Emmy Predictions: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Listed below are the eleven semi-finalists for this category. Episodes submitted by performers are listed in parentheses after their names. Beware of minor spoilers for the episodes described. My analysis may be somewhat more limited here as I haven’t seen a good number of the performers and their episodes. Nominees are pictured in order of likelihood of getting nominated, and listed below alphabetically.

Notably missing: Britney Spears and Sarah Chalke (How I Met Your Mother), Mary-Kate Olsen (Weeds), Janeane Garofalo (Two and a Half Men)

POLLY BERGEN, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (Distant Past)
Bergen has a baity role as Lynette’s irritating mother on the once-hot ABC primetime soap. I’m fairly certain that Bergen can get nominated, the only doubts I have come from the fact that “Desperate Housewives” seems to be rapidly losing popularity with voters, with snubs for the show, Teri Hatcher, and Dana Delany. I think Bergen’s safe, though.

EDIE FALCO, 30 ROCK (Episode 210)
Falco was funny as Celeste Cunningham, Jack Donaghy’s forbidden Democrat lover. Falco is a six-time Emmy nominee for her work on “The Sopranos” and Alec Baldwin makes for an equally good scene partner as James Gandolfini. Falco did miss out on a nomination for her hyped-up guest spot on “Will & Grace” a few years ago, but I’m confident that the halfway-between-New-York-and-D.C. meeting place gimmick should assure Falco a nomination.

CARRIE FISHER, 30 ROCK (Rosemary’s Baby)
Fisher guest-starred in one of the funniest episodes of “30 Rock” this season as a half-deranged comedy writer yearning for a comeback. The episode was hilarious and well-received, and Fisher may be able to capitalize off of that buzz. Fisher has never been much of an awards magnet, and I doubt many even consider her to be a good actress. Regardless, she should be able to manage a nomination.

VIVICA A. FOX, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (The Rat Dog) (not pictured)
I completely forgot about Fox in my original write-up for this category. She made the top ten, and despite being a decently-known actress, I think she has no shot. No guest star from “Curb” has ever gotten nominated, including frequent appearances by the likes of Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, and Mary Steenburgen. Plus, Fox isn’t really the star of his submitted episode at all and does little, if anything, funny. The episode itself is great, but I can’t see her getting nominated. Maybe over Jane Lynch, but otherwise, I’d count her out.

KATHRYN JOOSTEN, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (Welcome to Kanagawa)
Joosten couldn’t manage a nomination last year because she opted to submit herself in the supporting category, where she made the top ten but ultimately missed out on the top five. This year she’s back here with the post-disaster episode where Mrs. McCluskey has to deal with the death of her friend Ida. It’s a decent enough performance but pales in comparison to the comedic strength of the other contenders, even Bergen and Knight from the same show.

SHIRLEY KNIGHT, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (If There’s Anything I Can’t Stand)
Knight was nominated the last time she guest-starred as Rex’s mother on “Desperate Housewives” two years ago. She reappeared in two episodes this season, dealing with a stubborn Bree and a pregnant granddaughter Danielle. Her performance is pretty much the same as the first time, though it’s not nearly as funny or showy as many of the other performers in this category. I think she’ll just miss the mark.

JANE LYNCH, TWO AND A HALF MEN (Rough Night in Hump Junction)
Lynch has popped up many times in the past few years in Christopher Guest comedies and on Showtime’s “The L Word” as ruthless, sarcastic attorney Joyce. Her first real awards shot should not come for “Two and a Half Men” and I’m certain it won’t. She’s barely in her submitted episode and there’s little funny about either the episode or her performance. She’s in the top ten only because she’s been around so much lately.

ANNIE POTTS, UGLY BETTY (Zero Worship)
I know nothing about Potts’ guest performance on “Ugly Betty” save for the fact that she plays a psychic. Looking at her resume, she missed out on Emmy nominations for her work on the drama “Any Day Now” despite two consecutive SAG nominations. Regardless of her history, she isn’t likely to get nominated simply based on a number of contenders ahead of her who won’t likely be snubbed.

AMY RYAN, THE OFFICE (Goodbye Toby)
I wrote about Ryan in the corresponding drama category, noting the recent buzz she’s been getting after an Oscar nomination for “Gone Baby Gone”. Her performance in the season finale of “The Office” was pitch-perfect, funny but not too showy. Her unexpected flirtation with Michael was especially amusing. Making the top ten should easily enable her to get a nomination here.

SARAH SILVERMAN, MONK (Mr. Monk and His Biggest Fan)
Silverman is far more generally acceptable on “Monk” than on her title show, for which she also made the top ten. The truth is, it’s hard to out-act Tony Shalhoub, and few actors have managed to do so and get Emmy nominations for it. The three who have – John Turturro, Laurie Metcalf, and Stanley Tucci – are far more established and talented comedians than the occasionally funny Silverman. Maybe she’ll make it in, but I think the top ten placement is her reward.

ELAINE STRITCH, 30 ROCK (LudaChristmas)
Stritch won this award last year, with a far better submission than her episode this year. Regardless, I think that her ability to upstage Alec Baldwin should earn her a repeat nomination. She should be able to get in despite the heavy competition from guest stars on the same show, though I think that both Falco and Fisher will get in along with Stritch.

Current predictions:
POLLY BERGEN, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
EDIE FALCO, 30 ROCK
CARRIE FISHER, 30 ROCK
AMY RYAN, THE OFFICE
ELAINE STRITCH, 30 ROCK