emmy picks & predictions

It's no secret that I'm a TV junkie.  Despite efforts to cut back on my time in front of the tube, my DVR worked some serious overtime this year.  Far too often I found myself pressing record on the remote only to have my DVR report that I was already recording two shows at that time. Thank goodness channels like Bravo, HBO and Showtime replay their shows at later times or I don't know how I'd manage to waste so much time watch so many shows.

Given my love for the boob tube, it should come as no surprise that I am a wee bit excited for the Emmy Awards on Sunday.  Many of my favorite shows and actors are nominated, so this year I'll be tuning in to see more than just the red carpet dresses.

Because I'm unusually stoked for this year's show, I thought it might be fun to share my picks & predictions for a few of the big Emmy categories.  I may not get an official Emmy vote, but I'd like to think my exhaustive "research" on the topic qualifies me to throw in my $.02. 

Sadly or not, I watch most of the shows listed below or have seen a number of episodes. To be fair, I'll put an asterisk next to any shows below I have not seen.  Try not to judge me on how few asterisks you're about to see.

Here are my picks & predictions for the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards:

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO • Larry David as Himself
Glee • FOX • Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester
Monk • USA • Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
The Office • NBC • Steve Carell as Michael Scott
30 Rock • NBC •Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy

My pick - Jim Parsons, hands down. He is absolutely genius as Sheldon Cooper.  Alec Baldwin is a strong second choice.

My prediction - I'm going out on a limb here and predicting Jim Parsons is going to bring home the Emmy. Perhaps it's wishful thinking.  And, on a side note,  if they give it to Tony Shalhoub I'll throw something at the TV. Hubs, consider yourself warned and be prepared to goal tend the flat screen in case the unspeakable happens.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Breaking Bad* • AMC • Bryan Cranston as Walter White
Dexter • Showtime • Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
Friday Night Lights • DirecTV • Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor
House • FOX • Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House
Lost • ABC • Matthew Fox as Jack Shephard
Mad Men • AMC • Jon Hamm as Don Draper

My pick - Michael C. Hall.  Who else could make you root for a serial killer?  Love him, love the character, love the show. I'm loving it all.

My prediction - John Hamm.  It seems the whole world is crazy about Mad Men. I suspect Emmy voters have caught the fever as well.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Glee • FOX • Lea Michele as Rachel Berry
The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell
Nurse Jackie • Showtime • Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton
Parks And Recreation • NBC • Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope
30 Rock • NBC • Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
United States Of Tara • Showtime • Toni Collette as Tara Gregson

My pick - This one is tough for me. Tina Fey is my #1 girl crush and was once again brilliant this season on 30 Rock.  But Amy Poehler was absolutely hilarious on Parks and Recreation. Seriously, Leslie Knope cracked my ass up. And I'm crushed they cancelled New Adventures of Old Christine. As hard as this is for me, I have to spread the love around {That's what she said} and give my vote to Amy Poehler this year.  But next year, I'm switching back to ol' Liz Lemon. First loves die hard.

My prediction - Edie Falco.  Emmy voters have loved her since her Sopranos days.  And they love shows that aren't on the Big 4 networks.  Cable/premium channel shows and actors always seem to fare well come Emmy time.  Toni Collette fits this bill too, but she won last year.  I think they'll share the love.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

The Closer* • TNT • Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson
Damages • FX Networks • Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
Friday Night Lights • DirecTV • Connie Britton as Tami Taylor
The Good Wife • CBS • Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson
Mad Men • AMC • January Jones as Betty Draper

My pick - Glenn Close.  My love for Damages and Glenn Close is well documented. Close's portrayal of Patty Hewes is flawless.  I know Julianna Margulies is a favorite in this category but when you compare her portrayal of lady lawyer Alicia Florrick with Glenn Close's Patty Hewes - well, there's just no comparison  Patty Hewes would eat Alicia Florrick for breakfast. {On a side note, I'm happy to see Connie Britton nominated. I love her as Tami Taylor. And how gorgeous is she?!?}

My prediction - I think Julianna Margulies has this one in the bag.  The Good Wife is a great show and Julianna deserves some recognition for carrying the show. I'll be happy to see her win.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Glee • FOX • Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel
How I Met Your Mother • CBS • Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
Modern Family • ABC • Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell
Modern Family • ABC • Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker
Modern Family • ABC • Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

My pick - Anyone but Jon Cryer.  Seriously.  The rest of the nominees are all talented and hilarious.  With a gun to my head, I choose Eric Stonestreet.  He's an absolute riot as Cameron and has me in stitches every Wednesday with his antics.  Love him.

My prediction - Jon Cryer. Emmy voters are obsessed with this douche canoe.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Breaking Bad* • AMC • Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman
Damages • FX Networks • Martin Short as Leonard Winstone
Lost • ABC • Terry O'Quinn as John Locke
Lost • ABC • Michael Emerson as Ben Linus
Mad Men • AMC • John Slattery as Roger Sterling
Men Of A Certain Age* • TNT • Andre Braugher as Owen

My pick - Martin Short. Not to take away from Short's great performance on Damages this season, but this pick was by default. Damages is the only show of the five I watched regularly. I've seen numerous episodes of Lost and Mad Men but was not a regular viewer. I've never seen the other two shows.

My prediction - John Slattery.  See above re: Emmy voters have drunk the Mad Men Kool Aid.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Glee • FOX • Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester
Modern Family • ABC • Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy
Modern Family • ABC • Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
Saturday Night Live • NBC • Kristen Wiig as Various Characters
30 Rock • NBC • Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper

My pick - Jane Lynch.  Holy hilariousness, Sue Sylvester!  She's perfection as Mr. Shu's foil and no one delivers a zinger like Sue Sylvester. And who doesn't love those track suits?

Honorable mention goes to the fabulous Sofia Vergara. Loves.

My prediction - Jane Lynch.  This seems to be a forgone conclusion. If I were one of the other nominees, I probably wouldn't bother with writing an acceptance speech.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Burn Notice* • USA • Sharon Gless as Madeline Westen
Damages • FX Networks • Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons
The Good Wife • CBS • Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma
The Good Wife • CBS • Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
Mad Men • AMC • Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris
Mad Men • AMC • Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

My pick - Tough pick for me: I like both nominees from The Good Wife, particularly Christine Baranski, but my vote goes to Rose Byrne.  {She gets extra credit for a disguising her accent so well. I didn't know she was Australian until the second season.}

But, if you ask me, two great supporting actresses were overlooked in this category: Katey Sagal for Sons of Anarchy and Jennifer Carpenter for Dexter.  Both gave excellent performances portraying a couple of bad ass women. Each was worthy of a nod in my eyes.

My prediction - Elisabeth Moss or Christina Hendricks.  We've been over this.

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report • Comedy Central •
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central •
Real Time With Bill Maher • HBO •
Saturday Night Live • NBC
The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien • NBC •

My pick - The Daily Show.  Oh how I love me some Jon Stewart.  Smart, sarcastic, sexy - I swoon.  The show is a favorite of mine.

My prediction - The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Emmy voters won't miss this opportunity to mock NBC for ousting Conan in favor of Leno.  The message was delivered loud and clear when Leno failed to grab a nomination.  A win for Conan will just hammer the point home.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO •
Glee • FOX •
Modern Family • ABC •
Nurse Jackie • Showtime •
The Office • NBC •
30 Rock • NBC •

My pick - Too hard. I can't do it.  You can't make me.  Oh how do I choose between Glee, Modern Family and 30 Rock?  In the end, I have to go with Liz Lemon and the TGS gang from 30 Rock.  But this is a tough category. I don't envy Emmy voters on this one. {And if you ask me, which I realize no one did, Parks & Recreation deserved a nomination in this category. It was far and away better than The Office this season. If you aren't watching, give it a chance. Rob Lowe will be joining the cast this season. Eye candy!}

My prediction - Modern Family.  I think they'll see this as the savior of the family comedy, certainly a dying breed on television today - even if this is non-traditional take on the classic.

Outstanding Drama Series

Breaking Bad • AMC •
Dexter • Showtime •
The Good Wife • CBS •
Lost • ABC •
Mad Men • AMC •
True Blood • HBO •

My pick - Dexter.  I loves it, what can I say? The Trinity story line from last season was the show's best yet and I'm anxiously awaiting the return of this series in September. It's a great show with an excellent ensemble cast coming off it's best season yet. A sure winner in my book.

My prediction - Mad Men.  blah, blah, blah.

There you have them - my picks and predictions for the 2010 Emmy Awards.  Come Sunday evening you'll find me on my couch, cheering for my favorites and scoping out the red carpet fashion. Needless to say, this TV junkie will be in seventh heaven.

Will you watch the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmys? Who are you rooting for?