'Squid Game'? 'Abbott Elementary'? Who will (and who should) win at the 2022 Emmys

What do you get when you cross a life-and-death children's game with a media dynasty, a girls' soccer team stranded in the wilderness, a soccer coach and an elementary school teacher? Well, you get the contenders for the 2022 Emmy Awards. 

This year Netflix's "Squid Game," HBO's "Succession" and Starz's "Yellowjackets" are vying in the drama categories, while "Ted Lasso" and "Abbott Elementary" are among contenders for comedy honors. It's a competitive year with excellent series nominated in all categories, but only one show or actor can take home the trophy in each category at the end of the night. And, even more importantly, only one really should. 

Ahead of Monday's Emmy ceremony (NBC, 8 EDT/5 PDT), hosted by "Saturday Night Live" star Kenan Thompson, we make our best predictions for who will win the Emmy in the top categories, and who should win: 

DRAMA SERIES

"Better Call Saul" (AMC)

"Euphoria" (HBO)

"Ozark" (Netflix)

"Severance" (Apple TV+)

"Squid Game" (Netflix)

“Stranger Things” (Netflix)

"Succession" (HBO)

"Yellowjackets" (Showtime)

Should win: "Severance"

Will win: "Succession"

Like the Roy family itself, there is very little that can stop the train that is HBO's "Succession." The last time the series was eligible for the Emmys, in 2020, it walked away with a truckload of them, and the delayed third season premiered to great acclaim last fall. But while there is greatness in HBO's media satire, Apple premiered one of the most surprising and affecting series with sci-fi-tinged "Severance," which might jump into the top spot in a less competitive year.  

Emmy Awards 2022:When are they? Who's hosting? All your questions, answered

COMEDY SERIES

"Abbott Elementary" (ABC)

"Barry" (HBO)

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)

"Hacks" (HBO Max)

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon)

"Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)

"Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)

"What We Do in the Shadows" (FX)

Should win: "Abbott Elementary"

Will win: "Ted Lasso"

There are few TV success stories as heartwarming and deserved as "Abbott Elementary," the network sitcom that could. Quinta Brunson created an instant classic with "Abbott," set at a Philadelphia elementary school, that is certainly the best comedy of the year. But Jason Sudeikis' soccer and joy machine "Ted Lasso" swept the 2021 Emmys for its first season, and its second won't be swept away so easily. 

LIMITED SERIES

"Dopesick" (Hulu)

"The Dropout" (Hulu) 

“Inventing Anna” (Netflix)

“Pam & Tommy” (Hulu)

"The White Lotus" (HBO)

Should win: "The White Lotus"

Will win: "The White Lotus"

If you look at the full list of Emmy nominations you might think that the voters didn't watch any other TV shows this year besides "The White Lotus," HBO's class-skewering limited series set at an exclusive Hawaiian resort. The series, its creators and nearly its entire cast were all nominated. It's virtually guaranteed to take this honor, if not all the rest (although the series couldn't possibly win everything because many of its actors are competing against each other). And it's deserved, as creator Mike White crafted a deft satire so uniquely tuned to our current cultural moment. 

LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES

Jodie Comer, "Killing Eve" (BBC America)

Laura Linney, "Ozark" (Netflix)

Melanie Lynskey, "Yellowjackets" (Showtime)

Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve" (BBC America)

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

Zendaya, "Euphoria" (HBO)

Should win: Melanie Lynskey, "Yellowjackets"

Will win: Zendaya, "Euphoria"

Zendaya already has one Emmy for her raw and real performance as Rue, a teenager struggling with addiction, in "Euphoria." And while she's likely to prevail again, it's a shame perennial character actress Lynskey, known for movies like "Sweet Home Alabama," probably won't get her due for anchoring Showtime's horror drama "Yellowjackets." Her performance is the clear standout among a group of very talented actresses. 

LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES

Jason Bateman, "Ozark" (Netflix)

Brian Cox, "Succession" (HBO)

Lee Jung-jae, "Squid Game" (Netflix)

Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul" (AMC)

Adam Scott, "Severance" (Apple TV+)

Jeremy Strong, "Succession" (HBO)

Should win: Bob Odenkirk

Will win: Lee Jung-jae

When "Squid Game" exploded on Netflix last year, it seemed clear the South Korean dystopian drama was also going to cause a stir at the Emmys. Lee won this award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards earlier this year, and he's likely to repeat it on Monday night. Lee did a fantastic job as the lead of "Squid," but it would also be nice to see Odenkirk honored for so many years of exceptional work on "Breaking Bad" and its spinoff, "Saul." 

LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES

Rachel Brosnahan, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon)

Quinta Brunson, "Abbott Elementary" (ABC)

Kaley Cuoco, "The Flight Attendant" (HBO Max)

Elle Fanning, “The Great” (Hulu)

Issa Rae, "Insecure" (HBO)

Jean Smart, "Hacks" (HBO Max)

Should win: Jean Smart, "Hacks"

Will win: Jean Smart, "Hacks"

How can anyone argue with the master class performance that Smart has been delivering on "Hacks" for two years? The venerated actress received a well-deserved Emmy for her first season on the HBO Max show about an aging comedienne, and she did not waver from excellence in Season 2. 

LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES

Donald Glover, "Atlanta" (FX)

Bill Hader, "Barry" (HBO)

Nicholas Hoult, “The Great” (Hulu)

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

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

Jason Sudeikis, "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV+)

Should win: Bill Hader, "Barry"

Will win: Bill Hader, "Barry"

There aren't many things that everyone in Hollywood agrees upon, but it's almost universally accepted that Hader's performance in the striking third season of "Barry" is one for the ages. 

Emmys nominations 2022:See the full list