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We’re not going to get the picks right, necessarily, but we’ve clocked serious hours watching the tube, so we feel like we’ve got insight into what “the people” want in their Emmy-winners. You know, “the people.” The couch people. The people who have cut their lifespans with a remote control. Us.
So here we’re breaking down the categories and our hopes for who wins starting at 7 p.m. this Sunday during the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards (on Fox). Read on after the jump, don your fancy-but-not-too-uppity-formalwear and cross your fingers.
Outstanding Drama Series: Friday Night Lights
Other nominees: Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men
Mad Men has certainly been the past favorite with three wins, but will that mean that it’s a little tired? We considered Game of Thrones (Dinklage! Dinklage! Dinklage!) for this, or a possible tie, but overall, the swan song of FNL made us go for the field goal.
Outstanding Comedy Series: Parks and Recreation
Other nominees: Big Bang Theory, Glee, Modern Family, The Office, 30 Rock
We’d love any of these to win — except Glee. [Editor’s note: I’m using the “we” here, but let it be known that many of my colleagues disagree with me on this. And no, I’m not afraid of them.] Sure, there are plenty of great things about that show, but enough already with the Gleekdom.
Outstanding Actress in a Drama: Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men
Other nominees: Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights; Mirreille Enos, The Killing; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU; Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Maybe Moss is an “easy” pick, but her character showed a great deal of change while maintaining that Peggy vulnerability last season. Enos could creep up and we wouldn’t mind, but those are the only two we’re really rooting for in this category.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama: Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Other nominees: Kelly MacDonald, Boardwalk Empire; Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife; Christine Baranski, The Good Wife; Margo Martindale, Justified; Michelle Forbes, The Killing
The Good Wife could give Mad Men a rather punny run for its money, and MacDonald and Forbes are more than impressive in Boardwalk and the Killing, respectively, but Hendricks just flat-out deserves this for that last season.
Outstanding Actor in a Drama: Hugh Laurie, House
Other nominees: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; John Hamm, Mad Men; Timothy Olyphant, Justified
When it comes to the Emmy, Laurie has always been a bridesmaid. Sure, last season was the soapiest we’ve seen, but you can’t deny that Laurie’s on-screen personality shifts and subtle facial cues are downright haunting.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Other nominees: Josh Charles, The Good Wife; Alan Cumming, The Good Wife; Walton Goggins, Justified; John Slattery, Mad Men; Andrew Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Tyrion Lannister? Yeah. That’s right.
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy: Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Other nominees: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Laura Linney, The Big C; Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly; Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
Tina Fey has won her share for 30 Rock, and it’s time for the Knope to get some (which is also our thought for the show).
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Other nominees: Jane Lynch, Glee; Betty White, Hot In Cleveland; Sofia Vergara, Modern Family; Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live; Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Lynch is hosting, and we’re sick of Sue Sylvester. White is awesome, but the show just isn’t. Wiig and Vergara would be appropriate winners as well, but Bowen is so damn good at her character, we really hope it happens.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Ty Burrell or Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Other nominees: Chris Colfer, Glee; Ed O’Neill, Modern Family; Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family; Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Either one is fine by us. For Burrell, it’s because he plays a character so well, people tend to think Phil is real personality. For Ferguson, it’s because there are fewer things more unsung than playing the straight man to a jovial, flamboyant stageman. And, um, sorry about Charlie Sheen and all that, but Cryer? Really?
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy: Louis C.K., Louie
Other nominees: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Steve Carrell, The Office; Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory; Matt LeBlanc, Episodes; Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
This show. This whole show should be nominated. It’s brilliant. C.K. is brilliant in it.
So, are we right? We’ll see on Sunday. We’re hoping for all of them, but we’re betting we’ll get three right if we’re lucky.
What do you think? Toss out your picks in the comments.
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