We’re back from our spring break and ready to tear into the 2026 Emmys race once more. With HBO MAX’s Hacks receiving series-best reviews in its final season, we wonder if anyone can beat Jean Smart’s clean sweep. Will she win Comedy Actress for all five seasons of the series? Or will Lisa Kudrow finally win Comedy Actress for HBO’s The Comeback? Is there really anyone else who can break into what appears to be a 2-way race?

On the flip side, the 2026 Emmys Lead Comedy Actor race looks bleak. Bleak as any recent race we can remember and completely devoid of a frontrunner. Only Murder in the Building‘s Martin Short seems widely predicted to take home an Emmy, finally, but is that out of love for its latest, muted season or is he the last man standing? If not Short, then who? Jason Segel (Shrinking)? Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This)? The two Steves (Martin, Only Murders; Carell, Rooster)? Or are there dark horse contenders who will leap into contention?

We close our podcast, as always, with the Flash Forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

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Click here to listen to our audio podcast. Our video podcast follows below!

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The post 2026 Emmys: Lead Comedy Actor, Actress Are No Laughing Matter [VIDEO] appeared first on The Contending.

Are you ready to dive into some Emmy contenders?

Yes, it is only April 1st, but we already have some bonafide Emmy passion with even more on the horizon. Megan and Joey begin this Emmy season with discussing the conclusion to Connor Hines’ Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. Did the nine-episode season go on too long? Is Sara Pidgeon really out that far in front? With three women now battling for Supporting Actress (Naomi Watts, Constance Zimmer, and Grace Gummer), will one of them be left out?

From there, Megan and Joey run down each series category to counter what may or may not make the cut. Can sophomore efforts like Jury Duty or Nobody Wants This break back in or will Comedy Series make way for something new like Rooster or The Chair Company or can The Comeback earn its first nomination? Will The Pitt grow in nominations as it defends its title? Which Limited Series can extend Netflix’s 3-year winning streak?

We close our podcast, as always, with the Flash Forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

We’re deeply appreciative for your shares, likes, and positive ratings on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Click here to listen to our audio podcast. Our video podcast follows below!

Podcast Music:
Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com
Track: Here We Go! by cinematic alex
https://tunetank.com/track/802-here-we-go/

The post Emmys 2026: Will the Academy ‘Love’ JFK Jr. & Carolyn or Will Their Eyes Wander? appeared first on The Contending.

With Oscars 2026 put to bed, we’re turning our sights elsewhere this week. A few podcasts ago, Megan shockingly revealed that she’d never seen the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct. Directed by Paul Verhoven from a screenplay by Joe Eszterhas, Basic Instinct stars Sharon Stone (her star-making performance) as a potentially murderous writer (“She’s evil! She’s brilliant!”). Michael Douglas plays the troubled cop (“Shooter”) trying to catch her or screw her. Or both! Controversy assailed the film upon its release, following it to this day. Yet, you cannot deny the influence Basic Instinct had on 1990s cinema. Several films tried (and failed) to capture its heat. Joey and Clarence have seen the film multiple times. Megan, however, sees it for the first time through modern eyes. Does the film hold up? Does it live up to its reputation? We slash Basic Instinct off Megan’s “never seen” list.

We close our podcast, as always, with the Flash Forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

We’re deeply appreciative for your shares, likes, and positive ratings on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Click here to listen to our audio podcast. Our video podcast follows below.

Podcast Music:
Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com
Track: Here We Go! by cinematic alex
https://tunetank.com/track/802-here-we-go/

The post ‘Basic Instinct:’ Slashing One Off Megan’s “Never Seen” List [VIDEO] appeared first on The Contending.