Johnathan Walker:75th Primetime Emmy Awards winners predictions: Our picks for who will (and should) win

Remember the Emmy Awards?Johnathan Walker Television's biggest night? The "E" in EGOT? Well, they're happening. For real this time.

Yes, six long months after the nominations were announced, the 75th Emmy Awards are finally airing. The long break between nominations and awards is a result of last summer's dual Hollywood strikes, when actors and writers walked off the job following stalled contract negotiations. Without actors to walk the red carpet, the Television Academy decided to delay the ceremony until January 15 (Fox, 8 EST/5 PST).

But what series, exactly, is this 2024-set ceremony honoring? Well you have to dig deep back into your memory (like, really deep) to remember all the great TV that premiered from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023, the eligibility period for this year's awards. That's right, we're talking HBO's "Succession" and "The White Lotus" and "The Last of Us"; Apple's "Ted Lasso"; FX's "The Bear" (but only the first season); Netflix's "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" and a host of other series from as long as 19 months ago.

But if you can't search your memory to recall the Italian vistas of "Lotus" and the fungal zombies from "Us," we have you covered. Here are the nominees that will win in the major Emmy categories this month, and the ones who really should. One thing's for sure: It promises to be a good year for fans of the final season of "Succession."

Best drama series

"Andor" (Disney+)

"Better Call Saul" (AMC)

"House of the Dragon" (HBO)

"The Crown" (Netflix)

"The Last of Us" (HBO)

“The White Lotus” (HBO)

"Succession" (HBO)

"Yellowjackets" (Showtime)

Should win: "Andor"

Will win: "Succession"

"Succession" is a TV series that will inevitably land on many lists of the greatest shows of all time. It has plenty of fans, inside and outside the TV Academy, and its fourth and final season, which aired last spring, has a veritable lock on the Emmys' top prize. But while there was plenty of laudable drama depicting the Roy family's antics, no series last season was as surprising, well constructed and thoughtful as "Andor," the shining star in Disney+'s ever-growing list of "Star Wars" TV shows. It may be dressed up with blasters, an evil empire and droids, but beneath the sci-fi paraphernalia "Andor" is the most sophisticated show on TV.

Best comedy series

"Abbott Elementary" (ABC)

"Barry" (HBO)

"Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)

"Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)

“The Bear” (FX)

"Jury Duty" (Freevee)

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon Prime)

"Wednesday" (Netflix)

Should win: "The Bear"

Will win: "Ted Lasso"

What was likely the final season of "Ted Lasso" pleased fans but disappointed many critics. But the Emmy voters love to reward an effort at the end, and there's no denying Jason Sudeikis' heartwarming soccer comedy is an Emmy favorite and will likely take the top comedy prize. But FX's striking and heart-racing restaurant dramedy "The Bear" outpaced it, literally and figuratively.

Best limited/anthology series

"Beef" (Netflix)

"Daisy Jones and the Six" (Amazon Prime)

"Fleishman is in Trouble" (FX)

“Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Netflix)

"Obi-Wan Kenobi" (Disney+)

Should/will win: "Beef"

The best series (limited or recurring) of 2023 is universally acclaimed for good reason. “Beef,” which stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as two people whose road rage incident turns into a deranged feud, anchor a stunning story that is unlike anything else on television before or since. It will deservedly take a victory lap on Emmy night. 

Lead actress, drama series

Bella Ramsey, "The Last of Us" (HBO)

Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)

Sharon Horgan, "Bad Sisters" (Apple TV+)

Melanie Lynskey, "Yellowjackets" (Showtime)

Keri Russell, "The Diplomat" (Netflix)

Sarah Snook, “Succession" (HBO)

Should win: Horgan

Will win: Snook

Expect to hear the “Succession” theme song repeated as winners take the stage on January 15. Snook has turned in four seasons of solid, scene-stealing work on the drama and is a deserving winner here. But Apple’s sly “Bad Sisters” gave Irish actress Horgan, known mostly for her comedic work, a meaty role and she delivered in every scene of the twisted series. 

Lead actor, drama series

Jeff Bridges, "The Old Man" (FX)

Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul" (AMC)

Brian Cox, "Succession" (HBO)

Jeremy Strong, "Succession" (HBO)

Kieran Culkin, “Succession” (HBO)

Pedro Pascal, "The Last of Us" (HBO)

Should/will win: Jeremy Strong, "Succession"

Who could stand in Kendall Roy’s way? Even Strong’s interesting public persona won’t stop the method actor from taking home the gold for the media family drama’s swan song, which he carried with his, well, strong and forceful performance. 

Lead actress, comedy series

Christina Applegate, "Dead To Me" (Netflix)

Jenna Ortega, "Wednesday" (Netflix)

Natasha Lyonne, "Poker Face" (Peacock)

Quinta Brunson, "Abbott Elementary" (ABC)

Rachel Brosnahan, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon Prime)

Should/will win: Quinta Brunson, "Abbott Elementary"

Brunson already has an Emmy for "Abbott Elementary," but it's for her role as a writer, not for her acting. That will surely be corrected in this year's awards, as the multi-hyphenate talent is recognized for the poise and humor she brings to her lead role as second-grade teacher Janine Teagues.

Lead actor, comedy series

Bill Hader, "Barry" (HBO)

Jason Sudeikis, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)

Jeremy Allen White, "The Bear" (FX)

Martin Short, "Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)

Jason Segel, "Shrinking" (Apple TV+)

Should win: White

Will win: Sudeikis

The same race playing out in best comedy series is playing out in this category: Old favorite versus young whippersnapper. White has been widely lauded for his near-deranged turn as Carmy Berzato, a Michelin-starred chef trying to run his family’s beef sandwich shop in Chicago (this nomination is for Season 1, not the fine-dining-focused Season 2). Although White is a rising star, enduring love for “Lasso” and Sudekis is likely to push the “SNL” alum to a third win for this role.

75th Emmy Awards:See the full list of nominees