Look for ‘Succession’ to reign at this year’s Emmys

I could prattle on for a few paragraphs in this introduction about what might happen in the drama categories when the 74th Emmys are presented on Sept. 12. But let’s be concise. Remember that series of McDonald’s commercials that “Succession” star Brian Cox did, the spots that were so delightful it almost made you forget the chain’s terrible food and unconscionable carbon footprint, the ones that ended with the tagline: “I’m lovin’ it”? “Succession,” its stars (though maybe not Cox) and its fans are going to be lovin’ it when the ceremony ends. Here’s hoping they find a better meal to celebrate with. Ba-daba-ba-ba!

Drama series

(Ranked in order of preference)

1 “Succession”

2 “Severance”

3 “Better Call Saul”

4 “Yellowjackets”

5 “Squid Game”

6 “Stranger Things”

7 “Euphoria”

8 “Ozark”

Likely winner “Succession.” With 25 nominations, the most of any series, the swaggering, Shakespearean family drama looks like a sure bet to reclaim the series Emmy it won in 2020.

Deserving alternate “Severance” inspired plenty of passionate debate during its spring run on Apple TV+, as well as offering a bevy of ideas for office life if/when office life ever returns as we once knew it.

Drama actress

1 Melanie Lynskey, “Yellowjackets”

2 Zendaya, “Euphoria”

3 Laura Linney, “Ozark”

4 Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve”

5 Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve”

6 Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”

Likely winner Zendaya. Zendaya’s 2020 surprise win — I won’t call it an “upset” at the risk of triggering her fans — feels like a distant memory (though, truthfully, everything from two years ago does).

Deserving alternate Can Lynskey win? Well, that’s a long shot. But it’s hard not to root for a woman who celebrates her Emmy nomination by going fridge shopping with her husband.

Drama actor

1 Lee Jung-Jae, “Squid Game” 2 Jeremy Strong, “Succession” 3 Adam Scott, “Severance”

4 Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”

5 Brian Cox, “Succession”

6 Jason Bateman, “Ozark”

Likely winner Vote-splitting really isn’t a thing, so this Emmy could return to one of the members of the Roy family, with Strong having won in 2020. But Lee won the Screen Actors Guild Award earlier this year, and I’d guess that his hit series won’t go home empty-handed.

Deserving alternate Really, anyone from this list, save for Bateman, would be worthy of winning.

Drama supporting actress

1 Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul”

2 Jung Ho-Yeon, “Squid Game”

3 Patricia Arquette, “Severance”

4 Julia Garner, “Ozark”

5 Sydney Sweeney, “Euphoria”

6 Christina Ricci, “Yellowjackets”

7 Sarah Snook, “Succession” 8 J. Smith-Cameron, “Succession” Likely winner Garner was also nominated for her lead turn on the limited series “Inventing Anna,” a shallow, formulaic true(ish) crime story. Voters like her! They really like her!

Deserving alternate “Better Call Saul” now has 46 Emmy nominations. It has never won an Emmy. That’s beyond ridiculous, almost as absurd as the length of time it took Seehorn to earn her first nomination. The way Seehorn has conveyed Kim Wexler’s despair and guilt and self-loathing has been riveting and will undoubtedly linger in voters’ minds.

Drama supporting actor 1 Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”

2 Kieran Culkin, “Succession”

3 Oh Young-Soo, “Squid Game”

4 John Turturro, “Severance”

5 Park Hae-Soo, “Squid Game”

6 Nicholas Braun, “Succession”

7 Christopher Walken, “Severance”

8 Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”

Likely winner I know many think Culkin will win, which is perfect because once again, everyone’s underestimating Tom and the brilliant actor who plays him, Macfadyen.

Deserving alternate But maybe everyone is right and Culkin wins. Who could complain? He was equally good in the season finale, opening up Roman’s pain and vulnerability in ways that probably snuck up on even the show’s most cynical fans.