Emmy Race: Best Directing in a Drama Series

As with the corresponding comedy category, I am working off a list from Awards Heaven for eligible contenders.

Best Directing in a Drama Series

Last year's nominees:
BIG LOVE, "Pilot" (show did not air this season)
LOST, "Live Together, Die Alone"
SIX FEET UNDER, "Everyone's Waiting" (show ended last season)
THE SOPRANOS, "Join the Club"
THE SOPRANOS, "Members Only"
24, "7:00am-8:00am" (winner)
THE WEST WING, "Election Day" (show edned last season)

This year's top contenders:
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, "Pilot"
This critically beloved pilot should have a pretty great shot here. Not too much more to say than that.

GREY'S ANATOMY, "From a Whisper to a Scream"
I am not familiar with any of the episodes submitted this year, the other two being "Wishin' and Hopin'" and "Some Kind of Miracle". I think "Grey's Anatomy" will do well in the acting and series races, but may falter to more dramatic competition here.

HEROES, "Homecoming"
This is the first really big episode where the whole "save the cheerleader, save the world" thing came into play. I do not think "Heroes" will be honored in this category, but this episode is a pretty significant one.

HEROES, "Company Man"
This episode, however, is truly the best "Heroes" has to offer in its first season. It is a very well directed hour, and if it can make it onto Emmy's radar, it may have a chance.

HOUSE, "Half-Wit"
I have heard this episode is great, but I do not think "House" will be recognized for its directing, especially with the massive amount of HBO power eligible in this category.

LOST, "Through the Looking Glass"
I said the same thing for this episode in the writing category: if last year's fairly poor finale can get recognized, this year's awesome one is a shoo-in.

RESCUE ME, "Hell"
I have yet to see this episode, but I feel like "Rescue Me" may score a surprise nod in this category. I believe this is the only submitted episode, and it is also the one chosen for Best Drama Series.

THE RICHES, "Pilot"
FX has usually done well for its pilots in this category, with "The Shield", "Nip/Tuck", and "Rescue Me" scoring nods in past years. (Even the pilot of the short-lived "Lucky" received a writing nod). If the writing category is too crowded, count "The Riches" in here.

ROME, "De Patre Vostro"
The series finale of "Rome" may get lost in the shuffle due to overshadowing fellow HBO series "Deadwood" and "The Sopranos" in their swan songs.

THE SHIELD, "Chasing Ghosts"
I would love to see this awesome episode get recgonized here, but "The Shield" has not been nominated for anything in two years, and has not been nominated in this category since the airing of its pilot. I am hoping for and sensing a bit a resurgence of "The Shield" with Emmy voters this year, but I am not daring enough to predict it at this point.

THE SOPRANOS, "Made in America"
After watching this series finale and hearing others' opinions, I feel like this episode may suffer a severe backlash. I think a snub in this category could be subtle enough, but I feel like it is more likely to falter in the writing category. I am going to be brave and predict its snub here.

THE SOPRANOS, "Remember When"
This episode packs a lot of plotlines into one neat and lengthy hour. I feel like it will be overshadowed by the season's pilot and finale.

THE SOPRANOS, "Soprano Home Movies"
The cinematography in this episode is just mind-blowing, and it is stunningly directed. This one is pretty much in, I think.

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, "Pilot"
Popular pilot, directed by a two-time winner in this category (Thomas Schlamme). There is not much more to say, except that the show was prematurely cancelled, which could hurt its chances.

24, "6:00am-7:00am"
Just like its win last year in this category, the season premiere is almost certainly the best this dismal season of "24" has to offer. I feel like "24" will suffer a major backlach akin to those of "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" last year, but it still could squeeze in here.

Current predictions:
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, "Pilot"
LOST, "Through the Looking Glass"
THE SOPRANOS, "Soprano Home Movies"
THE RICHES, "Pilot"
STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, "Pilot"

The 1st Annual AFT Television Awards begin Monday, June 18th. Stay tuned.