Emmy Race: Best Directing in a Comedy Series

Most of this is mere conjecture and guesswork. I am working mainly off of a list from Awards Heaven.

Best Directing in a Comedy Series

Last year's nominees:
THE COMEBACK, "Valerie Does Another Classic Leno" (show ended last season)
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, "The Christ Nail" (show did not air this season)
ENTOURAGE, "Oh, Mandy"
ENTOURAGE, "Sundance Kids"
MY NAME IS EARL, "Pilot" (winner)
WEEDS, "Good Shit Lollipop"

This year's top contenders:
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, "Bang"
"Desperate Housewives" managed a win in this category two years ago for its stellar pilot and stands a great shot with this standout episode from this season, which involves a tense but occasionally humorous hostage situation. The actors in the episode do a great job, and provided "Housewives" is not completely snubbed again, this episode should get recognized.

ENTOURAGE, "The Return of the King"
None of the "Entourage" episodes from this season compare to "Exodus" or "Sundance Kids" from last year, so this episode, which takes place on Yom Kippur, stands a good shot if "Entourage" gets nodded more than once.

ENTOURAGE, "Sorry, Ari"
Besides "One Day in the Valley", which I do not think was submitted here, this is probably this season's best offering, and just feels like the kind of episode that would be recognized.

MY NAME IS EARL, "Our Cops is On"
As I said with the corresponding writing category, it disgusts me to list this is a contender. No more to say here.

THE OFFICE, "Business School"
This seems to be what people are considering to be the best episode of this season of "The Office" and therefore should be a frontrunner here.

THE OFFICE, "A Benihana Christmas"
The Christmas episode got a writing nomination last year, why not directing this year?

SCRUBS, "My Musical"
If nothing else, this episode is amazingly directed. The choreography and cohesiveness of the ensemble will help this episode along its way to a nomination and win if it can overcome "Ugly Betty".

30 ROCK, "Hardball"
"30 Rock" submitted pretty well in this category. "Hardball" is the best and funniest episode, the pilot has an edge simply because it is the pilot, "Fireworks" is a great episode, and "The Baby Show" is a very well acted episode. This show feels like one that will be recognized for directing, and I think "Hardball" is its best shot.

UGLY BETTY, "Pilot"
I would undescribably overjoyed if this ridiculously beloved and overrated pilot missed out on a nomination here, but I consider that highly unlikely and pretty much impossible.

WEEDS, "Cooking with Jesus"
I do not think this episode is as good as some of the other four episodes I have seen from this season, but I think it stands the best chance, especially if they liked "Good Shit Lollipop" last year, since this episode features a very similar plotline.

Current predictions:
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, "Bang"
ENTOURAGE, "Sorry, Ari"
SCRUBS, "My Musical"
30 ROCK, "Hardball"
UGLY BETTY, "Pilot"