Awards Contenders
The 2021 Emmy Awards are upon us! Check out the Watercooler’s catch-up guide to see which nominees to watch and what to look out for before the Sunday, September 19th ceremony. Tune in to CBS or Paramount+ at 8pm ET / 5pm PT too see which Emmy contenders take home the prize. Prefer to watch films? See our recommendations for this year’s Oscar and Golden Globe candidates.
Watercooler Picks: Film
Licorice Pizza
A love letter to Los Angeles in the 70s, Licorice Pizza encapsulates how unexpected, unsure, and complicated first loves can be.
The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog delivers amazing vistas and performances, some of which may still be seared in the mind after viewing. There is a uniqueness in the story and in the acting, thanks to the joint efforts of Campion and Cumberbatch.
The French Dispatch
This is the most Andersonian of Wes Anderson’s movies so far, and arguably his most ambitious work to date. If you haven’t enjoyed his movies in the past The French Dispatch might not be for you.
West Side Story (2021)
Steven Spielberg manages to make this West Side Story both retro and modern at the same time. The movie doesn’t lose any steam in this reboot, 60 years in the making.
Passing
A nuanced and beautiful look at the way race and the constructs of race shapes our lives, with wonderful performances by its two leading ladies.
Watercooler Picks: Series
Succession
Come to Succession for the palace intrigue, stay for the sheer enjoyment of watching a talented cast at the top of their game go head to head in every episode.
Hacks
“When you share a sense of humor with someone, you make each other better.” This fascinating comedy spans the generational divide to tell the story of an unlikely partnership between two very funny women.
In Treatment (2021)
A timely reboot that depicts the vital relationship between a therapist and patient, and the meaningful role it plays in fostering growth and change.
Deeper Dives
What Will Make Oscar History This Year?
Which movies will get nominated for an Oscar in 2022, and which of them are poised to make history? Veteran entertainment journalist Jerry Barmash looks at all the firsts. Prepare your ballots with our guide.
What You Need to Know About tick, tick… BOOM!
Broadway fans are geeking out over tick, tick… BOOM! but for those not familiar with its origins and references it can be a bit confusing.
Who’s Likely to Win – and Who Could Upset – This Year’s Emmy Awards?
Who’s likely to win — and who could upset — this year’s Emmy Awards.
How SNL’s Bowen Yang Earned His Historic Emmy Nomination and Why He Should Win
Bowen Yang has proven his chops on Saturday Night Live, so his Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor came as no surprise. What should be equally obvious to viewers and members of the Television Academy alike is that he deserves to win.
Emmy Watch: PEN15 Elevates the Awkward Teen Comedy
In all its embarrassing glory and inadvertent hilarity, PEN15 shows us what it is to be a teenager—specifically a teenage girl–and reminds us that those days are not so far behind us.
Why This Is Us Could Nab a Emmy
This Is Us faces some stiff competition at the Emmys this year, but the show’s fifth season may be its most deserving yet.
