We’re still a good week away from the July 12 announcements of the 2022 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, but critics, experts and online award afficionados are already ranking those with the best chances to score nominations. One thing pretty much everyone agrees on: The limited series field is crowded with more worthy performances than the designated 6 category spots. While “The Staircase” and Colin Firth’s performance as Michael Peterson are treated as shoo-ins in their respective categories, Toni Collette seems to be facing stiff competition in the Lead Actress field, thanks to celebrated turns by Amanda Seyfried in “The Dropout”, Margaret Qualley in “Maid”, Julia Garner in “Inventing Anna” or any actress in the “First Lady” miniseries. Most awards predictions still see Collette in the supporting field, so at this time it’s a wild guess. We will see July 12.

Australian actress Toni Collette is an Emmy winner for “United States of Tara,” who’s been delivering fantastic work for decades. Opposite Colin Firth in the HBO thrilling limited series “The Staircase,” she’s front and center in one of the most delicate turns yet. While a supporting actress submission may have been warranted (especially given the competition in the field), she has enough voters that respect her work in the TV Academy. Her well-reviewed turn in Netflix’s “Pieces of Her” also helps her. (Clayton Davis, Variety, June 23, 2022)

The final episode of “The Staircase” entitled “America’s Sweetheart or: Time Over Time” aired last Thursday, bringing closure to an otherwise ongoing real life saga that will most probably never be solved. Many thanks once again to Jess, who has been capping the entire series for us. Much appreciated.

After navigating a possible retrial, a 73-year-old Michael confronts a life-changing decision. Meanwhile, Martha and Margaret each share long-buried truths, and Sophie comes to terms with a revelation.

Screencaptures from the sixth to seventh episode of “The Staircase” have been added to the photo gallery, with many thanks to Jess for sending them in, much appreciated as always. The final episode will be airing next week.

In 2006, Sophie pursues a far-fetched new theory about the night of Kathleen’s death. Then, in 2017, Michael grapples with compromising his principles in exchange for his freedom. After a body with similar injuries to Kathleen’s turns up at the county morgue, Sophie continues her quest to uncover what really happened to Kathleen. Meanwhile, Martha decides to dig into her fraught past, despite pushback from Margaret.

Screencaptures from the second to fifth episode of “The Staircase” have been added to the photo gallery, with many thanks to Jess for sending them in, much appreciated. Episode 6 has just aired and the remaining two episodes will be shown on HBO Max until the second week of June, so if you haven’t tuned in, make sure to do so.

While working on his defense, Michael considers an opportunity to tell his story in a documentary. As the DA’s office attempts to solidify their case, shocking new details surface about Michael’s past that threaten to derail the defense. After an unexpected homecoming, a critical discovery rocks the Peterson household. Michael’s fate hangs in the balance as the trial ends. In the aftermath of the verdict, the Petersons struggle with the court’s decision, and Michael finds solace in an unlikely friendship from thousands of miles away.

On the new episode of WrapWomen’s “UnWrapped” podcast actresses Toni Collette, Molly Shannon and Vanessa Bayer discuss how they’ve prepared for their latest roles based on real people – from studying home video tapes to touring QVC headquarters. First up, we hear from Collette, who currently stars in HBO Max’s “The Staircase.” “UnWrapped” hosts Emily Vogel and Andi Ortiz also speak with “I Love That for You” co-stars Molly Shannon and Vanessa Bayer, who also co-created and co-wrote the show. Though the women aren’t portraying any specific QVC hosts, the series is loosely based on Bayer’s own experience with childhood cancer and her actual obsession with home shopping TV (and the hosts that sold to her). “UnWrapped” is a monthly podcast produced by WrapWomen, dedicated to empowering the next generation of women in media and entertainment. Each episode “unwraps” topics from entertainment news and industry trends to career advice, Hollywood headlines and more.

Bong Joon Ho’s follow-up film to his Oscar-winning “Parasite” is gaining quite the ensemble, as sources tell Deadline that Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo (whose deals are in final negotiations), along with Naomi Ackie, are joining Robert Pattinson in Bong’s next feature at Warner Bros. The untitled film is based on the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. The book was published in February by St. Martin, a Macmillan imprint. While the film will be inspired by the novel, sources say that given Bong’s past experiences with adaptations, his version might ultimately may be different from the novel’s. The novel’s story follows Mickey7, who is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it. The Warner Bros. Pictures feature marks Bong’s second project with Warner Bros.