Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
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Weekly Commentary (Updated: June 20, 2024): The competition in the guest comedy actress category is fierce. Jamie Lee Curtis and Sarah Paulson are early favorites for "The Bear," while Kaitlin Olson and J. Smith Cameron from HBO/Max's "Hacks" could be dark horses. However, Christina Hendricks, an Emmy darling during her "Mad Men" days, seems poised to return to the fold.
Despite a robust list of contenders, this season's female "SNL" hosts are in a better spot than their male counterparts. Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig seem to be in the best position, with the possibility of Emma Stone, Ayo Edebiri, and Sydney Sweeney.
Rudolph, who won back-to-back trophies in 2020 and 2021, is currently the third most-nominated person in the category's history with six nominations, behind Cloris Leachman's eight and Tina Fey's nine. In addition to her work in the second season of Apple's comedy "Loot," she could receive multiple mentions, along with Kristen Wiig, starring in Apple's "Palm Royale." However, Wiig has yet to win despite her nine Emmy nods.
"The Bear" episode "Fishes," which features a heated Christmas dinner flashback of the Berzatto family, is poised to be a goldmine for nominations. Directed by Christopher Storer, who co-wrote the episode with Joanna Calo, "Fishes" showcases talents like John Mulaney, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Gillian Jacobs, Chris Witaske, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jon Bernthal.
Curtis, riding high two years after her Oscar win for "Everything Everywhere All at Once," is the undisputed frontrunner in the guest comedy actress race. She is eyeing her second career Emmy nod, bringing her halfway to EGOT status.
Also in the Emmy race are recurring characters like Robert Townsend, who shines as Sydney's supportive father, Emmanuel. After five decades in Hollywood, his sentimental turn across four episodes could earn him the first Emmy nod of his career. Meanwhile, Emmy nominee Will Poulter ("Dopesick") makes a strong impression in "Honeydew" as Luca, a dessert chef mentoring Marcus, who could also slip into the fray.
I'd also keep a close eye on Lori Loughlin, who plays a version of herself on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and could surprise in the lineup.
Nominations-round voting is open from June 13 and closes on June 24 at 10:00 p.m. PT. Voting for peer group-specific top ten round panels (if applicable) takes place between June 28 and July 8. The Emmy nominations will be announced on July 17. The Creative Arts and Governors Gala ceremonies will occur over two nights on Sept. 7-8. The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 15.
**Officially submitted and on the Emmy nominations ballot.
2023 category winners:
Guest Comedy Actor: Sam Richardson - "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)
Guest Comedy Actress: Judith Light -- "Poker Face" (Peacock)
Guest Drama Actor: Nick Offerman -- "The Last of Us" (HBO)
Guest Drama Actress: Storm Reid -- "The Last of Us" (HBO)
2024 Emmy Awards Calendar and Timeline (all dates are subject to change)
The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence; the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship; and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy hosts the Emmys and has over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives.
