If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That’s the message that Gold Derby’s Emmy Experts are now giving to “The Good Place.” Despite being snubbed in Best Comedy Series the past two years, these savvy prognosticators now believe that NBC’s cerebral show about life after death will finally hear its name called in Emmy’s top category. As of this writing, 19 of our 24 Experts have “The Good Place” in their predictions, though none of them actually think it will win — that honor goes to “Veep.”
Season 3 of “The Good Place” follows Eleanor (Kristen Bell) and our heroes from the afterlife to Earth, as they all get a second chance of bettering themselves under the guidance of demon Michael (Ted Danson). Danson received a nomination last year as Best Comedy Actor, his record 12th in the category after his 11-year streak on “Cheers” (1983-93). The only other Emmy bid the show has ever earned was for guest star Maya Rudolph, who plays Judge Gen.
As we know, sometimes awards groups are simply late to the party. Just look at the Golden Globes, which ignored “The Good Place” for its first two seasons but came around and nominated it for Best Comedy Series and Actress (Bell) earlier this year. Will the Emmys follow suit?
Here are the 19 Emmy Experts that believe “The Good Place” will be nominated: Jen Chaney (Vulture), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Eric Deggans (NPR), Lynn Elber (Associated Press), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Chris Harnick (E!), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Ed Martin (Media Village), Nikki Novak (Fandango), Tom O’Neil (Gold Derby), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Matt Roush (TV Guide Magazine), Kaitlin Thomas (TVGuide.com), Ben Travers (Indiewire), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Ken Tucker (Yahoo), Matt Webb Mitovich (TVLine), Glenn Whipp (LA Times) and Susan Wloszczyna (Gold Derby). That results in 17/2 odds, good enough for sixth place in our Experts’ rankings.
Seven of Gold Derby’s staff editors who cover awards year-round have “The Good Place” in their Emmy predictions: Chris Beachum, Eng, Rob Licuria, Daniel Montgomery, Matt Noble, O’Neil and Wloszczyna.
In addition, 18 of our Top 24 Users who did the best at predicting last year’s Emmy nominations now think “The Good Place” will make the cut, while 17 of our All-Star Users who’ve excelled at the past couple of years also predict a bid for the heavenly comedy. See more Emmy odds and rankings.
PREDICT the Emmys now; change them until July 16
Be sure to make your 2019 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 nominations are announced on July 16. And join in the fun debate over the 2019 Emmy taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our television forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
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