Also: The secret weapon behind "The Crown," why this voter is bored by "Game of Thrones," and raves for Jeff Daniels, Sandra Oh, and "Lady Mary in the Wild West."

Emmy voters have some tough choices to make in the coming days, as some of the most talented multi-hyphenates in the business face off in key categories. In this edition of IndieWire’s Anonymous Emmy Ballots, we asked an accomplished director to share his picks — and they came with some agonizing decisions.

In lead actress in a comedy series, for example, our voter raved for new star Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and writer/stars like Issa Rae and Pamela Adlon, before choosing Tracee Ellis Ross.

And speaking of “Mrs. Maisel,” our director couldn’t stop raving about creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, whom they called “the illegitimate child of Elaine May and Vincente Minelli.” But ultimately they couldn’t resist the tour de force “Atlanta.”

For drama actor, the voter similarly loved the evolution of “Ozark’s” Jason Bateman, but ultimately picked Matthew Rhys in his final season of “The Americans.” In fact, “The Americans” caught his/her fancy overall as top drama.

But on the flip side, today’s anonymous ballotee just wasn’t feeling this season of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” “This season was just one note, one set of circumstances with no relief,” they told us.

Read on for this director’s take on this year’s Emmy race, and his reason behind each pick:

Outstanding Drama Series

☑ The Americans

The Crown

Game Of Thrones

The Handmaid’s Tale

Stranger Things

This Is Us

Westworld

All but one are great here and that one was great last year. More about that later. What I prefer to watch was “The Crown” and “The Americans.” The others are a sometime thing.

“The Americans” got my vote because the hardest thing in episodic is consistency. The first season is the most exciting because you are discovering the show. From then on if you are good, you fight to not just codify what your show is. In their last season they reinvented themselves. The last two episodes are as good as television gets. Should have been nominated for best directing.

The big disappointment was a show that I previously LOVED. “The Handmaid’s Tale.” This season was just one note, one set of circumstances with no relief. Unlikely plot turns and way too much crying from Ms. Moss. Yvonne Strahovski was the MVP and had the most difficult scenes to play.

That said, the production, style, sexual politics, photography, directing are tops, I love that stuff. The writing fell down when they ran out of book. My favorite scene was when June comes out ahead finally and they played the song “Venus” by Shocking Blue!! Finally, signs of life in all that dreariness. Yes I know that’s the story arc, but the writers and producers lost perspective. More Shocking Blue please.

Outstanding Comedy Series

☑ Atlanta

Barry

black-ish

Curb Your Enthusiasm

GLOW

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Silicon Valley

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Five that I loved!!! OH NO, what to choose among “Atlanta,” “Barry” (it took three episodes), “Black-ish” (which because it’s on ABC has the hardest path to originality — on which they succeeded), “GLOW” (How I love this show, this ensemble of actors, the humor Alison Brie and Marc Maron — who knew?),and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (which won me over in the first 15 minutes).

A word about the directing on “GLOW” and “Maisel,” both of which have directors that crash the comedy format and reinvent it in their own image. I’m talking about Amy Sherman-Palladino, who is the created by, writer and director, is like the illegitimate child of Elaine May and Vincente Minelli. Think about it. This is the show on television that I would most like to work on. She is fearless.

On “Atlanta,” Hiro Murai’s work is genius. Bold compositions, amazing performances and a sense of the WHOLE episode that puts him among the very best. Shit, tough call. “Atlanta.”

Outstanding Limited Series

The Alienist

The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Genius: Picasso

☑ Godless

Patrick Melrose

“Godless” — Hey, I like westerns and this one feels like Anthony Mann to me. And I loved the conceit of a town of women that win the day, oh yes, have I said how much I like Merritt Wever?

“Patrick Melrose” was like watching a car crash that I couldn’t turn away from. It made me squirm and wish that Patrick wouldn’t make so many bad choices. Total identification. “The Alienist” had me too. Beautifully mounted and where are the nominations for Dakota Fanning?

Jonathan Prime / Netflix

Outstanding Television Movie

Fahrenheit 451

Flint

Paterno

The Tale

☑ USS Callister (Black Mirror)

“USS Callister.” ORIGINALITY. Parallel universes. Best “Twilight Zone” episode since… “The Twilight Zone.” “Paterno” was classic, involving and quality work.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Claire Foy/The Crown

Tatiana Maslany/Orphan Black

Elisabeth Moss/The Handmaid’s Tale

☑ Sandra Oh/Killing Eve

Keri Russell/The Americans

Evan Rachel Wood/Westworld

In a category full of very talented actresses, I went with Sandra Oh because she kept surprising me with her choices. She and Claire Foy both filled their silences with riveting reactions. At times it felt that the camera was an X-ray machine into their innermost thoughts.

Of course, everyone else in this strong category could be a winner with the exception of Elisabeth Moss. She is an actress whose work I have admired starting with “The West Wing.” That said, this year she was too indulgent and lost all perspective, it was tears and tears and tears. She made each episode into Renee Falconetti being burned at the stake in Carl Dreyer’s “Joan of Arc.”

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman/Ozark

Sterling K. Brown/This Is Us

Ed Harris/Westworld

☑ Matthew Rhys/The Americans

Milo Ventimiglia/This Is Us

Jeffrey Wright/Westworld

The big surprise here is Jason Bateman. As an actor, director and producer, he made his mark on this season. I binged the show because I couldn’t turn it off.

But my vote went to Matthew Rhys. The final season of “The Americans” brought him many challenges, which he met by revealing new layers to his character. in a show that has run as long as “The Americans” it is a tribute to Mr. Rhys that he enlightened us to his moral crisis.

Sterling K. Brown and Milo did “This Is Us” proud, and “Westworld” again showed us what a strong ensemble they put forth each episode.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Pamela Adlon/Better Things

Rachel Brosnahan/The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Allison Janney/Mom

Issa Rae/Insecure

☑ Tracee Ellis Ross/black-ish

Lily Tomlin/Grace And Frankie

Oh man, what a choice!! Rachel Brosnahan has shown in ALL her previous series work how talented she is, and she carries “Mrs. Maisel” as she should. But Pamela Adlon (actress, director, and producer) Issa Rae (another multi-tasker), and Tracee Ellis Ross are the top three for me. There is a message coming from this last season: actors and actresses are changing TV by creating their own series based around characters that they lived. Yet… My vote is Tracee Ellis Ross. She kills it week after week, with broad laughs and piercing intelligence.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson/black-ish

Ted Danson/The Good Place

Larry David/Curb Your Enthusiasm

☑ Donald Glover/Atlanta

Bill Hader/Barry

William H. Macy/Shameless

Donald Glover is my choice. Yet another actor, writer, director. “Atlanta” is one of the most original shows on TV and Donald Glover’s performance is the glue that holds it all together. That said, I also love Anthony Anderson, Bill Hader and Ted Danson. But it’s Mr. Glover’s time.

Lead Actress in a Limited Series/Movie

Jessica Biel/The Sinner

Laura Dern/The Tale

☑ Michelle Dockery/Godless

Edie Falco/Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders

Regina King/Seven Seconds

Sarah Paulson/American Horror Story: Cult

Lady Mary in the Wild West and even though she is petite and thin, her acting made her grow in stature. Lady Mary no more, she has shown great range here and in her other series. Regina King and Laura Dern are two of the people whose work I will watch no matter what. I never liked “AHS” so I couldn’t see her performance through the screws but “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” from the “People V. OJ” is an all time TV top five.

JoJo Whilden/Hulu

Lead Actor in a Limited Series/Movie

Antonio Banderas/Genius: Picasso

Darren Criss/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Benedict Cumberbatch/Patrick Melrose

☑ Jeff Daniels/The Looming Tower

John Legend/Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert

Jesse Plemons/USS Callister (Black Mirror)

Shout out to Jesse Plemons for originality and Benedict Cumberbatch for his ultra angst. Jeff Daniels gave two great performances this year, this and “Godless.” Is there anything he can’t do? He plays this guy like he is five guys in one. He did justice to the book. And he was “Dumb & Dumber” too. How could I not vote for Jeff?

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel/The Handmaid’s Tale

Millie Bobby Brown/Stranger Things

Ann Dowd/The Handmaid’s Tale

Lena Headey/Game Of Thrones

☑ Vanessa Kirby/The Crown

Thandie Newton/Westworld

Yvonne Strahovski/The Handmaid’s Tale

I tuned into “The Crown” as much for Vanessa Kirby as for the Queen. She made Margaret the kind of sexy bad girl that I love to watch. She is a star as “Mission Impossible” proved.

Yvonne Strahovski was the best thing about “Handmaid’s” disappointing 2nd season. Ann Dowd is now a part of the culture with the force of her characterization and its political significance. Lena Headley is fierce and Thandie Newton is always memorable. But it’s all about the way Princess Margaret smoked her cigarettes and unrepentant lifestyle — Vanessa Kirby.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau/Game Of Thrones

Peter Dinklage/Game Of Thrones

Joseph Fiennes/The Handmaid’s Tale

David Harbour/Stranger Things

☑ Mandy Patinkin/Homeland

Matt Smith/The Crown

I love “Homeland” so I love Mandy, who is always interesting, even when the show jumps the shark. I’m a loyal viewer when I like a show. I never let go.

“Game of Thrones” is incredible but huge, and there is a grand note that all the performances hit over and over. I’m a little disappointed in the lack of originality in the choices here in this category. All good actors, it’s just…

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Zazie Beetz/Atlanta

Alex Borstein/The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Aidy Bryant/Saturday Night Live

Betty Gilpin/GLOW

Leslie Jones/Saturday Night Live

☑ Kate McKinnon/Saturday Night Live

Laurie Metcalf/Roseanne

Megan Mullally/Will & Grace

Let’s start with Zazie Beetz, whose deceptively simple acting style hides all manner of subtext. Her charisma and talent will lead to her own series and movies. The “SNL” crew are all great, Kate’s characterizations are more than just funny, they are cultural markers. Leslie Jones is a joy, she can make anything funny, I’d like to be her friend just so I can hear what she says about everything. Alex Borstein is one of my favorite parts of “Maisel.” Betty Gilpin is the wrestler I love to hate. She shows us both sides of her slightly desperate character who is also growing into her power. What a STRONG category. I voted for Kate McKinnon.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Louie Anderson/Baskets

Alec Baldwin/Saturday Night Live

Tituss Burgess/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

☑ Brian Tyree Henry/Atlanta

Tony Shalhoub/The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Kenan Thompson/Saturday Night Live

Henry Winkler/Barry

Brian Tyree Henry is part of the flawless “Atlanta” crew, and got my vote. I have worked with Tony Shalhoub and he is the greatest. When we had a good take on a master I would give him one more with the caveat that he should set himself free. That’s the one that ends up in the show. But I voted for Brian Tyree!

Ursula Coyote/Netflix

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Sara Bareilles/Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert

Penélope Cruz/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Judith Light/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Adina Porter/American Horror Story: Cult

☑ Merritt Wever/Godless

Letitia Wright/Black Museum (Black Mirror)

This one is easy Merritt Wever, I’ll watch anything she is in. So dry so good, so smart. Shout out to Penelope Cruz, just because… I want more of Cruz on TV and movies. Pedro A, are you listening?

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

☑ Jeff Daniels/Godless

Brandon Victor Dixon/Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert

John Leguizamo/Waco

Ricky Martin/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Edgar Ramírez/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Michael Stuhlbarg/The Looming Tower

Finn Wittrock/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

My vote — Jeff Daniels. First you see him explode so you know what he is capable of. Then he’s quiet and it becomes like a Hitchcock trope of knowing that the bomb is under the table. He had tremendous stillness, then more violent the action around him, the more still he became, which gave him great power. Michael Stuhlbarg is ALWAYS good.

Outstanding Reality/Competition Program

The Amazing Race

American Ninja Warrior

Project Runway

RuPaul’s Drag Race

☑ Top Chef

The Voice

I NEVER miss “Top Chef.” As much as I love to cook, these people are scary good.

Outstanding Structured Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow

Fixer Upper

Lip Sync Battle

Queer Eye

Shark Tank

Who Do You Think You Are?

[No pick.]

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program

Born This Way

Deadliest Catch

Intervention

Naked And Afraid

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked

☑ United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell

Always smart. It is right on the pulse of who we are.

Host for a Reality or Reality/Competition Program

☑ W. Kamau Bell/United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell

Ellen Degeneres/Ellen’s Game Of Games

RuPaul/RuPaul’s Drag Race

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn/Project Runway

Jane Lynch/Hollywood Game Night

It’s his show. Another deserving multi-tasker.

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah

Full Frontal With Samantha Bee

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

☑ Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

The Late Late Show With James Corden

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

John Oliver. I go to bed MAD every Sunday. Actually, Wednesdays too. Thank you, Samantha.

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

At Home With Amy Sedaris

Drunk History

I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman

Portlandia

☑ Saturday Night Live

Tracey Ullman’s Show

“SNL” still on the zeitgeist. Still crazy after all these years.

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards

60th Annual Grammy Awards

Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert

Night Of Too Many Stars: America Unites For Autism Programs

The Oscars

[No pick.]

Netflix

Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

Carol Burnett Show 50th Anniversary Special

Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2018

Dave Chappelle: Equanimity

Full Frontal With Samantha Bee Presents: The Great American* Puerto Rico (*It’s Complicated)

☑ Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life

Steve and Marty — Showbiz excellence.

Outstanding Informational Series or Special

☑ Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman

StarTalk With Neil deGrasse Tyson

Vice

I will greatly miss Mr. Bourdain. We have travelled around the world on his TV advice. Been to Hong Kong, Rome, Paris, Singapore, Chiang Mei, Singapore, Bangkok,and Koreatown because his show moves us to do so. I have read Zola, Graham Greene, “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” and re-watch Jean Pierre Melville, Wong Kar-wai, and “La Dolce Vita” because I believed in what he preached. Inclusion, curiosity, respect. To paraphrase Warren Zevon, So sorry “your ride’s here.”

[Production assistance by Liz Shannon Miller.]

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