Culturess’ Emmy Predictions for 2016: Will HBO and FX Clean Up?

Still from Fargo. Image via FX

Limited Series or Movie: Supporting Acting, Writing, and Directing

Outstanding Supporting Actress

Nominees: Kathy Bates (American Horror Story: Hotel), Olivia Colman (The Night Manager), Regina King (American Crime), Melissa Leo (All the Way), Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story), Jean Smart (Fargo)

Winner: Jean Smart

Smart looks to be the safest bet because of Fargo getting passed up all around because of American Crime Story. Besides, do you really want to say no to Floyd Gerhardt? Thought not. However, King could get some bonus support thanks to her win last year.

Outstanding Supporting Actor

Nominees: Sterling K. Brown (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story), Hugh Laurie (The Night Manager), Jesse Plemons (Fargo), David Schwimmer (American Crime Story), John Travolta (American Crime Story), Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo)

Winner: Sterling K. Brown

This is another tough category, since you could make a case for pretty much everyone here. However, Brown got the most screen time in this year’s Emmy darling limited series, and his work as Chris Darden pairs very nicely with Sarah Paulson’s Marcia Clark.

Outstanding Writing

Nominees: “Palindrome” (Fargo), “Loplop” (Fargo), The Night Manager, “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story), “From the Ashes of Tragedy” (American Crime Story), “The Race Card” (American Crime Story)

Winner: “From the Ashes of Tragedy”

Really, this Emmy will end up in the hands of American Crime Story tonight, but there can only be one. The series premiere had the toughest job of getting people interested in a 22-year-old murder case, and it succeeded without even showing the infamous Ford Bronco chase (that’s episode 2). For those reasons, it’s the most likely winner.

Outstanding Directing

Nominees: Jay Roach (All the Way), Noah Hawley (Fargo, “Before the Law”), Susanne Bier (The Night Manager), Ryan Murphy (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, “From the Ashes of Tragedy”), John Singleton (American Crime Story, “The Race Card”), Anthony Hemingway (American Crime Story, “Manna From Heaven”)

Winner: Ryan Murphy

The same goes for this category. “From the Ashes of Tragedy” should get the one-two punch, however, because Murphy proved that yeah, he can still direct a good pilot episode years after Glee‘s pilot won him the Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

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