IndieWire's Dream 2026 Emmy Ballot: Hacks, The Pitt, Love Story
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- Marcus Jones, IndieWire's Awards Editor, published his personal 2026 Emmy dream ballot ahead of nominations, structuring his picks after the outlet's TV critic rather than by individual actors
- Hacks Season 5 is Jones's comedy standout, with Jean Smart positioned for a clean sweep of Comedy Actress Emmys, while Jones defends 'The Bear' staying in Comedy categories despite calling Season 4 its weakest
- The Pitt, Paradise, and Pluribus are Jones's three undisputed Outstanding Drama Series contenders; he confesses being 'lower on The Pitt' Season 2 because it 'felt a little too lived in,' adding that supporting players Supriya Ganesh, Shabana Azeez, and Sepideh Moafi got stronger dramatic storylines this season
- Abbott Elementary earns Jones's 'best in class' label for network sitcoms, with The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC) named his favorite new network comedy for its unlikely pairing of Daniel Radcliffe, Tracy Morgan, and Erika Alexander
- 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette' topped Jones's limited series list, with Sarah Pidgeon singled out and a finale featuring Grace Gummer and Constance Zimmer called a 'triumph' for performers he felt were snubbed for 'Mr. Robot' and 'UnReal'
- 'DTF St. Louis' was called 'the true surprise,' praised for using a murder mystery as 'bait and switch' to deliver a deeper story about human connection, with David Harbour cited in his best performance yet
Why it matters: With 2026 Emmy nominations arriving next week, Jones's picks function as a bellwether for which series have built genuine awards momentum versus which are merely hyped. His explicit defense of 'The Bear' in Comedy, his contrarian cooling on 'The Pitt' Season 2, and his elevation of little-watched 'DTF St. Louis' all signal where Television Academy voters may diverge from broader critical consensus.
