As one of the best predictors of the Emmy nominations two years in a row, our reader Tom O’Brien (screen name helmetz) now numbers among Gold Derby’s All-Star Users who compete in a league against our Experts and Editors. We recently sat down with O’Brien to get his current predictions for the 2018 Emmy nominations, so scroll down to see his picks in the top three drama races. Of note, O’Brien says that two-time champ “Game of Thrones” will win a third Best Drama Series trophy after being ineligible at the 2017 Emmys. He also predicts that lead actors Sterling K. Brown (“The Is Us”) and Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) will repeat their victories from last year.
O’Brien predicts Best Drama Series: My hunch is that “Game of Thrones” makes it back to the winner’s circle and, as of this moment, will likely take the Emmy. “The Handmaid’s Tale” had such intense buzz when it took last season’s Emmy that the second season buzz was bound to fade. “This Is Us” will still be in the thick of it, and I think of it every time I use my slow cooker. If “Stranger Things,” “Westworld” and “The Crown” haven’t won by now, they probably won’t this year, as the buzz has decreased for each.
O’Brien predicts Best Drama Actor: I suspect that the Best Actor Emmy will be a showdown between the two “This is Us” guys — Brown and Milo Ventimiglia. Brown is an Emmy favorite and is probably the frontrunner here, but watch out for Ventimiglia, whose character’s death prompted a huge reaction from viewers on social media. Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) will probably be back, as will Liev Schreiber for “Ray Donovan.” The remaining two slots will be likely go to either newbies Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) or Freddie Highmore (“The Good Doctor”). And there’s Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones”), who is moving up from supporting. My hunch is that the newbies make it.
SEE ‘Game of Thrones’ will rule 2018 Emmys with the most nominations, say 59% of readers [POLL RESULTS]
O’Brien predicts Best Drama Actress: As of this moment, I would guess that Moss will repeat her victory from last year, with Claire Foy (“The Crown”) the runner-up. Last season’s nominees Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”) and Keri Russell (“The Americans”) are likely to be back as well. With Robin Wright (“House of Cards”) ineligible and Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”) and Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black”) fading, two slots may become available, and I’m thinking that they might go to Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”) and, for me, the wild card in the race — Mandy Moore for her emotional breakdown after Jack’s death in “This is Us.”
Be sure to make your Emmy predictions today so that Hollywood insiders can see how their TV shows and performers are faring in our odds. You can keep changing your predictions as often as you like until just before nominees are announced on July 12. And join in the fun debate over the 2018 Emmys taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our television forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
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