Last year’s nominees:
KRISTIN CHENOWETH as OLIVE SNOOK, PUSHING DAISIES (1 nomination)
Chenoweth got nominated last year when ABC’s inventive fantasy drama was considered fresh and popular, despite getting snubbed in the Best Comedy Series category. Now, “Pushing Daisies” has been axed by ABC and the buzz surrounding it has faded considerably. She was still terrific this year, but some despised her nun plotline, and a handful of her best episodes include that. I hope she won’t miss out, but it’s a very scary possibility.
AMY POEHLER as VARIOUS CHARACTERS, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1 nomination)
Poehler got in here last year when variety show performers were suddenly reclassified as comedy supporting actors. One year later, she has her own series, “Parks and Recreation,” for which she contends in the lead actress field, and she appeared in only eight of SNL’s episodes this season. I think she’ll fare better with her other role, although her immense popularity these days and her rap with Sarah Palin could propel her to a double nomination.
JEAN SMART as REGINA NEWLY, SAMANTHA WHO? (1 nomination/1 win)
Last year’s shocking winner, predicted by almost no one, is an Emmy favorite, having been nominated twice for her role on “24” as the nutso First Lady and winning twice for her guest spot on “Frasier.” Her current ABC show failed to take in its second season and got axed by ABC, so Smart’s chances hinge a bit on her popularity. History is on her side – similarly respected actress Blythe Danner pulled off a repeat win after her show, “Huff,” had been axed by Showtime following its second season run. Smart can probably do the same, at least as far as a nomination is concerned.
HOLLAND TAYLOR as EVELYN HARPER, TWO AND A HALF MEN (3 nominations)
I considered leaving Taylor off my predictions this year, but then thought better of it. This woman only has to step on screen for one minute the whole season to garner awards attention. As I’ve mentioned in past years, she won an Emmy in the supporting actress category for “The Practice” when she wasn’t even a regular cast member! Even if she was only in the credits this season, Taylor’s probably a safe bet for a nomination, regardless of performance or permit.
VANESSA WILLIAMS as WILHELMINA SLATER, UGLY BETTY (2 nominations)
Wilhelmina Slater was up to no good more than usual this season on “Ugly Betty,” but she also forged unexpected relationships with people like Connor and Daniel, which allow her to be more human without coming off as overly sentimental. Williams got nominated last year along with lead actress America Ferrera despite the show itself being snubbed in the Best Comedy Series category, and I imagine that Williams’ work this season will get her nominated once again, even if Ferrera gets dropped, though she’s vulnerable due to waning popularity.
Past nominees, making a comeback:
CONCHATA FERRELL as BERTA, TWO AND A HALF MEN (2 nominations)
Ferrell was nominated for her one-liner-fueled portrayal of Charlie’s sarcastic housekeeper for the show’s second and fourth seasons, respectively, along with costar Holland Taylor, who managed not to slip out of the top five last year. Her submission of the misfire CSI crossover episode last year was probably most to blame, but her infrequent screen time probably doesn’t help her case. She’ll probably garner a number of votes, but likely not enough to make it into the top six.
JENNA FISCHER as PAM, THE OFFICE (1 nomination)
Two years ago, the sweet receptionist at Dundler-Mifflin came out of her shell and confessed her feelings for Jim, and landed herself an Emmy nomination. This year, Pam went a step further and actually quit Dunder-Mifflin to work at the Michael Scott Paper Company. Fischer is a likeable, popular actress who probably just missed the list last year when Pam didn’t have much of a major role, and she should return this year, especially as the only female with a significant role on the show this year.
ELIZABETH PERKINS as CELIA HODES, WEEDS (2 nominations)
Perkins was actually the only actress representing her show in its debut season at the Emmys, and even managed a nomination the following year for an episode during which she barely appeared. This year, “Weeds” rebounded from a lull and Perkins was a big, loopy part of that in her drug-obsessed adventures in Mexican tunnels. Unless Emmy voters are unwilling to re-embrace “Weeds,” Perkins has a good shot at another nomination.
Variety variables:
TRACEY ULLMAN as VARIOUS CHARACTERS, STATE OF THE UNION
As may be clear from the title, Tracey Ullman is the star of her variety show. Yet, for some reason, she’s classified here instead of in the lead race. Ullman is a nine-time nominee (and two-time winner) in the now-defunct variety performance category, and she also has two Emmys for comedy series guest appearances. She just won a Satellite Award and managed a SAG nomination for her role on this show, but in the lead categories – will the category fraud hurt or help her? Watch out for her, though, because she could surprise.
KRISTIN WIIG as VARIOUS CHARACTERS, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
With former costars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on to bigger and (perhaps) better things, Wiig is the token woman on “Saturday Night Live” who engages in gross-out humor and really gives every one of her sketches her all. She has yet to receive any awards recognition of any kind, but her name has been thrown around a lot in conjunction with the Emmys, and voters may be looking to fill (or supplement) Poehler’s slot from last year with another SNL female. The new voting system, however, coupled with the new category placements from last year, may do more harm than good for Wiig.
The perennially snubbed:
DANA DELANY as KATHARINE MAYFAIR, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
Last year’s newest housewife arrived on Wisteria Line all prepared to pick up an Emmy nomination but then didn’t even make the top ten, especially surprising since the similarly dramatic-oriented Alfre Woodard made the Emmy cut a few years back when none of the show’s other stars were nominated. This year, Delany added comedy to her repertoire since she was no longer the center of the mystery, and her romance with Mike helped make her more sympathetic and likeable. Delany is a five-time Emmy nominee and two-time winner for the series “China Beach.” Unfortunately, Emmy voters may now be over “Desperate Housewives,” and, judging by the nominees from last year, they’re seeking laugh-out-loud funny in this category.
JANE KRAKOWSKI as JENNA MARONEY, 30 ROCK
Krakowski’s fate really is like that of her character – putting in so much hard work and effort to show that she’s talented and not getting an ounce of attention or recognition in return. Poor Krakowski didn’t net a nomination for her stunning episode, “Hardball,” from the first season of the hit NBC comedy, and then was sidelined during the second season and missed out again. This year, she’s had more screen time and more outlandish plotlines, and the show’s only become more popular, but I fear she’ll strike out with a third miss this year.
The roundup:
This category yielded two surprising nominees last year in Poehler and Smart, and there are just so many possibilities here, including past winner Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl), Portia de Rossi (Better Off Ted), Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), Becki Newton (Ugly Betty), Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords), Nicollette Sheridan (Desperate Housewives), and Lizzy Caplan (Party Down), to name a few. Additionally, watch out for another unpredictable threat: Judy Davis, who reprised her Emmy-winning role from the “Starter Wife” miniseries in its short-lived series incarnation. This year’s lineup will likely include a few past contenders mixed in with last year’s crop.
Current predictions:
KRISTEN CHENOWETH, PUSHING DAISIES
JENNA FISCHER, THE OFFICE
ELIZABETH PERKINS, WEEDS
JEAN SMART, SAMANTHA WHO?
HOLLAND TAYLOR, TWO AND A HALF MEN
VANESSA WILLIAMS, UGLY BETTY
Who could win? Jean Smart
Next up: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
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