Emmys 2007

So we have the Bait an Oscar contest and then we have the real Oscar contest and now I will add my comments on the Emmy race (Grammys to come later this year). There has been a lot of hubbub in the press about certain Emmy judges leaking nominees in a final judging session to determine the final nominees. Personally, I don't understand why the Academy is withholding the information. Who is it going to hurt? But thanks to the magic of technology, we have learned all the contenders for Best Series (Drama and Comedy), as well as numerous actors.

The way Emmy nominations are developed is through an extensive voting process. First, each series or performer must pick an episode that highlights it excellency the best. Then a popular vote determines the Top 10 contenders, which are then cut in half by a group of judges. It is episode choice that is essential to success and year after year shows and actors fail to pick their best tapes and it baffles me.

Here are my predictions for the final nominees:

Best Supporting Actress (Comedy)

Jenna Fischer-The Office
Ashley Jensen-Extras
Jaime Pressly-My Name Is Earl
Nicolette Sheridan-Desperate Housewives
Vanessa Williams-Ugly Betty

Jenna Fischer from "The Office" is a lock. She submitted in the finale where she shines and comes across as very sympathetic. With Vanessa Williams of "Ugly Betty" being the only confirmed Top 10 contender I'll have to wing this one. It would not at all surprise me if another "Office" girl got in and if one did it would be Angela Kinsey. Williams also has a lot of buzz surrounding her and as does Nicollette Sheridan from "Desperate Housewives". If she was placed in this category, "Extras" star Ashley Jensen could make it in because the show is apparently very popular within the community. Jamie Pressly was the predicted winner last year for "My Name Is Earl" and, with Megan Mulally out of the race, expect her to make it. There are also a bunch of women from the CBS comedies that are possible but I doubt it.

Best Supporting Actor (Comedy)

Neil Patrick Harris-How I Met Your Mother

John Krasinski-The Office

John C. McGinley-Scrubs

Jeremy Piven-Entourage

Rainn Wilson-The Office

This category has only one sure thing with Jeremy Piven, last year's winner, and my favorite from the show. He nailed his submission again this year with "Manic Monday", an episode all about his character's depression. Neil Patrick Harris is getting a lot of good buzz and McGinley is bound for more recognition. Rainn Wilson submitted "The Coup", which is by far his best of the season because it shows his comic and dramatic sides and he should have no problem too. John Krasinski is easily the most vulnerable of the group. He had very little screentime in the episode he submitted, which will hurt him in the judging phase. He could easily be replaced by Justin Kirk for "Weeds" or Jon Cryer from "Two and a Half Men".

Best Supporting Actress (Drama)

Rachel Griffiths-Brothers & Sisters

Elizabeth Mitchell-Lost

Sandra Oh-Grey's Anatomy

Aida Turturro-The Sopranos

Chandra Wilson-Grey's Anatomy

This will eventually become a 2-person race for Mitchell and Oh, and I predict Mitchell to win. Those two submitted their best episodes and are amazing in both. Wilson has a ton of industry support and a knockout episode ("Oh, The Guilt" the one where Cristina takes her name off the board). Griffiths is getting a lot of buzz but the failure of "B&S" to show up in the Top 10 hurt her chances. Turturro is overdue for "Sopranos" but won't win this year considering the other contenders. Yunjin Kim from "Lost" could also become a factor but I highly doubt it with her episode pick. She chose "The Glass Ballerina" over "DOC", which had a scene where her character learned that she might die but was more happy to find out her baby was her husband's. It was heartbreaking. It would be wishful thinking to see Adrianne Palicki from "Friday Night Lights" in the lineup with her submission where she nearly gets raped!

Best Supporting Actor (Drama)

Dominic Chianese-The Sopranos

Michael Imperioli-The Sopranos

T.R. Knight-Grey's Anatomy

Terry O'Quinn-Lost

William Shatner-Boston Legal

The Shat will probably get in because he always does even if it is the wrong category for him but I think he is vulnerable, along with Chianese. Dominic only had one standout episode the whole season and it may not be enough. Imperioli is in and will probably win with "Walk Like A Man", the episode before Christopher died and when he shot Tim Daly in the face (yes!!!). O'Quinn submitted "The Man From Tallahassee", the episode where we learned how Locke became paralyzed. He'll get in on the popular vote and for the expression on his face at the closing of the episode. Knight has had a rough year and will probably get a nom for the two-part episode where his father dies. It was a very good performance and some consider him overdue. Don't be surprised if Jack Coleman or Masi Oka from "Heroes" sneak in. A number of "Lost" guys had great years too. Michael Emerson or Henry Ian Cusick could get recognized but watch out for Josh Holloway, who picked his best episode ever: "Every Man For Himself".

Best Actress (Comedy)

America Ferrara-Ugly Betty

Teri Hatcher-Desperate Housewives

Felicity Huffman-Desperate Housewives

Julia Louis-Dreyfus-The New Adventures Of Old Christine

Mary-Louise Parker-Weeds

They should just give the statue to Ferrara now, we know she's gonna win. Huffman is probably her only competition and in a weak category there really is nobody else for nominations, except for maybe Marcia Cross of "DH" or Tina Fey from "30 Rock", although she screwed up her submission

Best Actor (Comedy)

Alec Baldwin-30 Rock

Steve Carell-The Office

Ricky Gervais-Extras

Jason Lee-My Name Is Earl

Charlie Sheen-Two and a Half Men

Baldwin, Carell, and Sheen are absolute locks and the other two are extremely vulnerable to Tony Shalhoub for his 3-time winner "Monk", which would be very despressing because he is very undeserving when put next to Baldwin and Carell. Gervais could get in on "The Office" love and Lee should've been nominated last year. Surprise could come from Kevin Connolly of "Entourage".

Best Actress (Drama)

Patricia Arquette-Medium

Connie Britton-Friday Night Lights

Sally Field-Brothers & Sisters

Ellen Pompeo-Grey's Anatomy
Kyra Sedgwick-The Closer

Field and Sedgwick are the closest to being considered locks but are still suspect to failure. Pompeo could get in on popular support from her episode where she confronts her mother, who has come out of an Alzheimer's bout. Arquette is getting a lot of buzz, but so are Calista Flockhart and Mariska Hargitay and a bevel of others. This is a very competitive category this year and it may surprise many to believe that Falco is the most vulnerable. I believe she submitted "The Second Coming" and I honestly can't remember her in this one. It was all Gandolfini. Expect Connie Britton to take her place for her astounding performance in "Friday Night Lights".

Best Actor (Drama)

Michael C. Hall-Dexter

James Gandolfini-The Sopranos

Hugh Laurie-House

Ian McShane-Deadwood

Kiefer Sutherland-24

Gandolfini wins 4th Emmy, open and shut case. Hall is a lock along with Laurie. Sutherland is somewhat vulnerable to James Spader and Denis Leary. Ian McShane could receive some of the love for his departed series but could easily be knocked out by the previous two mentioned or Kyle Chandler from "Friday Night Lights", but he screwed up his submission. He should've have chosen "Wind Sprints" instead of "Eyes Wide Open". Matthew Fox from "Lost" could also make it in if voters remembered his perf in the finale, which he sadly did not submit.

Best Series (Comedy)

30 Rock

Entourage

The Office

Two and a Half Men

Ugly Betty

"Office", "30 Rock", and "2 1/2 Men" are locks and one will probably win. "Ugly Betty" is most likely in. That leaves "Entourage", which is overdue but vulnerable to its HBO counterpart "Extras". "Desperate Housewives" could make it in, but it has a distant chance.

Best Series (Drama)

Friday Night Lights

Grey's Anatomy

House

Lost

The Sopranos

"House" and "The Sopranos" are in. "Lost" had an awesome year and submitted the finale, its best episode in a long, long time. It has a strong chance at winning too. "Grey's" will get in on the popular vote but could fall to the wrath of "Heroes". I have a lot of confidence in "Friday Night Lights", the little show that could. They submitted the pilot, which wasn't the best episode but satisfies. Hopefully it ranked high in the popular vote considering I find that mostly artistically inclined people seem to watch it.