Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Titles in parantheses are the episodes chosen as submissions for the Emmy awards in this category. I have watched all the episodes in this category in preparation for analysis of possible winners and their chances.

The nominees:

RACHEL GRIFFITHS AS SARAH, BROTHERS & SISTERS (Bad News)
I do not know whether Griffiths come off better when she is among an amazing cast ("Six Feet Under") or clearly the best actor by a long shot ("Brothers & Sisters"). This is a dramatic role and quite an episode for her, though I did enjoy her on "Six Feet Under" better. If she could not win for the greatly admired SFU I doubt there is any way she could possibly win here. She also has the disadvantage of being the only one without a costar in this category, so barring a five-way vote split, I think she is out.

KATHERINE HEIGL AS IZZY, GREY'S ANATOMY (Time After Time)
Many people have written that Heigl was nominated a year too late, and from the little of the show's second season I saw and the more substantial amount of episodes this season which I have watched, I would have to agree. Heigl's performance is unimaginative and often bland. She has a major storyline in her episode, but I doubt it is enough to garner her a win. No notable scenes in either of her costars' episodes.

SANDRA OH AS CRISTINA, GREY'S ANATOMY (From A Whisper to a Scream)
I have to say, after watching four "Grey's Anatomy" episodes nearly back-to-back (why did they all have to choose different episodes??), I was truly surprised and impressed by Oh's work in this episode. I do not think she has enough critical support to win despite fans loving her, but she is by far the best of the cast at least in this hour and outdoes her performance in the other submitted episodes.

CHANDRA WILSON AS BAILEY, GREY'S ANATOMY (Oh, The Guilt)
Wilson's performance just does not do it for me, but I guess a lot of people love her as this is her second nomination. There is nothing too memorable to recommend her from her submitted episode, and I feel like her nominated castmates will outshine her.

LORRAINE BRACCO AS DR. MELFI, THE SOPRANOS (The Blue Comet)
After three years of being nominated in the lead actress category, Bracco now appears in supporting after a spotty but solid role on the show this year. Her episode is amazing, and it also marks her last appearance on the show (if she is in the finale, which I do not think she is, it is nothing of importance). She has an awesome scene opposite James Gandolfini which I think will garner her the win.

AIDA TURTURRO AS JANICE, THE SOPRANOS (Soprano Home Movies)
Turturro, also a returning "Sopranos" nominee after a several-year absence, is in pretty much the same boat at Bracco, except for the fact that she appears in nearly all of her episode and pretty much none of the other episodes of the season. I think Bracco's Dr. Melfi is a more popular character, but Turturro would certainly deserve the win.

Who should win (based on entire season): Elizabeth Mitchell, oh wait...no one is solid enough or appears in enough episodes to deserve this award.
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Bracco or Turturro, too tough to call.
Who will win: Bracco, though it is really up in the air and nothing is for sure.

Next: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series