Emmy Race: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Last year’s eligible nominees: None.

The top contenders:

Sissy Spacek (Big Love) Tyne Daly (Burn Notice) Dana Delany (Castle) Mary McDonell (The Closer) Lily Tomlin (Damages) Courtney Ford (Dexter) Martha Plimpton (The Good Wife) Kathy Baker (Law and Order)

Debra Winger (Law and Order) Kathy Griffin (Law and Order: SVU) Christine Lahti (Law and Order: SVU) Ann-Margret (Law and Order: SVU) Sharon Stone (Law and Order: SVU) Allison Janney (Lost) Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)

Frances Conroy (Nip/Tuck) Vanessa Redgrave (Nip/Tuck) Chandra Wilson (Private Practice) Maura Tierney (Rescue Me) Evan Rachel Wood (True Blood) Joely Richardson (The Tudors) Diahann Carroll (White Collar)

The most definite nominee here is Lily Tomlin for her recurring performance as the wife of a Bernie Madoff type on “Damages.” Oscar winner Sissy Spacek is also a good bet for “Big Love,” especially considering the little-rewarded show did manage to net Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn a nod two years ago. Past winner Sharon Stone will probably be back, this time for her guest-starring role on “SVU.” I’m very bad at picking the “SVU” actresses who end up getting nominated, so I’ll go with Kathy Griffin as a possibility. And I’m hopeful that Maura Tierney’s spectacular arc on “Rescue Me” from last summer won’t be forgotten.

Current predictions:
KATHY GRIFFIN, LAW AND ORDER: SVU
SISSY SPACEK, BIG LOVE
SHARON STONE, LAW AND ORDER: SVU
MAURA TIERNEY, RESCUE ME
LILY TOMLIN, DAMAGES
DEBRA WINGER, LAW AND ORDER*

*Updated to reflect 6 nominees

Who could win? Maybe Tomlin?

Next up: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series