The 6oth annual Emmy awards are this Sunday, September 21st and I thought it would be fun to predict the winners. So without further ado, here are my guesses.
OUTSTANDING COMEDY
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock *
Two and a Half Men
I can’t honestly even believe that Curb was nominated. I feel like that show has been out of juice for the last two seasons. To me it comes down to either The Office or 30 Rock, with 30 Rock having the edge.
OUTSTANDING DRAMA
Mad Men *
House
Lost
Dexter
Boston Legal
Damages
I would love to say that Lost is going to win because it is my favorite show of all time, but I don’t think it will. Many perceive the fourth season of Lost as a creative resurgence after an uneven season three (I don’t think the show ever suffered in quality and has been brilliant the whole way through), so it could win, but I think the nomination was the award in this case. Dexter is too dark to win (Although it is quite incredible), Boston Legal is too light and silly, and House had an uneven season, feeling more like a reality competition than medical drama. This leaves two new shows, Damages and Mad Men. Mad Men is the new critical darling and will walk away with the prize.
OUTSTANDING ACTOR, DRAMA
James Spader, Boston Legal
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Hugh Laurie, House
Jon Hamm, Mad Men *
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
James Spader is always terrific, but he has won already (twice I think) and this is not his year. Both Bryan Cranston and Gabriel Byrne are nominated for shows that had small audiences so I don’t feel like they have enough support to win. Michael C. Hall is terrific in Dexter, creating a likable serial killer that you root for (no easy task) but again the show is too dark for most Emmy voters, so he won’t win. The contest is really between Hugh Laurie and Jon Hamm. Hugh Laurie probably should’ve won already and Emmy definitely likes to award actors who have been nominated on several occasions. However, Jon Hamm is the star of Mad Men, and that show is going to rack up quite a few awards, so my bet is on Hamm.
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, DRAMA
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters *
Glenn Close, Damages
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
This is a tough call. Sally Field won last year and could have a repeat here. Glenn Close may win because she is considered one of the finest actresses ever, and she didn’t win for her supporting role in The Shield (she deserved it) a few years back. All three of the other actresses are fabulous in their own right, but I think Sally Field is going to win again.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA
Michael Emerson, Lost *
John Slattery, Mad Men
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Ted Danson, Damages
Michael Emerson is going to win. I hope. Again, I’m completely biased here. This is the award that Lost will receive as a consolation prize.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy *
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Dianne Wiest gave a subtle, beautiful performance, but Wilson’s character Bailey is truly the heart and soul of Grey’s. I thing Chandra will win.
OUTSTANDING ACTOR, COMEDY
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock *
Tony Shaloub, Monk
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
All of these actors are outstanding and I truly am having a tough time with this one. Charlie Sheen is always funny, but I think Men had its most uneven season so far. Pushing Daisies is a whimsical, amusing show, but I wouldn’t necessarily refer to it as a comedy, so for the reason alone I don’t think Lee Pace will win. Tony Shaloub has won about 86 times already, so I hope he doesn’t win. This brings me to my two favorites, Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin. Both were snubbed last year in favor of Ricky Gervais (overrated in my opinion) so they are both on equal footing. Like I said, I love them both, but Baldwin makes me fall off the couch laughing. Alec Baldwin will win.
OUSTANDING ACTRESS, COMEDY
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Julia Louise-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine *
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Another tough call. Tina Fey gives a sublime performance in 30 Rock and plays off Baldwin brilliantly. America Ferrera won last year and I feel like any heat that Ugly Betty had has nearly disappeared. Christine Applegate as the newcomer to the group probably won’t win, which leaves the two Louise’s. Weeds is a great show, but it might be a little out there for Emmy voters. This leaves us with Julia Louise-Dreyfus who is the modern day Lucille Ball. And really… how could you compete with that.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Neal Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother *
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office
They are all great, but Neal Patrick Harris is going to win and it is going to be legen…. wait for it… dary!
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live *
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
I never seen a cast member of SNL nominated before, so I going out on a limb and saying Amy Poehler will win.
OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION
Top Chef
Project Runway
Dancing With the Stars
The Amazing Race *
American Idol
The Amazing Race always wins. Why should this year be any different?
OUTSTANDING REALITY SHOW HOST
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Howie Mandel, Deal or No Deal
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol *
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Seacrest is effortless. He makes his job look easy and he deserves to win.