Emmy Predictions 2020 - Which Programs Will Likely Be Nominated for Drama Series?

From July 2 to July 13, 2020, voting took place for The 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. As such, it's fun to look at which actors and shows have the best chances of actually being nominated this year. So, these are my predictions for which programs will be nominated for Drama Series.

2019 Nominees:

        AMC's Better Call Saul
        Netflix's Bodyguard
        HBO's Game of Thrones (WINNER)
        BBC America's Killing Eve
        Netflix's Ozark
        FX's Pose
        HBO's Succession
        NBC's This Is Us

Theoretically, two open spots are apparent in this race. Better Call Saul, Killing Eve, Ozark, Pose, Succession and This Is Us are once again eligible. They all can make compelling cases for why they should earn the support of the voters. However, several past nominees are returning to the field after missing out on the eligibility window a year ago. Former winner The Handmaid's Tale makes its grand return to the race. It should be seen as a strong competitor. Westworld and Stranger Things produced their third seasons this year. Meanwhile, Big Little Lies makes its big transition to the Drama Series race after its first season won for Best Limited Series. And finally, high profile shows like The Morning Show, The Outsider and Euphoria are hoping to leave their marks here. As such, not all of the former nominees can once again secure spots. No program should be seen as secure in this race. Sure, enough buzz seems to be around several shows to make them feel like strong bets - Succession, Ozark, The Crown, Better Call Saul and The Handmaid's Tale. Those five will probably be nominated. The other three contenders that will make up the list are completely up in the air. Apple could secure its first major nomination in this category. The broadcast networks could be shut out once more if This Is Us falls out of contention. Pose, Big Little Lies and Stranger Things may suffer from their episodes airing last summer. Consistency may not be a guarantee when it comes to the nominees for Drama Series. This will be a competitive race. Plus, it's not quite clear which show is the frontrunner to take home the trophy now that former juggernaut Game of Thrones is out of contention.

For the 2020 awards ceremony, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences decided to tie the number of nominations to the number of submissions in each category. For Drama Series, 197 programs were eligible on the ballot. That will translate to eight nominees in this category.

Shows most likely to be nominated:

1. HBO's Succession
2. Netflix's Ozark
3. Netflix's The Crown
4. AMC's Better Call Saul
5. Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
6. NBC's This Is Us
7. AppleTV+'s The Morning Show
8. FX's Pose

Serious threats that could break through:

1. BBC America's Killing Eve
2. HBO's Westworld
3. Netflix's Stranger Things
4. HBO's Big Little Lies
5. HBO's The Outsider
6. USA's Mr. Robot
7. Showtime's Homeland
8. HBO's Euphoria
9. Netflix's Mindhunter
10. Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
11. Amazon's Homecoming
12. Netflix's Black Mirror
13. Showtime's On Becoming a God in Central Florida
14. CBS All Access' The Good Fight
15. AppleTV+'s For All Mankind
16. AppleTV+'s Home Before Dark
17. Amazon's Hunters
18. FX's Legion

Some considerable long-shots:

1. CBS' Evil
2. OWN's David Makes Man
3. Netflix's You
4. Amazon's Tales From the Loop
5. HBO's The Deuce
6. Netflix's The Witcher
7. HBO's His Dark Materials
8. Starz's Outlander
9. Netflix's Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City
10. Showtime's Billions
11. Epix's Godfather of Harlem
12. CBS All Access' Star Trek: Picard
13. Amazon's The Boys
14. Netflix's Narcos: Mexico
15. Showtime's The L Word: Generation Q
16. Amazon's Carnival Row
17. Showtime's Ray Donovan
18. AppleTV+'s Servant
19. USA's The Sinner

Colorful oddities who still have an outside chance:

1. Amazon's The Expanse
2. Disney+'s The Mandalorian
3. ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
4. Amazon's Undone
5. Epix's Perpetual Grace, LTD
6. Paramount's Yellowstone
7. AppleTV+'s Truth Be Told
8. HBO's The New Pope
9. Hulu's Veronica Mars
10. FOX's Prodigal Son
11. ABC's Stumptown
12. Showtime's City on a Hill
13. HBO's Room 104
14. Starz's Hightown
15. AppleTV+'s Amazing Stories
16. Syfy's The Magicians
17. Facebook Watch's Sorry for Your Loss
18. TNT's Snowpiercer
19. AppleTV+'s See
20. Showtime's Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!