me with what I saw of their work.
Who will win? It’s possible that Qualley has support, but it would be shocking if Winslet didn’t win.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

The competition:
Paul Bettany (WandaVision) plays devoted husband Vision in the Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe limited series. This is his first Globe nomination. His costar Elizabeth Olsen is also nominated.

Oscar Isaac (Scenes from a Marriage) plays unhappy husband Jonathan Levy in the HBO limited series. He was previously nominated in 2015 for “Show Me a Hero” and in 2013 for “Inside Llewyn Davis.” His costar Jessica Chastain is also nominated. He also stars in nominated film “Dune.”

Michael Keaton (Dopesick) plays Dr. Samuel Finnix in the Hulu limited series. He won a Globe in 2014 for “Birdman” and was nominated in 2002 for “Live from Baghdad.” His series is up for the top prize, and costar Kaitlyn Dever is also nominated.

Ewan McGregor (Halston) plays famed fashion designer Roy Halston in the Netflix limited series. McGregor won this award in 2017 for season three of “Fargo” and was previously nominated for “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” and “Moulin Rouge.” He is the lone representative from his show.

Tahar Rahim (The Serpent) plays serial killer Charles Sobhraj in the Netflix limited series. He was nominated last year for his performance in “The Mauritanian.” He is the lone representative from his show.

Additional notes: Mark Ruffalo won this award last year without his series being nominated for any other prizes. McGregor won the Emmy for this role, but his only competition from this crowd was Bettany.
Who should win? I didn’t watch past episode one of most of these shows, but I’d be very happy with McGregor or Bettany triumphing, and the others impressed me with what I saw of their work.
Who will win? I feel like this will be McGregor, but maybe Bettany can pull off a win?

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition:
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) plays comedy writer Ava Daniels in the first season of the HBO comedy. This is her first nomination, and it’s a welcome promotion from her supporting bid at the Emmys since she really is a co-lead with Jean Smart, who is also nominated, as is her show.

Elle Fanning (The Great) plays empress Catherine the Great in the second season of the Hulu period satire. This is her second consecutive nomination, making her the only returning nominee from last year. Her show is up for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical, and costar Nicholas Hoult is also nominated.

Issa Rae (Insecure) plays entrepreneur Issa Dee in the fifth and final season of the HBO comedy. This marks a return to the category for her after previously being nominated for seasons one and two. Just as in both those cases, Rae is the lone representative from her show.

Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish) plays Dr. Rainbow Johnson in in season seven of the ABC comedy. She was nominated exactly once before – five years ago – and won. Her costar Anthony Anderson is also nominated this year.

Jean Smart (Hacks) plays comedian Deborah Vance in the first season of the HBO comedy. Though she has eleven Emmy nominations and four wins, this is her first Globe nomination! She’s up against her costar Hannah Einbinder, and her show is also nominated for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical.

Additional notes: The last time multiple women from one show were nominated was three years in a row for “Desperate Housewives,” which resulted in one win. Smart won the Emmy this past year but was only nominated against Ross (Einbinder competed in supporting and the other two weren’t eligible).
Who should win? This is a great list. I don’t watch Ross’ show regularly but I like what she does. I’m thrilled that Einbinder is here, and Rae is great too. Smart is terrific, but I’d vote for Fanning, who is absolutely spectacular.
Who will win? It seems all but assured that Smart wins this.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition:
Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) plays proud patriarch Dre Johnson in season seven of the ABC comedy. He was previously nominated in 2016 and 2017. His costar Tracee Ellis Ross is also nominated.

Nicholas Hoult (The Great) plays ousted king Peter III in the second season of the Hulu period satire. This is his second consecutive nomination. His costar Elle Fanning is also nominated, and the show contends for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical.

Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building) plays former actor Charles-Haden Savage in the first season of the Hulu crime comedy. He has five previous Globe nominations, all for movies, earned between 1981 and 1995. His show is up for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical, and costar Martin Short is also nominated.

Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building) plays director Oliver Putnam in the first season of the Hulu crime comedy. This is the first Globe nomination for the twelve-time Emmy nominee. His show is up for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical, and costar Martin Short is also nominated.

Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) plays an American coach transplanted to London in the second season of the Apple TV+ series of the same name. This is his second consecutive nomination. His show is also up for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical, and he is joined this year by costars Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham.

Additional notes: This category rarely sees repeat winners, with Alec Baldwin the last to triumph again in 2009. The star of a new series has won this award nine times in the past fifteen years. This is the first instance of two actors from the same show being nominated in one year. 

Who should win? I don’t watch Anderson’s show regularly. Martin and Short are both terrific, as is Sudeikis. But Hoult is so absolutely brilliant, and I’d love to see him triumph.
Who will win? I’m not sure if Martin and Short will cancel each other out, so I think the smart choice is Sudeikis again even if I’m rooting for Hoult.

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

The competition:
Uzo Aduba (In Treatment) plays therapist Brooke Taylor in the fourth season of HBO’s returning half-hour series. The three-time Emmy winner has two previous Globe nominations, both for “Orange is the New Black,” which came in 2014 and 2015. She is the lone representative of her show.

Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show) plays Alex Leavy, the co-anchor of a popular news show in Apple TV+’s sophomore series. She was here two years ago for her show’s first season. Aniston won a Globe in 2002 for her work on “Friends,” her second nomination for that role. She was also nominated for her work in the film “Cake” in 2014. Her show is up for Best TV Series – Drama, and costars Billy Crudup and Mark Duplass are also nominated.

Christine Baranski (The Good Fight) plays attorney Diane Lockhart in season five of the Paramount+ drama. The fifteen-time Emmy nominee has two previous Globe nominations, both for “Cybill,” which came in 1995 and 1996. She is the lone representative of her show.

Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) plays imprisoned handmaid June in the fourth season of the Hulu dystopian drama. She won this award for season one and then was nominated again for season two before the show was shut out for season three. She also won previously for “Top of the Lake” and earned another nomination for “Mad Men.” She is the lone representation of her show.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose) plays house mother Bianca in the third and final season of the FX drama. This is her first nomination. Her show is up for Best TV Series – Drama and her costar Billy Porter is also nominated.

Additional notes: Past nominee Reese Witherspoon was eligible this year but didn’t make the cut. The star of a freshman series won this award for the past six years in a row prior to the last two years. Rodriguez’s win would be trailblazing as the first trans actress to win this prize.
Who should win? I stopped watching Baranski’s show early on but generally like her performance. While I do think Aduba, Aniston, and Moss are good, I think I would choose Rodriguez here.
Who will win? It’s not guaranteed, but Rodriguez may just have the momentum she needs to win this.

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 Predictions

After considerable reporting last year on the problematic makeup of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the enthusiasm heaped upon programs that paid for expensive European trips, the Golden Globes have fallen out of favor with most this year. Just as I don’t necessarily give any one organization – even the Academy Awards – any adoration, I still enjoy making predictions for their nominations, especially since I’ve been doing so consistently for more than fifteen years.

Because the group hasn’t been prominently featured or in good graces, they’re going ahead without official category placements, which means that some shows or movies might be ineligible, and it’s hard to know where actors will fall or what will be considered a limited series versus a drama or comedy series. That and none of the drama series nominees from last year are eligible, this time around. Without much to go on, here are my guesses for what will be announced this coming Monday morning. More once the list is officially unveiled! Film picks are here.

Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama
Brian Cox (Succession)
Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game)
Billy Porter (Pose)
Jeremy Strong (Succession)

Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama
Uzo Aduba (In Treatment)
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets)
Mj Rodriguez (Pose)
Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show)

Best Actor in a TV Series - Comedy/Musical
Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building)
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
Nicholas Hoult (The Great)
Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method)

Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy/Musical
Elle Fanning (The Great)
Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building)
Sandra Oh (The Chair)
Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That)
Jean Smart (Hacks)

Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Paul Bettany (WandaVision)
Joshua Jackson (Dr. Death)
Ewan McGregor (Halston)
Clive Owen (Impeachment: American Crime Story)
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door)

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha)
Beanie Feldstein (Impeachment: American Crime Story)
Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision)
Margaret Qualley (Maid)
Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a TV Series
Evan Peters (Mare of Easttown)
Kieran Culkin (Succession)
Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)
Christian Slater (Dr. Death)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a TV Series
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)
Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown)
Sarah Snook (Succession)
Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus)
Andie Macdowell (Maid)

Best Miniseries or Television Film
Maid
Mare of Easttown
The Shrink Next Door
The Underground Railroad
WandaVision

Best Drama Series
Loki
The Morning Show
Pose
Squid Game
Succession

Best Comedy Series
The Great
Hacks
The Kominsky Method
Only Murders in the Building
Ted Lasso