Chainkeen Exchange-2024 Emmy Awards predictions: Our picks for who will (and who should) win

Get your ball gowns and Chainkeen Exchangeyour scorecards ready because it's time for the 2024 Emmy Awards. Again!

That's right. Even though an Emmy ceremony aired on Fox just eight months ago, it's already time once again for TV's biggest night. This time it's on ABC, and hosted by the father/son acting duo of Eugene and Dan Levy (8 EDT/5 PDT). We ended up with two Emmys in one year because the January awards were delayed from last September by actors' and writers' strikes. So now the awards are back on track, and it's time to honor the best TV that streamed and aired between June 2023 and last May.

But who will be honored with a trophy and make an acceptance speech, and who will just be happy to be nominated? We parse through the awards season hullaballoo to predict who'll win Sunday, and who really should be walking away with the gold. Spoiler alert: Get ready to hear FX's "The Bear" and "Shōgun" a lot!

Who will win at the (second) 2024 Primetime Emmys

Best drama series

◾ "The Crown" (Netflix)

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

◾ “Fallout” (Amazon Prime Video)

◾ "The Gilded Age" (HBO)

◾ "The Morning Show" (Apple TV+)

◾ "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (Amazon Prime Video)

◾ "Shōgun" (FX)

◾ "Slow Horses" (Apple TV+)

◾ "3 Body Problem" (Netflix)

Should/will win: "Shōgun"

If you haven't yet watched FX's historical epic "Shōgun" (streaming on Hulu) run, don't walk, to immerse yourself in the lush world of 1600s Japan. A new adaptation of James Clavell's celebrated novel, the series chronicles the first English contact with Japan amid a moment of political turmoil in the feudal island nation. With big sets, big performances and dazzling action, it's the "Game of Thrones" successor you didn't know you needed (without any dragons) and will likely nab a boatload of Emmys Sunday, including the top outstanding drama prize.

Best comedy series

◾ "Abbott Elementary" (ABC)

◾ "The Bear" (FX)

◾ "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (HBO)

◾ "Hacks" (Max)

◾ "Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)

◾ "Palm Royale" (Apple TV+)

◾ “Reservation Dogs” (FX)

◾ “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Should win: "Reservation Dogs"Will win: "The Bear"

Because of the Emmy calendar, it's the stellar second season of "The Bear" that is competing at this Sunday's Emmys, not the lackluster third that streamed this summer. So the shouty and profane restaurant employees should have no trouble walking away with the gold in this category for the second time (Season 1 scooped this up in January). But its FX sibling "Reservation Dogs" wasn't just one of the best comedies of the last year, it's one of the best shows of this century, a powerful and unique piece of art with a point of view you've never seen before. The TV Academy finally acknowledged the craft of "Dogs" with this nomination for its third and final season, but it's just not enough.

Best limited/anthology series

◾ "Baby Reindeer" (Netflix)

◾ "Fargo" (FX)

◾ "Lessons in Chemistry" (Apple TV+)

◾ "Ripley" (Netflix)

◾ "True Detective: Night Country" (HBO)

Should win: "True Detective: Night Country"Will win: "Baby Reindeer"

The latest (and probably greatest) season of "True Detective" was a stunning chilly nightmare, but unfortunately, it can't compete with all the "Baby Reindeer" hype. Netflix's dark limited series from comedian Richard Gadd was a phenomenon, thanks to its deeply disturbing content, the (debatably) true story of a man being stalked and harassed by an older woman and the intimacy of the performances. All that and its popularity should propel the series to a win.

Lead actress, drama series

◾ Jennifer Aniston, "The Morning Show" (Apple TV+)

◾ Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age” (HBO)

◾ Maya Erskine, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (Amazon Prime Video)

◾ Anna Sawai, "Shōgun" (FX)

◾ Imelda Staunton, "The Crown" (Netflix)

◾ Reese Witherspoon, "The Morning Show" (Apple TV+)

Should/will win: Sawai

Get ready to know Anna Sawai because she's going to be a star. The actress, who has done great work in shows like Apple's "Pachinko" or "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," was one of the best things about the excellent "Shōgun." Her superb performance as noblewoman and translator Toda Mariko is likely to propel the relatively unknown actress to a win over the A-listers in her category, and hopefully on to bigger and bolder fame in the process.

Lead actor, drama series

◾ Idris Elba, “Hijack” (Apple TV+)

◾ Donald Glover, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” (Amazon Prime Video)

◾ Walton Goggins, "Fallout" (Amazon Prime Video)

◾ Gary Oldman, "Slow Horses" (Apple TV+)

◾ Hiroyuki Sanada, "Shōgun" (FX)

◾ Dominic West, "The Crown" (Netflix)

Should/will win: Sanada

Speaking of "Shōgun" names you'll want to know, veteran performer Sanada is finally getting his due with the FX series (he's also a producer). The Japanese actor, a standby in American pop culture with smaller parts in series (HBO's "Westworld") and films ("Avengers: Endgame") is the anchor "Shōgun" needs. His performance as an out-of-favor nobleman doing his best to stay alive is marvelous, to say the least. I'm glad Emmy voters noticed.

Lead actress, comedy series

◾ Quinta Brunson, "Abbott Elementary" (ABC)

◾ Ayo Edebiri, "The Bear" (FX)

◾ Selena Gomez, "Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)

◾ Maya Rudolph, "Loot" (Apple TV+)

◾ Jean Smart, "Hacks" (Max)

◾ Kristen Wiig, "Palm Royale" (Apple TV+)

Should/will win: Smart

Smart money is on, well, Smart. The beloved actress has already won twice in this category for playing aging comedian Deborah Vance in Max's "Hacks," and there's no reason to think her streak will be broken. Brunson deservedly took this category in January, but that's partly because Smart wasn't even in the race.

Lead actor, comedy series

◾ Matt Berry, “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

◾ Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (HBO)

◾ Steve Martin, "Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)

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

◾ Jeremy Allen White, "The Bear" (FX)

◾ D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, “Reservation Dogs” (FX)

Should win: BerryWill win: White

Speaking of repeat winners, White is exactly the kind of performer likely to take another trip to the Emmy podium as long as he's starring in his critically acclaimed show. The TV Academy that said "yes, chef!" to his Season 1 performance will do the same for Season 2. It's a shame because while White is excellent, actors like Berry and Woon-A-Tai are doing slightly more interesting work in their respective shows. Berry, in particular, is a brilliant comedian in vampire satire "Shadows," ending its run this fall, and has limited opportunities left to be recognized for his work.