“Take It From Me” is a TODAY.com series where experts use their wisdom to explain trends or make recommendations within their fields. In this latest installment, pop culture experts share their recommendations for what to watch ahead of the Emmys.
The Emmys are approaching fast, which means there are only a few more days to catch up on buzzy award shows.
The ceremony takes place on Monday, Sept. 14, on NBC. So, maybe not quite enough time to binge-watch entire series, but there’s definitely enough hours to at least get a taste of the performances that everyone will be talking about.
To narrow down what to watch, TODAY.com spoke to two pop culture experts to get their opinions:
Nominated for: 18 awards, including outstanding drama series; outstanding lead actress in a drama (Rhea Seehorn); outstanding supporting actor in a drama (Carlos-Manuel Vesga); and outstanding guest actress in a drama (Miriam Shor)
“Apple TV is really just nailing it lately,” Maldonado says, referring to “Pluribus” and another Emmys darling, “Widow’s Bay.”
Created by Vince Gilligan of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” this sci-fi series is about a woman (Rhea Seehorn) who ends up being one of the few of humanity not to be taken over by an alien virus that dissolves individuality.
“The most miserable woman on book in the world has to save everyone,” Maldonado says.
Nominated for: 19 awards, including outstanding comedy series; outstanding lead actor in a comedy (Matthew Rhys); outstanding supporting actor in a comedy (Stephen Root); and outstanding supporting actress in a comedy (Kate O’Flynn)
Created by Katie Dippold, a former “Parks and Recreation” writer, “Widow’s Bay” is set on a definitely haunted New England island, which the mayor (Matthew Rhys) is desperately trying to make palatable to tourists.
“What’s so great about ‘Widow’s Bay’ is that it’s equal parts funny and unsettling,” Maldonado says. “Katie Dippold managed to deliver something that we haven’t seen before.”
Nominated for: 25 awards, including outstanding drama series; outstanding lead actor in a drama series (Noah Wyle); outstanding supporting actress in a drama series (Sepideh Moafi, Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif); outstanding guest actress in a drama series (Brittany Allen, Tal Anderson, Tina Ivlev) and more
Witherspoon says all you need is to watch one episode of “The Pitt,” HBO’s ER-set medical drama, to get the appeal. “You’ll be like, ‘Oh my God! I see how powerful this show is,’” he says.
The show’s second season follows senior attending doctor Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) on the last day before he heads out for a risky sabbatical.
Nominated for: Outstanding limited or anthology series; lead actress in an anthology series or movie (Sarah Snook); supporting actress in an anthology series or movie (Dakota Fanning); outstanding writing for a limited or anthology series (Meghan Gallagher)
