This is the second golden age of television and the limited series is where it’s at. In each of the 5 major categories within the current category, my six favorite TV series/performances from June 2021 to May 2022 (the Emmy eligibility period) are listed in preferential order.

Best Limited Series

The White Lotus (HBO)

The Dropout (Hulu)

The Staircase (HBO)

Scenes From a Marriage (HBO)

Dopesick (Hulu)

Under the Banner of Heaven (FX)

Actress in a Leading Role

Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout (Hulu)

Toni Collette – The Staircase (HBO)

Jessica Chastain – Scenes from a Marriage (HBO)

Sarah Paulson – Impeachment: American Crime Story (FX)

Michelle Pfeiffer – The First Lady (Showtime)

Elle Fanning – The Girl from Plainville (Hulu)

Actress in a Supporting Role

Jennifer Coolidge– The White Lotus (HBO)

Kaitlyn Deaver – Dopesick (Hulu)

Laurie Metcalf -The Dropout (Hulu)

Rosemary DeWitt – The Staircase (HBO)

Chloe Sevigny- The Girl from Plainville (Hulu)

Betty Gilpin – Gaslit (Starz)

Actor in a Leading Role

Colin Firth – The Staircase (HBO)

Oscar Isaac – Scenes from a Marriage (IHBO)

Michael Keaton – Dopesick (Hulu)

Andrew Garfield – Under the Banner of Heaven (FX)

Ben Foster – The Survivor (HBO)

Sebastian Stan – Pam and Tommy (Hulu)

Actor in a Supporting Role

Murray Bartlett – The White Lotus (HBO)

Naveen Andrews – The Dropout (Hulu)

Michael Stuhlbarg – Dopesick* and The Staircase* (Hulu and HBO)

William H. Macy – The Dropout (Hulu)

Seth Rogan – Pam and Tommy (Hulu)

Shea Whigham – Gaslit (Starz)

*The performance, in each of the two films listed stands on its own, and is as worthy of an Emmy Nomination based on that film alone. This is not a cumulative rating.

Limited Series which I binge watched all the way through that did not make my final cut include:

Anatomy of a Scandal

Conversations with Friends

Inventing Anna

Landscapers

Midnight Mass

The Offer

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber

The Thing About Pam

A Very British Scandal

WeCrashed