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 Limited Series or TV Movie

The competition:

Normal People aired twelve episodes on Hulu in April. Star Daisy Edgar-Jones is nominated for her performance, while costar Paul Mescal received an Emmy nomination this past fall, when the show missed out on a bid in the top category.

The Queen’s Gambit aired seven episodes on Netflix in October. Star Anya Taylor-Joy is nominated for her performance. It may contend at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Small Axe aired five separate films from November to December on Amazon Prime Video. Star John Boyega is nominated for his performance. It’s considered by some organizations as one film, as a series of films, or a TV series.

Unorthodox aired four episodes on Netflix in March. Star Shira Haas is nominated for her performance. Both Haas and the show contended for Emmys back in the fall, when it won a directing prize.

The Undoing aired six episodes from October to November on HBO. Stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, and Donald Sutherland are all nominated for their performances. It may contend at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Additional notes: For the fourth year in a row, there are no television films in contention this year, despite a few legitimate possibilities that were completely snubbed.
Who should win? I don’t think “The Undoing” needs to be here. I also question the placement of “Small Axe” even though some of its content was very strong – it’s clearly five separate movies. The other three are also fantastic and I’m not sure I could easily choose between them. I think I’d be happiest if it was “Normal People” since that hasn’t won all that many prizes, but all are superb.
Who will win? It’s possible it could be “Unorthodox” or “Small Axe,” but I’m betting on The Queen’s Gambit.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Miniseries or Television Film

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:
Catch-22
Chernobyl
Fosse/Verdon
The Loudest Voice
Unbelievable

Last year, this category offered up the startling snub of “When They See Us,” and this year, the field is considerably more stacked with contenders. Only one TV movie has been nominated in the past five years, and this year could be the time for Bad Education. Two of the three Emmy nominees for Best Limited Series, Mrs. America and Unorthodox, seem like sure things. The other selection, Little Fires Everywhere, is likely to be overshadowed by newer entries like The Queen’s Gambit, Small Axe, I May Destroy You, or The Undoing. Two Emmy-eligible offerings that didn’t make the cut, Normal People and The Plot Against America, are also possible. Additionally, look out for The Good Lord Bird, The Comey Rule or season four of Fargo.

Current predictions:
Mrs. America
Normal People
The Queen’s Gambit
Small Axe
Unorthodox

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Limited Series or TV Movie

The competition:
Catch-22 aired six episodes on Hulu. Star Christopher Abbott is nominated for his performance. It received only two technical nominations at the Emmys this past year.

Chernobyl aired five episodes on HBO. Stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, and Emily Watson are all nominated for their performances. It took home ten Emmy Awards, including Best Limited Series.

Fosse/Verdon aired eight episodes on FX. Stars Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell are nominated for their performances. It won four Emmys, including an acting prize for Williams.

The Loudest Voice aired seven episodes on Showtime. Star Russell Crowe is nominated for his performance. It may contend at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Unbelievable aired eight episodes on Netflix. Stars Kaitlyn Dever, Merritt Wever, and Toni Collette are all nominated for their performances. It may contend at next year’s Emmy Awards.

Additional notes: For the third year in a row, there are no television films in contention this year. Interestingly, five different networks are represented and each one of these is an original iteration.
Who should win? I’ve only watched all of “The Loudest Voice” and “Unbelievable,” and I’m fine with either of them winning.
Who will win? Without “When They See Us” in connection, I think Chernobyl takes this easily, though I’d love to see “Unbelievable” win.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Miniseries or Television Film

My predictions: 3/5, missing “Catch-22” and “The Loudest Voice”
Who’s missing? When They See Us, Years and Years, The Act, El Camino

I didn’t think that The Loudest Voice had a strong shot in this category, but I’m very pleased to see that it’s here. What doesn’t make me happy is the omission of “When They See Us,” which I thought was a shoo-in. I had forgotten all about Catch-22, which didn’t do well with the Emmys and joins two limited series that did, Chernobyl and Fosse/Verdon. I’m glad Unbelievable did so well, earning bids for all three of its actresses.

Who will win? I think this might actually go to Unbelievable over “Chernobyl,” but that’s probably foolish.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Miniseries or Television Film

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:
The Alienist
The Assassination of Gianni Versace
Escape at Dannemora
Sharp Objects
A Very English Scandal

I don’t usually write up this category ahead of time, but I have seen a handful of the contenders, or at least the first episode of some of the limited series. Last year, only two of these shows were part of series that are slated to continue, and neither has aired its most recent season just yet. Only five of the ten Emmy nominees in the corresponding categories are eligible this year, with Chernobyl, When They Sees Us, and Fosse/Verdon seeming likeliest, and Deadwood: The Movie and Brexit trailing somewhat behind them, in part due to the fact that, in the last five years, only one TV movie has been included in this race. The Act, which didn’t make the cut in the top Emmy race, might also show up here. This year’s new contenders include Unbelievable, El Camino, Catherine the Great, The Loudest Voice, Spy, Years and Years, and Modern Love.

Current predictions:
The Act
Chernobyl
Fosse/Verdon
Unbelievable
When They See Us

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Miniseries or Television Film

The competition:
The Alienist aired on TNT as a limited series. A sequel series has been commissioned. Star Daniel Bruhl is nominated for his lead performance. It was previously nominated for an Emmy for Best Limited Series this past summer.

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace aired on FX as the second season of an anthology series. Its first part, “The People vs. OJ Simpson,” won this award in 2016. Stars Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, and Penelope Cruz are all nominated, and Criss took home the Emmy this past year, along with the show winning the top award. Criss and Cruz both contend for SAG Awards.

Escape at Dannemora aired on HBO as a limited series. Star Patricia Arquette is nominated, and also contends at the SAG Awards.

Sharp Objects aired on HBO as a limited series. Stars Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson are nominated, and also contend at the SAG Awards.

A Very English Scandal aired on Amazon as a limited series. Stars Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw are nominated, and Grant also contends at the SAG Awards.

Additional notes: There are no television films in contention this year despite the name of the category. “American Crime,” “American Horror Story,” and “Fargo” have all been nominated for multiple seasons but a show has yet to win for anything other than its first iteration.
Who should win? I loved “A Very English Scandal” and I’m very happy to see it earning so much positive recognition. I watched exactly one hour of the other four and wasn’t interested enough to continue with any of them.
Who will win? I would count out “The Alienist” and “Escape at Dannemora,” but the other three all stand a decent chance. I’ll be bold and back A Very English Scandal over the smart choice, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace.”

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Miniseries or Television Film

My predictions: 3/5, missing “The Alienist” and “Escape at Dannemora”
Who’s missing? The Tale, Maniac, Patrick Melrose, Genius: Picasso, The Little Drummer Girl

I have very little vested interest in this category, but I’m so excited that the terrific A Very English Scandal made the cut. It’s available on Amazon Prime – highly recommended! I watched just one episode of each of the other four nominees. The Assassination of Gianni Versace is a juggernaut, and both Escape at Dannemora and Sharp Objects performed strongly with their featured leading actresses recognized (and supporting in the case of the latter. I didn’t expect The Alienist to do so well, but it did get picked up for a second series, so I guess that speaks to its popularity.

Who will win? I think The Assassination of Gianni Versace is unbeatable.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Miniseries or Television Film

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:
Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Sinner
Top of the Lake: China Girl

I don’t usually write up this category ahead of time, but I have seen a handful of the contenders, or at least the first episode of some of the limited series. Last year, this race included all series that have ended up with more than one season. Seven of the ten Emmy nominees in the corresponding categories are eligible this year, with The Assassination of Gianni Versace and The Tale feeling like the strongest bets to me, Patrick Melrose and The Alienist up next, and then Paterno, Fahrenheit 451, and Genius: Picasso trailing behind that. This year’s new contenders include Maniac, Sharp Objects, A Very English Scandal, Escape at Dannemora, The Little Drummer Girl, Howard’s End, and The Romanoffs. I’m also watching out for the surprise inclusion of Bodyguard here but predicting it to just miss the list.

Current predictions:
The Assassination of Gianni Versace
Maniac
Sharp Objects
The Tale
A Very English Scandal

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie

The competition: “Carlos,” “The Pacific, “The Pillars of the Earth,” “Temple Grandin,” “You Don’t Know Jack”

What should win: I’ve only seen “The Pacific,” which was pretty terrific.

What will win: It’s much easier to discern what won’t win. Count “The Pillars of the Earth” out. Emmy voters sure loved “Temple Grandin,” but “You Don’t Know Jack” was pretty popular too. “The Pacific” dominated the miniseries category, and “Carlos” has been racking up a bunch of prizes from film groups counting it as that type of media. Color me confused. My best guess is that The Pacific triumphs.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie

My predictions: 3/5, missing “Carlos” and “The Pillars of the Earth”
Who’s missing: “Return to Cranford,” “Luther,” “The Special Relationship”

I really should start watching more miniseries. Both Carlos and The Pillars of the Earth performed well, joining Emmy champ The Pacific. On the TV movie end, we have Temple Grandin and You Don’t Know Jack, leaving out two other TV films nominated elsewhere, “Return to Cranford” and “The Special Relationship.” I had predicted “The Walking Dead” to be a sixth nominee here, but instead it ended up in the Best Drama Series category. If you’ve seen any of these nominated programs (I’ve only seen “The Pacific”), please feel free to offer commentary.

Who could win? I think The Pacific can eclipse “Temple Grandin.”

Golden Globe Musings: Best Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, 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.

Though I haven’t seen anything, this seems to me to be the easiest category to predict. Take the two Emmy-nominated miniseries, The Pacific and Return to Cranford and the three most buzzed-about Emmy-nominated made-for-TV movies, The Special Relationship, Temple Grandin, and You Don’t Know Jack. The one complication comes from the second half of 2010. Since I’m predicting Andrew Lincoln for Best Actor, I should probably include The Walking Dead. If it ends up classified here, I think it will be as a sixth nominee.

The Pacific
Return to Cranford
The Special Relationship
Temple Grandin
You Don’t Know Jack
The Walking Dead (6th nominee)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

The competition: “Georgia O’Keeffe,” “Grey Gardens,” “Into the Storm,” “Little Dorrit,” and “Taking Chance”
For your information: At the Emmys this past year, “Grey Gardens” triumphed over “Into the Storm” and “Taking Chance” for Best Made-for-TV Movie, while “Little Dorrit” won Best Miniseries. Miniseries and TV movies win pretty much equally in this category. All but “Little Dorrit” have actors nominated.
Who should win: I’ve seen nothing, unfortunately.
Who will win: Probably Grey Gardens, but maybe “Into the Storm.”

Final Golden Globe Predictions

These are my final predictions for the TV categories that will be announced at 8:30am Eastern Time tomorrow morning. I only have one update to make from my musings posted during Thanksgiving week, and that’s the addition of John Lithgow as a likely supporting actor nominee for his recurring role on “Dexter” this season. Jimmy Smits didn’t manage the feat last year even though he ultimately ended up with an Emmy nod, but I think Lithgow should be able to pull it off. I’m basically banking on old favorites to repeat, and only a few new shows to break through – like “Glee” and “Modern Family” and the female leads from “The Good Wife,” “Nurse Jackie,” “The United States of Tara,” and “Parks and Recreation.” I’m also one of the few who believe that “In Treatment” will fare well and be remembered this year, mostly because the second season was even stronger than the first. The mini-series and TV movie categories are pretty much educated guesses and nothing more since I really haven’t seen any of them. Let’s hope for some good surprises tomorrow! Check back all day after the announcement for analysis of each category.

Best Television Series - Drama
Breaking Bad
Dexter
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Glenn Close, Damages
January Jones, Mad Men
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Californication
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
30 Rock

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carrell, The Office
David Duchovny, Californication
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Toni Collette, The United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Grey Gardens
Into the Storm
Little Dorrit
Prayers for Bobby
Taking Chance

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Kenneth Branagh, Wallander
Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm
Jeremy Irons, Georgia O’Keefe
Ian McKellen, The Prisoner

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Joan Allen, Georgia O’Keefe
Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens
Anna Paquin, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sandler
Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Tom Courtenay, Little Dorrit
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
John Lithgow, Dexter
John Mahoney, In Treatment
Jeremy Piven, Entourage

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Rose Byrne, Damages
Hope Davis, In Treatment
Marcia Gay Harden, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sandler
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Grey Gardens
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

The competition: “Bernard and Doris,” “Cranford,” “John Adams,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” and “Recount”
For your information: Last year, “Longford” triumphed over Emmy champ “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.” Miniseries and TV movies win pretty much equally in this category.
Who should win: I watched the first installments of “Cranford” and “John Adams” as well as “Recount,” and I’m fine with either “John Adams” or “Recount”
Who will win: None other than John Adams

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

My predictions: 5/5
Who’s missing? “24: Redemption”

It seemed pretty simple to meld the two Emmy categories into one, and it’s a good list. I’ve only seen the first episodes of “Cranford” and “John Adams,” as well as “Recount,” but it’s clear which miniseries and TV movies were popular this past year.

Who will win? I’m not sure anything can beat John Adams.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Mini-Series/TV Movie

The competition: “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”, “The Company”, “Five Days”, “Longford”, and “The State Within”.
For your information: “Bury My Heart” and “Longford” are TV movies from HBO. “Five Days” is also from HBO, but like “The Company” (TNT) and “The State Within” (BBC), is a mini-series. “The State Within” has one acting nod, “Bury My Heart” has two, and “Longford” has three.
Who should win: I neglected to watch “The Company” or “Five Days”, but “Longford” reigns supreme compared to the other two. It would be cool to see “The State Within” take it also.
Who will win: I am going to go with Longford although I am really scared by Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee’s chances.