Fanboys Anonymous

The 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place September 20, 2020, broadcast by ABC.

Here is a list of the nominees in all of the categories and some thoughts on this year's predictions and such.



Outstanding Comedy Series

Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Dead to Me (Netflix)
The Good Place (NBC)
Insecure (HBO)
The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Thoughts: I haven't seen a single one of these.

Outstanding Drama Series

Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Killing Eve (BBC America)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Ozark (Netflix)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
Succession (HBO)

Thoughts: Ozark and Stranger Things are so good. If either of those win, I'm a big fan. The Mandalorian was surprisingly good, too, but I'd prefer the other two.

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Thoughts: I don't watch any of these.

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
Drunk History (Comedy Central)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Thoughts: I haven't seen any of these, unless you count previous years of SNL. Not this year.

Outstanding Limited Series

Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
Mrs. America (FX)
Unbelievable (Netflix)
Unorthodox (Netflix)
Watchmen (HBO)

Thoughts: I stopped watching Watchmen after the first episode. I couldn't get into it. The rest, I hadn't even heard of at all.

Outstanding Television Movie

American Son (Netflix)
Bad Education (HBO)
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings: These Old Bones (Netflix)
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (Netflix)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend (Netflix)

Thoughts: Never seen them or heard of most of them.

Outstanding Competition Program

The Masked Singer (Fox)
Nailed It! (Netflix)
RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)

Thoughts: These aren't for me.


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson Sr. on Black-ish (ABC)
Don Cheadle as Mo Monroe on Black Monday (Showtime)
Ted Danson as Michael on The Good Place (NBC)
Michael Douglas as Sandy Kominsky on The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose on Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
Ramy Youssef as Ramy Hassan on Ramy (Hulu)

Thoughts: I've got no horse in this race (you're going to see that pop up quite a bit here).

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate as Jen Harding on Dead to Me (Netflix)
Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam "Midge" Maisel on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Linda Cardellini as Judy Hale on Dead to Me (Netflix)
Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
Issa Rae as Issa Dee on Insecure (HBO)
Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Rainbow "Bow" Johnson on Black-ish (ABC)

Thoughts: No horse in this race.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman as Martin "Marty" Byrde on Ozark (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson on This Is Us (NBC)
Steve Carell as Mitch Kessler on The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Brian Cox as Logan Roy on Succession (HBO)
Billy Porter as Pray Tell on Pose (FX)
Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy on Succession (HBO)

Thoughts: Jason Bateman!!!!

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston as Alex Levy on The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown (Netflix)
Jodie Comer as Oksana Astankova / Villanelle on Killing Eve (BBC America)
Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde on Ozark (Netflix)
Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri on Killing Eve (BBC America)
Zendaya as Rue Bennett on Euphoria (HBO)

Thoughts: Ozark is great. Give it to Laura Linney. She's awesome.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Jeremy Irons as Adrien Veidt on Watchmen (HBO)
Hugh Jackman as Dr. Frank Tassone on Bad Education (HBO)
Paul Mescal as Connell Waldron on Normal People (Hulu)
Jeremy Pope as Archie Coleman on Hollywood (Netflix)
Mark Ruffalo as Dominick and Thomas Birdsey on I Know This Much Is True (HBO)

Thoughts: I haven't seen any of these except the first episode of Watchmen, as I said. But I totally bought Irons as Veidt. Maybe it would be cool for him to win.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly on Mrs. America (FX)
Shira Haas as Esther "Esty" Shapiro on Unorthodox (Netflix)
Regina King as Angela Abar / Sister Night on Watchmen (HBO)
Octavia Spencer as Madam C. J. Walker on Self Made (Netflix)
Kerry Washington as Mia Warren on Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)

Thoughts: No horse in this race.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Mahershala Ali as Sheikh Ali Malik on Ramy (Hulu)
Alan Arkin as Norman Newlander on The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Andre Braugher as Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
Sterling K. Brown as Reggie on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
William Jackson Harper as Chidi Anagonye on The Good Place (NBC)
Dan Levy as David Rose on Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
Tony Shalhoub as Abe Weissman on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Kenan Thompson as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Thoughts: I love Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Maybe Braugher isn't the right person to win, but I don't know, since I can't compare to the others. But I do know I love his work as Holt.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
D'Arcy Carden as Janet on The Good Place (NBC)
Betty Gilpin as Debbie Eagan on GLOW (Netflix)
Marin Hinkle as Rose Weissman on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Kate McKinnon as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
Yvonne Orji as Molly Carter on Insecure (HBO)
Cecily Strong as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Thoughts: GLOW is great. I doubt Gilpin will win, but it's nice to see her recognized. I'm also shocked she's considered a supporting actress. Isn't she one of the three leads along with Alison Brie and Marc Maron?

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch on Succession (HBO)
Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison on The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy on Succession (HBO)
Mark Duplass as Charlie "Chip" Black on The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring on Better Call Saul (AMC)
Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans on Succession (HBO)
Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence on The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe on Westworld (HBO)

Thoughts: Westworld is the only one I've seen. I love Wright as Bernard, but I'll have to admit that the first season was significantly better for this show than 2 and 3.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret on The Crown (Netflix)
Laura Dern as Renata Klein on Big Little Lies (HBO)
Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore on Ozark (Netflix)
Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay on Westworld (HBO)
Fiona Shaw as Carolyn Martens on Killing Eve (BBC America)
Sarah Snook as Siobhan "Shiv" Roy on Succession (HBO)
Meryl Streep as Mary Louise Wright on Big Little Lies (HBO)
Samira Wiley as Moira Strand on The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

Thoughts: Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore is one of the true highlights of Ozark. I'd love to see her win.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Calvin "Cal" Abar / Doctor Manhattan on Watchmen (HBO)
Jovan Adepo as young Will Reeves on Watchmen (HBO)
Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend (Netflix)
Louis Gossett Jr. as Will Reeves on Watchmen (HBO)
Dylan McDermott as Ernest "Ernie" West on Hollywood (Netflix)
Jim Parsons as Henry Willson on Hollywood (Netflix)

Thoughts: No horse in this race.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Uzo Aduba as Shirley Chisholm on Mrs. America (FX)
Toni Collette as Det. Grace Rasmussen on Unbelievable (Netflix)
Margo Martindale as Bella Abzug on Mrs. America (FX)
Jean Smart as Laurie Blake on Watchmen (HBO)
Holland Taylor as Ellen Kincaid on Hollywood (Netflix)
Tracey Ullman as Betty Friedan on Mrs. America (FX)

Thoughts: No idea.


Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

The Great (Episode: "The Great (Pilot)"), Directed by Matt Shakman (Hulu)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "It's Comedy or Cabbage"), Directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Prime Video)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "Marvelous Radio"), Directed by Daniel Palladino (Prime Video)
Modern Family (Episode: "Finale Part 2"), Directed by Gail Mancuso (ABC)
Ramy (Episode: "Miakhalifa.mov"), Directed by Ramy Youssef (Hulu)
Schitt's Creek (Episode: "Happy Ending"), Directed by Andrew Cividino and Dan Levy (Pop TV)
Will & Grace (Episode: "We Love Lucy"), Directed by James Burrows (NBC)

Thoughts: I enjoyed the Modern Family finale. Let's go with that.

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

The Crown (Episode: "Aberfan"), Directed by Benjamin Caron (Netflix)
The Crown (Episode: "Cri de Coeur"), Directed by Jessica Hobbs (Netflix)
Homeland (Episode: "Prisoners of War"), Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter (Showtime)
The Morning Show (Episode: "The Interview"), Directed by Mimi Leder (Apple TV+)
Ozark (Episode: "Fire Pink"), Directed by Alik Sakharov (Netflix)
Ozark (Episode: "Su Casa Es Mi Casa"), Directed by Ben Semanoff (Netflix)
Succession (Episode: "Hunting"), Directed by Andrij Parekh (HBO)
Succession (Episode: "This Is Not for Tears"), Directed by Mark Mylod (HBO)

Thoughts: Hey, if you want to give Ozark another win, I'm down for it.

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special

62nd Grammy Awards, directed by Louis J. Horvitz
72rd Annual Tony Awards, directed by Glenn Weiss
Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones, directed by Stan Lathan
Live In Front Of A Studio Audience: "All In The Family" And "Good Times", directed by Andy Fisher and Pamela Fryman
Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez And Shakira, directed by Hamish Hamilton

Thoughts: Let's go with Dave Chappelle.

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series

A Black Lady Sketch Show (Episode: "Born at Night, But Not Last Night"), Directed by Dime Davis (HBO)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Episode: Dr. Fauci Answers Trevor's Questions About Coronavirus), Directed by David Paul Meyer (Comedy Central)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Episode: "Episode 629"), Directed by Paul Pennolino and Christopher Werner (HBO)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Episode: "Live Show; Chris Christie; Nathaniel Rateliff), Directed by Jim Hoskinson (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Eddie Murphy"), Directed by Don Roy King (NBC)
Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready (Episode: "Flame Monroe"), Directed by Linda Mendoza (Netflix)

Thoughts: n/a

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special

Little Fires Everywhere (Episode: "Find a Way"), Directed by Lynn Shelton (Hulu)
Normal People (Episode: "Episode 5"), Directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Hulu)
Unorthodox, Directed by Maria Schrader (Netflix)
Watchmen (Episode: "It's Summer and We're Running out of Ice"), Directed by Nicole Kassell (HBO)
Watchmen (Episode: "Little Fear of Lightning"), Directed by Steph Green (HBO)
Watchmen (Episode: "This Extraordinary Being"), Directed by Stephen Williams (HBO)

Thoughts: n/a


Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

The Good Place (Episode: "Whenever You're Ready"), Written by Michael Schur (NBC)
The Great (Episode: "The Great"), Written by Tony McNamara (Hulu)
Schitt's Creek (Episode: "Happy Ending"), Written by Daniel Levy (Pop TV)
Schitt's Creek (Episode: "The Presidential Suite"), Written by David West Read (Pop TV)
What We Do in the Shadows (Episode: "Collaboration"), Written by Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil (FX)
What We Do in the Shadows (Episode: "Ghosts"), Written by Paul Simms (FX)
What We Do in the Shadows (Episode: "On the Run"), Written by Stefani Robinson (FX)

Thoughts: n/a

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Better Call Saul (Episode: "Bad Choice Road"), Written by Thomas Schnauz (AMC)
Better Call Saul (Episode: "Bagman"), Written by Gordon Smith (AMC)
The Crown (Episode: "Aberfan"), Written by Peter Morgan (Netflix)
Ozark (Episode: "All In"), Written by Chris Mundy (Netflix)
Ozark (Episode: "Boss Fight"), Written by John Shiban (Netflix)
Ozark (Episode: "Fire Pink"), Written by Miki Johnson (Netflix)
Succession (Episode: "This Is Not for Tears"), Written by Jesse Armstrong (HBO)

Thoughts: General rule of thumb is to give things to Ozark, cause I love that show and I haven't seen the others.

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special

Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (Netflix)
Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (Netflix)
John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch (Netflix)
Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything (Netflix)
Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby (Netflix)

Thoughts: I've only seen Chappelle.

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Thoughts: n/a

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special

Mrs. America (Episode: "Shirley"), Written by Tanya Barfield (FX)
Normal People (Episode: "Episode 3"), Written by Sally Rooney and Alice Birch (Hulu)
Unbelievable (Episode: "Episode 1"), Written by Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon, and Ayelet Waldman (Netflix)
Unorthodox (Episode: "Part 1"), Written by Anna Winger (Netflix)
Watchmen (Episode: "This Extraordinary Being"), Written by Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson (HBO)

Thoughts: n/a

Is that the most entertaining round of thoughts? Of course not. But hey, who has time to watch all these shows? At the very least, I'm surprised more wasn't given to Modern Family for its last season, but I'm happy Ozark is being recognized.

As far as what I've been watching this year? This season of The Twilight Zone sucked. Westworld was meh. The Purge was interesting, but there's no way it would be nominated for anything. I'm excited to see Lucifer's next season. Harley Quinn is a great cartoon. I'm finally binging The Office, if that's worth some points in your book!