'Game of Thrones,' 'Confirmation' and 'black-ish' lead our 2016 Emmys Buzzmeter

May 19, 2016 7 AM PT

Emmy nominations are just around the corner -- a very large corner that takes a while to get to, perhaps, but not that far away. So why not start looking at some of the top races and gathering the thoughts of our experts as to what series and performers we’re likely to be talking about come July 14? Here are their picks. What do you think? Tell us who you think the nominees will be – or should be – in the comments below.

Our panelists:

Robert Bianco/USA Today; Matt Roush/TV Guide Magazine; Tom O’Neill/Gold Derby; Mary McNamara/LA Times; Glenn Whipp/The Envelope

Their picks in 14 key categories:

Drama series | Most Buzz: "Game of Thrones" | "Mr. Robot" | "Better Call Saul" | "Downton Abbey"

“Surely this is the year Emmy voters finally recognize how good ‘The Americans’ is, and remember how good ‘The Good Wife’ has always been. Right? Please?”

— Robert Bianco

Critics' Picks

"Game of Thrones": Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Mr. Robot" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Better Call Saul" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Downton Abbey" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Orange is the New Black" Bianco, Whipp, Roush

"The Americans" Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill

"The Good Wife" Bianco, McNamara

"The Path" McNamara

"Horace and Pete" Whipp

"House of Cards" Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Homeland" O’Neill, Roush

Drama actor | Most Buzz: Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"

(Ursula Coyote / Sony Pictures Television / AMC)

“Now that Bryan Cranston and Jon Hamm are out of this category, Kevin Spacey may finally win his overdue Emmy. Last year he finally won his first Golden Globe.”

— Tom O’Neill

Critics' Picks

Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Rami Malek ("Mr. Robot"): Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush

Bobby Cannavale (“Vinyl”) Bianco, Rosuh

Aaron Paul (“The Path”) Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush

Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) Bianco, O’Neill

Damian Lewis (“Billions”) Bianco, McNamara

James Spader (“The Blacklist”) McNamara

Paul Giamatti (“Billions”) McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill

Kevin Spacey ("House of Cards") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Steve Buscemi ("Horace and Pete") Whipp

Kyle Chandler ("Bloodlines") Whipp

Liev Schreiber ("Ray Donovan") Whipp, Roush

Drama actress | Most Buzz: Julianna Margulies | Viola Davis | Taraji P. Henson

(From left: CBS Entertainment; Chuck Hodes / Fox; Mitchell Haaseth / ABC)

“It’s time to give Tatiana Maslany an Emmy for her one-woman master class in ‘Orphan Black.’ This is not a request.”

— Mary McNamara

Critics' Picks

Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Taraji P. Henson (“Empire”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Keri Russell (“The Americans”) Bianco

Michelle Dockery (“Downton Abbey”) Bianco, McNamara

Claire Danes (“Homeland”) Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Tatiana Maslany ("Orphan Black") McNamara

Caitriona Balfe ("Outlander") Whipp, O’Neill

Michelle Monaghan (“The Path”) McNamara

Robin Wright ("House of Cards") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Carrie Coon ("The Leftovers") Roush

Drama supporting actor | Most Buzz: Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" | Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot"

(From left: Helen Sloan / HBO; David Giesbrecht / USA Network)

“Two veterans – Alan Alda (‘Horace and Pete’) and Christian Slater (‘Mr. Robot’) -- look to challenge two-time winner Peter Dinklage’s reign. ”

— Glenn Whipp

Critics' Picks

Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Christian Slater (“Mr Robot") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp

Alan Cumming (“The Good Wife”) Bianco, McNamara, Roush

Ray Romano (“Vinyl”) Bianco, Roush

Jim Carter ("Downton Abbey") Whipp, Roush

Ben Mendelsohn ("Bloodlines") Whipp

Michael McKean (“Better Call Saul”) Bianco, Roush

Jon Voight (“Ray Donovan”) McNamara

Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”) McNamara

Michael Kelly ("House of Cards") Whipp

Hugh Dancy ("The Path") O’Neill

Tobias Menzies ("Outlander") O’Neill

Alan Alda ("Horace and Pete") O’Neill

Alano Miller ("Underground") O’Neill

Drama supporting actress | Most Buzz: Uzo Aduba | Maggie Smith | Christine Baranski

(From left: Jessica Miglio / Netflix; Nick Briggs / PBS; CBS Entertainment)

“A very crowded field as usual and thus a real toss-up, but I'm especially rooting for ‘UnReal's’ Constance Zimmer to get noticed as the reality-show producer from hell.”

— Matt Roush

Critics' Picks

Uzo Aduba ("Orange is the New Black”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Christine Baranski ("The Good Wife”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Maggie Smith ("Downton Abbey”) Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Constance Zimmer ("UnReal") Bianco, Whipp, Roush

Regina King ("American Crime") Bianco, Whipp

Regina King ("The Leftovers”) Roush

Margo Martindale ("The Americans") Bianco

Lena Headey ("Game of Thrones") McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill. Roush

Joanne Froggatt (“Downton Abbey”) McNamara

Kate Mulgrew ("Orange Is the New Black") McNamara

Amirah Vann ("Underground") O’Neill

Jessica Lange ("Horace and Pete") O’Neill

Comedy series | Most Buzz: "Transparent" | "Veep" | "Modern Family" | "Silicon Valley" | "black-ish"

“With an outstanding second season, 'black-ish' could win one for broadcast.”

— Mary McNamara

Critics' Picks

"Transparent" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Veep" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Modern Family" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Silicon Valley" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"black-ish" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Big Bang Theory" O’Neill, Roush

"Casual" O’Neill

Comedy actor | Most Buzz: Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"

“This competitive category should have room enough for Aziz Ansari (‘Master of None’). Last year’s winner, Jeffrey Tambor, is likely to repeat for ‘Transparent.”

— Glenn Whipp

Critics' Picks

Jeffrey Tambor ("Transparent") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Anthony Anderson ("black-ish") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Aziz Ansari ("Master of None") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush

Jim Parsons ("Big Bang Theory") Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush

Rob Lowe ("The Grinder") Bianco, Roush

Rob Delaney ("Catastrophe") Bianco

Will Forte ("Last Man on Earth") McNamara, O’Neill

Jerrod Carmichael ("The Carmichael Show") McNamara

Don Cheadle ("House of Lies") Whipp

William H. Macy ("Shameless") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Gael Garcia Bernal ("Mozart in the Jungle") Whipp, O’Neill

Comedy actress | Most Buzz: Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Amy Schumer | Ellie Kemper | Rachel Bloom

“Julia Louis-Dreyfus could set a new record for most consecutive Emmy wins here (five). She’s currently tied with Helen Hunt (‘Mad About You’).”

— Tom O’Neill

Critics' Picks

Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Amy Schumer ("Inside Amy Schumer") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Ellie Kemper ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Rachel Bloom ("My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Lily Tomlin ("Frankie and Grace") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush

Tracee Ellis Ross ("black-ish") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush

Sutton Foster ("Younger") O’Neill

America Ferrera ("Superstore") O’Neill

Comedy supporting actor | Most Buzz: Tituss Burgess, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" | Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"

(From left: Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Peter 'Hopper' Stone / ABC )

“Competition is incredibly steep in this category, but I’m hoping Jaime Camil can beat the odds and break in - if only because almost every single line reading he gives surprises and delights me.”

— Robert Bianco

Critics' Picks

Tituss Burgess ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Ty Burrell ("Modern Family") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Tony Hale ("Veep") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush

Andre Braugher ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, Roush

Louie Anderson ("Baskets") Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Jaime Camil ("Jane the Virgin") Bianco

Laurence Fishburne ("black-ish") McNamara

Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family") McNamara

Keegan-Michael Key ("Key and Peele") Whipp

Hugh Laurie ("Veep") O’Neill

Adam Driver ("Girls") O’Neill

Malcolm McDowell ("Mozart in the Jungle") O’Neill

TJ Miller ("Silicon Valley") Roush

Comedy supporting actress | Most Buzz: Allison Janney | Anna Chlumsky | Jane Krakowski

(From left: Monty Brinton / CBS; Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Netflix)

“A three-peat by ‘Mom's’ great Allison Janney may be unstoppable, although an election-year win for Kate McKinnon (and her devastating Hillary Clinton impersonation) would be a long shot worth cheering.”

— Matt Roush

Critics' Picks

Allison Janney ("Mom") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Anna Chlumsky ("Veep") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Jane Krakowski ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Judith Light ("Transparent") Bianco, Whipp, Roush

Gaby Hoffmann ("Transparent") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp

Niecy Nash (“Getting On") McNamara

Jenifer Lewis (“black-ish") McNamara

Kate McKinnon ("Saturday Night Live") Whipp, Roush

Mayim Bialik ("Big Bang Theory") O’Neill, Roush

Bernadette Peters ("Mozart in the Jungle") O’Neill

Priscilla Faia ("You Me Her") O’Neill

Julie Bowen ("Modern Family") Bianco

Limited series | Most Buzz: "Fargo" | "The People v. O.J. Simpson" | "American Crime"

(From left: Chris Large / FX; Prashant Gupta / FX; Ryan Green / ABC)

“When a series is this great, you must nominate. (Sorry.) Look for ‘The People v. O.J. Simpson' to lead the way on Emmy nomination morning.”

— Glenn Whipp

Critics' Picks

"The People v. O.J. Simpson" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Fargo" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"American Crime" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"The Night Manager" Bianco, McNamara, O’Neill, Roush

"London Spy" Bianco

"Roots" McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Show Me a Hero" Whipp

TV movie | Most Buzz: "All the Way" | "Confirmation" | "The Dresser" | "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride"

“A stronger category than usual, dominated by HBO's politically themed docudramas—the sexual politics of ‘Confirmation’ may give it the edge over the Bryan Cranston-driven ‘All the Way’—although you never want to underestimate the charms of PBS's Sherlock franchise.”

— Matt Roush

Critics' Picks

"Confirmation" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"All the Way" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Sherlock: The Abominable Bride" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"The Dresser" Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

"Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill" Bianco

"A Very Murray Christmas" McNamara

"Luther" Whipp, Roush

"Saints and Strangers" O'Neill

Movie/Limited series actor | Most Buzz: Courtney B. Vance, "The People v. O.J. Simpson" | Bryan Cranston, "All the Way"

(From left: FX Networks; Hilary Bronwyn Gayle / HBO)

“It’s difficult to imagine anyone beating Bryan Cranston in ‘All the Way,’ unless it’s Anthony Hopkins for ‘The Dresser.’”

— Mary McNamara

Critics' Picks

Bryan Cranston ("All the Way") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Courtney B. Vance ("The People v. O.J. Simpson") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Patrick Wilson ("Fargo") Bianco, McNamara, Roush

Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock: The Abominable Bride") Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Tom Hiddleston ("The Night Manager") Bianco, O’Neill

Oscar Isaac ("Show Me a Hero") Whipp, Roush

Idris Elba ("Luther") Whipp, Roush

James Earl Jones ("Agent X") Bianco

Ben Whishaw ("London Spy") Bianco

Timothy Hutton ("American Crime") O'Neill

Ian McKellen ("The Dresser") O'Neill, McNamara

Hugh Laurie ("The Night Manager") McNamara

Anthony Hopkins ("The Dresser") McNamara

Movie/Limited series actress| Most Buzz: Kirsten Dunst | Kerry Washington | Felicity Huffman

“If there’s a better group of performances in any category, I’m not sure what it would be. What a powerhouse set of great actors in great roles.”

— Robert Bianco

Critics' Picks

Kirsten Dunst ("Fargo") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Kerry Washington ("Confirmation") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Felicity Huffman ("American Crime") Bianco, McNamara, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Sarah Paulson (The People v. O.J. Simpson") Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Audra McDonald ("Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill") Bianco, Whipp, O’Neill, Roush

Lili Taylor ("American Crime") Bianco, Roush

Regina King ("American Crime") McNamara

Jean Smart ("Fargo") McNamara

Anika Noni Rose ("Roots") O'Neill

‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Confirmation’ and ‘black-ish’ lead our 2016 Emmys Buzzmeter

Drama series | Most Buzz: "Game of Thrones" | "Mr. Robot" | "Better Call Saul" | "Downton Abbey"

Critics' Picks

Drama actor | Most Buzz: Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"

Critics' Picks

Drama actress | Most Buzz: Julianna Margulies | Viola Davis | Taraji P. Henson

Critics' Picks

Drama supporting actor | Most Buzz: Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" | Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot"

Critics' Picks

Drama supporting actress | Most Buzz: Uzo Aduba | Maggie Smith | Christine Baranski

Critics' Picks

Comedy series | Most Buzz: "Transparent" | "Veep" | "Modern Family" | "Silicon Valley" | "black-ish"

Critics' Picks

Comedy actor | Most Buzz: Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"

Critics' Picks

Comedy actress | Most Buzz: Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Amy Schumer | Ellie Kemper | Rachel Bloom

Critics' Picks

Comedy supporting actor | Most Buzz: Tituss Burgess, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" | Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"

Critics' Picks

Comedy supporting actress | Most Buzz: Allison Janney | Anna Chlumsky | Jane Krakowski

Critics' Picks

Limited series | Most Buzz: "Fargo" | "The People v. O.J. Simpson" | "American Crime"

Critics' Picks

TV movie | Most Buzz: "All the Way" | "Confirmation" | "The Dresser" | "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride"

Critics' Picks

Movie/Limited series actor | Most Buzz: Courtney B. Vance, "The People v. O.J. Simpson" | Bryan Cranston, "All the Way"

Critics' Picks

Movie/Limited series actress| Most Buzz: Kirsten Dunst | Kerry Washington | Felicity Huffman

Critics' Picks

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