Heading into ABC's telecast of the 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, there's very little doubt what show is going to come out the big winner — it will almost certainly be HBO's "Game of Thrones."
It heads into Sunday's telecast (6 p.m., Ch. 4) with nine wins under its belt — awards presented at the creative-arts Emmys this past weekend.
In 2015, "Thrones" won eight creative-arts Emmys and added four more in the main show, smashing "West Wing's" record of nine wins by a drama series in the same year.
(Only the 2008 miniseries "John Adams," with 13, took home more in a single year.)
This year, "Thrones" already has wins in casting, costumes, nonprosthetic makeup, prosthetic makeup, picture editing, production design, stunt coordination and visual effects. That gives the series a total of 35 Emmys — nine more than any other drama in TV history. Only "Saturday Night Live" (with 42 wins) and "Frasier" (with 37) have more.
And "Thrones" has nine more nominations in five categories — including best drama, which it won in 2015 — so it stands a good chance of adding to its total. A sweep would surpass "John Adams."
If "Thrones" is shut out on Sunday, FX's "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" could conceivably pass it by. The miniseries won four creative-arts Emmys and has 13 nominations in six remaining categories.
The two shows don't compete directly in much — the "Thrones" nominations come in drama series categories; the "O.J." nominations come in limited series categories.
Season 6 of "Thrones" and the entirety of "O.J." each ran 10 episodes.
The two competed directly in one category — costumes for a period/fantasy series, limited series or movie — and "Thrones" won.
Both shows are expected to win at least a couple more Emmys on Sunday at the main awards, which Jimmy Kimmel will host.
It's worth remembering that, while the Emmys are television's most prestigious awards, nobody said they were fair. Some shows that deserve nominations don't get them; some that are nominated don't deserve them; and the best shows don't always win.
With that in mind, here are the nominees that deserve to win on Sunday night. Not necessarily the nominees that will win, but that should win.
Drama Series
"Better Call Saul"; "Downton Abbey"; "Game of Thrones"; "Homeland"; "House of Cards"; "Mr. Robot"; "The Americans"
• There's nothing better on TV than "Game of Thrones."
Comedy Series
"Black-ish"; "Master of None"; "Modern Family"; "Silicon Valley"; "Transparent"; "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"; "Veep"
• "Veep" is hilarious, clever and unexpected.
Limited series
"American Crime"; "Fargo"; "The Night Manager"; "The People v. O.J. Simpson"; "Roots"
• "O.J." will win. But I'd go with "American Crime," which didn't have Kardashian plotlines or an embarrassing performance by John Travolta.
Variety Talk Series
"Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee"; "Jimmy Kimmel Live"; "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver"; "Late Late Show With James Corden"; "Real Time With Bill Maher"; "Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"
• Not all the best shows were nominated in this category, but "Last Week Tonight" is the best of the nominees.
Variety Sketch Series
"Documentary Now!"; "Drunk History"; "Inside Amy Schumer"; "Key & Peele"; "Portlandia"; "Saturday Night Live"
• It's gone, but "Key & Peele" should not be forgotten.
Reality-Competition Program
"Amazing Race"; "American Ninja Warrior"; "Dancing With The Stars"; "Project Runway"; "Top Chef"; "The Voice"
• All of these shows have passed their peak … but let's go with "Project Runway."
TV Movie
"All the Way," "A Very Murray Christmas"; "Confirmation"; "Luther"; "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride"
• "All the Way" is the cream of this crop.
Lead Actress, Drama
Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Viola Davis, "How To Get Away With Murder"; Taraji P. Henson, "Empire"; Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black"; Keri Russell, "The Americans"; Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
• Russell should win. As long as Henson isn't rewarded for her scenery chewing, anyone would be acceptable.
Lead Actor, Drama
Kyle Chandler, "Bloodline"; Rami Malek, "Mr. Robot"; Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"; Matthew Rhys, "The Americans"; Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"
• You could argue for any of these nominees, but Odenkirk should win.
Lead Actress, Comedy
Tracee Ellis Ross, "Black-ish"; Laurie Metcalf, "Getting On"; Lily Tomlin, "Grace and Frankie"; Amy Schumer, "Inside Amy Schumer"; Ellie Kemper, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"; Julie Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
• If Louis-Dreyfus hadn't already won six acting Emmys — including the last four in a row in the category — it would be easier to root for her. Tomlin is the sentimental favorite.
Lead Actor, Comedy
Anthony Anderson, "Black-ish"; Aziz Ansari, "Master of None"; Will Forte, "Last Man on Earth"; William H. Macy, "Shameless"; Thomas Middleditch, "Silicon Valley"; Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"
• Love Tambor, but "Transparent" is less comedy and more drama. Ansari is great in the distinctive "Master of None."
Lead Actress, Movie/Limited Series
Kirsten Dunst, "Fargo"; Felicity Huffman, "American Crime"; Audra McDonald, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill"; Sarah Paulson, "The People v. O.J. Simpson"; Lili Taylor, "American Crime"; Kerry Washington, "Confirmation"
• This is an extremely tough category. Paulson is the favorite, and she was great in "O.J." But I'd argue that Huffman was even more deserving for "American Crime."
Lead Actor, Movie/Limited Series
Bryan Cranston, "All The Way"; Benedict Cumberbatch, "Sherlock: Abominable Bride"; Idris Elba, "Luther"; Cuba Gooding Jr., Courtney B. Vance, "The People v. O.J."; Tom Hiddleston, "The Night Manager,"
• Cranston was mesmerizing as LBJ. (Just so Gooding doesn't win — he was a weak link in "O.J.")
Supporting Actress, Drama
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"; Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams, "Game of Thrones"; Maura Tierney, "Affair"; Constance Zimmer, "UnREAL"
• Smith is the sentimental favorite. But it's ridiculous that Headey hasn't won yet.
Supporting Actor, Drama
Jonathan Banks, "Better Call Saul"; Ben Mendelsohn, "Bloodline"; Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, "Game of Thrones"; Michael Kelly, "House of Cards"; Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan"
• It will be great if Harington wins, but this is another category in which all the nominees are deserving.
Supporting Actress, Comedy
Niecy Nash, "Getting On"; Allison Janney, "Mom"; Kate McKinnon, "Saturday Night Live"; Judith Light and Gaby Hoffman, "Transparent"; Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"
• I wouldn't usually favor anyone who's nominated for a third Emmy for the same role. But Janney — who also won four Emmys for "The West Wing" — is just that good.
Supporting Actor, Comedy
Louie Anderson, "Baskets"; Andre Braugher, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"; Keegan-Michael Key, "Key & Peele"; Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"; Tituss Burgess, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"; Tony Hale and Matt Walsh, "Veep"
• Burgess is wonderful in "Kimmy."
spierce@sltrib.com
Twitter @ScottDPierce
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On TV
The 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards air live on Sunday at 6 p.m. MDT on ABC/Ch. 4. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel will be the host.
ABC's "American Crime" stars Felicity Huffman as Barb Hanlon and Timothy Hutton as Russ Skokie. (ABC/Bob D'Amico)
FILE - In this image released by AMC, Bob Odenkirk, left, and Jonathan Banks appear in a scene from "Better Call Saul." The show has been named one of the 10 Best TV shows by The Associated Press. (Ursula Coyote/AMC via AP, File)
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