Television
Emmy Predictions: Who Will Win?
By LaDale Anderson
Sep 19, 2012 - 8:33:20 PM

HOLLYWOOD—On Sunday, September 23, the best in television will be crowned at the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Award at 8pm on ABC.  The ceremony will be hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, but enough about him. Everyone wants to know who will take home Emmy gold. Here are predictions in some of the most competitive categories of the night.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nominees include the likes of Bryan Cranston for “Breaking Bad,” Michael C. Hall for “Dexter,” Damian Lewis for “Homeland,” Jon Hamm for “Mad Men,” Steve Buscemi for “Boardwalk Empire” and Hugh Bonneville for “Downtown Abbey.” Nothing against the other candidates, but this is a two person-race between Cranston and Lewis. What Cranston does with Walter White is short of astonishing; it would be hard to not hear his name called Sunday night, but if an upset were to occur it would come from Lewis. His work as a mentally unstable prisoner of war is phenomenal. The only problem is not as many people are watching “Homeland” as they should be. 

Bryan Cranston as Walter White on "Breaking Bad."

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series pits two Oscar nominees, Kathy Bates for “Harry’s Law” and Glenn Close for “Damages,” against one another, but it’s Claire Danes in “Homeland” who is likely to win the prize.  While Michelle Dockery “Downtown Abbey,” Julianna Margulies “The Good Wife” and Elisabeth Moss “Mad Men” had killer acting this season, Danes’ (Carrie) is unlike anything on the small screen.  She brings intensity to a flawed character that sets the screen on fire each week for the viewers.

There is quite a bit of star power from the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series with the likes of Edie Falco “Nurse Jackie,” Tina Fey “30 Rock,” Julia Louis-Dreyfus “Veep,” Amy Poehler “Parks and Recreation,” Lena Dunham “Girls,” Melissa McCarthy “Mike & Molly” and Zooey Deschanel “New Girl” vying for the top prize.  While many are expecting a two-person race between Poehler and Dreyfus, I believe this category is likely to have a surprise win for Zooey Deschanel for “New Girl.”  She is absolutely stunning as Jess; she brings a quirkiness and likability to a character that most would find annoying.  It’s fresh, smart and deserving of the win.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series sees the return of Alec Baldwin “30 Rock,” who will compete against Jon Cryer “Two and a Half Men,” Larry David “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Jim Parsons “The Big Bang Theory,” Don Cheadle “House of Lies” and Louis C.K. “Louie.”  This is indeed Louis C.K.’s year; the guy is a comic genius and is in a league of his own. It would be a travesty to not hear his name called Sunday night.

In the Supporting Actress race for Comedy, I expect either Julie Bowen or Sofia Vergara of “Modern Family” to take the crown. Both women were exceptional this season, but in my heart I’d love to see Vergara win just to hear her acceptance speech. For Supporting Actor, I personally believe Max Greenfield “New Girl” should take home the prize. He delivers a poised, yet unstable character at times on the small screen. He is an asset to the series and should be awarded for his work. I would not be surprised, however, if one of the gentlemen of “Modern Family” were victorious.

For Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, I would not be able to fathom Cranston winning an award without his counterpart Aaron Paul “Breaking Bad” winning as well. Jesse (Paul) is a revelation on the screen and each time he’s not there, you eagerly wait for him to return.  If he were to lose, it would only be fitting that his co-star Giancarlo Esposito (Gus) takes the prize for his unbelievable work this season. Christina Hendricks, Christine Baranski and Archie Panjabi are front-runners in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series race. “The Good Wife” co-stars are electrifying on the screen, and Hendricks, who has yet to win for her work on “Mad Men,” truly brought the drama this season.  Hendricks with the win by a slight edge, Panjabi could be the upset.

For Best Comedy it’s easy: “Modern Family.”  Honestly, is there anything funnier on television right now?  Not even close.  For Best Drama, it’s a tough race. Three contenders that stand out: “Breaking Bad,” “Homeland” and “Mad Men.”  "Mad Men" has been victorious in the category in the past and this past season was a stellar one, but I feel as if it’s a two-person race between “Homeland” and “Breaking Bad.”  While “Homeland” has stellar writing, directing and acting, it doesn’t match the intensity of “Breaking Bad” which manages to keep the audience on the edge of its seat week after week. 

So there you have it. Those are my picks for Emmy gold.  Who do you expect to come out on top this Sunday night?