Royals, underdogs, friends and Baby Yoda - it's time for the Emmys

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lavish royal series "The Crown" is expected to reign at television's second pandemic era Emmy Awards on Sunday on what could be a big night for British talent.

Comedy "Ted Lasso," about a lovable American coach played by Jason Sudeikis navigating the idiosyncrasies of English soccer and society, is also expected to take home multiple awards for its mostly British cast after winning hearts with its optimism and sugary treats.

"We don't just have front runners this year, we have runaway front runners in most of the races," said Tom O'Neil, founder of awards website Goldderby.com.

Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and moved to an outdoor tent because of concerns over the Delta variant, the Emmys will be a scaled down gathering with vaccinations, testing and masks mandatory.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS television starting at 8 pm ET.

"The Crown" is widely expected to clinch its first best drama series Emmy, as well as trophies for the actors who played Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Coleman), Prince Charles, (Josh O'Connor), a young Princess Diana (newcomer Emma Corrin) and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson).

Corrin "really delivered and embodied everything that people love still to this day about Diana," said Gerrad Hall, senior TV editor at Entertainment Weekly.

A best drama series win for "The Crown" would mark a milestone for Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), while Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV+ would enter streaming's big league with a comedy series win for "Ted Lasso."

Other leading best drama series contenders include dystopian saga "The Handmaid's Tale," sci-fi favorite "The Mandalorian" featuring the lovable Baby Yoda and period romance "Bridgerton." [L1N2QJ1QW]

The closest contest on Sunday is for limited series, which produced contenders ranging from harrowing British rape drama "I May Destroy You" to Kate Winslet's downtrodden detective in "Mare of Easttown," and innovative superhero dramedy "WandaVision" on Disney+.

"Limited series is the most exciting race of the entire year," said Hall.

The Television Academy, whose members choose the winners, is known for pulling out surprises.

Billy Porter and MJ Rodriguez of FX drama "Pose" won plaudits for their turns in the emotional final season of the series about New York's underground drag culture in the 1980s that features a large cast of LGBTQ performers. "Pose" is also a best drama series nominee.

If Rodriguez wins on Sunday she would become the first transgender woman to win a best actress Emmy.

"It was a knockout performance by Billy Porter and it would be a historic moment for MJ Rodriguez," said Hall.

One of television's most popular shows - 1990s comedy "Friends" - could make an Emmys comeback. The "Friends" reunion special that saw the six main actors reminisce earlier this year about their days playing 20Something New Yorkers is competing against the filmed version of Broadway musical "Hamilton" for best variety special.