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 Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

The competition:

Bryan Cranston (Your Honor) plays New Orleans Judge Michael Desiato in the Showtime limited series. He has eight previous nominations, most recently in 2016 for “All the Way.” He won one of his four consecutive bids for “Breaking Bad” in 2013. He is the lone representative from his show.

Jeff Daniels (The Comey Rule) plays FBI Director James Comey in the two-part Showtime event series. He has four previous nominations, most recently in 2012 for “The Newsroom.” His costar Brendan Gleeson is also nominated.

Hugh Grant (The Undoing) plays Dr. Jonathan Fraser in the HBO limited series. He has five previous nominations, most recently in 2018 for “A Very English Scandal.” He won on his first try back in 1994 for “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” His show is the most-nominated limited series with four total bids.

Ethan Hawke (The Good Lord Bird) plays abolitionist John Brown in the Showtime limited series. He has one previous nomination, for “Boyhood” in 2014. He is the lone representative from his show.

Mark Ruffalo (I Know This Much Is True) plays twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey in the HBO limited series. He has three previous nominations, for “Infinitely Polar Bear” in 2015 and “The Normal Heart” and “Foxcatcher” in 2014. He is the lone representative from his show.

Additional notes: Ruffalo won the Emmy this past fall, but the other four nominees here hadn’t seen their shows start by that point. Grant is the only one here whose show is up for Best Limited Series. The last nominee to play twin brothers in this category, Ewan McGregor, won this prize in 2017 for season three of “Fargo.”
Who should win? I only watched one episode of Hawke’s show, and his performance was a bit intense for me. I found Cranston’s work less than genuine and impressing. Daniels was good but wouldn’t be my choice. I think I’d choose Ruffalo over Grant, though I’m sad that Paul Mescal and Hugh Jackman aren’t here.
Who will win? It’s possible Grant gets an assist from his series’ solid showing, but I think Ruffalo wins without a problem.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

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:
Christopher Abbott (Catch-22)
Sacha Baron Cohen (The Spy)
Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice)
Jared Harris (Chernobyl)
Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon)

Four of the five Emmy nominees from this past year are eligible, though only two of them made the cut with the Critics’ Choice six-wide field. Emmy winner Mark Ruffalo (I Know This Much Is True) and Paul Mescal (Normal People) are the two that earned nominations from both groups. Hugh Jackman (Bad Education), Jeremy Irons (Watchmen), and Jeremy Pope (Hollywood) are the other three Emmy picks, and I’d like to hope that Globe voters’ affection for Ryan Murphy will enable them to notice Pope’s equally good costar, David Corenswet (Hollywood). The CCA chose John Boyega (Small Axe) – who Globe voters may be considering supporting, Hugh Grant (The Undoing) and Chris Rock (Fargo), along with the Emmy-eligible Morgan Spector (The Plot Against America). I’d also like to see Rock’s costar Jason Schwartzman (Fargo) here, but I’m not sure if that’s likely. Other strong possibilities are Ethan Hawke (The Good Lord Bird), Bryan Cranston (Your Honor), Jeff Daniels (The Comey Rule), and Jude Law (The Third Day).

Current predictions:
Jeff Daniels (The Comey Rule)
Hugh Grant (The Undoing)
Hugh Jackman (Bad Education)
Paul Mescal (Normal People)
Mark Ruffalo (I Know This Much Is True)

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

The competition:
Christopher Abbott (Catch-22) plays tormented soldier Captain John Yossarian in the Hulu limited series. This is his first Globe bid, and his show also contends for the top prize.

Sasha Baron Cohen (The Spy) plays Eli Cohen, a Mossad spy operating in Syria, in the Netflix limited series. Cohen was nominated last year for his work on the variety series “Who is America?” and won a Globe in 2006 for his performance in the film “Borat.” He is the lone representative from his project.

Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice) plays Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News, in the Showtime limited series. This is Crowe’s first TV bid. He won for “A Beautiful Mind” in 2001 and received four other film nominations that decade. His project is also nominated for the top prize.

Jared Harris (Chernobyl) plays Valery Legasov, a Soviet scientist, in the HBO limited series. This is Harris’ first Globe nomination. He is joined by costars Stellan Skarsgard and Emily Watson, and his show contends for the top prize.

Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon) plays charismatic director and choreographer Bob Fosse in the FX limited series. This is Rockwell’s third consecutive Globe bid. He was nominated last year for playing George W. Bush in “Vice” and won the year before that for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” In addition to costar Michelle Williams, his project contends for the top prize.

Additional notes: Rockwell and Harris lost the Emmy to Jharrel Jerome, who isn’t nominated. Cohen and Crowe may contend this coming year.
Who should win? I only watched one episode of all but Crowe’s work, and he’s my obvious pick though I can’t really assess the strength of their performances over the course of multiple hours.
Who will win? With Emmy winner Jerome not contending, it could be Harris, but I think Crowe wins.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

My predictions: 4/5, missing Abbott
Who’s missing? Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us), Mahershala Ali (True Detective)

I had forgotten all about Christopher Abbott (Catch-22) being a possibility after his limited series was completely was shut out of all major categories at the Emmys. I only watched the first episode, but I like the actor and it’s good to see him recognized. What’s very unfortunate is that Jerome and his miniseries, which was easily one of the best things I saw in 2019, was omitted entirely. I had a feeling that Mahershala Ali was out and Sacha Baron Cohen (The Spy), a surprise nominee in another category last year, would be in. I’m very happy that Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice) made the cut since he really was terrific, and he joins expected nominees Jared Harris (Chernobyl) and Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon).

Who will win? I’m going to back Crowe.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

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:
Antonio Banderas (Genius: Picasso)
Daniel Bruhl (The Alienist)
Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose)
Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal)

I don’t always predict this category in such detail, but given that, once again, I’ve seen a lot of the first episodes of these limited series and actors, I figured it was worth writing about it. Expect Emmy nominees Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us), Jared Harris (Chernobyl), and Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon) to show up. Enthusiasm for the project may propel Aaron Paul (El Camino) to a bid even if Globe voters were never as into him as the Emmy Awards were. Sacha Baron Cohen (Spy), a nominee last year for his comedy series work, seems like a good bet, and there are a few others in contention, including Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice), who I’d love to see nominated, Benedict Cumberbatch (Brexit), Idris Elba (Luther), and plenty more.

Current predictions:
Sacha Baron Cohen (Spy)
Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice)
Jared Harris (Chernobyl)
Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us)
Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon)

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

The competition:
Antonio Banderas (Genius: Picasso) plays the tortured painter Pablo Picasso in the second season of the National Geographic anthology series. He has three previous Globe nominations, for TV movie “And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself,” comedy “The Mask of Zorro,” and musical “Evita.” He was also honored by the Emmys and SAG with bids for this role.

Daniel Bruhl (The Alienist) plays Dr. Lazlo Kreizler, a psychologist investigating murders in the TNT limited series. His show is up for Best Miniseries or Television Film. Bruhl was nominated for a Globe once before for the 2013 film “Rush.”

Darren Criss (American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) plays Andrew Cunanan, a disgruntled killer in the second season of the FX anthology series. This is his first Globe nomination, though he’s coming off an Emmy win for this role. He contends for a SAG Award for this part, and is joined at the Globes by costars Edgar Ramirez and Penelope Cruz, as well as his series being nominated for Best Miniseries or Television Film.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose) plays the title character, a troubled addict in the Showtime miniseries. He was nominated in this category in 2012 for “Sherlock” and for his film work in “The Imitation Game” in 2014. He was up for an Emmy for this role earlier this year.

Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal) plays Jeremy Thorpe, an embattled member of Parliament in the Amazon limited series. Grant won a Globe in 1994 for “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and has three more film nominations. He contends for a SAG for this role as well.

Additional notes: Criss beat Banderas and Cumberbatch for the Emmy, where Bruhl wasn’t nominated. Grant may contend this coming year.
Who should win? I’ve only seen Grant’s work in its entirety, and he’s great. I sampled Bruhl, Criss, and Cumberbatch through the first episodes of their shows, with Cumberbatch impressing me most, and haven’t seen Banderas’ performance at all.
Who will win? I’m going to go ahead and predict Grant based on this awards body even though Criss is probably the smarter choice.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

My predictions: 3/5, missing Banderas and Bruhl
Who’s missing? Jonah Hill (Maniac), Benicio Del Toro (Escape at Dannemora)

I don’t usually watch miniseries or TV movies (none of which are nominated here), and the one that I’ve been following most closely recently, “Maniac,” got shut out. The other one that I invested in did much better, and I’m thrilled to see Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal) and his show did get nominated. Like Geoffrey Rush last year, Antonio Banderas (Genius: Picasso) got in without his show nominated. The same is true for Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose), while Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace) and Daniel Bruhl (The Alienist) made the cut along with their series. I’ve only watched the first episode of each of the latter three, so I can’t comment too much on the quality of the performances.

Who will win? Criss might have more buzz, but I’ll give the edge with this group to Grant.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

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:
Robert De Niro (The Wizard of Lies)
Jude Law (The Young Pope)
Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks)
Ewan McGregor (Fargo)
Geoffrey Rush (Genius)

I don’t always predict this category in such detail, but given that I’ve seen a lot of the first episodes of these limited series and actors, I figured it was worth writing about it. Five of last year’s Emmy nominees are eligible, including winner Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace), Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose), Antonio Banderas (Genius: Picasso), John Legend (Jesus Christ: Superstar), and Jeff Daniels (The Looming Tower). Their likeliest competition includes Jonah Hill (Maniac), Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal), Benicio Del Toro (Escape at Dannemora), and Richard Madden (Bodyguard). Don’t count out Al Pacino (Paterno), Alexander Skarsgard (The Little Drummer Girl), Anthony Hopkins (King Lear), or Peter Dinklage (My Dinner with Herve) either.

Current predictions:
Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose)
Hugh Grant (A Very English Scandal)
Jonah Hill (Maniac)
Richard Madden (Bodyguard)

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

The competition: Idris Elba’s detective (Luther) Ian McShane’s bishop (The Pillars of the Earth), Al Pacino’s Jack Kavorkian (You Don’t Know Jack), Dennis Quaid’s Bill Clinton (The Special Relationship), and Edgar Ramirez’s terrorist (Carlos).

For your information: This is Pacino’s fifteenth career nomination, and he won on his most recent shot for in his first television category (this one) for “Angels in America.” McShane won a Globe in 2004 for the first season of “Deadwood.” Quaid was nominated in 2002 for the film “Far from Heaven.” This is the first nomination for both Elba and Ramirez.

Who should win: Sadly, I’ve seen none of these nominated performances.

Who will win: The safe choice would be Pacino, but given that younger actors like Ving Rhames, James Franco, and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers have triumphed in this category, I’m going to go with Elba, though Ramirez could also win.

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

My predictions: 2/5, picking only Pacino and Quaid
Who’s missing: James Badge Dale (The Pacific), Michael Sheen (The Special Relationship)

I really haven’t seen any miniseries or TV movies recently, so I was hopeless from the start in this category. Joining expected nominees Al Pacino (You Don’t Know Jack) and Dennis Quaid (The Special Relationship), we have Idris Elba (Luther), Edgar Ramirez (Carlos), and Ian McShane (The Pillars of the Earth). Feel free to comment if you’ve seen any of these performances.

Who could win? Could Elba or Ramirez take down Pacino? I’ll say yes, and root for Elba.

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a 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.

Since I haven’t seen almost all of the contenders in this category, my analysis will be very brief. The three eligible Emmy nominees from this past year are all locks: Al Pacino (You Don’t Know Jack), Dennis Quaid (The Special Relationship), and Michael Sheen (The Special Relationship). Though it doesn’t quite make sense to me, last year’s nominee Kenneth Branagh (Wallander) may once again be eligible. I’m not sure about singling out one person from HBO’s landmark miniseries from earlier this year, but James Badge Dale (The Pacific) may have an edge over Jon Seda (The Pacific). I do suspect, however, that AMC’s six-episode series “The Walking Dead” may land here, and therefore Andrew Lincoln might be a nominee.

Current predictions:
James Badge Dale (The Pacific)
Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead)
Al Pacino (You Don’t Know Jack)
Dennis Quaid (The Special Relationship)
Michael Sheen (The Special Relationship)

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

The competition: Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance), Kenneth Branagh (Wallander: One Step Behind), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Endgame), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), and Jeremy Irons (Georgia O’Keeffe).
For your information: Bacon, Branagh, and Gleeson were all nominated for the Emmy this past year, and Gleeson took it home. Irons is the only Globe winner among the nominees, winning in 2006 for his work in “Elizabeth I.”
Who should win: I’ve seen none of these, sadly.
Who will win: I’ll guess Gleeson.

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 Actor in a Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

The competition: Ralph Fiennes (Bernard and Doris), Paul Giammati (John Adams), Kevin Spacey (Recount), Kiefer Sutherland (24: Redemption), and Tom Wilkinson (Recount)
For your information: It’s bad to be an American in this category. The past four winners (Geoffrey Rush, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Bill Nighy, and Jim Broadbent) have been Australian, Irish, and British. Sutherland was nominated five times and won once for the show “24,” and is nominated this year for a prequel to the coming season of the series.
Who should win: I’ve only seen Giammati, Spacey, and Sutherland, and out of those definitely Giammati
Who will win: I don’t think anyone is popular enough to beat Giammati

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

My predictions: 5/5
Who’s missing? Sean Combs (A Raisin in the Sun)

Simple math here, take the Emmy list from this past year, subtract Ricky Gervais (“Extras” aired its series finale in 2007), and add in Kiefer Sutherland, the only real new contender. As a former “24” lover, I can safely say that Sutherland didn’t come close to doing awards-worthy work in the dreadful TV movie, and at least it’s not up for an award itself. I still haven’t seen “Bernard and Doris” but the other three nominees are a fine bunch.

Who will win? “John Adams” sweep: Paul Giammati.

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

The competition: Adam Beach (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee), Ernest Borgnine (A Grandpa for Christmas), James Nesbitt (Jekyll), Jim Broadbent (Longford), and Jason Isaacs (The State Within).
For your information: This is the first nomination for Beach, Isaacs, and Nesbitt. Broadbent has two previous nominations and one win. Borgnine only has one previous nomination (from 1955!) which we won.
Who should win: I did not watch “A Grandpa for Christmas” (why would I?) or “Jekyll”, but out of the other three, Broadbent deserves this, no contest, for his completely absorbed portrayal of Lord Longford. Isaacs was great too, and it would be nice to see him pick up an award.
Who will win: It should be Broadbent, but the Globes often like BBC (Nesbitt, Isaacs).