Cinematic

The Emmys are coming out this weekend, so I think it’s about time I write up predictions.  I probably won’t be watching the show live, instead settling to watch Breaking Bad’s second-to-last episode, but hope that some of my favorite series pick up some credit.  Here’s who I think should win and will win for the major categories.

Best Drama

Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey

Homeland

Game of Thrones

Mad Men

Should/Will Win: Breaking Bad

All in all, I’d say it’s a strong set of nominees.  It’s hard to believe that the Best Drama category used to be nominated by Network televisions when now all of these shows are either from cable, Netflix, or PBS.  This year, I think the Emmys will finally anoint Breaking Bad.  It’s a series that has grew better each season, plus its massive spike in ratings also helps.  Heisenberg never fails.

Best Comedy

30 Rock

The Big Bang Theory

Girls

Louie

Modern Family

Veep

Should Win: Louie     Will Win: Modern Family

It’s blasphemous that Parks and Recreation, TV’s sharpest sitcom, wasn’t nominated.  A couple of these picks I find undeserving.  I am one of the few who found 30 Rock’s conclusion to be somewhat of a cop-out and I don’t find The Big Bang Theory funny.  I really like Girls and Veep but haven’t caught enough of each show to make a full justification why they should win.  So my pick goes to Louie, which features the funniest man working today: Louis C. K.  However, it’s clear that the Emmys will likely choose Modern Family instead.  I enjoyed the first season of the show, but it’s hard to deny the series now has mostly been recycling plotlines and it often times feels like it should be accompanied by a laugh track.

Best Variety Series

The Colbert Report

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Real Time with Bill Maher

Should Win: The Colbert Report     Will Win: The Daily Show

To be honest, I love The Daily Show and Colbert Report equally.  Both make my top 10 lists annually and keep me laughing every night.  But since Jon has won so many times, I’m hoping for Colbert to finally take home an Emmy.

Drama Actor

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey)

Damian Lewis (Homeland)

Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)

Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom)

Should/Will Win: Bryan Cranston

Walter White is the best character on television since Tony Soprano.  And for that, the Emmys will give Cranston another deserved accolade.

Comedy Actor

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Jason Bateman (Arrested Development)

Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Don Cheadle (House of Cards)

Louis C. K. (Louie)

Should Win: Louis C. K.         Will Win: Alec Baldwin

First, I’m a bit surprised that the only nomination for Arrested Development was for Jason Bateman.  As I said before, Louie works because of its main protagonist, and for that I’m voting for Louis C. K.  Still, I suspect the Emmys will give a farewell present to Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock.  He’s won twice before, and despite his recent tantrum on a cameraman, I suspect he will take home another Emmy again.

Drama Actress

Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel)

Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey)

Claire Danes (Homeland)

Robin Wright (House of Cards)

Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

Connie Britton (Nashville)

Kerry Washington (Scandal)

Should/Will Win: Claire Danes

It’s hard to deny the second season of Homeland had some issues, but Danes kept her character under control.  I’d like to see Moss get an award for her often overlooked performance in Mad Men, but I think Danes deserves the award.

Comedy Actress

Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Laura Dern (Enlightened)

Lena Dunham (Girls)

Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)

Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)

Should Win: Amy Poehler    Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Poehler constantly delivers as the eccentric Leslie Knope in Parks and Rec, and I’ve been trying to convince the Emmys for years to give her the award.  I’m betting though that Julia Louis-Dreyfus will take Best Comedy Actress however, which is fine, but she’s won before and I think it’s time for some new blood.

Drama Supporting Actor

Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)

Jonathon Banks (Breaking Bad)

Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire)

Jim Carter (Downton Abbey)

Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)

Mandy Patinkin (Homeland)

Should Win: Aaron Paul       Will Win: Mandy Patinkin

It was a tough pick between Paul and Banks, but I had to go with Jesse (though that might have to do with Breaking Bad’s current evolution of the character).  I think the decision between the two might hurt both, which is why I’m guessing Mandy Patinkin will win.

Comedy Supporting Actor

Adam Driver (Girls)

Ed O’Neill (Modern Family)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)

Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live)

Tony Hale (Veep)

Should Win: Tony Hale         Will Win: Ty Burrell

Where’s Nick Offerman of Parks and Rec?  Ron Swanson’s one of the funniest characters on TV.  While Modern Family has a good cast, giving three of its actors nominations is going too far.  I’d like to see Tony Hale win.

Drama Supporting Actress

Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)

Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)

Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)

Morena Baccarin (Homeland)

Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)

Should Win: Anna Gunn       Will Win: Maggie Smith

Recently, Anna Gunn wrote an editorial in The New York Times discussing the hatred for her character Skylar in Breaking Bad.  While I’ve never disliked Skylar as much as everyone else, it’s hard not to feel some opposition to her (mostly because that she often times works against Walt).  I think Gunn’s performance brings the character alive, whether you love or hate her.  I’m guessing that Maggie Smith will win though.

Comedy Supporting Actress

Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)

Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory)

Jane Lynch (Glee)

Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie)

Anna Chlumsky (Veep)

Should/Will Win: Julie Bowen