Entertainment Blog: Emmy Predictions

One of the most exciting days for television lovers is just around the corner. The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards air this Sunday, September 23 on ABC at 8 p.m. Not only am I extremely excited to see Jimmy Fallon host, but I am also extremely excited to see which Modern Family actor wins Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy (Ed O’Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Ty Burrell are all nominated). Actually, all of the categories have multiple deserving nominees, so there are bound to be some tight races. Here are my predictions of who should win and who will actually win.

Drama

Actress
Claire Danes (Homeland) will win, as she should. Of course, the drama categories have been depressing me ever since Grey’s Anatomy stopped receiving nominations, but Claire Danes definitely deserves it. Her performance as a CIA agent with anxiety on the best new cable drama is intriguing. With Julianna Margulies winning last year for her role on The Good Wife, this is definitely Danes’ year.

Supporting Actress
I am desperately hoping that Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) takes home the award for her performance as Countess Violet Crawley. She has been snubbed too many times before for the purely spectacular actress that she is. Despite my humble opinion, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) is the favorite to win, understandably so, since she has taken on such a larger role as single mother and partner of the agency.

Actor
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) may be the favorite as the meth-making chemistry teacher, but my vote goes to Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire). Buscemi was robbed last year and still deserves it for his excellent performance as ‘Nucky,’ the corrupt Atlantic City treasurer. Not to mention, any actor who can transition from guest star on the comedy 30 Rock to being one of the best dramatic actors definitely deserves an award.

Supporting Actor
Giancarlo Esposito is the favorite to win, and he should. The quiet strength in Gus as he kept Walter White’s secret is something to which Esposito brings an entirely different dimension. I want to like a Downton Abbey nominee more, but Esposito deserves the Emmy.

Series
I really would like to see Downton Abbey win, not just because of Maggie Smith, but also because of the show’s intrigue and the fact that it was wrongly snubbed last year. However, Breaking Bad will most likely take the award for its thrill factor.

Comedy

Actress
This is probably one of the toughest categories. Every one of these women is hilarious. Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly), and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) have all proven themselves to be some of the funniest women on the planet. However, it is always good to see newcomers in a category that seems to feature the same nominees every year. Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) is hilarious, but probably not enough so to win the award. As for Lena Dunham (Girls), the show is very different from others in the category, but it would be a long shot. Louis-Dreyfus is the favorite because of her familiarity, but personally, I would love to see McCarthy win again. Let’s face it, she is a fresher brand of comedy unlike any of the other nominees, and she deserves the award.

Supporting Actress
This is yet another category where I am desperately torn. For me it is a four-way tie between Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), and Kristin Wiig (SNL). Bialik is favored to win, and for a good reason. It’s not easy keeping up with Jim Parsons’ massive talent. However, does the hilarity of the Modern Family ladies ever really get old? My vote has to go to Kristen Wiig, however. It was her last season of SNL, she brought life to every sketch she was in, and who doesn’t love the Gilly?

Actor
Louis C.K. (Louie) is favored to win, and he probably will. However, his comedy is for a specific palette. Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) is a lot easier to fall in love with. It would be his second year winning, but he has continued to deliver comedy, while evolving in some ways to keep it interesting (finally holding Amy’s hand at the end of last season). He deserves the award.

Supporting Actor
I kind of want Max Greenfield (New Girl) to win just because he is so darn cute, but the person who really deserves to win is undeniably Ed O’Neill (Modern Family). He is one of the only cast members yet to win an Emmy, and he definitely deserves it this year, as his character has evolved into a slightly softer, more relatable form. O’Neill is favored, but if he doesn’t win, I would like to see one of the other Modern Family men take home the prize.

Series
No words can fully express my happiness that Glee is not nominated this year. Moving on, however, Modern Family will likely deservedly win once again. The show is warm, relatable, and hilarious. Girls will have its time. This is another year for America’s favorite family.