JC Awards Show Notebook (July 15, 2020)

The JC Awards Show Notebook is a weekly feature on this blog. Get my takes on breaking developments, campaign season and all the big shows every Wednesday.

Voting for the 2020 Emmy nominations ended this week. I’ve been posting my analysis and predictions on Twitter (@jasondlangbehn) since the beginning of July. The noms will be announced on July 28, a little less than two months before the Primetime Emmy telecast on ABC. I set up my picks over at Gold Derby.

Here’s how I see the biggest categories right now:

COMEDY

The Favorite: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
Another Contender: Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
A Darkhorse: Ramy (Hulu)
One I Just Didn’t Like: Run (HBO)
My Dream Nominee: Superstore (NBC)
Don’t Forget About: Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

Current predictions: Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), Dead To Me (Netflix), Modern Family (ABC), Ramy (Hulu), Schitt’s Creek (Pop), The Good Place (NBC), The Great (Hulu), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)

Personal favorites: Better Things (FX), Dead To Me (Netflix), Insecure (HBO), Never Have I Ever (Netflix), Ramy (Hulu), Schitt’s Creek (Pop), Sex Education (Netflix), Superstore (NBC)

DRAMA

The Favorite: Succession (HBO)
Another Contender: The Crown (Netflix)
A Darkhorse: Better Call Saul (AMC)
One I Just Didn’t Like: Ozark (Netflix)
My Dream Nominee: Pose (FX)
Don’t Forget About: The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

Current predictions: Better Call Saul (AMC), Ozark (Netflix), Pose (FX), Succession (HBO), The Crown (Netflix), The Morning Show (Apple TV+), The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), This Is Us (NBC)

Personal favorites: Better Call Saul (AMC), David Makes Man (OWN), Orange Is The New Black (Netflix), Pose (FX), Succession (HBO), The Crown (Netflix), The Good Fight (CBS All Access), The Morning Show (Apple TV+)

NEWS AND NOTES

  • The TV Critics Association announced its 2019-2020 nominees last week. No major quibbles. The acting categories are female-heavy, and deservedly so. Glad to see all the love for Better Call Saul, Pose, Insecure, Better Things, Dead To Me and Unbelievable. Being a voter would be so difficult. I’ll have more on this in the coming weeks.
  • Here’s a complete list of the BAFTA TV nominees revealed last month. I’m not as clued in here. It’s tough to go against The Crown (drama series) and Chernobyl (miniseries). I love Derry Girls, but I’m sure it will get crushed by Fleabag in scripted comedy. The nominees in international series are Euphoria, Succession, Unbelievable and Whey They See Us. That is STACKED.
  • The TV Academy had something to say to an auction house trying to sell the late Valerie Harper’s Emmy statuettes. Oops.
  • Gold Derby’s Daniel Montgomery looks at the early 2021 Grammy contenders for Song of the Year. Sorry, I haven’t had time to think about that yet.
  • What are some of the top movies from the first half of 2020 eligible for Best Picture at nest year’s Oscars? IndieWire’s Zach Sharf breaks it down. I’m a huge fan of Crip Camp, Da 5 Bloods, The Assistant and The Way Back.

IMPORTANT DATES

July 17: BAFTA Television Craft Awards
July 28: Emmy Nominations (TV TBA)
July 31: BAFTA TV Awards (BBC America)

Sept. 20: 72nd Primetime Emmys (ABC)
Jan. 18: Critics Choice Awards TV Nominations

Jan. 31: 63rd Grammy Awards (CBS)
Feb. 4: SAG Award Nominations
Feb. 7: Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations

Feb. 28: 78th Golden Globe Awards (NBC)
March 7: 26th Critics Choice Awards (The CW)

March 14: 27th SAG Awards (TBS/TNT)
March 15: Oscar Nominations (ABC)
Apri 11: BAFTA Film Awards (BBC America)

April 24: 36th FI Spirit Awards (IFC)
April 25: 93rd Oscars (ABC)