The Emmy Awards, the biggest night in American television, take place this Monday in Los Angeles, with the horror comedy "Widow's Bay" and the hospital drama "The Pitt" entering as the favorites.
Starring Matthew Rhys and created by Katie Dippold, "Widow's Bay" has already won eight statuettes at last week's Creative Arts Emmys, where most of the Television Academy's more than one hundred awards are handed out.
Christopher Rosen, deputy editor of the entertainment publication The Ankler, told AFP that people simply love the show.
Set on a fictional cursed island off the east coast of the United States, the show's debut season won the Emmy for best casting, along with several technical awards at the Creative Arts Emmys.
Widow's Bay leads comedy race
That success has made the Apple TV+ series, which holds 19 nominations in total, the favorite for best comedy of the year.
Rosen predicted the show could also deliver a first Emmy in comedy for Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, who is also competing as an actor for the miniseries "The Beast in Me," as well as trophies for supporting cast members Kate O'Flynn, who plays the eccentric Patricia, and Stephen Root, who plays Wyck, the rival turned ally of Mayor Loftis, played by Rhys.
Rosen said that while there is always room for surprises, "Widow's Bay" is expected to dominate rivals such as "Hacks."
Despite arriving with 24 nominations, "Hacks" could leave with just one statuette, for best comedy actress for its star Jean Smart, according to Rosen.
Rosen said it would be a great way to honor the final season of "Hacks," noting that Smart has never lost with this role and questioning why she would lose for the final season when she had even more material to work with.
If she wins, Smart, 75, would collect five awards for five seasons playing Deborah Vance, a comedian, actress, mother and formidable businesswoman who has seen it all across a decades-long career in entertainment.
No surprises expected in drama
"The Pitt," the acclaimed HBO Max series that follows the harrowing ups and downs of an emergency room in Pennsylvania, stands out in the drama category.
The show, which leads with 25 nominations, debuted at the ceremony last year with five statuettes.
Rosen noted that the show is doing even better this year.
"The Pitt" won four awards last week at the Creative Arts Emmys, including best casting in its category.
It could repeat that success on Monday, with Noah Wyle the favorite to win his second Emmy for best drama actor, and seven of his castmates dominating the supporting categories.
According to Rosen, the Emmy for best drama actress, a category in which "The Pitt" is not competing, is a contest between Rhea Seehorn for "Pluribus" and Keri Russell for "The Diplomat."
Miniseries and other honors
In the miniseries field, "DTF St. Louis," the HBO black comedy about a love triangle involving people in the midst of a midlife crisis, stands out.
Rosen said the series took audiences by surprise and is expected to break Netflix's streak of three consecutive wins, with Netflix competing this year with the second season of "Bronca," which explores generational conflict through two marriages caught up in the dynamics of a California country club.
"DTF St. Louis," written by Steve Conrad, won six statuettes over the weekend, including for supporting actors Linda Cardellini and David Harbour.
The Creative Arts Emmys also gave a posthumous award to the late actor and director Rob Reiner for an appearance in "The Bear," as well as a record seven awards for Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show.
What to expect from the ceremony
The 78th Emmy Awards, hosted by Mariska Hargitay of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," will include a tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton, who died in August.
