FIRST QUARTER TIMMYS UPDATE

We have officially made it a quarter of the way through 2025, which means I am presenting you with my first quarter update for this year's Timmys. This is a way to share my thought process in choosing my nominees by year's end (just my side of the awards, Ali's remain a mystery). I will not be sharing who I think is the front-runner to win, but rather who my nominees are at this current moment, and which of those I believe are strong candidates to finish the year as a nominee. However, my insights could certainly give any readers an advantage when it comes to filling out their Timmys ballots next January. I'm also not exploring every category, since there are now a total of 60 across both film and television.

Table of Contents:

• Film Awards
• Best Motion Picture Drama
• Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama
• Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama
• Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Drama
• Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Drama
• Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
• Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
• Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
• Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
• Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
• Best Director of a Motion Picture


• Television Awards
• Best Television Drama
• Best Actor in a Television Drama
• Best Actress in a Television Drama
• Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama
• Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama
• Best Television Comedy
• Best Actor in a Television Comedy
• Best Actress in a Television Comedy
• Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy
• Best Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy


• Looking Ahead

Best Motion Picture Drama

• The Florida Project (2017)
• After Yang (2021)
• Sing Sing (2023)
• Nosferatu (2024)
• Conclave (2024)

All of these films would be worthy of Best Drama nominations, but I'm quite confident in saying that Conclave and Sing Sing will remain here the rest of the way. This update will only include acting awards, best director, and best film/series (drama, comedy/musical), but Conclave and Nosferatu in particular also killed it with cinematography, production design, and costume design. After Yang also had great cinematography and production design, as well as sound design. It's also entirely possible Conclave ends up with a nomination for Best Editing. All four of these are very well-made films, but I don't think they will all make it through the year.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama

• Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
• Patrick Fabian (The Way We Speak)
• Colin Farrell (After Yang)
• Ralph Fiennes (Conclave)
• Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)
• Sebastian Stan (A Different Man)

Wow, this category is incredibly stacked considering it's compiled from just three months worth of watching films (and I've been slacking compared to last year). Every single performance here has a legitimate case not only to be locked in right now, but also to win the award. I made sure to say every performance and not every person, since Sebastian Stan appears twice on this list. I have to say, his performance in The Apprentice, portraying current U.S. President Donald Trump, blew me away, and I believe it trumps that of his in A Different Man. Ralph Fiennes did a fantastic job in Conclave. The WSG Executive VP of Marketing and Creative Justin Parks and I kept flip-flopping on whether or not to root for his character during the duration of the film, a testament to his great work on the project. Colman Domingo delivered an incredibly raw and emotional performance in Sing Sing, and has as good of a chance as any of his competitors to win the award. Patrick Fabian was a great fit to play an essayist and debater in The Way We Speak, having the perfect cadence to get up on a stage and destroy a Christian-American, but unfortunately, I have to say he would be the odd man out if push came to shove (which it likely will considering the competitiveness of the category so early on). Colin Farrell gave a very good, emotionally subtle performance in After Yang, but he's likely the next one out after Fabian.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama

• Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu)

I promise I'm not sexist. I just haven't watched many drama films with female leads, which is entirely coincidental. Lily-Rose Depp is also sensational in Nosferatu, so I fully expect her to still be here in January.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Drama

• Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project)
• Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
• Adam Pearson (A Different Man)
• Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu)
• Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)

Much like the Best Actor in a Drama category, this is very stacked very early on. Everyone absolutely brought it in many different ways. Willem Dafoe won Ali's award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Drama at the 2024 Timmy Awards, and for good reason. I do believe I'm not as high on his performance as Ali was, but he would definitely have earned the nomination had the year ended today. Clarence Maclin's performance in Sing Sing definitely is the most interesting, brilliantly playing himself as an inmate at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, which is where he learned how to act (which is shown in the film). Adam Pearson stood out in a great way in A Different Man, his charasmatic portrayal of Oswald in the second half of the film beautifully and tragically contrasts Sebastian Stan's more reserved performance in the first half. Bill Skarsgård plays the title character in Nosferatu, and could have gone in the Best Actor category, but I decided he fits better here with his lack of screen time. He disappears into the role, both literally and figuratively, making me forget who is behind all of the makeup and prosthetics while I shake in my boots in a Dolby theater (no flex). I couldn't have said more good things about Sebastian Stan's performance as Donald Trump in The Apprentice, but Jeremy Strong may have outshined Stan in his own film, making me sympathize with a character as despicable as Trump himself by the film's end.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Drama

I'm not beating the sexist allegations with this one.

Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

• Comet (2014)
• Saturday Night (2024)
• Y2K (2024)

This category currently doesn't have too much going on. I will say that Saturday Night was a good watch as a big SNL guy, including some very fun performances and genuinely funny sequences. Y2K is quite a good comedy, like the lost art of those from the late 2000s or early 2010s, but anywhere you look online will tell you otherwise. I can't guarantee either of these films will be here in January, but I hope Y2K is for the sake of narratives. Comet, on the other hand, is an easy shoe-in for a nomination. Written and directed by Sam Esmail, the creator and mastermind behind 21-time Timmy nominated and 12-time Timmy winning show Mr. Robot, he knocked it out of the park with a very unique and quirky blend of romance, comedy, and a little bit of sci-fi, all in his directorial debut.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

• Patrick Fabian (DriverX)
• Gabriel LaBelle (Saturday Night)
• Justin Long (Comet)

This category has also been filling out pretty slowly to start the year. Patrick Fabian did a good job adding depth to a character that could have easily been very flat, playing a rideshare driver in DriverX, but I doubt he makes it to the end of the year. Gabriel LaBelle has a sneaky-good chance of being one of the five nominees in roughly nine months time, being a credible leading man in the big ensemble cast of Saturday Night. Justin Long, much like the film he's in, is a shoe-in for a nomination for Comet. Long plays that stereotypical obnoxiously-too-smart-for-his-own-good kind of character, but he adds a layer of vulnerability that usually does not accompany those characters, making for a great performance.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

• Emmy Rossum (Comet)
• Sophie Thatcher (Companion)
• Rachel Zegler (West Side Story)

There is more than one woman in this category, which is good progress. I feel like a broken record, but the same thing I said about Comet and Justin Long's performance can be applied to Emmy Rossum's. Just so good. Sophie Thatcher gave a fun performance in Companion, and considering the typically weak nature of the comedy/musical acting categories, I'd say it's 50/50 whether or not she's still here in January. Rachel Zegler absolutely stole the show in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, with her incredible voice, and her ability to convey real emotion while using it. This is even more impressive when considering this was her very first film role. I also learned she received permission from Steven Spielberg to perform in her high school production of Shrek the Musical while filming this, which is dope as hell.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

• Mike Faist (West Side Story)
• Dylan O'Brien (Saturday Night)

There isn't too much to say about this category. They were both good, otherwise they wouldn't be here even this early in the year. However, I really can't say whether or not they'll stand their ground, since the acting categories for comedy/musical films have historically been a bit weaker. We'll just have to wait and see.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

• Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)

Ariana DeBose in West Side Story is the only performance I have currently, but it's good. I don't think it is quite as good as most people say, and I believe Rachel Zegler easily gave the best performance out of anyone in the film, but DeBose delivered a very good supporting performance. I believe this category was the only category of mine, across both film and TV, that did not have the maximum amount of nominees at last year's Timmys, so I'm fairly confident DeBose will end up with a nomination.

Best Director of a Motion Picture

• Sean Baker (The Florida Project)
• Edward Berger (Conclave)
• Robert Eggers (Nosferatu)
• Kogonada (After Yang)
• Sam Esmail (Comet)
• Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)

Best Director was incredibly difficult for both myself and Ali to narrow down at the end of last year, and this year does not seem like it will go any differently. I already have six people here, meaning I have to cut at least one of them. Of course, I have an idea of who the front-runners are to win currently, but I really don't know who I would remove today if I had to. Maybe Sean Baker? Either him or Spielberg, probably. Spielberg is in the Timmys Hall of Fame, so maybe I'll just take pity on Baker. Luckily I have about nine months to figure it out.

Best Television Drama

• Severance (Season 2)

As you can see, I only have one show for this category, but that's bound to change. With The Bear season 4 dropping this June (there's no official release date but it's probably June), as well as Andor season 2 premiering in just a few weeks, the drama categories are going to be just as, if not more competitive than last year. Oh, and Severance season 2 is phenomenal.

Best Actor in a Television Drama

• Adam Scott (Severance, Season 2)

Again, I only have one person on this list. I nominated Scott in the same category for his role as Mark Scout in the first season of Severance back at the 2023 Timmys, and I think he really elevated an already great character to new heights in this new season. He has every opportunity to take home some Timmys gold in January, but he also has no current competition.

Best Actress in a Television Drama

Yeah, not a good look.

Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama

• Tramell Tillman (Severance, Season 2)
• John Turturro (Severance, Season 2)

Still just season 2 of Severance here, but these two were great this season. They were also great in season 1, but this category back in 2023 was unbelievably deep, and ultimately won by Matthew Macfadyen for his performance in Succession. Tillman's character, Mr. Milchick, is one of my favorite and one of the most interesting characters in the entire show, which is full of multi-dimensional characters. John Turturro was given more opportunity to shine this season, getting to see much more of his outie as well as an unforgettable scene from his innie in episode 4. I hope they both get the nomination this time around, but last year I had a double-digit number of contenders before I had to make cuts.

Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama

• Britt Lower (Severance, Season 2)

Like her co-star Adam Scott, Britt Lower also received a nomination in this category for her work on season 1 of Severance back at the 2023 Timmys, and this could be her year to take home the award. However, also like Adam Scott, her competition can only be speculated at the moment.

Best Television Comedy

• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)
• Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024-2025)
• The White Lotus (Season 3)
• The Studio (2025-)

Unlike last year for me, the comedy section of the television side of the awards has started off hot. I'm not as confident on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. While it's a fun, unconsequential show and a welcome addition to the Star Wars universe, I'm not quite sure it's up to Timmy Awards standards. Season 3 of The White Lotus is just as fun to watch as the first two seasons, but this time I get to watch it week to week with everyone else, theorizing who will die this time around. Barring a disaster of a season finale, this is definitely getting nominated. I'm just over halfway through season 2 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but it is a funny and surprisingly well-made comedy series, and will get a nomination at its current pace. The Studio has only aired its first three episodes at the time I'm writing this, but I can't remember the last time I've had this much of a blast watching a show. The show feels made specifically for me and my interest in film and television, while being incredibly hilarious. Gen V season 2 should be releasing sometime in the fall, so I'd also look out for that getting nominated if it's anything like season 1.

Best Actor in a Television Comedy

• Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus, Season 3)
• Seth Rogen (The Studio)

This category currently is shaping up to be the weakest of the comedy acting categories on the TV side. Jason Isaacs is very good putting on his divisive North Carolina accent in the third season of The White Lotus, but like everyone in every season of the show, he could've just as well been in the supporting actor category, just based on the fact that every main character gets a pretty even amount of screen-time. Seth Rogen, on the other hand, is very much the lead of The Studio, which does have a very enjoyable supporting cast in its own right. Rogen isn't playing a character much different from the ones he's played in the past, but he's hilarious, which is all you really can ask out of a lead role in a comedy.

Best Actress in a Television Comedy

• Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Rachel Brosnahan is currently the only person in this category, but don't let that fool you. She is fantastic as the title character in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She is equally funny and charasmatic, and though I am not even halfway through the show, I am very confident she will get a nomination. I'm also very much looking forward to seeing her as Lois Lane in James Gunn's Superman this July.

Best Supporting Actor in a Television Comedy

• Ike Barinholtz (The Studio)
• Walton Goggins (The White Lotus, Season 3)
• Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
• Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Four is a pretty solid number to have in this category this early in the year, and it'll be interesting to see which ones stick and which ones slip away. Ike Barinholtz, Celebrity Jeopardy champion, has been hilarious so far as Seth Rogen's sidekick in The Studio. Walton Goggins in The White Lotus season 3 does a great job serving the mysterious, "strong, silent type" nature of his character, playing someone with much bottled-up rage and emotion. Michael Zegen and Tony Shalhoub are very good in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but the latter is the better and funnier of the two, in my opinion (though Shalhoub's character is written as more of a comedic character than Zegen's).

Best Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy

• Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
• Sarah Catherine Hook (The White Lotus, Season 3)
• Carrie Coon (The White Lotus, Season 3)
• Catherine O'Hara (The Studio)
• Parker Posey (The White Lotus, Season 3)
• Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus, Season 3)

If you had told me that this category would have the most nominees at this point in the year, I probably would have believed you. Not because I expected it, but because that's just a really specific thing to tell me. Alex Borstein is arguably equally as marvelous as Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, providing a great compliment to Brosnahan's Mrs. Maisel character, as well as the Maisel/Weissman families as a whole. Sarah Catherine Hook wasn't really on my radar out of the many women in the third season of The White Lotus, but her scene in the monestary in episode 6 made me correct that. Timmy Award winner Carrie Coon (winning my award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for The Leftovers) is looking for her second Timmy, and she may get it in the comedy category this time. Catherine O'Hara has been quite funny in The Studio, though it's only been three episodes. I debated putting Parker Posey in the Best Actress category instead, like I did with her on-screen husband Jason Isaacs, but kept her in here, at least for now. Aimee Lou Wood seems to be the standout character from this season of The White Lotus, especially online. Most of that may be because of her teeth, but she is very charming and makes the character of Chelsea easy to root for in a world full of deeply flawed characters. I would usually say that I have to cut someone since I have six nominees currently, but I may first consider moving one or even two of The White Lotus actresses into the Best Actress category instead.

Looking Ahead

That about does it for my first quarter update. I haven't seen a single limited or anthology series this year, hence the lack of recognition in this write-up. Because of the nature of the Timmy Awards, I could watch any show or movie from any year, so that's difficult to forecast what could happen. However, some of the projects that are releasing later this year that I will be watching include:

• Andor (Season 2)
• The Bear (Season 4)
• Gen V (Season 2)
• Thunderbolts* (2025) dir. Jake Schreier
• Superman (2025) dir. James Gunn
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) dir. Matt Shakman
• Stranger Things (Season 5)
• Poker Face (Season 2)
• Peacemaker (Season 2)
• The Last of Us (Season 2)
• The Rivals of Amziah King (2025) dir. Andrew Patterson
• After the Hunt (2025) dir. Luca Guadagnino
• Running Man (2025) dir. Edgar Wright
• Caught Stealing (2025) dir. Darren Aronofsky
• One Battle After Another (2025) dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
• F1 (2025) dir. Joseph Kosinski
• Sinners (2025) dir. Ryan Coogler
• The Amateur (2025) dir. James Hawes
• The Phoenician Scheme (2025) dir. Wes Anderson
• From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (2025) dir. Len Wiseman
• Nobody 2 (2025) dir. Timo Tjahjanto
• The Smashing Machine (2025) dir. Benny Safdie
• Marty Supreme (2025) dir. Josh Safdie

My second quarter (or first half) update will be here at the beginning of July, so don't miss it.

The 2025 Timmy Awards will be held next January.