Emmy Race: Best Writing for a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees:
“Lost” (The Incident)
“Mad Men” (The Jet Set)
“Mad Men” (Meditations in an Emergency)
“Mad Men” (A Night to Remember)
“Mad Men” (Six Month Leave)

The top contenders:
“Caprica” (Ghost in the Machine)
“Caprica” (Gravedancing)
“Dexter” (Living the Dream)
“Dexter” (Hungry Man)
“Flash Forward” (No More Good Days)
“Friday Night Lights” (The Son)
“The Good Wife” (Heart)
“The Good Wife” (Pilot)
“Justified” (Pilot)
“Lost” (Ab Aeterno)
“Lost” (The End)
“Mad Men” (Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency)
“Mad Men” (The Gypsy and the Hobo)
“Mad Men” (Shut the Door, Have a Seat)
“Men of a Certain Age” (Pilot)
“Parenthood” (Pilot)
“Royal Pains” (Pilot)
“Sons of Anarchy” (Albification)
“Treme” (Pilot)
“24” (3:00PM-4:00PM)
“V” (Pilot)
“White Collar” (Pilot)

The roundup: Based on the past two years, it’s safe to assume that at least two installments of “Mad Men” will be here. While the show submitted a total of nine episodes, I suspect that the selected three will make the cut. Even the controversial finale of “The Sopranos” got in (and won) here, so I think that the last episode of “Lost” is a safe bet. While an episode of “The Good Wife,” a number of pilots, or an episode of “Caprica” (based on residual love for the far superior and twice-nominated in this category “Battlestar Galactica”) could take the final slot, I suspect it will be another extended episode of “Lost,” where Richard’s moving back story is finally revealed.

Current predictions:
“Lost” (Ab Aeterno)
“Lost” (The End)
“Mad Men” (Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency)
“Mad Men” (The Gypsy and the Hobo)
“Mad Men” (Shut the Door, Have a Seat)

What could win? The season finale of “Mad Men.”

Next up: Best Directing for a Comedy Series