“Billy On The Street” (truTV)
“Documentary Now!” (IFC)
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central)
“Portlandia” (IFC)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“Tracey Ullman’s Show” (HBO)

Prediction: “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

As hit or miss as ever in its 40-odd years on television, SNL still defines the pulse of TV comedy. Alec Baldwin’s Trump and Melissa McCarthy’s Sean Spicer were so effective in their satire that they were commented on by the White House. Impressive writing, a finally gelling cast of players, and successful hosting jobs from McCarthy, Dave Chappelle, and Lin-Manuel Miranda (among others) contributed to one of SNL’s best seasons in a decade.

Television Movie
“Black Mirror: San Junipero” (Netflix)
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love” (NBC)
“The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks” (HBO)
“Sherlock: The Lying Detective (Masterpiece)” (PBS)
“The Wizard Of Lies” (HBO)

Prediction: “Black Mirror: San Junipero” (Netflix)

What can be said about “San Junipero” that hasn’t already been said? Bittersweet and gorgeously rendered, it was one of the best hours of TV last year.

Writing for a Comedy Series
Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)
Stephen Glover (“Atlanta”)
Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe (“Master of None”)
Alec Berg (“Silicon Valley”)
Billy Kimball (“Veep”)
David Mandel (“Veep”)

Prediction: Billy Kimball (“Veep”)

Veep is coming off of its strongest season yet, and Billy Kimball has had a hand in getting it there.

Writing for a Drama Series
Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields (“The Americans”)
Gordon Smith (“Better Call Saul”)
Peter Morgan (“The Crown”)
Bruce Miller (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
The Duffer Brothers (“Stranger Things”)
Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan (“Westworld”)

Prediction: The Duffer Brothers (“Stranger Things”)

It’s never easy to write for kids, especially when you’re writing for kids in a different era. The Duffer Brothers were able to make the main characters of the show, all pre-teens, as effective and relatable as the adult supporting characters. Each episode moved at a quick place and the whole season was a tightly wound spring that came apart at just the right moment.

The 69th Annual Emmy Awards, hosted by Stephen Colbert, will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. PT. on CBS.


Image courtesy of CBS