A blog about societal, cultural, and civilizational collapse, and how to stave it off or survive it. Named after the legendary character "Crazy Eddie" in Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's "The Mote in God's Eye." Expect news and views about culture, politics, economics, technology, and science fiction.
I'm using the relevant sentence from the press release to determine which genre to examine next: "'Masters of the Universe,' 'Obsession,' 'Project Hail Mary,' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' and 'Weapons' followed closely behind 'Superman' with four film category nominations each." I covered Superman, Masters of the Universe, and The Fantastic Four: First Stepsyesterday, leaving Obsession and Weapons in horror and Project Hail Mary in science fiction and fantasy, so I'm writing about horror today.
Best Horror Movie
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Backrooms
The Long Walk
Obsession
Send Help
Weapons
Five of the six nominees also earned nominations for Best Wide-Release Movie at the 2026 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, Obsession and Weapons tied at four nominations, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Backrooms tied at three nominations, and Send Help with two nominations. The Long Walk has only one nomination at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards for Best Supporting Performance, but two nominations here. Although I voted for Weapons, I think Obsession is more likely to win Best Wide-Release Movie at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. On the other hand, I think Weapons is more likely to win this category here. Once again, welcome to the critics vs. the fans.
Follow over the jump for the acting categories, where three more horror movies earned nominations.
It's that time again, Fangoria Chainsaw Award nominees have been announced and the ballots are out! Join us as we go through the categories and pick our winners from a very strong 12 month span that featured films such as Obsession, Backrooms, Weapons, Frankenstein, and many more!
Vote for your favorites, Voting closes July 15 at 11:59 PM PT.
The scream of the crop has arrived!
The nominations for the 2026 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards are officially LIVE! @fangoria gathered 35 of the best new horror films across 14 categories to celebrate the very best in the genre.
Now it’s YOUR turn to decide the winners.
IMPORTANT: The voting window is open for a limited time!
Deadline: July 15th, 2026
Vote Now: Head to Fangoria.com and let your horror-loving voice be heard!
FILM AWARDS
Best Action / Adventure Film: My vote, One Battle After Another. My prediction, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Winner, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. That's O.K., I voted for the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
Best Actor in a Film: My vote, Michael B. Jordan (Sinners). My prediction, none. Winner, Tom Cruise. I'm not surprised, but still I voted for the Oscar winner.
Best Actress in a Film: My vote, Emma Stone (Bugonia). My prediction, none. Winner, Elle Fanning (Predator: Badlands). That came as a surprise.
Best Animated Film: My vote, KPop Demon Hunters. My prediction, Zootopia 2. Winner, Zootopia 2.
Best Cinematic Film Adaptation: My vote, Superman. My prediction, Fantastic Four: First Steps. Winner, Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Best Fantasy Film: My vote, Wicked: For Good. My prediction, Wicked: For Good. Winner, Wicked: For Good.
Best Film Costume Design: My vote, Wicked: For Good. My prediction, Frankenstein. Winner, Frankenstein. Not surprised, as it won the Oscar.
Best Film Direction: My vote, Ryan Coogler (Sinners). My prediction, James Cameron (Avatar: Fire and Ash). Winner, James Cameron (Avatar: Fire and Ash).
Best Film Editing: My vote, Sinners. My prediction, Sinners. Winner, Sinners.
Best Film Make Up: My vote, Frankenstein. My prediction, Frankenstein. Winner, Frankenstein.
Best Film Music: My vote, Sinners. My prediction, Sinners. Winner, Tron: Ares. Surprise! In fact, it was such a surprise I didn't even bother to embed any music from it in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' leads Best Science Fiction Film nominees at the Saturn Awards. I'll make up for it today.
Best Film Production Design: My vote, Wicked: For Good. My prediction, Frankenstein. Winner, Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Best Film Screenwriting: My vote, Ryan Coogler (Sinners). My prediction, none. Winner, James Cameron (Avatar: Fire and Ash). Not surprised, but I still voted for the Oscar winner.
Best Film Visual / Special Effects: My vote, Avatar: Fire and Ash. My prediction, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Winner, Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Best Horror Film: My vote, Frankenstein. My prediction, Frankenstein. Winner, Frankenstein.
Best Independent Film: My vote, Dust Bunny. My prediction, Dust Bunny. Winner, Dust Bunny.
Best International Animated Film: My vote, Ne Zha 2. My prediction, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle. Winner, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle.
Best International Film: My vote, Bring Her Back. My prediction, Sisu 2: Road to Revenge. Winner, Sisu 2: Road to Revenge.
Best Science Fiction Film: My vote, Avatar: Fire and Ash. My prediction, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Winner, Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Best Supporting Actor in a Film: My vote, Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein). My prediction, Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein). Winner, Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein).
Best Supporting Actress in a Film: My vote, My vote, Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good). My prediction, Amy Madigan. Winner, Sigourney Weaver.
Best Thriller Film: My vote, Sinners. My prediction, Sinners. Winner, Sinners.
Best Younger Performer in a Film: My vote, Miles Caton (Sinners). My prediction, none, but I mentioned Jack Champion. Winner, Jack Champion.
TELEVISION AWARDS
Best Action / Adventure Television Series: My vote, Paradise. My prediction, Cobra Kai or Twisted Metal. Winner, Duster.
Best Actor in a Television Series: My vote, Adam Scott (Severance). My prediction, Diego Luna, Sam Heughan or Norman Reedus. Winner, Diego Luna.
Best Actress in a Television Series: My vote, Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus). My prediction, none. Winner, Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus).
Best Animated Television Series or Special: My vote, Harley Quinn. My prediction, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. Winner, Predator: Killer of Killers.
Best Fantasy Television Series: My vote, Stranger Things. My prediction, Outlander. Winner, Outlander.
Best Guest Star in a Television Series: My vote, Linda Hamilton (Stranger Things). My prediction, Paul Wesley. Winner, Dave Dastmalchian.
Best Horror Television Series: My vote, The Last of Us. My prediction, It: Welcome to Derry. Winner, It: Welcome to Derry.
Best New Genre Television Series: My vote, Pluribus. My prediction, Pluribus, Alien: Earth, or Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Winner, Pluribus.
Best Science Fiction Television Series: My vote, Severance. My prediction, Andor or Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Winner, Andor.
Best Superhero Television Series: My vote, Peacemaker. My prediction, Peacemaker. Winner, Peacemaker.
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series: My vote, Stellan Skarsgard (Andor). My prediction, Stellan Skarsgard. Winner, Stellan Skarsgard.
Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series: My vote, Julianne Nicholson (Paradise). My prediction, Uma Thurman. Winner, Karolina Wydra.
Best Television Presentation or Limited Series: My vote, The Pitt. My prediction, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Winner, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
Best Thriller Television Series: My vote, Dark Winds. My prediction, Dexter: Resurrection. Winner, Dexter: Resurrection.
Best Young Performer in a Television Series: My vote, Sadie Sink (Stranger Things). My prediction, none. Winner, Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew).
HOME ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS
Best 4K Home Media Release: My vote, Wicked. My prediction, none. Winner, Wicked.
Best Classic Film Home Media Release: My vote, Night of the Living Dead 1990 (Sony). My prediction, none. Winner, Frailty (Lionsgate Home Video).
Best Film Home Media Collection: My vote, 007: James Bond – Sean Connery 6 Film Collection (Warner Bros.). My prediction, none. Winner, The Pink Panther Peter Sellers Comedy Collection (Kino Lorber).
Best Television Home Media Release: My vote, The Penguin Season 1 (Warner Bros.). My prediction, none. Winner, Chucky: The Complete Series (Universal).
Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order
The Institute
It: Welcome to Derry
The Last of Us
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Yellowjackets
As Deadline Hollywood reported, It: Welcome to Derry leads this category with five nominations, followed by Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order and The Institute with two then The Last of Us, The Walking Dead: Dead City, and Yellowjackets with just the series nomination. On that basis, I think It: Welcome to Derry is the favorite and I expect it will win. I didn't vote for it; I voted for The Last of Us because Stranger Things is competing in fantasy. Honestly, I think The Walking Dead: Dead City is the zombie show with a better chance of winning at these awards. Remember, electorates matter.
Best Television Presentation:
The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Murderbot
Nautilus
The Pitt
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
One other show about the zombie apocalypse leads its category, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon with three nominations. The rest have just this one nomination, so I think The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is the favorite. If it wins, it will be without my help; I voted for Emmy, Critics Choice Award, and Golden Globe winner The Pitt. I think it's a ringer in this category, but I don't care.
I have one or two more posts planned for the Saturn Awards nominees before the awards on Sunday night, so stay tuned.
I promised coverage of the television nominees at the Saturn Awards as this week's Sunday entertainment feature, but technology didn't cooperatetwice, then the router arrived today and my wife set it up while I was at work — thanks! — so I'm uploading it today.
I begin by returning to Deadline Hollywood, which reported "Among the TV nominees, Showtime/Paramount+’s Dexter: Resurrection led the way with six nominations, followed by Andor, It: Welcome to Derry and Stranger Things with five apiece." This list, which passed my accuracy check, sets my agenda for the first four posts examining the television nominees, so I begin with Dexter: Resurrection and the shows nominated against it.
Best Thriller Television Series:
Dark Winds
Dexter: Resurrection
The Lowdown
MobLand
The Rainmaker
Your Friends and Neighbors
As Deadline Hollywood reported, Dexter: Resurrection leads both all television nominees and the nominees in this category with six nominations, while the rest of the nominees in this field have only this one nomination, so it's the favorite. It helps that at least two accounts on Twitter are mounting an awards campaign for Dexter: Resurrection. I didn't vote for it. Instead, I voted for Dark Winds, which my wife and I are fans of. I won't be disappointed if it loses to Dexter: Resurrection. In fact, I expect it.
I won't complain about the quality of the field, but I'm making a note to myself to submit my own list of thriller and mystery TV series next December. If I had done so last year, it wouldn't have changed my vote or the likely winner, but I might at least know who the other nominees are.
Follow over the jump for the actors from Dexter: Resurrection nominated at the Saturn Awards.
I return to awards show coverage with the nominees for drama series at the Critics Choice Awards.
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Alien: Earth (FX)
Andor (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Paradise (Hulu)
The Pitt (HBO Max)
Pluribus (Apple TV)
Severance (Apple TV)
Task (HBO Max)
As I wrote in the subject line, Severance, The Diplomat, and The Pitt tie with four nominations. Task has three, followed by Andor, Paradise, and Pluribus with two each, and Alien: Earth with only the program nomination. Based on The Pitt beating Severance for Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards, The Pitt should be favored, and that's exactly what the Gold Derby odds show. Every editor and expert along with 84.7% of users expect The Pitt to win this category. That's followed by Pluribus with the support of 7.7% of users, Severance with 4.2% of users, Andor with 1.9% of users, and the rest with less than 0.4% support each.
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise (Hulu)
Diego Luna – Andor (Disney+)
Mark Ruffalo – Task (HBO Max)
Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV)
Billy Bob Thornton – Landman (Paramount+)
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Noah Wyle won Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series at the Emmy Awards and Gold Derby thinks he'll repeat here, again with every editor and expert along with 92.4% of users predicting he'll walk off the stage with the trophy. Adam Scott sits in second with the support of 3.7% of users, followed by Diego Luna with 1.8% of users, and the rest of the field with less than one percent each.
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)
Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
Britt Lower – Severance (Apple TV)
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO Max)
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)
While Britt Lower won the Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, she's an underdog here, as Rhea Seehorn leads with every editor, 75% of experts, and 74.4% of users picking the lead actress of Pluribus to win. Lower is the choice of 17.4% of users, followed by Kathy Bates with 5.4%, Keri Russell with 1.2%, and Bella Ramsey with 1.0%. None have any professional support. That's reserved for Carrie Coon with 25% of the experts but only only 0.6% of users. I think that percentage will drop once the rest of the experts weigh in. Also, Seehorn is that good in Pluribus. I expect she'll be nominated at the Saturn Awards and I'll vote for her if she is.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patrick Ball – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Wood Harris – Forever (Netflix)
Tom Pelphrey – Task (HBO Max)
Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV)
Gold Derby's odds predict that the supporting categories will return to Emmy form with Emmy winner Tramell Tillman leading as the choice of 75.0% of experts, 80.0% of editors, and 90.4% of users. He's followed by Billy Crudup as the pick of the rest of the experts and 3.5% of users, Tom Pelphrey with the rest of the editors and 3.3% of users, Patrick Ball with 2.1% of users, and the rest with less than one percent user support.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Denée Benton – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
Allison Janney – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max)
Greta Lee – The Morning Show (Apple TV)
Skye P. Marshall – Matlock (CBS)
Emmy winner Katherine LaNasa leads this category as the pick of 75.0% of experts, 80.0% of editors, and 91.4% of users. She's followed by Skye P. Marshall with the rest of the editors and 2.1% of users, Nicole Beharie also at 2.1% of users, Allison Janney at 1.8%, Denée Benton with the remaining expert (the same one who currently has Carrie Coon in first — she must be a Gilded Age fan) and 1.4% of users, and Greta Lee at 1.2% of users. LaNasa should enjoy her win here because she's not even nominated at the Golden Globes. Instead, three actresses from The White Lotus made the field, while The White Lotus was shut out here. As I keep writing about awards shows, electorates matter.
For what it's worth, The Morning Show didn't earn a program nomination, but it's tied with Task at three nominations, all for supporting roles. Matlock earned two nominations for its actresses, while Forever, Landman and The Last of Us earned one acting nomination each.
That's a wrap for today's installment. Stay tuned for comedy TV nominees tomorrow.
The Last of Us: Season 2 wins Best Adaptation at The Game Awards 2025. Live from Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11th 2025. Celebrate the best and see what's next in video games at The Game Awards 2025.
Neil Druckmann couldn't resist referring to Netflix agreeing to buy Warner Brothers, followed by a hostile takeover bid by Paramount. I know I'll be blogging about that in the future.
When I first looked at the list of nominees, I would have picked A Minecraft Movie, which I called "dumb fun." That was before I found out that The Last of Uswon this award in 2023 for season 1. Once I learned that, I was not surprised it repeated. Electorates matter.
By the way, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films hasn't yet announced their nominees for the 53rd Saturn Awards, which means my vote for Best Horror TV Series is likely to change. This July, I wrote, "I also expect to be voting for The Last of Us, even though I'm down on Season 2." No longer. Stranger Things 5 debuted last month, so it should now be eligible, and I plan on voting for it now.
The nominees for Outstanding Drama Series are Andor, The Diplomat, The Last Of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, Severance, Slow Horses, The White Lotus.
Severance led not only this category, but all nominees with 27 nominations, six of which it won on Saturday. The White Lotus earned the second most nominations with 23, winning one on Saturday. The Last of Us had 16 nominations, winning one already, followed by Andor with 14, winning four over the weekend. The Pitt earned 13 nominations, winning two. Bringing up the rear were Slow Horses with five, Paradise with four, and The Diplomat with two. None of the last three earned a Creative Arts Emmy Award.
The prognosticators at Gold Derby have split on the likely winner, but agree that it's a two-show race between Severance and The Pitt with 60.0% of the editors, 41.7% of the experts, and 64.0% of the users selecting Severance, while half the experts, 40.0% of the editors, and 32.4% of the users think The Pitt will win. The remaining expert (8.3%) and 1.6% of users picked The Last of Us to place third in the odds. The White Lotus has the support of 1.1% of users, followed by Andor with 0.5%, Slow Horses with 0.4%, and both Paradise and The Diplomat with none.
Emmys Face-Off: Do voters follow their heart to 'The Pitt' or their head to 'Severance'? With final-round voting taking place from Aug. 18 to Aug. 27, four top awards experts are grilled about their latest predictions.
The experts as a whole may prefer The Pitt, but the experts in the video think Severance winning is more likely; it's better crafted. Also, its part of the electorate is less divided and electorates matter.
The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series are Kathy Bates, Sharon Horgan, Britt Lower, Bella Ramsey, Keri Russell.
Kathy Bates, the only nomination for Matlock, leads with 83.3% of experts, 80.0% of editors, and 71.6% of users expecting her to win. Britt Lower sits in second with 20.0% of editors, 8.3% of experts, and 23.9% of users picking here. Bella Ramsey also has 8.3% of experts voting for her, but only 3.3% of users. Keri Russell has the support of 1.1% of users, while Sharon Horgan, Bads Sisters' sole nominee, only has 0.1%. Lower will only win in a Severance sweep, which the Gold Derby experts doubt will happen.
The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series are Sterling K. Brown, Gary Oldman, Pedro Pascal, Adam Scott, Noah Wyle.
Every editor, 92.3% of experts, and 82.0% of users want Noah Wylie, while 7.7% of experts and 15.2% of users selected Adam Scott. Pedro Pascal is a distant third with 2.3% of users, followed by Sterling K. Brown and Gary Oldman tied at 0.3%. I'm picking Wylie.
Carrie Coon currently leads as the choice of 60.0% of editors, 58.3% of experts, and 70.4% of users, but Gold Derby thinks she has competition, as 33.3% of experts, 30.0% of editors, and 13.4% of users chose Katherine LaNasa and 10.0% of editors, 8.3% of experts, and 12.8% picked Parker Posey — a three-way race! A sweep by Severance seems unlikely, as only 1.9% of users made an argument for Patricia Arquette. The users give the rest of the nominees less than a 1.0% chance with Aimee Lou Wood at 0.8%, Natasha Rothwell at 0.4%, and Julianne Nicholson, who has already won an Emmy for Hacks, at 0.3%. I enjoyed Parker Posey the most, but Carrie Coon displayed more range.
Gold Derby's odds-makers see a two-way contest for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, with Tramell Tillman taking 70.0% of editors, 50.0% of experts, and 53.1% of users while Walton Goggins is walking away with 50.0% of experts, 30.0% of editors, and 43.6% of users. That's quite a split! The rest of the field consists of Sam Rockwell with 1.2%, John Turturro and James Marsden tied at 0.7%, Jason Isaacs with 0.6%, and Zach Cherry at 0.1%. My wife and I watched all of The White Lotus, and we found Goggins compelling.
The experts at Gold Derby worried that two nominated episodes for both Severance and The Pitt would split the vote. It's certainly splitting theirs, as 75.0% of experts, 70.0% of editors, and 81.3% of users voted for the "Cold Harbor" episode of Severance while 10.0% of editors and 2.5% of users chose "Chikhai Bardo." Between the two entries, 80.0% of editors, 75.0% of experts, and 83.8% of users are supporing Severance. The Pitt suffers less from vote splitting, with 25.0% of experts, 20.0% of editors, and 12.3% of users picking "6:00 P.M." but only 0.8% of users selecting "7:00 A.M." The White Lotus is fourth among nominees but third among series with 1.4% of users, followed by Andor with 1.1% and Slow Horses with 0.4%.
Severance leads Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, which Gold Derby thinks is a three-way contest, supported by 90.0% of editors, 66.7% of experts, and 81.9% of users. The Pitt sits in second as the pick of 25.0% of experts and 10.9% of users, while this category may be Andor's best chance at an Emmy, as 10.0% of editors, 8.3% of experts, which might be the same person given the overlap between the two groups, and 2.9% of users anticipate its upsetting the two leaders. The rest of the field all have at least 1% support, with The White Lotus with 1.7%, a second episode of The Pitt at 1.6%, and Slow Horses at 1.0%. Vote splitting doesn't seem to be hurting The Pitt much.
The White Lotus – Meredith Tucker and Non Jungmeier (HBO)
Every editor and expert along with 78.6% of the users predict The Pitt will walk away with the statuette, while 13.7% of users picked previous winner The White Lotus to return to the podium. Either way, HBO wins, too. Severance has the support of 5.5% of users, followed by The Last of Us and Slow Horses tied at 1.1%. Those are an apt pair of titles to bring up the rear.
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
The Bear – Jeanie Bacharach, Maggie Bacharach, Jennifer Rudnicke, and Mickie Paskal (FX)
Hacks – Linda Lowy and Morgan Smith (Max)
Only Murders in the Building – Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield, and Destiny Lilly (Hulu)
Shrinking – Debby Romano and Brett Benner (Apple TV+)
The Studio – Melissa Kostenbauder and Francine Maisler (Apple TV+)
The professionals and users at Gold Derby are even more united in their choices for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series, as every editor and expert plus 94.4% of users predict The Studio will pick up the statuette. I guess getting a bunch of actors to play themselves pays off. Only Murders in the Building and Hacks are the second choices of users with the support of 2.2% each, followed by The Bear and Shrinking tied with 0.6%.
Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Adolescence – Shaheen Baig (Netflix)
Black Mirror – Jina Jay, Jeanie Bacharach, Corinne Clark, and Jennifer Page (Netflix)
Dying for Sex – Jeanie Bacharach and Jessica Daniels (FX)
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – Tiffany Little Canfield, Josh Einsohn, and Bernard Telsey (Netflix)
The Penguin – Cindy Tolan and Suzanne Ryan (HBO)
If anything, Gold Derby is even more consolidated around their choice for this category, as every editor and expert plus 94.9% of users agree that Adolescence will accept the award. The rest of the field lags far behind, with 2.8% of users picking The Penguin, Black Mirror and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story tied at 1.1% of users, and Dying for Sex having no user support at all.
Dark Matter – Ronnie Koff, Charlie Proctor, Alex Braddock, and Lexi Gunvaldson (Apple TV+)
The Decameron – Mark Bashore, Katrina Crawford, Jason Esser, Torin Bashore, Harry Teitelman, and Mauro Gimferrer Alos (Netflix)
House of the Dragon – Garson Yu, Mulan Leong-Suzuki, James Robertson, Damian Stricker, Dan Tegnelia, and Gregory Jones (HBO)
The Penguin – Aaron Becker, Joseph Ahn, Michael Lo, James Robertson, Hsien Lun Su, Alasdair Willson, and Ben Hurand (HBO)
Severance – Oliver Latta and Teddy Blanks (Apple TV+)
The White Lotus – Katrina Crawford, Mark Bashore, Mauro Gimferrer, and Marcos Coral (HBO)
Every editor and expert along with 93.0% of users predict Severance will earn a second Emmy in this category. The rest of the nominees have weak user support with The White Lotus a distant second at 4.1%, The Penguin at 1.7%, House of the Dragon and The Decameron tied at 0.6%, and Dark Matter with none. That's enough for me to embed Severance — Opening Title Sequence: Season 2 | Apple TV+.
In Severance, Mark Scout (Adam Scott) leads a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure, which surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work… and of himself.
In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.
Season 2 reunites its ensemble cast of stars including Emmy Award nominee Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, Jen Tullock, Michael Chernus, Dichen Lachman, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, Academy Award winner Christopher Walken and Academy and Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette, and welcomes new series regular Sarah Bock.
Severance is executive produced by Ben Stiller, who also directs five episodes this season in addition to directors Uta Bresiewitz, Sam Donovan and Jessica Lee Gagné. The series is written, created and executive produced by Dan Erickson. Severance season two is also executive produced by John Lesher, Jackie Cohn, Mark Friedman, Beau Willimon, Jordan Tappis, Sam Donovan, Caroline Baron, Richard Schwartz, Nicholas Weinstock. In addition to starring, Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette serve as executive producers. Fifth Season is the studio.
Trippy, and a good introduction to the themes of the season.
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Dept. Q – Carlos Rafael Rivera and Scott Frank (Netflix)
Dune: Prophecy – Volker Bertelmann (HBO)
Lazarus – Kamasi Washington (Adult Swim)
The Residence – Mark Mothersbaugh (Netflix)
The White Lotus – Cristobal Tapia de Veer (HBO)
Your Friends & Neighbors – Dominic Lewis and Hamilton Leithauser (Apple TV+)
The prognosticators at Gold Derby think The White Lotus will pick up an Emmy here, as every editor and expert along with 92.9% of users predict Cristobal Tapia de Veer will pick up another statuette for another variation on the theme original enough to qualify. Dune: Prophecy and The Residence tie for second with 2.4% of users, Lazarus is in fourth with 1.2%, and Dept. Q ties Your Friends & Neighbors for last with 0.6%. Watch the likely winner, THE WHITE LOTUS SEASON 3 MAIN TITLE BY PLAINS OF YONDER.
Never forget that all the farce and social satire of The White Lotus surrounds a crime (or several) and that what looks like paradise is full of danger.
Follow over the jump for the rest of the music nominees.
Jon Bernthal – The Bear: "Napkins" as Michael Berzatto (FX)
Bryan Cranston – The Studio: "CinemaCon" as Griffin Mill (Apple TV+)
Dave Franco – The Studio: "CinemaCon" as himself (Apple TV+)
Ron Howard – The Studio: "The Note" as himself (Apple TV+)
Anthony Mackie – The Studio: "The Note" as himself (Apple TV+)
Martin Scorsese – The Studio: "The Promotion" as himself (Apple TV+)
Bryan Cranston leads the field according to the odds at Gold Derby, with every editor and expert along with 80.1% of users picking him to win. He's followed by Martin Scorsese, Jon Bernthal, Ron Howard, Dave Franco, and Anthony Mackie, who have the support of 11.1%, 4.6%, 2.3%, 1.4%, and 0.5% of users, respectively. The Studio having multiple nominees could have split the vote, but the prognosticators at Gold Derby think the Emmy voters have settled on the best performance of the bunch, a great actor playing a role instead of just himself.
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Olivia Colman – The Bear: "Forever" as Chef Andrea Terry (FX)
Jamie Lee Curtis – The Bear: "Ice Chips" as Donna Berzatto (FX)
Cynthia Erivo – Poker Face: "The Game Is a Foot" as the Kazinsky sisters (Peacock)
Robby Hoffman – Hacks: "Cover Girls" as Randi (HBO Max)
Zoë Kravitz – The Studio: "The Presentation" as herself (Apple TV+)
Julianne Nicholson – Hacks: "A Slippery Slope" as Mary-Alice (HBO Max)
There is less of a consensus about this category than for guest actor, as Julianne Nicholson is the choice of every editor, but only two-thirds of experts and 74.4% of users. The experts and users are split on who is second, with the remaining one-third of experts and 7.9% of users picking Cynthia Erivo, while 11.5% of users expect last year's winner Jamie Lee Curtis to repeat. Zoe Kravitz, Robby Hoffman, and Olivia Colman round out the rest of the field with the support of 4.8%, 0.9%, and 0.4% of users, respectively.
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Giancarlo Esposito – The Boys: "Beware the Jabberwock, My Son" as Stan Edgar (Prime Video)
Scott Glenn – The White Lotus: "Killer Instincts" as Jim Hollinger (HBO)
Shawn Hatosy – The Pitt: "9:00 PM" as Dr. Jack Abbot (HBO)
Joe Pantoliano – The Last of Us: "The Price" as Eugene (HBO)
Forest Whitaker – Andor: "I Have Friends Everywhere" as Saw Gerrera (Disney+)
Jeffrey Wright – The Last of Us: "Day One" as Isaac (HBO)
Predictions by Gold Derby's prognosticators for this category follow a pattern similar to that for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Shawn Hatosy is the choice of 80.0% of editors, 75.0% of experts, and 78.5% of users. The professionals and users are again split on the second choice, with the remaining 20% of editors and 25% of experts along with only 3.1% of users picking Scott Glenn, while 14.0% of users are voting for Jeffrey Wright. I suspect the users are responding to their perceptions of the performances, while the professionals are taking the politics of the acting community in particular into consideration. Electorates matter.
Gold Derby ranks the rest of the roster as Joe Pantoliano in fourth, Giancarlo Esposito in fifth, and Forest Whitaker last with 2.2%, 1.8%, and 0.4% of users choosing them, respectively. Too bad, as Whitaker is the only acting nominee from Andor. Being an Oscar-winning actor reprising a movie role may have helped him earn a nomination, but it's not going to help him win. Darn. Maybe at the Saturn Awards.
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Jane Alexander – Severance: "Sweet Vitriol" as Sissy Cobel (Apple TV+)
Gwendoline Christie – Severance: "Cold Harbor" as Lorne (Apple TV+)
Kaitlyn Dever – The Last of Us: "Through the Valley" as Abby (HBO)
Cherry Jones – The Handmaid's Tale: "Exile" as Holly (Hulu)
Catherine O’Hara – The Last of Us: "Future Days" as Gail (HBO)
Merritt Wever – Severance: "Who Is Alive?" as Gretchen George (Apple TV+)
Speaking of the Saturn Awards, every one of these actresses is in a show that has been nominated by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, so all of them could be nominated for Best Guest Star in a Television Series except perhaps Cherry Jones. No actress from The Handmaid's Tale has ever earned a nomination at the Saturn Awards, a snub I've whined about before. I don't expect that will change. Not only do electorates matter, so do selection committees.
Enough speculation. Now for the odds. This is the third consecutive category where there is a top choice, followed by divided support for the next two. Three-quarters of both editors and experts along with 78.2% of users have lined up behind Kaitlyn Dever, while the remaining one-quarter of editors and experts along with 7.3% of users have chosen Merritt Wever and 10.5% of users have picked Catherine O'Hara. The remaining three nominees are well behind, with Gwendoline Christie having the votes of 2.3% of users, Jane Alexander with 1.4%, and Cherry Jones 0.5%. Maybe a snub of Jones at the Saturn Awards would be justified.
“The Penguin” was the standout among this year’s television winners, taking home wins in all four of its nominated categories including Best Superhero Series, Limited Series or Made-For-TV Movie. “The Penguin” star Colin Farrell also won Best Actor in a Superhero Series, Limited Series, or Made-For-TV Movie, as well as Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series, or Made-For-TV Movie, while Cristin Milioti was awarded Best Actress in a Superhero Series, Limited Series, or Made-For-TV Movie.
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” and “Sinners” lead this year’s film winners, having earned two wins each. “Deadpool & Wolverine” was named Best Superhero Movie, while Hugh Jackman earned Best Actor in a Superhero Movie. “Dune: Part Two” was recognized as Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie, with Timothée Chalamet honored as Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” took home Best Action Movie, with its star Tom Cruise winning Best Actor in an Action Movie. In the Horror categories, “Sinners” won Best Horror Movie, and Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor in a Horror Movie.
The most nominated show purely in superhero categories is The Penguin with four, followed by Agatha All Along and The Boys tied with Fallout and The Last of Us at three each and Superman & Lois with two. The Last of Us is almost certainly the favorite, but The Penguin has a very strong chance to upset. It helps that it has great nominated actors.
I was right to call for an upset; The Penguin won.
Pascal will have a much harder time repeating in this category than for horror actor. He's up against Colin Farrell as The Penguin himself...I think Farrell is the favorite to win this award...
As I predicted, Farrell won.
Like Farrell, Cristin Milioti won Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television at the main Critics Choice Awards, won Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series at the Saturn Awards, and leads the Gold Derby odds for Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards...my choice is Milioti.
I made the right choice, Milioti won.
I think Farrell is the favorite to win as a villain protagonist...
And he did, winning two Super Awards!
Now for the horror categories in that post.
The Last of Us won Best Superhero Series, Limited Series or Made-For-TV Movie. I implied it was most likely to win when I wrote "True Detective: Night Country [is] my choice to upset The Last of Us..." It didn't, not here. I also wrote "I think Pedro Pascal has [Best Actor in a Horror Series, Limited Series, or Made-For-TV Movie] in the bag." He won. I'm also claiming the next category.
I don't think Bella Ramsey is assured of winning this, despite her carrying the current season. I picked Jodie Foster to win Best Actress in a Television Series at the Saturn Awards and I would have done so in a field with Ramsey. I won't have to, but the Critics Choice Association members do.
As I expected, Foster won Best Actress in a Horror Series, Limited Series, or Made-For-TV Movie.
Now for the superhero movies, which I covered in 'Deadpool & Wolverine' and 'Thunderbolts*' lead movie nominees at the Critics Choice Super Awards where I wrote "I think the advantage goes to Deadpool & Wolverine in large part because it already has a Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy Movie. Remember, electorates matter." It won. I didn't fare as well in the next category, where I called the right movie, but favored the wrong actor: "I think this between Saturn Award winner Jackman and Saturn Award nominee Reynolds, with the edge to Reynolds for being the lead and playing two versions of himself on screen simultaneously. Regardless, whoever wins, Marvel will, too." It went to Jackman.
Marvel won the next category, which I was even more ambivalent about: "I wouldn't put it past the Critics Choice Association to vote for Lady Gaga to recognize a good performance in a bad film or Pugh as the other female lead nominated, but my personal choice is Emmy winner Corrin, who also earned a nomination for this role in the next category." They voted for Pugh, making this a sweep for (Disney) Marvel.
“The Last of Us” leads this year’s television nominees with 6 nominations overall including Best Superhero Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie and Best Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie. Pedro Pascal received nods for both Best Actor in a Superhero Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie and Best Actor in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie, while Bella Ramsey earned nominations for both Best Actress in a Superhero Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie and Best Actress in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie. (Superhero categories also include Comic Book and Video Game Inspired series.)
The Last of Usswept all of its nominated categories last year, so I wouldn't be surprised if does so this year. As I'm fond of writing about awards shows, electorates matter, and this is the same electorate. That written, The Last of Us is neither the most nominated show solely in the categories of horrorseries nor in superheroseries. Follow over the jump to find out what shows those are.
That's not stopping me from posting would have been my votes, so here goes, beginning with the movie nominees.
Best Science Fiction Film: Dune: Part Two Best Fantasy Film: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Best Horror Film: Alien: Romulus Best Thriller Film: Strange Darling Best Action / Adventure Film: Deadpool & Wolverine Best Independent Film: The Substance Best International Film: Godzilla Minus One (Japan) Best Animated Film: Inside Out 2 Best Actor in a Film: Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool & Wolverine) Best Actress in a Film: Demi Moore (The Substance) Best Supporting Actor in a Film: Hugh Jackman (Deadpool & Wolverine) Best Supporting Actress in a Film: Margaret Qualley (The Substance) Best Younger Performer in a Film: McKenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) Best Film Direction: Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two) Best Film Screenwriting: Dune: Part Two (Denis Villeneuve Jon Spaihts) Best Film Visual / Special Effects: Godzilla Minus One (Masaki Takahashi, Tatsuiji Nojima, Kiyokk Shubuya, Takashi Yamazaki) Best Film Music: Dune: Part Two (Hans Zimmer) Best Film Production Design: Dune: Part Two (Patrice Vermette) Best Film Make Up: The Substance (Pierre-Olivier Persin) Best Film Editing: Dune: Part Two (Joe Walker) Best Film Costume Design: Dune: Part Two (Jacqueline West)
My predictions of winners different from my should-have-been votes:
I decided to go with the professional opinion and vote for Margaret Qualley as Best Supporting Actress in a Film, but I think Emmy-nominee Emma Corrin is just as good an actress and chewed more scenery as the villain of Deadpool & Wolverine, so she could upset.
I think McKenna Grace is a better actress and displayed more range in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire than Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, but Ortega is a bigger star, so she's likely to win Best Younger Performer in a Film.
While I decided the makeup was integral to telling the story of The Substance, both Dune: Part Two and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice earned Critics' Choice Award nominations for their makeup, so either of them could win, particularly Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Dune: Part Two also earned a nomination for costume design at the Critics' Choice Awards, but I wouldn't be surprised if the superhero cosplayers who are on the Saturn Awards costumes committee would be able to sway the vote to Deadpool & Wolverine.
Follow over the jump for the television categories.
Best Horror Television Series: Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire
Creepshow
Evil
From
Grotesquerie
Teacup
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
From and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon are tied for first with four nominations apiece, followed by Evil and Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire with two each, then Creepshow, Grotesquerie, and Teacup with just this one. Before the nominations were announced, I was leaning towards Evil, which just finished its final season, but I'm taking a cue from the total nominations as well as what I wrote last year, "I'd have voted for From" in the absence of The Last of Us. Even so, I expect The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will win. Electorates matter.
Best Action / Thriller Television Series: Bosch: Legacy
Cobra Kai
Found
High Potential
Presumed Innocent
True Detective: Night Country
Tulsa King
I'm including this category in today's post because of True Detective: Night Country, which has two nominations, but Cobra Kai, which my younger daughter made publicity art for when it was on YouTube, leads with three nominations. The rest of the nominees have only this one nomination. I'm voting for True Detective: Night Country, regardless of the number of nominations and my family connection to Cobra Kai.
Before I go on to the next category, I'm pleasantly surprised that High Potential earned a nomination. There were a lot of good to great action, adventure, and thriller series on television last year and I thought Elsbeth and Will Trent were better bets to be nominated, but High Potential is a lot of fun to watch. Besides, it takes place in Los Angeles, where the Saturn Awards are based, while Elsbeth and Will Trent take place and are filmed in New York City and Atlanta, respectively. Again, electorates matter.
Best Television Presentation: Apartment 7A
Don't Move
The Fall of the House of Usher
Fargo
Ripley
Salem's Lot
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live leads this category with five nominations, tying it with Fallout, which the Deadline report that the Saturn Awards excerpted missed — yet another omission! Fargo follows with four nominations, then The Fall of the House of Usher with three, and Apartment 7A, Don't Move, Ripley, and Salem's Lot with just this one category. IMDB lists five of these nominees as horror, while two, Fargo and Ripley, are thrillers, so this category definitely deserves to be examined today. I'm sure The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will win, but I'm voting for Fargo.
Now for a new category that includes horror nominees.
Best Genre Comedy Television Series: Chucky
Ghosts
Only Murders in the Building
Resident Alien
Ted
What We Do in the Shadows
Ghosts leads this category with three nominations, followed by Chucky and What We Do in the Shadows with two each, then Only Murders in the Building, Resident Alien, and Ted with only this one. The Saturn Awards nominated Chucky and What We Do in the Shadows under horror last year, while it categorized Ghosts as fantasy. That written, the Critics Choice Super Awards considered it horror, even though there's very little scary about the show. As for the rest, Only Murders in the Building is a thriller, Resident Alien is science fiction, and Ted is fantasy. As much as my wife and I love Ghosts, we love EmmywinnerOnly Murders in the Building more, so I'm voting for the show, which I've been hoping would earn a Saturn Awards nomination since 2021. I'm glad the Saturn Awards created this category so I could vote for it.
Follow over the jump for two television acting categories.
Just like the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA), my pick to win is Barbie. I would be surprised if the science fiction fans follow the movie makers and vote for Poor Things. I think they'd be more likely to vote for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse or even Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. I enjoyed the latter and think it was the best movie about Dungeons and Dragons ever made. It's still not better than Barbie, which I think will get one final award next week.
I'm not worried about Nimona; it's not better than Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The Wandering Earth II would only have a chance if a lot of Chinese voted. Honestly, I think either of the Oscar winners The Boy and the Heron or Godzilla Minus One should have been nominated in its place. I expect to see both of them at the next Saturn Awards.
The Last of Us was the only television program nominated by the SFWA at the Nebula Awards. I also thought the nominated episode was the most moving hour of television I can remember watching, so it's my pick to win. That doesn't mean it will. Two powerhouse franchises, Star Trek and Doctor Who, both have two episodes nominated. Unless their fans consolidate on a single episode, they'll split the vote allowing either The Last of Us or Loki to win. Speaking of Loki, I have it penciled in as my vote for Best Superhero Television Series at the next Saturn Awards. It might just win, as previous winner Superman & Lois aired no episodes last year because of the SAG and WGA strikes. I also expect to see Doctor Who on the next Saturn Awards ballot for Best Science Fiction Television Series.
I close with a category I haven't seen before at the Hugo Awards, videogames. The SWFA nominated four of these titles, Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Chants of Sennaar, and DREDGE and voted Baldur’s Gate 3 the winner of Best Game Writing. I've watched my wife and a bunch of Twitch streamers play this game and I agree. It deserves to win. I've also watched streamers play The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and think its a worthy nominee. It's certainly fun to watch. As for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, I'm glad the Star Wars franchise has at least one nominee at the Hugo Awards!
This category sets up a matchup between the winner of Best Animated Film and Best Superhero Film at the Saturn Awards, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3. Since Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse won Best Animated Feature at the main [Critics' Choice] awards, I'm predicting it to win here.
This is a really talented field, but I think the advantage goes to Ayo Edebiri, who swept Critics' Choice, Golden Globes, and Emmys for her role in The Bear. I think that might count for something, even though I'm rooting for Zoe Saldana or Iman Vellani and wouldn't be surprised if Hailee Steinfeld wins as part of a Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sweep.
I'm pleased to see that Iman Vellani won. While The Marvels didn't earn a nomination for Best Superhero Movie, it didn't walk away empty-handed. Congratulations! I'm looking forward to seeing Vellani on my Saturn Awards ballot later this year for Best Younger Performer in a Film and The Marvels for Best Superhero Film.
I expressed both my uncertainty and my annoyance about the last "superhero" movie category.
The parenthetical comment that "Superhero categories also include Comic Book and Video Game Inspired series" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, as Taron Edgerton earned a nomination for Tetris, which is a thriller about the development of Tetris taking place in the real world, not an adventure in the game world, and The Killer is based on a graphic novel, something I didn't know until I looked it up. Both Edgerton and Fassbender are great actors, and Saturn Award winner Xolo Maridueña should be happy to be nominated along with them. My favorite is Bradley Cooper, and I hope he wins, but I wouldn't be surprised by any of the field winning, including Shameik Moore, who might be part of a Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sweep.
I'm not surprised to see Fassbender win. As I wrote, he's a great actor. He's also a former Marvel actor, having played young Magneto in the later Fox X-Men movies, so there is still a connection to the two actual Marvel winners.
Follow over the jump for the "superhero" winners on television.
Happy FirstContactDay! I was so confident that either Star Trek: Picard or Star Trek: Strange New Worlds would win at least one reward that my planned post today was "Star Trek winners at the Critics Choice Super Awards." Neither Star Trek show won anything. Instead, Black Mirror: Joan Is Awfulwon two awards for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-For-TV Movie and Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-For-TV Movie for Annie Murphy, Kurt Russell won Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-For-TV Movie for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Melanie Lynskey took home Best Villain in a Series, Limited Series or Made-For-TV Movie in The Last of Us. So much for that idea, at least for today.
The fifth and final season will find Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well… dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.
"Power of creation" refers back to Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Chase."
The argument is silenced when the tricorder begins projecting a holographic image of a humanoid. She explains that her civilization existed alone in the galaxy, billions of lonely years before any of the others developed. They decided to spread their genetic material to other planets, in the hopes of creating a rich ecosystem of humanoids who could fulfill the joys of finding and integrating with alien cultures that these first beings never had.
What the Progenitors, the species of ancient humanoid in the referenced holographic image, also shown in the video above, did was a form of exogenesis or panspermia, which I called "a fringe scientific idea." That written, it works much better in science fiction than science fact and helps explain (away) why there are so many humanoid aliens in science fiction shows and movies, which has a real-world practical reason, using human actors in makeup to play aliens. Only recently has CGI been able to affordably and convincingly create non-humanoid aliens, such as the Gelatin and Katrudian from TheOrville. Those don't need the same in-universe rationale for existing that humanoid aliens do.
My wife and I are looking forward to the rest of the final season. I hope the writers do as good job of sending off Discovery's crew as Star Trek: Picard did for the crews of Enterprise-D, Enterprise-E, and, to a lesser extent, Voyager.
