The Golden Globe Nominations: Television

By Alan Hurst

The big surprise for me this year with the Golden Globe nominations for the best in television in 2018 was the actual lack of major surprises. There were a few WTF nominations (Candice Bergen for the lacklustre Murphy Brown reboot being one of them) and omissions (The Handmaid’s Tale or Westworld for Best Drama), but hey, these are the Golden Globes after all so a weird nomination or two is always part of the game.

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

• Barry
• The Good Place
• Kidding
• The Kominsky Method
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Globes always make room for new shows, and they’ve done that again this year with nods for Barry, Kidding, The Kominsky Method and the second season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I thought they might have made room for the well-reviewed Roseanne reboot The Connors, but it appears there was only room for one network program (The Good Place). My predicted winner is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Season two just dropped this week, but the reviews are stellar.

Best Television Series – Drama

• The Americans
• Bodyguard
• Homecoming
• Killing Eve
• Pose

All newcomers and one leaving after seven seasons (The Americans). These are all critically acclaimed shows and, because they’re all listed in this category, I’m guessing we’ll be treated to a second season. Right now, my guess is that Bodyguard – the uber tense British drama – will take the award, but Pose may be more to the Globes liking.

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• The Alienist
• The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
• Escape to Dannemora
• Sharp Objects
• A Very English Scandal

I thought the smart and creepy Maniac might make the list here, but this is still a strong group. I still need to catch up on A Very English Scandal (it’s reviews were very positive) and I think it has a shot at the win, but ultimately I think the Globes will repeat the Emmy love for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Best Performance by An Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

• Kirsten Bell in The Good Place
• Candice Bergen in Murphy Brown
• Alison Brie in Glow
• Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Debra Messing in Will & Grace

Not sure how Bergen and Messing made this list over Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin for Grace & Frankie but look for Rachel Brosnahan to take home her second consecutive trophy for her wonderfully funny and stylish work.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

• Sasha Baron Cohen in Who is America?
• Jim Carrey in Kidding
• Michael Douglas in The Kominsky Method
• Donald Glover in Atlanta
• Bill Hader in Barry

There are a lot of newcomers to this category and, since the Globes like honoring veterans almost as much as newcomers, I’m thinking Michael Douglas has a good shot for the well-reviewed The Kominsky Method.

Best Performance by An Actress in a Television Series – Drama

• Caitriona Balfe in Outlander
• Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale
• Sandra Oh in Killing Eve
• Julia Roberts in Homecoming
• Keri Russell in The Americans

With The Crown out of the way until next year, look for this one to be a race between Sandra Oh and Julia Roberts, with Oh edging for the win.

Best Performance by Actor in a Television Series – Drama

• Jason Bateman in Ozark
• Stephan James in Homecoming
• Richard Madden in Bodyguard
• Billy Porter in Pose
• Matthew Rhys in The Americans

This is a highly competitive category, with several key names not making the list (Sterling K. Brown, John Krasinski, Bob Odenkirk). Right now, I think that Richard Madden for Bodyguard or Billy Porter for Pose could be the winner.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• Amy Adams in Sharp Objects
• Patricia Arquette in Escape at Dannemora
• Connie Britton in Dirty John
• Laura Dern in The Tale
• Regina King in Seven Seconds

I think Amy Adams and Regina King are the front-runners here, with King most likely to repeat her Emmy win at the Globes.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• Antonio Banderas in Genius: Picasso
• Daniel Bruhl in The Alienist
• Darren Criss in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
• Benedict Cumberbatch in Patrick Melrose
• Hugh Grant in A Very English Scandal

A strong slate of nominees. Look for Darren Criss to repeat his Emmy win, with Hugh Grant a possible dark horse.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• Alex Borstein in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Patricia Clarkson in Sharp Objects
• Penelope Cruz in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
• Thandie Newton in Westworld
• Yvonne Strahovski in The Handmaid’s Tale

Alex Borstein is hilarious as the agent in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Look for her to repeat her Emmy win as well.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

• Alan Arkin in The Kominsky Method
• Kieran Culkin in Succession
• Edgar Ramirez in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
• Ben Whishaw in A Very English Scandal
• Henry Winkler in Barry

Henry Winkler won his first Emmy for Barry in the fall. It was a popular win – look for him to repeat at the Globes.