2018 Emmy Predictions for Limited Series: Matt Roush Gives His Series & Acting Picks

Matt Roush September 13, 2018, 5:30 pm

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Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose — Showtime

CATEGORY: Outstanding Limited Series

*The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story*

*The Alienist*

*Genius: Picasso*

*Patrick Melrose*

*Godless*

Darren Criss in The Assassination of Gianni Versace — Ray Mickshaw/FX

Most Likely to Win

Though not as dominant in this field as the first *American Crime Story* about the O.J. Simpson trial, Ryan Murphy’s stylish ***The Assassination of Gianni Versace*** is an innovative character study of mass murderer Andrew Cunanan, told in reverse chronology and juxtaposed with the rise of his eventual obsession/target Versace. It’s also a powerfully tragic history of gay repression and prejudice. I thoroughly enjoyed the feminist Western Godless, but Versace has more buzz.

Darren Criss - Versace — Should Win

**The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story**

TERROR_101_am_1121_0316-RT — Aidan Monaghan/AMC

Should Have Been Nominated

AMC’s adventurous horror show of a historical drama ***The Terror***, charting a doomed Arctic expedition besieged by a supernatural monster.

Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert - Season 2018 — Virginia Sherwood/NBC

CATEGORY: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

Antonio Banderas, *Genius: Picasso*

Darren Criss, *The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story*

Benedict Cumberbatch, *Patrick Melrose*

Jeff Daniels, *The Looming Tower*

John Legend, *Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert*

Jesse Plemons, *USS Callister (Black Mirror)*

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story - Darren Criss — Pari Dukovic/FX

Most Likely to Win

Benedict Cumberbatch’s decadent tour de force was something to behold, and John Legend literally soared as the musical messiah, but **Darren Criss** exceeded all expectations in his fearless depiction of murderously narcissistic madness as *Versace*’s Cunanan.

Darren Criss in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story — Ray Mickshaw/FX

Should Win

**Darren Criss**

Paterno - Al Pacino — HBO

Should Have Been Nominated

**Al Pacino** as HBO’s sadly befuddled coaching legend Joe Paterno, watching his reputation shatter in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal.

7SEC_101_Unit_00019_R — Netflix

CATEGORY: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

Jessica Biel, *The Sinner*

Laura Dern, *The Tale*

Michelle Dockery, *Godless*

Edie Falco, *Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders*

Regina King, *Seven Seconds*

Sarah Paulson, *American Horror Story: Cult*

863b7c683558332c182f16742aa5a22dffadf4aca28579dc489bb70b94ade47cfcd7e1535fe4d8beedd104df60b3c846 — HBO

Most Likely to Win

Accessing her repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse, *The Tale*‘s **Laura Dern** gives a raw and wrenching performance of slow-dawning discovery that is classic awards bait.

The Sinner - Jessica Biel — Brownie Harris/USA Network

Should Win

*The Sinner*’s **Jessica Biel** (also an executive producer), for going even deeper into repressed trauma in a Gothic mystery about a woman who can’t quite fathom what triggered her murderous attack on a man in front of her child and husband.

Howard's End 2018 - Hayley Atwell — Should Have Been Nominated

**Hayley Atwell**, projecting intelligence and empathy in the role that won Emma Thompson an Oscar, in the Starz remake of *Howard’s End*.

829_161004_JM_C_05_026R — Netflix

Most Likely to Win

Nominated twice this year (also as a real-life hero in *The Looming Tower*), **Jeff Daniels**’ bravura performance as a classic Western villain on a crusade of revenge in *Godless* was great, grizzled fun. You couldn’t stop thinking about, and fearing, him even when he was off-screen.

250_GODLESS_106_Unit_13256R — Netflix

Should Win

**Daniels** (although Dixon’s powerfully sung Judas was Tony-worthy, and Wittrock was heartbreaking as a closeted military man who fell victim to Versace’s killer).

Looming Tower - Peter Sarsgaard — JoJo Whilden/Hulu

Should Have Been Nominated

*The Looming Tower*’s **Peter Sarsgaard**, bringing chilling specificity to the composite character of a CIA antagonist, hoarding intel that might have helped prevent the 9/11 attacks.

BlackMirror_S4_Museum_00239_V1 — Netflix

CATEGORY: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

Adina Porter, *American Horror Story: Cult*

Letitia Wright, Black Museum (*Black Mirror*)

Merritt Wever, *Godless*

Sara Bareilles, *Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert*

Penelope Cruz, *The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story*

Judith Light,*The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story*

Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace in The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story — Jeff Daly/FX

Most Likely to Win

Odds favor *Versace*’s primo diva, **Penelope Cruz**, as a flamboyantly spot-on Donatella, or Judith Light’s more poignant work as the tightly wound cosmetics-queen wife of one of Cunanan’s closeted victims.

333_GODLESS_105_Unit_03958R — Netflix

**Should Win**

*Nurse Jackie* winner **Merritt Wever** in *Godless*, funny and fierce as a formidable widow on the front lines of defense in an embattled mining town.

Little Women_EP1_13 — PBS

Should Have Been Nominated

The legendary **Angela Lansbury** as lovably cranky Aunt March on PBS Masterpiece’s remake of *Little Women*. A nomination and win could have made up for all the years she was nominated, and never won, for *Murder, She Wrote*.

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We’re just days away from television’s biggest night of the year: the 2018 Primetime Emmys!

The annual awards show, airing September 17 on NBC, has one of the most stacked lists of nominees we’ve seen in many years. So stacked, in fact, that we’re having trouble figuring out who will take home statues on Monday night! Luckily, our own Matt Roush shared his predictions for the winners in all of the major categories. (Plus, those who should actually win and the shows and stars that were snubbed from nomination.)

2018 Emmy Predictions for Drama: Matt Roush's Picks For Best Actress, Actor, Series & More

Here, we zero in on the Limited Series contenders: Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actor/Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie, and Outstanding Supporting Actor/Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. This year, we’re looking at nominees like The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, The Sinner, Jesus Christ Superstar Live, and more.

Click through the gallery above for Matt’s picks, and sound off with your own in the comments below!