ComScore

Our 2023 Emmy Predictions: The Best TV of the Year, From 'Succession' to 'The Last of Us'

The 2023 Emmys will air in 2024 on January 15th

Screen Shot 2024 01 01 at 12.16.22 AM 3 e1704086408241
Prime

We might officially be in 2024 now, but the Emmy Awards are still very much stuck in the year 2023. If you follow movies, television, or entertainment as a whole, then you're already more than aware of the fact that there was not just one but two major strikes that took place last spring, summer, and into the late stages of fall. The latter of which, the actors strike, lasted from July until November which meant that 2023 Emmys (which was originally scheduled for September) was postponed until January 2024. This means two things—we're going to have a fun few weeks of entertainment ahead as the Golden Globes are also scheduled for January 7 (you can check out our predictions here), and we're technically getting two Emmy Award ceremonies in the year 2024, which is awesome—which means we're going to get to do a roundup of Emmy predictions twice.

The nominations have been out since July, so luckily the academy hasn't had to scramble getting the noms together over the past few weeks. That means we're all set to go for the January 15 ceremony that's going to be hosted by Anthony Anderson. From categories like "Outstanding Comedy Series" to "Outstanding Drama Series," these are our predictions (cue the music).

RELATED: The 21 Best Comedies of the 2000s, Ranked

Outstanding Drama Series

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 10.52.54 PM
Max
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Succession
  • Last Year's Winner: Succession

We've got Succession for the repeat when it comes to the "Outstanding Drama Series" category because this fourth and final season of the show really brought the drama and intensity on all levels. The drama was dramatic, the twists and turns were unpredictable and sporadic, the manipulation and was insane and we got great performances from all the cast members in their respective roles. Not only that, but Succession was the subject of much chatter (both online and IRL) every single week it was on. We're not seeing how the show doesn't snag the trophy in this one.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 10.59.59 PM
ABC
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Abbott Elementary
  • Last Year's Winner: Ted Lasso

The 2022 honors for "Outstanding Comedy Series" went to Ted Lasso, but seeing as though season 2 of Abbott Elementary was even better than the first season, we're not seeing how the award doesn't go to the Abbott game this year. Side note: If Abbott Elementary has a solid night at both the Golden Globes and Emmy's this year, it will be the perfect handoff to season 3, which is slated to premiere on February 7, 2024.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 11.09.16 PM
Apple TV
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
  • Last Year's Winner: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

We've got another repeat here as we think Jason Sudeikis is going to win the trophy for the "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series" for the second year in a row. Sudeikis continues to be phenomenal in his role as Ted Lasso, giving the character just the right amount of depth and ditziness so to speak to make the show a comedic one that doesn't cross the line into being too difficult to watch because of its air-headed nature. We think two times a charm for Jason Sudeikis for this one.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 11.17.11 PM
ABC
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
  • Last Year's Winner: Jean Smart, Hacks

We think Brunson wins the "Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series" award this year not just because of her comedic charm and wit, but because of how she elevated the role of Janine in season 2. This past season didn't just show you the awkward funny Janine Teagues getting acquainted with life as a young teacher, it also showed you more of what she was dealing with on a personal element in the show's tense/dramatic moments. However, no matter how dramatic things got in season 2, Quinta was always able to center Janine and bring the character back to her comedic roots. We think Brunson takes it this year.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 11.25.16 PM
Max
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Kieran Culkin, Succession
  • Last Year's Winner: Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game

Kieran Culkin will be up against his co-star Brian Cox in a friendly little competition for the "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series," category but we think he'll be taking the win. Most agree that this year is going to be the one where Culkin cleans up in the nomination category, and we're agreement on that notion as well. It's just too hard to ignore the several notches Culkin upped it for this final season of Succession, and we think his performance will be recognized for it.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 11.33.48 PM
Max
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
  • Last Year's Winner: Zendaya, Euphoria

The "Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series" category this year is going to be tough. Ultimately we think it's going to end up coming down to Sarah Snook for Succession and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us, and we've got Ramsey winning the honors. It's been fun to see the transition of Ramsey being a character that some fans of the show weren't too sure of at first, to being a bonafide fan-favorite. And as deep The Last of Us can get at times, it's always clear that Ramsey is having fun with their character.

Outstanding Television Movie

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 11.41.48 PM
Roku Channel
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
  • Last Year's Winner: Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Last year's winner for "Outstanding Television Movie," was the Disney movie Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, but this year we've got the category going in a biopic direction with 2022's Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which saw Daniel Radcliffe portraying the iconic Weird Al Yankovic. In our opinion, Weird is the strongest out of all the nominees, and it received great reviews at the time of its release in September 2022. Biopics aren't always appreciated at the Emmy's, but this year we think Weird: The Al Yankovic Story changes the course.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 11.49.55 PM
Netflix
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Evan Peters, Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
  • Last Year's Winner: Michael Keaton, Dopesick

This is where the Emmy's being January is throwing us off because Evan Peter's portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer feels like it was so long ago, but indeed it's an eligible nominee for the "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie" category. While Peters has some great competition (Daniel Radcliffe and Taron Egerton to name a couple), we think he wins it for 2022's Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

Screen Shot 2023 12 31 at 11.59.29 PM
Prime
  • ONE37pm Prediction: Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six
  • Last Year's Winner: Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout

The category for "Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie" is yet another tough category, but Riley Keough's performance in the 2023 Prime limited-series Daisy Jones & the Six has been heavily lauded by many critics, along with the show itself commanding multiple Emmy nominations. We think Riley Keough is the front runner for this category.

The 2023 Emmy Awards will air on January 15, 2024 at 8:00pm EST.

RELATED: The 30 Best Shows on HBO Max to Stream Right Now

Did you like this article?
Thumbs Up
Liked
Thumbs Down
Disliked