Last night, they gave out the SAG awards.
There’s a great dichotomy with the SAG awards — they mean so much in terms of who’s going to win the Oscar (probably. I should say probably), yet — it’s one of the worst awards shows to watch. It almost feels like a chore. They just go through the motions, get the show in under two hours every year, and there’s no fun to be had. Ever. I know I’m in the minority, but I prefer three hour awards shows. Because if you’re gonna celebrate yourself, do it right. Don’t rush it. What’s the point of bringing everyone there and then catering to a TV audience?
But, you know, the winners matter, so we watch it. (Oh, and did I mention — same format every year. It’s pretty boring that they never change it up, either.)
Anyway, here are the results of the SAG awards:
We’re gonna do them in order, because why the hell not?
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey, The Butler
Winner: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Good for her.
I’m not 100% sold on her winning the Oscar, because I’m worried the Academy might double down on Jennifer Lawrence, but I’m willing to take the shot. I’d rather see her win than Lawrence. I think. I’ll watch them all again before Oscar night.
Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Brühl, Rush
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Winner: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
I thought they might go Gandolfini, but this says a lot to me. I think he has the Oscar in the bag.
Which — during his speech, he said something interesting. He made me realize — now it’s SAG-AFTRA. So there are more people in this branch. Which means they might not be as accurate at guessing the Oscars. Possibly. Just throwing it out there. It’s looking like they’re gonna be accurate. Plus Leto is saying all the right things, so I assume him and McConaughey have it in the bag.
Anyway, look at them, 15 minutes into the show and already they knocked out the supporting categories.
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
That’s not surprising.
Nice speech. I like people with senses of humor about these things.
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Winner: Ty Burrell, Modern Family
They like spreading the wealth here. I feel like they go every which way with this category.
ALSO JOHN GOODMAN IS HERE!
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Arrested Development
The Big Bang Theory
Modern Family
30 Rock
Veep
Winner: Modern Family
No shock. They always win. Good for them. Great cast.
P.S. Ken Howard, the president of SAG — he was Jefferson in 1776. Just in case you didn’t know that.
Best Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Angela Bassett, Betty & Coretta
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton & Taylor
Holly Hunter, Top of the Lake
Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
Winner: Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Wow, Helena Bonham Carter looked and sounded nothing like Liz Taylor.
But — I kind of suspected that. They love her, and I’m sure there was a vote split between Holly Hunter and Elisabeth Moss. Plus no one probably saw that show.
Even Mirren gave Moss a shout out.
Best Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Matt Damon, Behind the Candelabra
Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Jeremy Irons, The Hollow Crown
Rob Lowe, Killing Kennedy
Al Pacino, Phil Spector
Winner: Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Obviously. Dude was fucking incredible.
Also, please have Emma Thompson present at every awards show.
And Rita Moreno looks fantastic. Go her.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Claire Danes, Homeland
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Winner: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Really thought they were gonna go Breaking Bad there.
Of course Maggie Smith wasn’t there.
Maggie Smith don’t move for anybody.
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Winner: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
There was no way. There was just no way they weren’t going here.
Best Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Winner: Breaking Bad
Come on, now.
Wait, do they not do supporting roles in TV shows? I keep forgetting that.
Best Actor
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Forest Whitaker, The Butler
Winner: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Oh yeah, he’s got that shit on lock.
I saw this shit coming from last year. Momentum is a hell of a thing. Dude’s on fire.
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
Winner: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Well that shit’s in the bag now.
Also, great speech. Great speech.
Best Acting Ensemble
American Hustle
The Butler
Dallas Buyers Club
12 Years a Slave
Winner: American Hustle
They nominated them in every acting category. Of course it won.
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So basically, what we got out of this — your four acting Oscars will most likely go to McCoanughey, Blanchett, Leto and Nyong’o. And American Hustle is still probably your likely Best Picture winner.
Which I think we all figured. Still not sure about Supporting Actress and maybe Supporting Actor, given the differences in the category (for Supporting Actor), and what the narrowed voting body means for it, but I feel like it’s gonna go this way. That makes sense to me, and I think we’d all be cool with it.
