Emmy Predictions

...I may be a little late in the game, but at least I'm doing this before the actual show begins!


BEST COMEDY SERIES
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Weeds
I would never be surprised by a 30 Rock win. They dominated the major comedy categories last year, and with more nominations now, a win would most likely be inevitable. However, I'll still be rooting for How I Met Your Mother, which just came off one of its best seasons. Plus, having one of its stars be the choice pick for an Emmy Category AND the host of the entire show may give it some advantage.
 BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
As much as I do love the whole 30 Rock gang, there is one actor in here who has been consistently funny for the entire amount of time his show has been on the air. Jim Parsons, playing the genius Sheldon, is one of my favorite comedy actors on television today. His character, though originally a supporting role, has been shoved into the spotlight, and with good reason. The timing and delivery of his jokes are always spot-on. Shown here is one of my favorite jokes, the genius “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock.” It's geeky yet accessible humor at its finest.



BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program

My allegiance for this category is always aligned with Tina Fey. She's a good choice of any category she's nominated in. I also happen to love her acceptance speeches (cougarletter, you can really suck it). But, if any nominee could have a chance of taking her down, I would predict Toni Collette. The Emmy voters do seem to love film actors (Dame Helen Mirren has taken four!), and with a premise like multiple personality disorder, writers led by Diablo Cody, and a little man named Steven Spielberg tagged to United States of Tara, we may see Mrs. Collette's name announced instead.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock
Rainn Wilson, The Office


It's been Neil's year up to this point, so I wouldn't be surprised if he took the award. He's my number one bet for this category. If I had to choose someone who could actually win, it would be Jack McBrayer or Rainn Wilson. Not just because they play two of my favorite characters on television right now, but because they both had pretty great seasons last year.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

As the only non-Creative Arts Emmy nomination for one of my favorite shows, I am secretly hoping that Kristin Chenoweth wins. It would be a rather nice send-off for the now-canceled Pushing Daisies. However, I have a feeling that Kristin Wiig will take home the statue. Her work on SNL has made her the go-to girl for female skits. The fact that she's the sole female repertory player hasn't hurt her as well.


BEST DRAMA SERIES
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

Lost came off one of its best seasons. As did House. And Mad Men. And Breaking Bad. And Big Love. And Dexter. Damages was a little shaky, but it's still a drama powerhouse due to its star power. However, if I have to choose a winner, I'm going with Mad Men. Its second season trumped its first in so many different ways. A repeat win wouldn't be unlikely. House could also be a major contender, although this upcoming season would probably be a safer bet (what with the title character being in a mental asylum and everything). I feel as though Lost should win, but cable shows have won the past two years. This category could almost go to any of them, though Mad Men would be the safest bet.

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

Once again, another category that's a little harder to predict. Jon Hamm could finally take home an Emmy, but so could almost anyone else in this category. Simon Baker winning would be highly unlikely. Unless a series has established itself as well as Breaking Bad did in its first season, an acting win doesn't usually happen. Along the lines of Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston could take the award again this year. His show's unusual premise comes with a tagline for Emmy fodder.

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

 My heart says Elisabeth Moss, but I have a feeling that it could go to Kyra Sedgwick or Glenn Close. Both of their shows are more popular than ever. However, due to the fact that Glenn Close has already won, I'm going to give a bit of an edge to Sedgwick. If Elisabeth Moss does steal the award, though, there will be no complaints from me.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
Michael Emerson, Lost
William Hurt, Damages
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

Michael Emerson finally winning an Emmy has been a hope of mine since the first time he was nominated. Although I'll always root for him, a win would be highly unlikely considering the challengers he's facing. I don't truly believe the Boston Legal nominees should be up there, but if they won, it would be no surprise. Taking into account the amount of praise they both recieve for their performances, I could see either Slattery or Paul taking home a statue. It's a little hard to pick between the two without showing bias, so I'll just cop out and choose both.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Rose Byrne, Damages
Hope Davis, In Treatment
Cherry Jones, 24
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy

Picking a winner isn't as tough with this category as it was with the others. The always underrated Chandra Wilson deserves to finally win. The episode she submitted, "Stairway to Heaven," was one of my favorites in the season, and was probably the right choice to pick. I do love Rose Byrne, Cherry Jones, and Sandra Oh, but I have a feeling that Wilson will be giving a speech tonight.

REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

The final category I will be picking winners from. Amazing Race hasn't lost yet, but Top Chef could easily steal a win. It's one of the smartest reality shows (a phrase that seems redundant) on television. I'm going to give Amazing Race the edge for the sheer fact that voters love to heap awards onto it.