Emmy Predictions: Awards for Homeland, American Horror Story and Mad Men

 

 

I struggle with my Emmy picks every year and my track record is not the best. However, like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football that Lucy always pulls away from him just before he reaches it, I cannot resist. While I am tempted to choose my favorites, including American Horror Story, Downton Abbey, and yes, Kathy Bates (Harry's Law), I will try to restrain myself this year.

 

Outstanding Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Homeland (Showtime)
Mad Men (AMC)

 

My heart is with Downton Abbey, but I suspect this category is a toss-up between Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Mad Men has won this award four years in a row, so that may work against it. Last year, I was a huge supporter of Boardwalk Empire, but since Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) was killed off, I refuse to watch the show any longer.

 

My predication: Breaking Bad

 

Outstanding Actress in a Drama
Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

 

If Kathy Bates wins, I will attempt to do a cartwheel. I would enjoy seeing NBC's ridiculous decision to cancel Harry's Law come back to haunt the network. Glenn Close is another favorite of mine, as is Michelle Dockery. However, I am not sure any of them will win. This category also looks to be a two-way race - between Claire Danes and Elizabeth Moss.

 

Will Win: Claire Danes

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Joanne Froggat, Downton Abbey
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

If The Good Wife and Downton Abbey nominees cancel each other out, that leaves Anna Gunn and Christina Hendricks. It is hard to bet against either Mad Men or Breaking Bad, but Downton Abbey is a force to a reckoned with, too. This is a tough category.

Will Win: Joanne Froggat

Outstanding Actor in a Drama
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland

Yet another tough category. I think either Jon Hamm or Bryan Cranston will win in a close race. My personal favorites are Hugh Bonneville and Steve Buscemi.

Will Win: Jon Hamm

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Jared Harris, Mad Men
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Brendan Coyle, Downton Abbey
Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

Peter Dinklage won this award last year, but the competition is so fierce that I am not sure he will repeat. The remaining nominees are from Mad Men, Breaking Bad and Downton Abbey, so how can you choose just one?

Will Win: Jim Carter

Outstanding Comedy Series
Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Girls (HBO)
Modern Family (ABC)
30 Rock (NBC)
Veep (HBO)

Modern Family looks to be a lock, but Girls could upset.

Will Win: Modern Family

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Veep

If I say this is a four way race, then I risk insulting three of the nominees. To avoid that, I will just say that this award will go to an actress in a freshman series.

Will Win Zooey Deschanel

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy
Mayim Bialik, Big Bang Theory
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live

I am torn on this one. I would love to see Kathryn Joosten honored posthumously for her work on Desperate Housewives. However, Julie Bowen, who won last year, could repeat, but I think Mayim Bialik may be too strong for both of them.

Will Win: Mayim Bialik

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louis C.K., Louie
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory

Either Jim Parsons will threepeat or Louis C.K. will finally get his due.

Will Win: Louis C.K.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Max Greenfield, New Girl
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

If the four Modern Family nominees cancel each other out, then Max Greenfield could sneak in for the win. However, Ed O'Neill is overdue.

Will Win: Ed O'Neill

Outstanding TV Miniseries or Movie
American Horror Story (FX)
Game Change (HBO)
Hatfields & McCoys (History Channel)
Hemingway & Gellhorn (HBO)
Luther (BBC America)
Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece) (PBS)

Will the contemporary and cutting edge American Horror Story edge out a victory over the more traditional Hatfields and McCoys? I hope so. Although there is some controversy about AMS even being in this category, I think it deserves to win, nonetheless.

Will Win: American Horror Story

Outstanding Leading Actress in a Mini-series or Movie
Connie Britton, American Horror Story
Ashley Judd, Missing
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Emma Thompson, The Song of Lunch (Masterpiece)

Connie Britton never received her due for her amazing work on Friday Night Lights. However, I am not sure she can overcome the force that was Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin.

Will Win: Julianne Moore

Outstanding Leading Actor in an Mini-Series or Movie
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)
Idris Elba, Luther
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Bill Paxton, Hatfields & McCoys

The answer is elementary.

Will Win: Benedict Cumberbatch

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini-series or Movie
Frances Conroy, American Horror Story
Judy Davis, Page Eight (Masterpiece)
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Sarah Paulson, Game Change
Mare Winningham, Hatfields & McCoys

Jessica Lange deserves to win. Enough said.

Will Win: Jessica Lange

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Mini-series or Movie
Tom Berenger, Hatfields & McCoys
Martin Freeman, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)
Ed Harris, Game Change
Denis O’Hare, American Horror Story
David Straithairn, Hemingway & Gellhorn

I honestly do not know. Ed Harris was great as John McCain, the Hatfields and McCoys will likely win something, and Denis O'Hare is always a treat to watch. But this could also be elementary.

Will Win: Martin Freeman

Outstanding Variety, Comedy Or Musical Series
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Will Win: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Outstanding Reality Show
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)

Will Win: The Amazing Race

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Betty White, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers

Will Win: Betty White

The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards will be televised live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles tonight on ABC.