The 71st annual Emmy Awards are almost here.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday, Sept. 22. The star-studded extravaganza will be without a host this year and fan favorites like "Game of Thrones" and "Veep" could take home big wins.
In a special edition of "Popcorn With Peter Travers," film critic Peter Travers offers up his predictions.
The nominees are Jason Bateman, "Ozark," Sterling K. Brown, "This Is Us," Kit Harington, "Game of Thrones," Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul," Billy Porter, "Pose" and Milo Ventimiglia, "This Is Us."
Travers said "Pose" star Billy Porter is "a firecracker of an actor."
Kit Harington, who played Jon Snow on "Game of Thrones," "did even more than he usually did. He showed how valuable he was as a character," according to Travers.
But ultimately Travers expects the Emmy to go to Bateman.
"I think Jason Bateman is the heart and soul of that series," said Travers. "I think it's time for Emmys to say to Jason Bateman, you're really good. I'm going with him. But if it's Billy Porter that wins the award, I'm going to be OK."
"The nominees are Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones," Jodie Comer, "Killing Eve," Viola Davis, "How to Get Away with Murder," Laura Linney, "Ozark," Mandy Moore, "This Is Us," Sandra Oh, "Killing Eve" and Robin Wright, "House of Cards."
"'Killing Eve' is one of my favorite shows on TV and Sandra Oh has already won her share of awards for it," Travers said. "But her co-star Jodie Comer, who plays Vilanell, the assassin in the show, has been doing spectacular work."
He continued, "I'm happy to see her name among the nominees. And I'd be really happy to see her win."
The nominees are Gwendoline Christie, "Game of Thrones," Julia Garner, "Ozark," Lena Heady, "Game of Thrones," Fiona Shaw, "Killing Eve," Sophie Turner, "Game of Thrones" and Maisie Williams, "Game of Thrones."
"There's so much 'Game of Thrones,'" Travers said, and he'd like to see Heady get her due. But he believes Garner will pull out the win.
"Julia Garner, a young actress in 'Ozark,' who's basically living there and gets involved with Jason Bateman's character and the money laundering scheme and the drug cartel, is doing extraordinary work," Travers said. "I'm going to say Julia Garner. And I'm going to say Lena Heady coming just behind."
"The nominees are Alfie Allen, "Game of Thrones," Jonathan Banks, "Better Call Saul," Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, "Game of Thrones," Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones," Giancarlo Esposito, "Better Call Saul," Michael Kelly, "House of Cards" and Chris Sullivan, "This Is Us."
Travers predicts this will be a guaranteed win for Dinklage.
"This is our goodbye to Peter Dinklage in 'Game of Thrones' playing Tyrion Lannister for the ages," Travers said. "He is such a brilliant actor. He's won the Emmy before. But he can't get enough Emmys as far as I'm concerned. So I'm betting the farm and the house and everything on Peter Dinklage."
The nominees are Alex Borstein, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," Anna Klumsky, "Veep," Sian Clifford, "Fleabag," Olivia Colman, "Fleabag," Betty Gilpin, "Glow," Sarah Goldberg, "Barry," Marin Hinkle, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and Kate McKinnon, "Saturday Night Live."
"You can give Kate McKinnon all the Emmys you want and I'd still say that's a great idea," Travers said, "because she is the heart and soul of 'Saturday Night Live.'"
But this year, he predicts a different winner in this category.
"My money is on Olivia Coleman," Travers said. "Olivia Coleman just won the Oscar for best actress for 'The Favourite.' To me, she deserves every award that they can actually make in the foundry. And she is just a thorough delight in 'Fleabag.'"
The nominees are Alan Arkin, "The Kominsky Method," Anthony Carrigan, "Barry," Tony Hale, "Veep," Stephen Root, "Barry," Tony Shalhoub, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and Henry Winkler, "Barry."
"I love Tony Hale in 'Veep,' the sniveling assistant to Selina Meyer and he does it so well," Travers said. Yet Hale is not the favorite to win, according to Travers.
"Tony Shalhoub in 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' playing the title character's father, always angry, always befuddled by how the women in his life are taking over his life, this is just spectacular work," he said. "It's Tony Shalhoub who should step up for this one."
The nominees are "Barry," "Fleabag," "The Good Place," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Russian Doll," "Schitt's Creek" and "Veep."
"I'm a big 'Barry' fan," Travers said. "But I think nothing can stop 'Veep' from winning."
He continued, "It is the last season for that show. The TV Academy loves to reward what they've rewarded before. In a way, it's a comedy that's hopeless about the future of corrupt politics. But Julia Louis-Dreyfus and this amazing cast made magic out of it."
The nominees are "Better Call Saul," "Bodyguard," "Game of Thrones," "Killing Eve," "Ozark," "Pose," "Succession" and "This Is Us."
"There is no way, that 'Game of Thrones' in it's final season is not winning the Emmy for Best Drama Series. It's won it before," Travers said.
He added, "I'm personally looking forward to next year when something new sneaks in there and wins. But saying goodbye to two old favorites will put a tear in all of our eyes. So 'Veep,' 'Game of Thrones,' enjoy your time at the Emmys."
You can watch the Emmys this Sunday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. The show will be broadcast live on FOX from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Watch Peter Travers' full predictions in this special edition of 'Popcorn' Peter Travers in the video above.
