Unlike the Oscars, not a whole lot will change between now and next month, when the Emmy nominees are announced. So there won’t be any revisions between now and then. We’ll just see what made the cut July 18. Today, I’ll tackle the drama categories and hit up the comedy categories tomorrow, with a few bonuses thrown in.
DRAMA SERIES
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Homeland (Showtime)
Mad Men (AMC)
Potential spoiler: Justified (FX)
In my dreams: Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
The skinny: Talk about gridlock. All of these shows are insanely well-respected and saw serious ratings gains in their past seasons. I’d say The Good Wife is in the most trouble, but FX doesn’t have a great track record in this category.
DRAMA ACTOR
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Timothy Olyphant, Justified
Potential spoiler: Kelsey Grammer, Boss
In my dreams: Jason Isaacs, Awake
Most people gave up on House a season or two ago, but the Emmys are notorious for giving nods to actors in their last seasons as a farewell. If they’re not feeling nostalgic, five-time winner Kelsey Grammer will get a chance to represent Starz.
DRAMA ACTRESS
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Potential spoiler: Jessica Paré, Mad Men
In my dreams: Jennifer Love Hewitt, The Client List
With so much competition, how crazy will people be for Mad Men or Downton Abbey? One of these shows is getting two lead actress nods, but which? Personally, I think it would be awesome if a performance in a show as trashy as The Client List broke up the stuffy proceedings.
DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
Walton Goggins, Justified
Vincent Kartheiser, Mad Men
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
John Slattery, Mad Men
Potential spoiler: Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
In my dreams: Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Easily the toughest category to pick, as several of last year’s nominees will get edged out. The locks are Dinklage and Paul, and the rest of the slots are an all-out bloodbath. Get your swords ready.
DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
January Jones, Mad Men
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Potential spoiler: Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
In my dreams: Christina Ricci, Pan Am
Does the sweet Scot get forced out for Skyler White? Perhaps. Breaking Bad is more likely in everyone’s mind than Boardwalk Empire, a show you probably forgot was still on.
DRAMA GUEST ACTOR
Dylan Baker, The Good Wife
Jeremy Davies, Justified
Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
Robert Morse, Mad Men
Mos Def, Dexter
Matthew Perry, The Good Wife
Potential spoiler: Leonard Nimoy, Fringe
In my dreams: Andre Braugher, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Your guesses are as good as mine.
DRAMA GUEST ACTRESS
Joan Cusack, Shameless
Loretta Devine, Grey’s Anatomy
Louise Fletcher, Shameless
Julia Ormond, Mad Men
Elizabeth Perkins, The Closer
Martha Plimpton, The Good Wife
Potential spoiler: Lily Tomlin, NCIS
In my dreams: Penelope Ann Miller, Men of a Certain Age
Again, your guesses are as good as mine.
DRAMA WRITING
Breaking Bad (“Crawl Space”)
Game of Thrones (“The Old Gods and the New”)
Homeland (“The Weekend”)
Mad Men (“Far Away Places”)
Mad Men (“The Other Woman”)
Potential spoiler: Another Mad Men nod
In my dreams: Men of a Certain Age (“A League of Their Owen”)
Did you know Breaking Bad as never been nominated for a writing award? The Emmys will stop embarrassing themselves this year.
BONUS PICK:
MINISERIES or MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
American Horror Story (FX)
Five (Lifetime)
Game Change (HBO)
Great Expectations (PBS)
Hatfields & McCoys (History)
Sherlock (BBC)
Potential spoiler: The Hour (BBC)
In my dreams: Luther (BBC)
These six? Sure.