BEST DRAMA SERIES
1. Downton Abbey
2. Homeland
3. Breaking Bad
4. Mad Men
5. Game of Thrones
6. House of Cards
BEST COMEDY SERIES
1. Modern Family
2. Girls
3. 30 Rock
4. The Big Bang Theory
5. Louie
6. Arrested Development
BEST MINISERIES/MOVIE
1. Behind the Candelabra
2. Phil Spector
3. Top of the Lake
4. The Bible
5. American Horror Story: Asylum
6. Political Animals
BEST REALITY COMPETITION SERIES
1. The Amazing Race
2. Top Chef
3. The Voice
4. Dancing With the Stars
5. So You Think You Can Dance
6. American Idol
BEST VARIETY SERIES
1. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
2. The Colbert Report
3. Jimmy Kimmel Live
4. Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
5. Saturday Night Live
6. Late Show With Davis Letterman
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
2. Louis C.K., Louie (+1)
3. Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (-1)
4. Don Cheadle, House of Lies (RE-ENTRY)
5. Matt LeBlanc, Episodes (-1)
6. Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Don Cheadle returns to my predictions as the exposure he has received from Iron Man 3 will help a lot in getting in the heads of Emmy voters. Backlash from his win last year will hurt Jon Cryer, but he can certainly still be nominated. Jake Johnson from New Girl also remains a threat.
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Damian Lewis, Homeland
2. Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
3. Jon Hamm, Mad Men
4. Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
5. Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
6. Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES/MOVIE
1. Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra (+1)
2. Al Pacino, Phil Spector (-1)
3. Matt Damon, Behind the Candelabra
4. Benedict Cumberbatch, Parade's End
5. Toby Jones, The Girl
Things are looking good for Behind the Candelabra in terms of awards and critical appeal.
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Lena Dunham, Girls
2. Tina Fey, 30 Rock
3. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
4. Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly (+1)
5. Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (-1)
6. Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
I'm a bit worried that Amy Poehler might miss. I'm not predicting it but stranger things have happened (such as Parks and Recreation missing for Best Comedy Series last year). Zooey Deschanel remains the strong 7th contender so she would be the benefactor of a Poehler snub.
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Claire Danes, Homeland
2. Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
3. Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
4. Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (+1)
5. Kerry Washington, Scandal (-1)
6. Keri Russell, The Americans (RE-ENTRY)
With so much category placement confusion early on there has been a lot left up in the air in this category until recently. Elisabeth Moss was finally confirmed in lead so she will become the 4th lock of the category. However, Elizabeth McGovern was confirmed in supporting, which opens up a spot in this category. Expect Keri Russell's acclaimed performance on The Americans to slip in as the 6th nominee. Although, if House of Cards really catches on it will be Robin Wright garnering the nomination instead.
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES/MOVIE
1. Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum
2. Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals
3. Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
4. Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
5. Laura Linney, The Big C: Hereafter
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
2. Ty Burrell, Modern Family
3. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
4. Ed O'Neill, Modern Family
5. Will Arnett, Arrested Development
6. Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
2. Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
3. Sam Waterston, The Newsroom
4. Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad
5. Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
6. Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES/MOVIE
1. Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra (+2)
2. James Cromwell, American Horror Story: Asylum (-1)
3. Peter Mullan, Top of the Lake (-1)
4. Michael Gambon, Restless
5. Zachary Quinto, American Horror Story: Asylum
All of the buzz surrounding Behind the Candelabra has been saying Rob Lowe has a scene-stealing performance. That and his long history in TV should make him an instant frontrunner.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
1. Julie Bowen, Modern Family
2. Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
3. Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
4. Allison Williams, Girls
5. Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory
6. Zosia Mamet, Girls
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
1. Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
2. Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
3. Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
4. Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
5. Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey (NEW)
6. Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones (NEW)
Elizabeth McGovern was submitted in this category instead of the lead category. That should set her up with an interesting battle for a nomination with her own co-star, Joanne Froggatt. Both actresses could score nominations (Downton Abbey did get 2 nominations in this category last year), but I just don't see it happening as of now. Instead, I think the last spot goes to Emilia Clarke, who is breaking out as a major celebrity in a similar fashion to Peter Dinklage during season 1. Others who can break in are former winner Archie Panjabi and the one contender in the category from last year's Best Drama Series winner, Morena Baccarin.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES/MOVIE
1. Holly Hunter, Top of the Lake (+2)
2. Ellen Burstyn, Political Animals (-1)
3. Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Asylum (-1)
4. Alfre Woodard, Steel Magnolias
5. Imelda Staunton, The Girl
The first 3 actresses are locks. After that the category really thins out. Alfre Woodard is an Emmy favorite and Imelda Staunton is a beloved character actress so I'm going with those two.
BEST DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
1. 30 Rock
2. Louie
3. Girls (+1)
4. Modern Family (-1)
5. The Office
One of the first signs of a possible upset brewing in the Best Comedy Series category is if Modern Family misses out in this category.
BEST DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
1. Breaking Bad
2. Homeland
3. House of Cards
4. The Newsroom
5. Boardwalk Empire
BEST DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES/MOVIE
1. Behind the Candelabra
2. Top of the Lake
3. Phil Spector
4. Parade's End (NEW)
5. The Big C: Hereafter
It seems like HBO isn't putting much support behind Mary and Martha so even with a name director in Phillip Noyce it can still miss in this category.
BEST DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
1. Saturday Night Live
2. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
3. The Colbert Report
4. Late Show With David Letterman
5. Portlandia
BEST WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
1. Modern Family
2. 30 Rock
3. Girls
4. Louie
5. The Mindy Project
BEST WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
1. Homeland (+1)
2. Mad Men (-1)
3. The Newsroom
4. Downton Abbey
5. Breaking Bad
Homeland's "Q+A" has been getting major buzz in this category while this season of Mad Men has the perception of being a bit of a disappointment early on.
BEST WRITING FOR A MINISERIES/MOVIE
1. Phil Spector
2. Behind the Candelabra
3. Top of the Lake
4. Parade's End
5. Political Animals
BEST WRITING FOR A VARIETY SERIES
1. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
2. The Colbert Report
3. Saturday Night Live
4. Jimmy Kimmel Live
5. Late Night With Jimmy Fallon