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The Nominees Are In…
On behalf of true pop culture degenerates out there, welcome back to Awards season. Much like the first preseason NFL games bring hope and excitement to award show fans everywhere that more fun is on the way, the Emmy nominations give us that first taste of award show greatness as we head into peak season.
Especially with the current state of the writers + actors strike in Hollywood, now more than ever do we need that betting board of TV favorites to get the juices flowing. The future of our favorite shows is very much in doubt with no end to the strike in sight, so we might as well grab our penny or two for award show winners while the best television shows are on sabbatical. With that let’s get to the biggest categories in lieu of the nomination news that dropped last week, and find our early leans for trophies come September 18th:
Best Drama Series
In what’s likely the most excitable category of the night, the oddsmakers will quickly quell any jubilation over a surprise winner taking down the Roy family empire. The smash hit “Succession” is the whopping -800 favorite as its farewell season is in the books and we all want to celebrate them one more time. If you’re a big time stan of “White lotus” at +500 you could throw down a mercy bet and hope for a shocker, but I find it hard not picturing the Succession cast in full on stage to end the night. Honorable mentions nominated are The Last of Us (+1000) and Better Call Saul’s final season coming in as a +1200 underdog.
Best Drama Actor
This category garners the most betting intrigue of the big boy categories as it pits three castmates and a whole Rory family empire up against each other. Kieran Culkin (+110) is the current favorite as Roman Roy in “Succession”, his TV brother Jeremy Strong (+250) plays Kendall and the patriarch Logan Roy played by Brian Cox is also nominated at longshot odds of +1400. So which Roy family member will win? Well, my heart has the early lean to Kieran Culkin, but my betting brain says NONE of them win this award. The night is going to be very Succession-[heavy with hardware, so I’m leaning towards Bob Odenkirk (+200) to spoil the Succession party in this category. Though I wasn’t in awe of the final season of “Better Call Saul” this seems like a fitting spot to get him a farewell trophy.
Best Drama Actress
On the actress side of the ballot, it’s another betting board that gives away the award winner as Sarah Snook (-800) who plays daughter Shiv Roy on “Succession.” she must have sealed the massive favorite status up with that utterly limp handshake at the waning moments of the series’ conclusion. One loveless touch can mean so much and she crushed her role as the child who ends up on top in the end…sort of. If you’re itching for a lottery ticket winner here your only options would be betting Melanie Lynskey of “Yellowjackets” at +450 or Bella Ramsey from ‘The Last of Us” at +800 odds.
Outstanding Comedy Series
This category is where I find some value based on the timeline of the hype around the top two shows on the betting board. Ted Lasso (-250) is the sturdy but not guaranteed favorite in this category, but for as great as the series is – its buzz has worn in recent months. As for the second favorite in “The Bear” at +350, there’s arguably not a buzzier show out right now. The brutally honest, phrenetic look into the restaurant and service industry is compelling and it’s sprinkled in with some food porn that is universally loved. The downhill momentum and popularity of “The Bear” and the show’s desire to get the cast on stage makes for a perfect upset recipe here.
More Early Emmy Leans
The best comedy actress category should be a coin flip between Quinta Brunson of “Abbott Elementary” and Rachel Brosnahan of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel…
On the Abbott Elementary note, I love Taraji P Henson to win for her appearance on that show as best comedy guest appearance…
Even if “The Bear” doesn;t take the best series win, you can bet your bottom dollar that star Jeremy Allen White aka “Carmie” gets his due notice with a best comedy actor win.
The Emmy Awards are scheduled to be televised September 18th on FOX – let’s hope the strike ends for the sake of TV watchers and streamers everywhere.
Entertainment FAQs
How do Academy Award pools work?
Much like a Super Bowl Prop Party Pool, with the Academy Awards pool you are simply picking the winner for each of the Oscars categories. Pool commissioners can customize the categories pool members pick.
What is an Academy Awards pool?
An Academy Awards pool is great way to play a contest with friends or family members who might not pay attention to sports. It's also a very popular game to play within Oscars Watch Parties, simply predicting who will win each of the categories.
When are the Academy Awards?
The Academy Awards are typically in the beginning of the year, sometime in March. The event is usually held in Los Angeles, California.
What movies are eligible for the Academy Awards?
Any movie that was released to a public theater for at least a week during the year is eligible for the Academy Awards.
How do I win my Academy Awards pool?
Look for betting odds, as those are great indications of who will win each category. Also take note of precursor award show results, such as the SAGS, Critics Choice or BAFTAs.
