There are many categories I go in predicting with the utmost confidence, but I can assure you the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV movie category isn’t one of them this year. There aren’t too many contenders to chose from, and with six open slots, I can throw a lot of different options at the wall here, and many of them will stick!
I have a strong feeling that Hollywood is going to be an over-performer across all limited series categories, and that’s going to irritate a lot of people due to thoughts of Hollywood not being “the best” limited series this year, but it’ll still wind up with a good amount of nominations. There are a lot of options to choose from for Hollywood in this category, ranging from Dylan McDermott, Jim Parsons, Joe Mantello and Darren Criss. My thoughts are Mantello and Parsons earn nominations here. Mantello was one of my favorite things about Hollywood, a true bright spot for me.
Parsons on the other hand, clear on the other side of the spectrum pertaining to his performance. I didn’t care for Parsons character at all. Understandably so, he wanted to portray a character as far from his Big Bang Theory counterpart as possible, but Parson just didn’t do it for me here. Why am I predicting him if I don’t like his performance? Parsons went above and beyond to make his character, famed Hollywood agent Henry Willson, as grotesque and despicable as possible – he undoubtedly succeed at that. Just because I didn’t like the character, doesn’t mean I don’t respect the actor for throwing himself into the role. At the end of the day, I’m a Jim Parsons fan since the debut of The Big Bang Theory in 2007, so I’d be thrilled to see him nominated for an Emmy again.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II took the role of Doctor John Manhattan role to new and exciting heights in Watchmen, it would be one of Emmy nomination morning’s greatest joy to see him nominated for his work. If Watchmen overperforms like it’s expected to, Tim Blake Nelson could be joining Abdul-Mateen II in earning a nomination.
I’m on the fence with these three actors, Ray Romano (Bad Education), Jesse Plemons (El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, and Tituss Burguess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend). Romano didn’t have that much screen time in Bad Education – in fact, I wanted more of him. Not quite sure if that’ll effect his chances on the ballot. Plemons has an acclaimed career on television under his belt ranging from Friday Night Lights, Fargo, Black Mirror: USS Callister and Breaking Bad, so it was welcomed to see Plemons return to the Breaking Bad universe in El Camino. I’m predicting Paul in the lead actor in limited series category, so I’m predicting Plemons right along with him.
I have many gripes with the Emmys of nominating performers year after year after year, and never awarding them with an Emmy. Steve Carell for The Office, Tracee Ellis Ross for black-ish come to mind, and Tituss Burgess is right on top of that list for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Burgess was nominated for all four seasons of Kimmy, more than any other cast member. Season after season he delivered incomparable comedic performances, but it never materialized into an Emmy. Matter of fact, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt hasn’t even won an Emmy, despite 18 nominations. The Academy loves nominating the show, but doesn’t love giving it a win. Can Burgess make one last appearance in hopes for his overdue Emmy? A comedic performance surrounded by dramatic performances? He’s never not been nominated for Kimmy, let’s hope the streak runs into the 2020 Emmy race.
My frontrunners for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
- Joe Mantello – Hollywood
- Jim Parsons – Hollywood
- John Turturro – The Plot Against America
- Yahya Abdul-Manteen II – Watchmen
- Tituss Burgess – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend
- Jesse Plemons – El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
My threats for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
- Ray Romano – Bad Education
- Tituss Burgess – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend
- Tim Blake Nelson – Watchmen
- Darren Criss – Hollywood
- Dylan McDermott – Hollywood
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TV Talk With JWalk 
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