America's Television Sweetheart

Who cares about Sunday Night Football? The Emmys are here! (What’s that? Everyone cares about Sunday Night Football? Then this post is for TV nerds only.) I hope you have your watch parties planned because the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards air Sunday at 8ET/5PT. On FOX! Ugh, FOX. Remember this disaster? Hopefully no one tries to pull off that dumb circular stage again. The poor UGLY BETTY cast had to face everyone’s backs all night.

Read on to see my predictions, and get your ballots out and start making your own! I didn’t include my guesses for the Miniseries or Movie categories, but I’m really crossing my fingers that Maggie “What is a weekend?” Smith wins for DOWNTON ABBEY.

Please make your own predictions in the comments. Let’s fight!

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Nominees: BOARDWALK EMPIRE, DEXTER, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, GAME OF THRONES, THE GOOD WIFE, MAD MEN

What will win: MAD MEN. It’s hard enough for a show to win one Emmy in this category. It’s even harder for it to win four years in a row. MAD MEN would join THE WEST WING, HILL STREET BLUES, and L.A. LAW as the only series to win best drama four times. Even with the absence of BREAKING BAD, MAD MEN had an incredible amount of competition this year. But as long as the series keeps churning out episodes like “The Suitcase,” it’s going to stay on top.

What I want to win: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. It’s a miracle FNL was even nominated in this category, not because it doesn’t deserve the nomination but because it seemed doomed to join THE WIRE as a show that would never receive proper recognition from the voting academy. FNL should have been nominated far earlier than 2011, but I’ve been so abused by the Emmys that I’ll take what I can get. What if FNL did manage to pull off the upset on Sunday? Well then I’d be crying like the baby I turned into during the series finale.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Nominees: THE BIG BANG THEORY, GLEE, MODERN FAMILY, THE OFFICE, PARKS AND RECREATION, 30 ROCK

Who will win: MODERN FAMILY. This was the best comedy on television last year, so it’s going to take the Academy a little while to catch up. The series had an uneven season, but even the worst episode of MODERN FAMILY is better than the best episode of GLEE. Seriously, what is that show even doing in the category this year? This isn’t the GOLDEN GLOBES. (Snap!)

Who I want to win: PARKS AND RECREATION. My love for this show should be no secret by now. Simply put, it was the best comedy on TV in 2011.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Nominees: Steve Buscemi (BOARDWALK EMPIRE), Michael C. Hall (DEXTER), Kyle Chandler (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), Hugh Laurie (HOUSE), Timothy Olyphant (JUSTIFIED), Jon Hamm (MAD MEN)

Who will win: Jon Hamm (MAD MEN). For as many awards as MAD MEN has received, Hamm has never actually taken home the Emmy himself. Blame that on Bryan Cranston and his performance as Walter White in BREAKING BAD. Cranston has won the category three years in a row, each time beating a nominated Hamm. But BREAKING BAD missed the Emmy window this year, so the race is Hamm’s to lose. Will victory be as sweet with Hamm’s biggest competitor on the bench this year? I have no doubt it will be. M-I-Z.

Who I want to win: Kyle Chandler (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS). I love Jon Hamm. And I will be so happy for him if he wins on Sunday. But it breaks my heart that Chandler wasn’t nominated until his final two seasons on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. And it breaks my heart even more that he’ll never actually have an Emmy for his incredible work as Coach Taylor.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Nominees: Connie Britton (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS), Julianna Margulies (THE GOOD WIFE), Kathy Bates (HARRY’S LAW), Mireille Enos (THE KILLING), Mariska Hargitay (LAW & ORDER: SVU), Elisabeth Moss (MAD MEN)

Who will win: Julianna Margulies (THE GOOD WIFE). It was supposed to happen last year. Margulies was a lock for this category. She had already won the Golden Globe, the SAG Award and the TCA Award. All that was left was the Emmy. But sometimes a lousy episode submission is all it takes to derail your Emmy dreams, and that’s how experts explained her loss last year. Even though her competition is stronger this year, Margulies should win the category on Sunday.

Who I want to win: Elisabeth Moss (MAD MEN). The best part of “The Suitcase” (the episode Moss submitted) was when I found out Peggy Olson and I had the same birthday. May 25th! The rest of the episode was pretty great, too. Watch it, and you’ll see why this Emmy should go to Moss, who will always be Zoey Bartlet from THE WEST WING to me. And that girl from the migraine commercials.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Nominees: Peter Dinklage (GAME OF THRONES), Josh Charles (THE GOOD WIFE), Alan Cumming (THE GOOD WIFE), Walter Goggins (JUSTIFIED), John Slattery (MAD MEN), Andre Braugher (MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE)

Who will win: Alan Cumming (THE GOOD WIFE). This race could really go to anyone except for Josh Charles. That’s no slam against his acting ability. He just doesn’t have much Emmy buzz surrounding him right now. Several experts are predicting John Slattery, especially because of his strong submission. But I’m giving the edge to Cumming, whose ruthless Eli Gold was humanized in THE GOOD WIFE’s stellar second season.

Who I want to win: Peter Dinklage (GAME OF THRONES). I only recently jumped on the GAME OF THRONES bandwagon, and Dinklage has been my favorite part of the show. I would be thrilled if the scene stealer took home the prize for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister. But it’s at least just nice to see him nominated at the Emmys after his Oscar snub in 2003 for THE STATION AGENT.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Nominees: Kelly Macdonald (BOARDWALK EMPIRE), Archie Panjabi (THE GOOD WIFE), Christine Baranski (THE GOOD WIFE), Margo Martindale (JUSTIFIED), Michelle Forbes (THE KILLING), Christina Hendricks (MAD MEN)

Who will win: Margo Martindale (JUSTIFIED). She’s the favorite among prediction experts. I haven’t watched JUSTIFIED since the beginning of its first season, so unfortunately I can’t speak about Martindale’s performance. But I would say that her biggest competition comes from last year’s winner Archie Panjabi or BOARDWALK EMPIRE’s Kelly Macdonald.

Who I want to win: Christina Hendricks (MAD MEN). I’ll always choose Joanie. Here’s why:

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Nominees: Jim Parsons (THE BIG BANG THEORY), Johnny Galecki (THE BIG BANG THEORY), Matt LeBlanc (EPISODES), Louis C.K. (LOUIE), Steve Carell (THE OFFICE), Alec Baldwin (30 ROCK)

Who will win: Steve Carell (THE OFFICE). Carell should have won this award long ago, but all the experts agree this will finally be his year. It’s one of those “Just give it to him already!” awards. Carell turned in a fine performance in his final year at THE OFFICE, and it will be lovely to see him with the Emmy in his hand on Sunday.

Who I want to win: Steve Carell (THE OFFICE). Even when I couldn’t stand Michael Scott, I always thought Carell did a hell of a job with the character. Plus, I just really like this guy. Sad he’s gone from THE OFFICE. Glad I get to keep watching him at the movies.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Nominees: Laura Linney (THE BIG C), Melissa McCarthy (MIKE & MOLLY), Edie Falco (NURSE JACKIE), Amy Poehler (PARKS AND RECREATION), Martha Plimpton (RAISING HOPE), Tina Fey (30 ROCK)

Who will win: Laura Linney (THE BIG C). I’m so tired of Showtime’s stars getting nominated in comedy categories for work that is largely dramatic. I love Laura Linney. I really do. She’s been nominated for an Oscar three times, and I really hope she wins one soon. But her perfect record at the Emmys (3-0) scares the crap out of me because it gives her an edge when this award should be going to a comedic actress.

Who I want to win: Amy Poehler (PARKS AND RECREATION). Poehler has the best chance of beating Linney in the category, but I’m just too pessimistic about the Emmys to believe it’s going to happen. This is the SNL alum’s fourth Emmy nomination, but according to IMDB, her only major award is “Best WTF Moment” at the MTV Movie Awards for peeing in a sink in BABY MAMA. She deserves so much more. (But to be fair, that was a really funny scene.)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Nominees: Chris Colfer (GLEE), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (MODERN FAMILY), Ed O’Neill (MODERN FAMILY), Eric Stonestreet (MODERN FAMILY), Ty Burrell (MODERN FAMILY), Jon Cryer (TWO AND A HALF MEN)

Who will win: Ty Burrell (MODERN FAMILY). Four actors nominated from one show could result in vote splitting, giving the edge to Chris Colfer or Jon Cryer. But Ty Burrell seems to have enough buzz surrounding him this year to pull off a victory. The only actor in this race that I think could best him is Ed O’Neill, who was outrageously snubbed last year.

Who I want to win: Ed O’Neill (MODERN FAMILY). Somehow this is O’Neill’s first Emmy nomination. That seems impossible when you think of how MARRIED WITH CHILDREN was on air for 11 seasons and how O’Neill’s Al Bundy is now considered one of the classic sitcom characters of the 1990s. But that’s the Academy for you. Now make it up to him by giving him an Emmy.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Nominees: Jane Lynch (GLEE), Betty White (HOT IN CLEVELAND), Julie Bowen (MODERN FAMILY), Sofia Vergara (MODERN FAMILY), Kristen Wiig (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE), Jane Krakowski (30 ROCK)

Who will win: Betty White (HOT IN CLEVELAND). Even though she could probably care less if she wins another Emmy, everyone loves her too damn much to deny her anything.

Who I want to win: Sofia Vergara (MODERN FAMILY). Word has it she submitted a less-than-stellar episode. I would hate it if that hurt her chances because Vergara was the MVP of MODERN FAMILY in its second season. The writers finally let her be funny, and she truly came into her own as a comedic actress.