'Succession' leads drama Series nominees at the 2022 Emmy Awards

For today's Sunday entertainment feature, I am wrapping up my Emmy predictions with the drama series nominees, as I promised yesterday. Watch 74th Emmy Nominations: Drama Series.

The nominees for Outstanding Drama Series are Better Call Saul, Euphoria, Ozark, Severance, Squid Game, Stranger Things, Succession, and Yellowjackets.

I'll be a good environmentalist and begin my reaction by recycling. First, "My interest in covering entertainment awards consists mostly of covering shows that portray history, government, politics, and other social issues, like diversity and representation, or are speculative fiction." Second, "the drama series [nominees] best demonstrate my emphasis on looking at portrayals of politics and government in entertainment." All of the nominees qualify under least one of my criteria, including "Yellowjackets," which begins in a public high school — public education is part of government — and is enough of a horror series that it has two Saturn Award nominations. I'll write more about it, "Better Call Saul," "Severance," "Squid Game," and "Stranger Things" when I resume my series about the Saturn Awards.

The favorite is "Succession," which won this category two years ago. The show has the most nominations at this year's awards with twenty-five and is the top pick among Gold Derby readers and editors, who picked it unanimously. It's my choice, too. Next!

Now watch 74th Emmy Nominations: Lead Actor In A Drama Series.

The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series are Jason Bateman, Brian Cox, Lee Jung-jae, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Scott, and Jeremy Strong.

There is more disagreement among Gold Derby editors about the winner for this category, with a bare majority of seven predicting Lee Jung-jae from "Squid Game" and three each forecasting Brian Cox from "Succession" and Bob Odenkirk from "Better Call Saul," while the readers are picking Lee Jung-jae. I'm rooting for Cox, but I wouldn't be surprised if Lee Jung-jae won.  Odenkirk will have to wait for the Saturn Awards to get a better chance at winning an award.

Next, 74th Emmy Nominations: Lead Actress In A Drama Series.

The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series are Jodie Comer, Laura Linney, Melanie Lynskey, Sandra Oh, Reese Witherspoon, and Zendaya.

Both the editors at Gold Derby and their readers think that Zendaya from "Euphoria," who won two years ago, will return to the stage to accept her Emmy tomorrow night, with nine editors picking her to win. The dissenters split between Melanie Lynskey from "Yellowjackets" with three, including Joyce Eng, forecasting her win and my personal favorite Laura Linney from "Ozark" with one lone editor choosing her. Mostly likely Zendaya.



Kieran Culkin from "Succession" is the favorite both among readers and editors at Gold Derby with eight top picks, followed by three for Oh Young-soo from "Squid Game" and one each for Matthew Macfadyen from "Succession" and John Turtoro from "Severance." Since Culkin is my personal favorite, I'm happy to pick him.



Unlike Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, the Gold Derby editors have no clear favorite among nominees in Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Two-time winner Julia Garner from "Ozark" has six top picks, Jung Ho-yeon from "Squid Game" has four, and Patricia Arquette from "Severance," Rhea Seehorn from "Better Call Saul," and Sarah Snook from "Succession" each have one. Since I'm rooting for Garner to three-peat, I'm glad to report that the Gold Derby readers are picking her. Arquette and Seehorn will have to wait for the Saturn Awards, where they are in different categories, to get a better chance at an award.



Both the readers and the editors at Gold Derby are predicting "Squid Game" to win with ten editors forecasting it winning. "Severance" is the second choice with two editors picking it, including Eng, and "Succession" winning with one. I'll go with "Squid Game."



"Succession" is the clear leader with twelve of the thirteen Gold Derby editors and the site's readers picking it to win. "Severance" only has one editor thinking it will take home the Emmy.

I have three videos from Gold Derby to share, beginning with Editors' Emmy slugfest: Can 'Succession' 'hold on to its front-runner status'?

Is "Succession" in danger at Monday's Primetime Emmys? HBO's family drama has long been the favorite to win Best Drama Series for a second time, but at this past weekend's Creative Arts Emmys, it only won a single trophy for Best Drama Casting. Gold Derby's Marcus James Dixon, Daniel Montgomery and Denton Davidson discuss this hot topic as well as make their final drama predictions for the acting, writing and directing races in their latest Editors' Emmy slugfest.

Next, a quick rundown of all the categories being awarded Monday in Emmys predictions slugfest 2022: Chris Beachum, Rob Licuria debate all 25 categories in 25 minutes.

Emmys predictions slugfest 2022: Chris Beachum and Rob Licuria debate all 25 categories in 25 minutes. It's an annual tradition going back at least 15 years. Some of the toughest to pick are Comedy Series (Abbott Elementary, Barry, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, Ted Lasso?), Drama Actor (Lee Jung-jae, Jeremy Strong, Brian Cox?) and Limited/Movie Actress (Amanda Seyfried or Lily James?).

That was the short version. Emmy Experts slugfest: Our final 2022 winner predictions is the long version.

Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng share their final picks for the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. Will "Ted Lasso" rebound after getting zero wins at Creative Arts or will "Abbott Elementary" parlay its casting victory into a series win? And can anything usurp "Succession" and "The White Lotus"?

I've mentioned Joyce Eng several times, so it's only appropriate I finally feature her for the first time since 'Abbott Elementary' wins four Television Critics Association Awards, including Program of the Year.

Follow over the jump for the awards that drama series have already won at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

I begin with two categories that I covered in Guest acting nominations at the 2022 Emmy Awards — Gold Derby weighs in.


"Euphoria" won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Colman Domingo as Ali, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic), Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour), and Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming. That tied "Euphoria" with "Stranger Things" for Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

I'll let Domingo speak for himself in Emmys 2022 backstage: Colman Domingo ('Euphoria') wins for Best Drama Guest Actor from Gold Derby.

Colman Domingo ('Euphoria') is the winner of Best Drama Guest Actor on his 1st ever nomination. He is one of the champs speaking to the media in the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys press room.

Domingo has a nomination for "Fear the Walking Dead" at the Saturn Awards, which I'll write about later.


"Squid Game" won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Lee You-mi as Ji-yeong, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More), Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode, and Outstanding Stunt Performance, coming in second among drama series last Sunday.

Like Domingo, I'll let Lee You-mi speak for herself in Emmys 2022 backstage: Lee You-mi ('Squid Game') is winner of Drama Guest Actress | GOLD DERBY.

Lee You-mi ('Squid Game') is the winner of Best Drama Guest Actress on her 1st ever nomination. She is one of the champs speaking to the media in the 2022 Creative Arts Emmys press room.

I almost picked Harriet Walter, but I'm glad Lee You-mi won.



"Stranger Things" won Outstanding Music Supervision, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour), Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour), and Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.



"Severance" won Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) and Outstanding Main Title Design. Here's Severance - Official Intro Title Sequence 2022 / Credits / Opening 4K ( Apple TV+ ) | extraweg.

Severance: Official Opening Credits / Intro (Apple TV+' Original series) (2022).

I had the amazing opportunity to work with Ben Stiller! on the official Intro Titles Sequence for Severance. A show about Work-Life Balance directed by Ben Stiller for Apple TV+

Title Art Direction and Concept: Oliver Latta ( extraweg.com )
Music and Score: Theodore Shapiro ( theodore-shapiro.com )
Typography + Typography Animation : Teddy Blanks ( teddyblanks.com )

When my wife and I watched "Severance," I thought this was the kind of opening the voters would like, although I was rooting for "Only Murders in the Building." Once again, electorates matter.


"The Gilded Age" won Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More).


As the Gold Derby editors mentioned in their videos, "Succession" won Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series.


"The Book Of Boba Fett" won Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie. I'll cover it in the Saturn Awards as well. Speaking of the Saturn Awards, I'll see if I can fit in another installment tomorrow. Stay tuned. In the meantime, congratulations to all the winners and good luck to all the remaining nominees tomorrow night.

Previous posts about the 2022 Emmy Awards

• 'Teenage Dream' and 'The Lost Class' — two PSAs about gun violence nominated for Outstanding Commercial at the 2022 Emmy Awards
• Barack Obama nominated for Outstanding Narrator of 'Our Great National Parks' at the 2022 Emmy Awards
• 'Lucy and Desi' leads Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special nominees with six nominations
• 'The Beatles: Get Back,' 'We Need to Talk About Cosby,' and 'Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy' all nominated for five Emmy Awards in nonfiction series
• John Oliver examines inflation plus 'Last Week Tonight's Emmy nominations
• Colbert examines Manchin agreeing to the reconciliation bill that would fight climate change
• Trevor Noah examines Manchin deal, monkeypox, and Russia announcing it will leave the ISS plus six Emmy nominations for 'The Daily Show' and its spinoffs
• Kansas votes to uphold abortion rights as seen by Colbert, Meyers, and Noah
• 'Saturday Night Live' earned ten Emmy nominations plus looks back at the 2021-2022 season
• Desi Lydic, an Emmy-nominated performer, Foxsplains the January 6th Committee Hearings
• 'Cheer' returns, earning three Emmy nominations
• 'Queer Eye' leads structured reality programs with six nominations at the 2022 Emmy Awards
• 'RuPaul's Drag Race' leads competition shows with eight nominations plus three more for its spinoffs
• Comedy and tragedy in television movie nominees at the 2022 Emmy Awards
• 'Arcane,' 'Love, Death & Robots,' and 'Big Mouth' — animation favorites at the Emmy Awards
• Guest acting nominations at the 2022 Emmy Awards — Gold Derby weighs in
• Barack Obama wins the Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator of 'Our Great National Parks'
• Samantha Bee wins an Emmy after TBS cancels 'Full Frontal'
• 'The White Lotus' leads limited series nominees at the 2022 Emmy Awards
• 'Ted Lasso,' 'Barry,' 'Hacks,' and 'Only Murders in the Building' lead comedy series nominees at the 2022 Emmy Awards