Final Emmy Winner Predictions

The Emmy Awards air tonight, and I’m hoping to tune in from my hotel room in Vancouver. So far, I’ve predicted 1/4 correctly, guessing only Joan Cusack to finally win on her fifth nomination for portraying Sheila on “Shameless.” Other winners were Reg E. Cathey for “House of Cards,” Margo Martindale for a two-minute performance on “The Americans,” and Bradley Whitford for “Transparent.” The big question this year with the drama races is who will prevail now that “Breaking Bad” is off the air. “Mad Men” and “Homeland” have both won before but are not in high regard anymore, and this is the last shot that “Mad Men” has to win any acting award despite its many nominations over the past eight years. I’m going with “Game of Thrones” to win the top prize, but it could be any of them. As far as the comedy races are concerned, “Modern Family” could still win, “Veep” might upset, and I’d be ecstatic if “Parks and Recreation” got a consolation prize for never winning before in the form of a deserved trophy for Best Comedy Series for its superb final season. And if there’s any way that Tatiana Maslany could win, I’ll be thrilled. As always, I’m excited for the show, and will post some brief reactions either immediately afterwards or the next morning. Enjoy the show, and leave your thoughts in the comments! For detailed predictions in all applicable categories, click on the hyperlinked category name.

No guts, no glory:
Tatiana Maslany for Best Drama Actress! If only!

DRAMA SERIES:
Game of Thrones

DRAMA LEAD ACTOR:
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

DRAMA LEAD ACTRESS:
Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder)

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline)

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)

DRAMA DIRECTING:
Method and Madness (The Knick)

DRAMA WRITING:
Person to Person (Mad Men)

COMEDY SERIES:
Veep

COMEDY LEAD ACTOR:
Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent)

COMEDY LEAD ACTRESS:
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Anna Chlumsky (Veep)

COMEDY DIRECTING:
Best New Girl (Transparent)

COMEDY WRITING:
Alive in Tucson (The Last Man on Earth)

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of major spoilers for listed episodes.

LOUIE
"Pot Luck," "A La Carte," "Cop Story," "Bobby's House," "Untitled," "The Road Part 1"

This is the third consecutive nomination for Louis C.K.’s FX comedy. This year, it becomes the one nominated series in this category that I don’t watch regularly, so I sat down for my annual marathoning of this show’s submitted episodes a few weeks ago. It’s pretty standard stuff, with a few good laughs in there as Louie navigates fatherhood, friendship, romance, and more specific instances of cops, nightmares, tours, and getting beat up by a girl. I think this show needs to really be on fire to win this award, and that’s not the case right now, especially with an announced upcoming hiatus before season six.

MODERN FAMILY
"Closet? You'll Love It," "Connection Lost," "Spring Break," "Marco Polo," "American Skyper," "The Day We Almost Died"

I’m tired of this show. It has won this award five times in a row, tying “Frasier” for that honor and ready to break a record if it wins a sixth trophy this year. The highest grade I gave any of these episodes was a B- for the finale, “American Skyper,” which was at least entertaining, but this show has abandoned literal comedy, instead trying to be clever and metaphorical for the entire length of every episode. I feel like this show is going to win again, but how can it with a handful of certifiably stronger and fresher shows also in the race?

PARKS AND RECREATION
"Leslie and Ron," "Mrs. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington," "Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show," "Pie-Mary," "One Last Ride"

Maddeningly, this is only the second ever nomination in this category for this show, which was here for season three and hasn’t shown up again since. I love this show, and I’m thrilled that it miraculously and deservedly made it in this year. Almost all of these submissions are top-notch, but I have to take issue with the “Johnny Karate” episode, which was weak and also not a good showcase for non-fans of the show. Hopefully the other five can convince voters that this really was the best comedy on television this season. I’m not optimistic but I would be so happy if this won.

SILICON VALLEY
"Sand Hill Shuffle," "Runaway Devaluation," "Bad Money," "Server Space," "Binding Arbitration," "Two Days of the Condor"

This show returns with its second nomination, once again nominated just for Best Comedy Series, directing, and writing. Its six submitted episodes are all strong instances of its style and format, starting with the season premiere, a few entertaining installments in the middle, and ending with the season finale. This show is too much of a low-key niche hit to pull off a win, and I suspect that it will be nominated many times without ever scoring a major Emmy trophy.

TRANSPARENT
"Pilot," "Rollin'," "Moppa," "Symbolic Exemplar," "Best New Girl," "Looking Up"

Amazon’s breakout series is the network’s first foray into awards territory, and it did pretty well across all categories. Its submission of a few early episodes and three later installments that find the show much deeper into its plot and character conflict will no doubt impress voters, but the question is whether it should be considered a comedy. Given the fact that other dramedies have lost repeatedly to sitcoms, I think the chances of this show winning are low. It’s always possible though – who would have thought that Amazon would have a Best Comedy Series Emmy nominee?

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT
"Kimmy Goes Outside," "Kimmy Goes on a Date," "Kimmy Kisses a Boy," "Kimmy Goes to a Party," "Kimmy's in a Love Triangle," "Kimmy Goes to Court"

This is Netflix’s second comedy series to earn a nomination in this race after “Orange is the New Black” last year. It scored well in other categories, earning five acting nominations, and its six submitted episodes are definitely quality indicators of the type of show it is. I don’t personally love it, and I think that all six episodes are about equivalent in terms of balancing absurdity with more sweetness, weighing heavily on the former. “30 Rock,” which was also created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, won this award three times, which bodes well for this show’s chances, but I’m not sure I see it happening.

VEEP
"East Wing," "Data," "Convention," "Mommy Meyer," "B/ill," "Testimony"

This is the fourth nomination for HBO’s satirical comedy about the (vice) president of the United States. Season four was just as on-point and awesome as the three that came before it, and the question is whether Emmy voters will ever realize that it’s great – this year it’s up for three acting awards, writing, and directing – or if they’ll just keep nominating it and rewarding only star Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Though the two episodes I liked best from the season – “Storms and Pancakes” and “Election Night” – weren’t submitted, the six that were are all great. If anything can beat “Modern Family,” I think this is it.

What should win (based on entire season): “Parks and Recreation”
What should win (based on individual episodes): “Parks and Recreation”
What will win: I think this is the year that Veep eclipses “Modern Family.” Is that a smart prediction? No. We’ll see!

Next up: That’s a wrap!

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of major spoilers for listed episodes.

BETTER CALL SAUL
"Uno," "Mijo," "Five-0," "Bingo," "Pimento," "Marco"

This spinoff/prequel to “Breaking Bad” managed to make it in to this race for its first season, a feat its predecessor didn’t pull off. I’m not a big fan of the first two episodes of the series, which don’t kick it off on the best foot, but the other four episodes – two terrific middle installments and strong final two episodes – are very solid. I can’t imagine this show would win in its first season especially since its inspiring series didn’t win until season four.

DOWNTON ABBEY
"Episode 5.1," "Episode 5.2," "Episode 5.3," "Episode 5.5," "Episode 5.8," "Episode 5.9"

This is the fourth consecutive nomination for the imported PBS period drama. It’s a relatively short season, and so the bulk of it is submitted, including the first three episodes and the two extended closing hours. All of them are perfectly standard installments of this show, but there’s no reason why this series, which ends this upcoming year, will win now when it hasn’t scored big since back in year one when it was considered a miniseries.

GAME OF THRONES
"Kill the Boy," "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken," "The Gift," "Hardhome," "The Dance of Dragons," "Mother's Mercy"

Now here’s a show that’s hot and is just continuing to get even hotter in its fifth season. Interestingly, this show submitted the second half of its season and omitted the four episodes, but considering the fact that it only intensified as it progressed, hours that feature wildlings, white walkers, and walks of shame are definitely what will win voters over. This show has yet to win, and I would not be surprised if this was the year it broke through and won the top prize.

HOMELAND
"From A to B and Back Again," "Redux," "Halfway to a Donut," "There's Something Else Going On," "13 Hours in Islamabad," "Krieg Nicht Lieb"

This Showtime series pulled off an interesting feat – winning for its first season and then being snubbed last year for its subpar third, returning to the race this year for a much improved fourth effort. It’s certainly not as good as the first two, especially as the submitted episodes, which all fall in the middle of the season, come at a point where it’s struggling with being over-the-top and excessive, even for its standards, with its plotlines. I think this one isn’t a serious contender.

HOUSE OF CARDS
"Chapter 27," "Chapter 32," "Chapter 33," "Chapter 37," "Chapter 38," "Chapter 39"

This is the third consecutive nomination for the Netflix series that has yet to win a major Emmy award. This year, the show submitted the decent season premiere, two intense Russia-centric episodes from the middle of the season, and the three final tumultuous hours. With “Breaking Bad” out of the way, maybe this show can finally win, but I’m not sure this season was the home run it needed to be to seal the deal and garner it the top prize.

MAD MEN
"Severance," "The Forecast," "Time and Life," "Lost Horizon," "The Milk and Honey Route," "Person to Person"

This is the eighth consecutive nomination this show has received, which makes it the second most-nominated series ever in this category, behind “Law and Order.” It’s also the most awarded series, winning four times, and so another victory would push it past behind tied with “Hill Street Blues” and “The West Wing” and into record territory. Six of eight episodes were submitted, omitting the season premiere and an intermediate episode and including the series finale. I can’t find an instance of a show winning for its final season aside from last year, “Breaking Bad,” in recent history, so I think this one has a shot but would have had a much better one if it wasn’t mostly shut out for the past few years.

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
"Thirsty Bird," "A Whole Other Hole," "Low Self-Esteem City," "40 OZ. of Furlough," "It Was the Change," "We Have Manners. We're Polite"

This show is a transplant to this category after being recognized as a Best Comedy Series nominee last year. I thought it would be able to bump “Modern Family” there, but it couldn’t, and I think the competition is much stiffer here. Most of the episodes, aside from the scattered season premiere, are strong, dramatic hours that make the show worthy of contention in this genre, but if the show couldn’t trounce its comedic competitors, I don’t see it knocking “Game of Thrones” and “House of Cards” out of the race.

What should win (based on entire season): “Game of Thrones,” “Mad Men,” or “Orange is the New Black”
What should win (based on individual episodes): “Game of Thrones,” “Mad Men,” or “Orange is the New Black”
What will win: I’m not confident in this prediction, but I’m going with Game of Thrones over “House of Cards” and “Mad Men.”

Next up: Best Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Writing for a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by show. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Episodes (Episode 409)
Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth (Alive in Tuscon)
Louis C.K., Louie (Bobby's House)
Alec Berg, Silicon Valley (Two Days of the Condor)
Jill Soloway, Transparent (Pilot)
Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche, Veep (Election Night)

Crane and Klarik are nominated for the fourth year in a row for penning their series. Forte and Soloway are here for writing their shows’ pilots. Berg is back again for his show’s season finale, and Blackwell, Iannucci, and Roche return after being honored last year for collaborating on an episode of their HBO series. C.K. is nominated for the fifth year in a row, and he has won twice, mostly recently last year.

What should win: Anything but “The Last Man on Earth” and “Louie”
What will win: My bet is The Last Man on Earth over dependable favorite “Louie.”

Next up: Best Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Directing for a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by show. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, The Last Man on Earth (Alive in Tucson)
Louis C.K., Louie (Sleepover)
Mike Judge, Silicon Valley (Sand Hill Shuffle)
Jill Soloway, Transparent (Best New Girl)
Armando Ianucci, Veep (Testimony)

Lord and Miller are first-time nominees for their helming of the FOX pilot. C.K. is nominated for the fourth year in a row for directing his show. Judge was nominated last year for the series premiere of his show, and now he’s back for the season two premiere. Soloway is a first-time nominee for her Amazon show, and Iannucci marks his show’s first directorial bid. All five of these shows are also nominated for writing, with C.K. and Soloway also honored in that race. “Modern Family” won the last four years, so this race is wide open.

What should win: “Transparent” or “Veep”
What will win: I’ll bet on Transparent over “The Last Man on Earth” and “Veep.”

Next up: Best Writing for a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Writing for a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by show. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Joshua Brand, The Americans (Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?)
Gordon Smith, Better Call Saul (Five-O)
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones (Mother's Mercy)
Matthew Weiner and Semi Chellas, Mad Men (Lost Horizon)
Matthew Weiner, Mad Men (Person to Person)

Brand is nominated for the first time since 1991 for writing an installment of the FX series, the first to be recognized. Smith is a first-time nominee for her freshman series. Benioff and Weiss are both honored for the fourth time in five years for penning HBO’s fantasy series. This year marks fifteen career nominations for Weiner, eleven of them for “Mad Men.” He has won three times. This is the third nomination for Chellas. “Mad Men” has won this award three times, and several series finales have taken home this trophy in the past.

What should win: “Lost Horizon” or “Five-O”
What will win: I’ll go with “Person to Person,” the series finale of Mad Men.

Next up: Best Directing for a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Directing for a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by show. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire (Eldorado)
David Nutter, Game of Thrones (Mother's Mercy)
Jeremy Podeswa, Game of Thrones (Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken)
Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland (From A to B and Back Again)
Steven Soderbergh, The Knick (Method and Madness)

This is the fourth year in a row that “Boardwalk Empire” has been nominated for its season finale, which in this case is the series finale, earning Patten his fifth consecutive nomination and ninth overall. Nutter and Podeswa have each been nominated once before for helming another HBO series. “Game of Thrones” has been nominated twice before in this race. Linka Glatter was nominated for another “Homeland” episode two years ago, and this marks the third overall bid for the series. This is the first Emmy nomination for Oscar winner Soderbergh, who helmed the pilot for Cinemax’s new series.

What should win: “Mother’s Mercy”
What will win: I think the pilot of The Knick will win Soderbergh his first Emmy.

Next up: Best Writing for a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Pamela Adlon as Pamela, Louie (Bobby’s House)
I’m surprised it took Adlon this long to be nominated after years of standout work on “Californication” and this show. While I thought she might have chosen a different episode this year, laughing at Louie for getting beat up by a woman and then using the opportunity to try something new is a pretty great example of why Adlon is such a skilled actress who is almost always the best part of the show she’s in.

Elizabeth Banks as Sal, Modern Family (Fight or Flight)
Banks is back as a nominee for her role on this show after being recognized in 2011 and 2012. Banks is popular right now, and it makes sense that she’d be honored for this episode in which it seems like she is abandoning her baby and leaving him with her gay friends. It’s funny but not the best that Banks has done, and so I don’t it will prove to be a winner.

Christine Baranski as Dr. Beverly Hofstadter (The Maternal Combustion)
Baranski has been nominated twice before for this role, in 2008 and 2009, and is also recognized again this year for her performance on “The Good Wife.” Baranski’s performance as Leonard’s disapproving mother in her submitted episode this year is especially fun because she gets to spar with Sheldon’s much more supportive mother. It’s very funny and Baranski is great – she might win this year.

Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson, Shameless (Milk of the Gods)
This is Cusack’s fifth consecutive nomination as nearly the only representative of her show. In the season premiere, she actually delivers a great comedy performance as Sheila, who finally loses it with Frank’s family living in her house and using her sex toys. Maybe this will be the year that she finally wins for an underrated show.

Tina Fey as Marcia, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Kimmy Goes to Court!)
Fey is an Emmy favorite, with four previous nominations in this category for hosting SNL and a handful of nominations for starring on “30 Rock.” Now, she’s here for guest-starring as a magnificently incompetent lawyer on her show, an extremely funny performance that fits fully with the style of her show. She’s won before and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she won again.

Gaby Hoffmann as Caroline Sackler, Girls (Home Birth)
Hoffmann is a double Emmy nominee this year, also recognized for her supporting role on “Transparent.” In her submitted episode, Caroline is prepared to give birth at home and undergoes a few unexpected complications. Hoffmann is a superb and individualistic actress, and this episode lets her run with that energy and succeed wildly. Will she win? I doubt it.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Baranski, Cusack, Fey, or Hoffmann
Who will win: I think it will be Cusack over Baranski with no obvious frontrunner this year.

Next up: Best Directing for a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Mel Brooks as Himself, The Comedians (Celebrity Guest)
Brooks is a comedy legend, and his guest spot on this now-cancelled FX series is perfect. Playing himself, he decides that he won’t come on to Billy and Josh’s variety series to help spike the ratings, and in the process, makes a few hilarious comments, particularly about Josh Gad changing his name to Josh Grad. It’s a very funny performance that may be just what Emmy voters want.

Louis C.K. as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Louis C.K.)
C.K. is back again for the third time in a row for hosting SNL, and also nominated once again for starring in his FX series. C.K. pretty much just gets to do whatever he wants on the show, delivering a lengthy opening monologue before launching into humorous parts in all the skits. I don’t know why he’d win this year over any other, but it’s possible.

Paul Giammati as Juror #10, Inside Amy Schumer (12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer)
Giamatti has earned a few Emmy nominations over the past decade, most recently for his brief guest spot on “Downton Abbey” last year. He’s one of a handful of performers who play jury members on Schumer’s parody that has the men voting on whether she is hot enough for TV. He’s not the standout, with other actors proving much funnier and more participatory, so I would be surprised if he won.

Bill Hader as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Bill Hader)
Hader was nominated twice, in 2012 and 2013, in the supporting race when he was a regular cast member. Now, he’s moved on to starring in films, and his castmates are more than thrilled to have him back in this hosting gig. I cracked up a number of times watching his episode, and the best part is that he too laughs quite a bit, entertained at the hilarity of his material. I think he might win!

Jon Hamm as Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Kimmy Makes Waffles!)
Hamm has been nominated before in this race for “30 Rock” and is also nominated in the drama actor race this year for the final season of “Mad Men.” Hamm’s performance as a cult leader on Netflix’s comedy is truly terrific, and his episode finds him serving as his own attorney and making absurd arguments. I’m not sure how well his show will land with voters, but it would be cool to see Hamm win for this very funny performance (though not at the expense of a victory for the role that made him famous).

Bradley Whitford as Marcy, Transparent (Best New Girl)
Whitford won an Emmy over a decade ago for his work on “The West Wing.” Now he’s back for playing the one kindred spirit Maura had while he was still living as a closeted man years earlier. It’s a relatively dramatic performance and not one that’s likely to stand out to voters, but a solid turn nonetheless. I would have nominated Whitford for his more substantial role on “Happyish.”

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Brooks, Hader, or Hamm
Who will win: I think it will be Brooks over Hader.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Khandi Alexander as Maya Pope, Scandal (Where the Sun Don’t Shine)
Alexander is nominated for the first time this year for playing Olivia Pope’s mother on Shonda Rhimes’ scandalous series. Joe Morton won last year for playing her father, and that bolsters her chances, but she’s not featured nearly as much as he was, given a few choice opportunities to chew scenery and command the screen despite her prison surroundings. She might win, but I think she has the less showy of two Rhimes matriarch performances nominated in this race.

Rachel Brosnahan as Rachel Prosner, House of Cards (Chapter 39)
Brosnahan was a regular player in season one and two of this show and this season appeared frequently as she was on the run from the man who ruined her life and who thought she was dead but never quite gave up looking for her. The season finale is the inevitable climax, an hour that gives Rachel the chance to fight for her life as her past finally catches up with her. It’s a decent performance but not a resounding or overly memorable one given the subject matter.

Allison Janney as Margaret Scully, Masters of Sex (Parallax)
Janney, who won last year for this role, is back in the season two premiere of her show in which her husband tries to change his sexuality to help fix their marriage. It’s not as strong a submission as the one that won her the award last year, but she’s extremely popular right now and might well repeat.

Margo Martindale as Claudia, The Americans (I Am Abbadin Zadran)
Martindale is nominated for the third year in a row after she won in 2011 for her supporting work on “Justified.” I thought I was watching the wrong episode this year since she didn’t appear until ten minutes or so before the end of the hour. Martindale has just one scene that doesn’t give her anything to do, and I can’t imagine anyone would vote for her based on that, especially considering many feel that Lois Smith should have been recognized instead.

Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell, Game of Thrones (The Gift)
This is Rigg’s third consecutive nomination for playing an elder member of a regal family. Her submitted episode finds her meeting with the High Sparrow and gives her a superb opportunity to interact with him on a very intimate and entertaining level. She’s up against some fierce competition, but this is an excellent and fun example of her work.

Cicely Tyson as Ophelia Hartness, How to Get Away with Murder (Mama’s Here Now)
Tyson is a veteran actress who gets to play the monster mother to Viola Davis’ already intense woman. Within moments of her appearance, she’s wiping the floor with the show’s stars, giving her unique definition of a VIP and utterly eviscerating all of them. It’s a fierce and formidable turn if ever I’ve seen one.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who will win (based on individual episodes): Rigg
Who will win: I think Tyson, but it could be Janney again.

Next up: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

F. Murray Abraham as Dar Adal, Homeland (Long Time Coming)
Abraham has been recurring on his show for a while now, and in the season finale he returned with a major part that redefined his role on the series. He’s always been a subtle performer who has made his character very mysterious, and that’s definitely the case in this episode. The show may have returned to favor this year with voters, so Abraham could benefit strongly from that renewed affection.

Alan Alda as Alan Fitch, The Blacklist (The Decemberist)
Alda is a respected actor who most recently won an Emmy for his work as a presidential candidate on “The West Wing.” Alda is talented, to be sure, but his minimal performance as a politician who has to face the consequences of his actions in a tragic way isn’t much to write home about, due largely to the quality of the show. I don’t see him winning.

Beau Bridges as Barton Scully, Masters of Sex (Parallax)
Bridges was nominated last year for this part and has earned a handful of other nominations (and wins) in this and other categories over the past few decades. Bridges submitted the season premiere of his show in which he undergoes shock therapy in an attempt to forcibly change his sexuality and struggles with the repercussions of it. It’s a formidable performance and one that contains deep emotion. Bridges could easily win.

Reg E. Cathey as Freddy, House of Cards (Chapter 34)
Cathey was nominated last year for a recurring performance, and now he’s recognized again for his one major appearance this season. Seeing Freddy in his new role and then watching how casually the president interacted with him was compelling, but I don’t think that this appearance is substantial enough for him to take home a trophy.

Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning, The Good Wife (Red Zone)
Fox wasn’t nominated last year but was for this role the three years before that, and he won this award back in 2008 for “Rescue Me.” He’s back in his submitted episode as the devious Louis Canning, who uses his physical condition to gain sympathy from the judge. It’s not a big part but a fabulous example of his work as always that’s definitely among the most entertaining in this bunch.

Pablo Schreiber as Pornstache, Orange is the New Black (40 Oz of Furlough)
Schreiber was one of the most outlandish parts of his show as a series regular back when it was considered a comedy, and now he’s recognized as a dramatic guest actor for returning in a particularly ferocious display of power. Schreiber is great, but I don’t think he’ll impress from within this field for this episode.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who will win (based on individual episodes): Fox or Bridges
Who will win: I think it will be Bridges.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Mayim Bialik as Amy Fowler, The Big Bang Theory (The Prom Equivalency)
This is Bialik’s fourth consecutive nomination, and she managed to survive her show and star Jim Parsons being shut out this year. Bialik’s episode is not the strongest one she’s submitted, giving her the chance to attend a prom with Sheldon and prepare to experience all the things that come with it. She’s sweet and funny, but it’s not a standout installment.

Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Modern Family (Valentine’s Day 4: Twisted Sister)
This is Bowen’s sixth nomination. She has won twice, in 2011 and 2012. I’ve grown tired of this show, and I think this episode’s title gives away its lack of creativity, revisiting her alter ego Juliana opposite Phil’s Clive Bixby. This is a competitive field and I don’t think her submission is strong enough to win it, but she could easily prevail anyway.

Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer, Veep (Convention)
Chlumsky returns with her third consecutive nomination, and this is the best submission she’s chosen yet. Her episode features a fantastic scene in which she explodes at those around her for not listening to her, and it’s exactly the kind of scene that wins an Emmy. I hope she wins since it’s definitely the best submission among all of these.

Gaby Hoffmann as Ali Pfefferman, Transparent (Rollin’)
Hoffmann is a two-time nominee this year, also recognized for her guest spot on “Girls.” She’s one of the strongest members of the ensemble as the younger daughter of the Pfefferman family, and in the series’ third episode, she tries for an ambitious sexual experience and then ends up getting extremely high and apologizing to a cab driver for the Armenian genocide, among other things. It’s not the typical comedic performance, but it would be so great if she did manage to win.

Allison Janney as Bonnie, Mom (Dropped Soap and a Big Guy on a Throne)
Janney won two Emmys last year, one for this role and one for her guest spot on “Masters of Sex” for which she’s nominated again this year. Her submission is the definition of a sitcom plotline, finding her struggling with physical debilitation after she hurts her back. It gives her plenty of comedic fodder, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she won again.

Jane Krakowski as Jacqueline Voorhees, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Kimmy Gets a Job!)
Krakowski is a past Emmy nominee for “30 Rock,” and now she’s recognized for her role as airheaded housewife Jacqueline on Netflix’s new show. She submitted the second episode, in which she tries to make sure her eternally traveling husband is interested in her, and I wrote in my review that it’s a role designed for Krakowski. She never won in the past, and I don’t think her show is quite popular enough for her to win now, but you never know.

Kate McKinnon as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Taraji P. Henson)
McKinnon is back after being nominated last year for her role in NBC’s long-running variety series. It’s hard to judge submissions like this since every performer doesn’t appear in all the sketches, but McKinnon is pretty strong in everything she’s featured in, particularly playing Hilary Clinton. I don’t see her being the first variety player to win a regular series Emmy, especially not this year.

Niecy Nash as Didi Ortley, Getting On (7th Annual Christmas Card Competition)
I am beyond perplexed at Nash’s inclusion here. I had never seen her show and don’t really understand its appeal after watching this episode, but Nash also isn’t prominently featured, especially not in a comedic role. If she wins, I’m not sure what to say – this is a bizarre add-on nomination that feels like Jane Lynch in previous years with no real explanation.

Who should win (based on entire season): Chlumsky or Hoffman
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Chlumsky
Who will win: It will probably be Janney or Bowen again, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that voters will actually watch the episodes and give it to Chlumsky.

Next up: Best Directing for a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Andre Braugher as Captain Ray Holt, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (The Mole)
Braugher is an Emmy veteran, scoring his ninth nomination this year after wins for “Thief” in 2006 and “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1998 and a nomination for this show last year. His episode was one of the Emmy installments I enjoyed watching most, and Braugher is legitimately hilarious as the police captain who wears specific pajamas and has a sleepover with Andy Samberg’s goofy detective. I’d be behind a Braugher win, though I don’t think he’ll manage it.

Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Kimmy Goes to School)
Burgess is new to this race for his ridiculous portrayal of over-the-top struggling actor Titus, who often steals the show and has proven to be a fan favorite on Netflix’s Best Comedy Series nominee. His episode submission was a no-brainer, featuring him shooting a video about pinot noir, caviar, and plenty more. He’s probably the frontrunner unless voters opt for a more traditional choice.

Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Modern Family (Crying Out Loud)
This is Burrell’s sixth nomination. He won last year and also in 2011. I’m not too impressed with Burrell’s submission this year, which finds him taking his family on a field trip when Alex wants to go on school on senior skip day. It’s not his best work, but Burrell continues to be the best part of his show, so voters may well be won over by him.

Adam Driver as Adam, Girls (Close-Up)
Driver has managed to hang on here despite his show and costar Lena Dunham being dropped from their respective categories, and now he’s the only representative of his show. His submitted episode this year actually shows him being a good guy for once, stepping up to the plate to fight for a relationship when his girlfriend casually tells him about an abortion. He won’t win, but it’s a good performance.

Tony Hale as Gary Walsh, Veep (East Wing)
Hale won this award two years ago and is now back with his third consecutive nomination. His submitted episode finds Gary spending like crazy on a reception and panicking because he’s constantly worried that he’s going to get caught. It’s a fun performance and might be just what Emmy voters are looking for in their winner.

Keegan Michael-Key as Various Characters, Key and Peele (Sex Detective)
This is the first nomination for the variety series star, who got in without costar Jordan Peele. Variety stars have never won this category, and I’m not sure that Michael-Key is showy enough to be able to pull off that feat. He has some strong moments in his submitted episode, but he’s often the straight man in the sketches, which isn’t likely to win over voters.

Who should win (based on entire season): Hale or Burrell
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Braugher
Who will win: I think it will be Burgess.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Uzo Aduba as Crazy Eyes, Orange is the New Black (Hugs Can Be Deceiving)
Aduba won the guest actress award last year and is now officially a member of the cast, and its only regular player to earn a nomination this year. Aduba’s submitted episode was an obvious choice, as we learn about Suzanne’s backstory and get to see Crazy Eyes adopted by Vee. Aduba is extremely popular, and she could easily win even with a category and genre switch.

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart, The Good Wife (Loser Edit)
This is the sixth straight nomination for Baranski, and she remains one of the strongest elements of a flagging show that has been otherwise mostly abandoned by Emmy voters. Her episode gives Diane the chance to examine her liberal beliefs as she stages a mock trial of a very conservative case. This isn’t the showiest work Baranski has done, but it comes pretty close, and could push her to a win if voters want to honor the only actress who was known before her work on her current show.

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones (The Dance of Dragons)
Anytime dragons are mentioned on her show, Clarke, who was last nominated two years ago, can’t be far behind. Her submitted episode has her spectating and judging a big fight and then triumphantly ascending after a surprise attack. She’s far from the strongest performer on her show, and there’s no way she can upstage her nominated costar here with this episode.

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Downton Abbey (Episode 8)
This is the third nomination for Froggatt, who just won a Golden Globe earlier this year for last season of her show. Her storyline there involved a sexual assault, and this season she had to contend with the ensuing police investigation into the death of the perpetrator. In her submitted episode, the investigation hits too close to home, a compelling instance of her acting but not as strong as previous entries. She might still manage a win, but I doubt it.

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones (Mother’s Mercy)
This is what Emmy submissions are made of, and I think Headey, who was nominated for the first time last year, is the clear frontrunner. In her episode, she is forced to take a naked walk of shame through the city over which she used to rule, and it doesn’t get more intense than that. Headey, who had a strong plotline this year, gets an even more tremendous spotlight with this likely Emmy-winning episode this year.

Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway, Mad Men (Lost Horizon)
It’s a wonder that Hendricks hasn’t won an Emmy yet, and she’s now recognized with her sixth consecutive nomination for the final season of her show. Her episode is a knockout (though they have been before too), enabling her to face serious sexism in the workplace and not stand for it. She’s superb to be sure, and this is an Emmy winner if I’ve seen one, but I don’t know if her show is still highly regarded enough to net it for her.

Who should win (based on entire season): Headey or Hendricks
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Headey, Hendricks, or Aduba
Who will win: I think that Headey will manage a win, but she might be eclipsed by Aduba or Hendricks.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, Better Call Saul (Five-O)
Banks was nominated two years ago for this same role on “Breaking Bad,” and now he’s back in a context that doesn’t always allow him to take center stage. In this episode, however, he is fully featured in an intense hour that delves completely into his backstory. His last submission was solid, and this one is a complete knockout. Consider him a strong contender for the win.

Jim Carter as Mr. Carson, Downton Abbey (Episode 9)
This is the fourth consecutive nomination for Carter, who is great on his show but isn’t exactly the strongest or most prominent player. It’s hard not to like him, though, and the submission of the season-ending special is a stellar choice. Carter is smiling throughout and even gets to get engaged to a woman he’s been friends with for so many years. There’s no way he’ll win, but this is good stuff.

Alan Cumming as Eli Gold, The Good Wife (Undisclosed Recipients)
It’s strange to see Cumming nominated again after being included four years ago for his performance as political operator Eli, who in his selected episode does have the chance to do what Eli does best, which is nearly combust because he can’t manage everyone else around him. It’s a fun and entertaining episode, but I don’t see him eclipsing the more dramatic competition.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones (Hardhome)
This is the fifth consecutive nomination for Dinklage, who won this award on his first try for the show’s first season. Dinklage has exceptional material each year, and this episode, which has Tyrion become Daenerys’ adviser and lets them banter back and forth, is typically strong material. I don’t think this is the year for him to win again unless the show sweeps, which it well could.

Michael Kelly as Doug Stamper, House of Cards (Chapter 27)
Kelly earning a nomination for season three of this show is especially impressive since I and most others assumed he was dead at the end of season two. Instead, Doug took a long road to recovery which began in the season premiere, in which he offered his services to the president and was told he had to step back and focus on get better. It’s not the most intense or committed showcase for him compared to other hours, but he could still win given the nature of the role.

Ben Mendelsohn as Danny Rayburn, Bloodline (Episode 112)
Mendelsohn is a great actor who is finally getting some solid work in the United States (check out his performance in the forthcoming film “Mississippi Grind”). He’s the strongest part of Netflix’s new series as a troublesome adult brother who, in the season finale, doesn’t even try to hide his nature. It’s a formidable turn, and just the kind of part that wins people Emmys.

Who should win (based on entire season): Dinklage or Banks
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Banks or Mendelsohn
Who will win: I’ll bet on Mendelsohn over Banks and Kelly.

Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, Nurse Jackie (I Say a Little Prayer)
This is Falco’s thirteenth career Emmy nomination and her sixth consecutive bid for this show. She won three times for “The Sopranos” and once for the freshman season of this show. She’s nominated for the final season – and the series finale – of her show, in which she gets to reminisce but also doesn’t get the happy ending she could have. She won already and there is plenty of competition, so I don’t think she’ll get a bookend trophy.

Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish, The Comeback (Valerie is Taken Seriously)
Kudrow’s situation is interesting – she was nominated and won for her work on “Friends” and then scored a nomination for the first season of this show, which was cancelled by HBO right away. Now, the network has brought it back, and Kudrow is here again for her immensely awkward performance as an actress with absolutely no self-awareness. Her submitted episode finds her acting on greenscreen and preparing for an interview. I don’t think enough people can appreciate the character for her to net a win.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, Veep (Election Night)
This is Louis-Dreyfus’ sixteenth career nomination, and she’s the three-time defending champion in this race. This year she submitted the season finale which is another great showcase. I’d think that it’s someone else’s turn to win, but her show is just as popular as ever, and so I think she might earn her fourth consecutive trophy.

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Parks & Recreation (One Last Ride)
This is Poehler’s sixth nomination, and, in a pleasant surprise, her show is actually nominated for Best Comedy Series along with her. This is the final season of her show, and she smartly submitted the sentimental and funny series finale. If there’s justice in the world, she’ll finally win the trophy she’s deserved every year of the show, but I’m not too confident in her chances at this point given Emmy voters’ general disregard of her show.

Amy Schumer as Various Characters, Inside Amy Schumer (Cool with It)
Schumer scored this year for starring in her variety series, an impressive feat considering most variety players that have earned Emmy nominations have been from the supporting races. Schumer is on fire right now, very popular in television and film, but I don’t think that this is really a turn that’s going to appeal to Emmy voters as the strongest lead actress in a comedy, especially not based on this episode.

Lily Tomlin as Frankie, Grace and Frankie (The Vows)
Tomlin, an awards favorite, scored a nomination over her similarly beloved costar Jane Fonda for playing an older woman whose husband leaves her for her lifelong business partner. Tomlin is a hoot on the show as free spirit Gracie, but as a regular watcher, I’m puzzled by her submission of the season finale, which doesn’t give her much comedic material or screentime. I can’t imagine she’ll win with this as her selection.

Who should win (based on entire season): Poehler or Louis-Dreyfus
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Poehler
Who will win: It’s her last shot, so I have to give Poehler my backing. It might be Louis-Dreyfus again though.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Anthony Anderson as Andre Johnson, Black-ish (Sex, Lies and Vasectomies)
Anderson is a first-time nominee for playing the patriarch of a successful suburban black family on ABC’s comedy. His submitted episode has him trying to cover up the fact that his wife may be pregnant because he never got the vasectomy he was supposed to years earlier. It’s a fun performance if an unserious one, and Anderson would probably win only as a result of a vote split between other actors.

Don Cheadle as Marty Kahn, House of Lies (It’s a Box Inside a Box)
This is Cheadle’s fourth consecutive nomination. Every year, he’s the only aspect of his show nominated, and fortunately, this year, his show actually got a lot better. His submission of the season finale is very strong, giving him the chance for a bit of comedy but also a bit of fury and passion. I don’t see him winning, but this is a good a submission as they come.

Louis C.K. as Louie, Louie (Bobby’s House)
This is C.K.’s fifth consecutive nomination in this category, and he also earned his third consecutive bid for hosting SNL this year. In his submitted episode, Louie tries to intervene when he sees a man being attacked by a woman and ends up getting the full brunt of her fury. It’s a good episode that shows Louie at his most well-meaning and miserable. There’s nothing new or hot about C.K. or his show right now, so I don’t think he’ll win last year since he hasn’t in the past.

Will Forte as Phil Miller, The Last Man on Earth (Alive in Tucson)
Forte is nominated this year for his new show about the last man on earth, who, in the series premiere, gets to tell his story and experience a fun unexpected things about the new world in which he lives. Forte is evidently popular, and it’s possible that he could win, but I’m not sure whether he’ll be able to pull off a win.

Matt LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc, Episodes (Episode 405)
This is LeBlanc’s fourth consecutive nomination for playing a fictionalized version of himself on Showtime’s comedy. His episode submission is a great one in which he debates whether to accept the invitation of a dictator to get paid to come to a big party. I’d love to see LeBlanc win, but I think the probability of that is very far.

William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher, Shameless (A Night to Remem – Wait, What?)
This is the second consecutive nomination for Macy, whose show was switched from being classified as a drama to comedy last year. Macy is one of the best parts of his absurd show, and in his submitted episode, he has to contend with a drunken decision to actually do something good for others, trying to piece it all together. Macy has won other awards recently and could well get this one if it wasn’t for some of his competition.

Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfefferman (The Letting Go)
Tambor is an Emmy veteran, with six previous nominations for “Arrested Development” and “The Larry Sanders Show.” Now, he is nominated in the lead category for the first time after winning a Golden Globe earlier this year. He submitted the second episode of the series, a very good look at a nervous Maura still coming to terms with herself. He’s the frontrunner without question, though it’s always possible they’ll go for a more outright comedic performance, like Jim Parsons and Jon Cryer in the past, instead.

Who should win (based on entire season): Tambor
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Tambor, LeBlanc, or Cheadle
Who will win: I’m going with Tambor above all others.

Next up: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison, Homeland (From A to B and Back Again)
Danes won this award two years in a row and then hung on last year despite her show being snubbed in the top category. This year, her show returns to favored status and she’s back too, and with a pretty intense and unforgettable submission following a questionable plot twist and her dealing with a horrifying turn of events. Others are hotter now, but Danes could easily win again.

Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, How to Get Away with Murder (Freakin’ Whack-a-Mole)
Davis is new to this race for her role on Shonda Rimes’ freshman series as a law professor who has her students help her with especially soapy cases. In her submitted episode, Davis gets to challenge the state supreme court and argues quite aggressively and boldly in front of them. People love her, and I think that Emmy voters will be among those who do and will probably give her the trophy.

Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lion, Empire (Pilot)
Everyone expected Henson’s show to score big with Emmy voters, and then she ended up as the only one nominated. It’s an extremely showy performance, and the pilot episode where she gets released from prison is a superb showcase of all the flair that Henson imbues Cookie with and is sure to impress voters enough to push her to top of the competition and maybe enough to give her the win.

Tatiana Maslany as Multiple Characters, Orphan Black (Certain Agony of the Battlefield)
I couldn’t be more ecstatic about the inclusion of the immensely talented Maslany, who plays a handful of characters on her show and excels at making each of them seem like completely different people. This is a great episode but I’m not sure how much it will impress non-regular viewers. Eating a scorpion and dancing in undergarments in money are strong points, and I can’t understand how anyone in their right mind could possibly vote against Maslany.

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson (Person to Person)
This is the sixth nomination for Moss, who wasn’t cited last year but returns to the field now for her performance in the series finale. This episode is as good as any since it allows her a triumphant resolution and a romantic success as well. I think the competition is too tough and only strong fans of the show would vote for her, but I’d love to see her win.

Robin Wright as Claire Underwood, House of Cards (Chapter 32)
This is a spectacular submission for Wright, who this year earns her third consecutive nomination. This was an extremely memorable hour of the season in which Claire travels to Russia to meet with a political prisoner and struggles to convince him to relinquish his claims and come home with devastating results. The competition is strong, but Wright has a leg up with this submission.

Who should win (based on entire season): Maslany or Moss
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Maslany, Moss, or Wright
Who will win: I’m going to bet on Davis while hoping for Maslany and watching out for Henson and Wright.

Next up: Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Kyle Chandler as John Rayburn, Bloodline (Episode 112)
Chandler won an Emmy in this category back in 2011 for the final season of “Friday Night Lights.” Now, Chandler is on Netflix as the most responsible adult child of a Florida family that owns an inn. He submitted the season finale, which allows him to channel some unrestrained rage. He doesn’t have the same likeability as his endearing coach, but it’s a very good sampling of his performance on a mediocre show.

Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy, The Newsroom (What Kind of Day Has It Been?)
Daniels won this trophy for season one of this show and managed to hang on to a nomination last year despite little love for his show all around on both occasions, and now he’s back for the final season of the show, with the series finale as his submission. He has a good platform to deliver solid and humorous speeches, but I think his time has passed, and I would be even more surprised if he won now than I was when he won the first time.

Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Mad Men (Person to Person)
This is the eighth nomination for Hamm, who has yet to win and now contends for the final time for the role that made him famous. I’m not sure the series finale, in which he sits on a beach meditating and doesn’t really interact with any of the other characters, is the best showcase, but this would be a reward for the performance as a whole if he was recognized. I think he has a good shot, but this episode submission pales in comparison to previous selections.

Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill, Better Call Saul (Pimento)
I’m so thrilled that Odenkirk, who is terrific in this role that he originated on “Breaking Bad,” opted not to submit an early episode from the season and instead went with the penultimate hour, one which allows him to be on top for half of it and then utterly devastated for the other. This is probably the most solid submission in this category, and Odenkirk would very much deserve to win based on it.

Liev Schreiber as Ray Donovan, Ray Donovan (Walk This Way)
I’m just so happy that Schreiber got nominated after being left off the list last year and he even managed to achieve that feat without costar Jon Voight making the cut. I’d be ecstatic if he won, but I don’t see that happening given the lack of enthusiasm elsewhere for his show. His episode submission is solid, particularly because it shows him exploding at his brother, which he never really does. He’s always terrific, and this episode is a good sampling of the show.

Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood, House of Cards (Chapter 32)
This is Spacey’s third nomination, and his show has yet to score a major Emmy win despite victories at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. His submission this year is a formidable hour that has him trying to negotiate peace in Russia and getting personal with his biographer. It’s a good example of Frank at his subtlest and letting his guard down, which should be good for viewers to see but won’t convince them if they didn’t vote for his showier submissions for season one and two.

Who should win (based on entire season): Odenkirk or Schreiber
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Odenkirk
Who will win: I don’t see how Hamm can’t win for his body of work on the show. If he doesn’t, it will probably be Spacey or Odenkirk.

Next up: Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Comedy Series

My predictions: 5/7, picking “The Big Bang Theory” and “Jane the Virgin” over “Parks and Recreation” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”

I'm sad that “Jane the Virgin” got virtually shut out, but how amazing is it that Parks and Recreation got nominated for its amazing final season? How little it's been recognized is an embarrassment, but at least it's here this year. I don't quite see the hype behind Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but I'm fine with it being here, joining the terrific Transparent as new blood. Modern Family, which earned just six nominations this year, is back to contend for its sixth consecutive trophy, going up against Veep for the fourth time, Louie for the third, and Silicon Valley for the second. “The Big Bang Theory,” which had been nominated four years in a row, was summarily dismissed this year, and I'm not sure why. I have some “Louie” to catch up on, but otherwise I think this list is pretty solid.

Who should win? “Parks and Recreation,” of course
Who will win? I think Modern Family has to win again, even though I'm rooting for anything else. We'll see what the episodes submitted are.