Your Guide to the 2013 Emmy Awards

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 65th Primetime Emmy Awards will be Sept. 22 on CBS. Neil Patrick Harris will be coming off a spectacular (and, ironically, Emmy-award winning) stint as the host of the Tony’s to preside over the ceremony for the second time.

But enough about that. Let’s get down to the predictions, shall we?

Outstanding Comedy Series

            Nominees:

                        “30 Rock”

                        “The Big Bang Theory”

                        “Girls”

                        “Louie”

                        “Modern Family”

                        “Veep”

            Who I’d Love to Win: “The Big Bang Theory”

            Who’s (Probably) Going to Win: “Modern Family”

Quite honestly, I wasn’t that big of a fan of “The Big Bang Theory” when it first began. I don’t know exactly what it was, but the show just didn’t click for me in the first couple of seasons. I think the additions of cast members Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik as well as the handling of the romance between Johnny Galecki’s Leonard and Kaley Cuoco’s Penny helped elevate the show to have its best season to date. At the same time, “Modern Family” is coming of three years of winning the trophy, so don’t be surprised to see the show take the prize yet again. I could also see “30 Rock” possibly getting the win as a parting gift, but the larger part of me says at the end of the night “The Big Bang Theory” or “Modern Family” will walk away with it.

Outstanding Drama Series

            Nominees:

                        “Breaking Bad”

                        “Downton Abbey”

                        “Game of Thrones”

                        “Homeland”

                        “House of Cards”

                        “Mad Men”

            Who I’d Love to Win: “Breaking Bad”

            Who’s (Probably) Going to Win: “Breaking Bad”

Full disclosure, I am a little behind on both “Homeland” and “Mad Men,” but I don’t think it matters. “Breaking Bad” has pulled out all the stops for its final season, and even though only the first half of season five was eligible for the nomination, I think voters will take into consideration just how tight the entire season has been. If I don’t see Vince Gilligan giving an acceptance speech, I will be very shocked.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

            Nominees:

            Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”

            Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development”

            Louis C.K., “Louie”

            Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”

            Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”

            Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

            Who I’d Love to Win: Matt LeBlanc

            Who’s (Probably) Going to Win: Jim Parsons

I’ve admitted to having nostalgia for the “Friends”-era before, but just watch LeBlanc play a narcissistic, flawed version of himself, and try to make an argument that he doesn’t deserve to be in the category. Parsons had back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011 before he was unseated by Jon Cryer (oh don’t even get me started on that one); however, as I stated above, this was “Big Bang”‘s best season. I think he has it in the bag, however the extraordinary Louis C.K. could prove to be his downfall this year.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

            Nominees:

            Laura Dern, “Enlightened”

            Lena Dunham, “Girls”

            Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”

            Tina Fey, “30 Rock”

            Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”

            Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”

            Who I’d Love to Win: Amy Poehler

            Who’s (Probably) Going to Win: Anyone but Amy Poehler

This category has to be one of the most competitive in the entire ceremony. We have three previous winners (Fey, Falco and Louis-Dreyfus, who won an Emmy for “Seinfeld,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Veep,” which she is again nominated for this year) a newcomer (Dern) and then previously nominated Dunham and Poehler. Oh, Poehler. I do not know what this woman needs to do to get recognized, but it’s getting ridiculous. Between “Parks and Recreation” and “Saturday Night Live,” she has been nominated for an Emmy six times and hasn’t won yet. If she wins, I will probably cry tears of joy, but I’m expecting the award to go to Louis-Dreyfus, who won last year and is an Emmy favorite.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

            Nominees:

            Hugh Bonneville, “Downton Abbey”

            Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”

            Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom”

            Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”

            Damian Lewis, “Homeland”

            Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”

            Who I’d Love to Win: Bryan Cranston

            Who’s (Probably) Going to Win: Bryan Cranston

As I mentioned before, I haven’t completely caught up with “Homeland” and “Mad Men”; however, I don’t think in this race, it really matters. Yes, Lewis managed to snag the Emmy away from Cranston last year, but seeing as Cranston is nominated for the episode “Say My Name,” I doubt that will happen again. I can’t see Hamm, who has been nominated in this category six times, walking away with the award this year. Maybe Spacey could pull an upset, but I’m not willing to be on it.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

            Nominees:

            Connie Britton, “Nashville”

            Claire Danes, “Homeland”

            Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey”

            Vera Farmiga, “Bates Motel”

            Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”

            Kerry Washington, “Scandal”

            Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

            Who I’d Love to Win: Claire Danes

            Who’s (Probably) Going to Win: Claire Danes

Danes is coming off a win from last year, and she’s nominated for one of her best episodes this season (that I’ve seen.) Unless voters weren’t turned off by Farmiga’s unsettling turn as the matriarch in “Bates Motel,” expect Danes to add another award to her collection.