Final Golden Globe Winner Predictions

With so many new shows in the running and this awards body always picking the hot new shows, we could be in for a very exciting night. I’m pulling for “Homeland” in all categories, and it would be nice to see “Episodes” rewarded here too. Amy Poehler would be a great choice as well, but I’ll pick my battles. Here are my final predictions for tonight's Golden Globe Awards (TV categories). Visit Movies with Abe for the film categories. Happy watching!

Best Television Series - Drama
Homeland

Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical
Modern Family

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Downton Abbey

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Kelsey Grammer (Boss)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Claire Danes (Homeland)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Idris Elba (Luther)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition: Enlightened, Episodes, Glee, Modern Family, New Girl

For your information: Joining back-to-back champ “Glee” is two-time nominee “Modern Family,” which has yet to win a single Golden Globe. The other three shows are all freshman series with one performer nominated.

Who should win: “Modern Family” is great, but so are the three new shows

Who will win: I think “Glee” will miss out this year, and “Modern Family” could finally win. “Episodes” may also be just what Globe voters like, as could “New Girl.”

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best TV Series – Drama

The competition: American Horror Story, Boardwalk Empire, Boss, Game of Thrones, Homeland

For your information: “Mad Men” won this award three years in a row, but with that exception, a different show has won this award every year since 1997. That doesn’t bode well for last year’s winner and the only sophomore series in the bunch, “Boardwalk Empire.” Both Starz and Showtime, which air “Boss” and “Homeland,” have never won in this category before, while HBO, which airs “Boardwalk Empire” and “Game of Thrones,” has won three times, and FX, which airs “American Horror Story,” has won twice.

Who should win: “Homeland” by a mile, but “Boss” was awesome too

Who will win: I really hope it’s Homeland, but it could just as easily be “American Horror Story.”

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series

The competition: Jessica Lange’s monster mother (American Horror Story), Kelly Macdonald’s devoted and conflicted mother (Boardwalk Empire), Maggie Smith’s countess (Downton Abbey), Sofia Vergara’s Colombian wife (Modern Family), and Evan Rachel Wood’s nightmare daughter.

For your information: Lange won a TV Globe in 1996 and has been nominated twice since then, in addition to a handful of nominations and three wins for her film work. Macdonald and Vergara were both nominated last year. Smith has one previous TV nod and seven film mentions, of which she won one. Wood has been nominated once before, for her role in the film “Thirteen.” Last year’s winner was Jane Lynch from “Glee.”

Who should win: I haven’t seen Smith’s work or most of Lange’s, so I’d go with Macdonald or Vergara.

Who will win: This category favors miniseries and TV movies, and I think that Wood may be able to edge out both veterans Smith and Lange.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series

The competition: Peter Dinklage’s talkative heir (Game of Thrones), Paul Giammati’s calculating Ben Bernanke (Too Big to Fail), Guy Pearce’s flamboyant love interest (Mildred Pierce), Tim Robbins’ celebrity deadbeat dad (Cinema Verite), Eric Stonstreet’s flamboyant stay-at-home dad

For your information: Stonestreet is the only returning nominee from last year. Giamatti won for his lead role in the miniseries “John Adams” three years ago. This is the first TV nomination for Robbins, who has won film awards twice. First-time Globe nominees Dinklage and Pearce picked up Emmys this past year for their nominated roles in their respective categories. All performers recognized in this category have their projects nominated for the top prizes.

Who should win: Dinklage

Who will win: Since this category often favors miniseries stars, I’ll give the edge to Pearce, whose show earned a number of mentions, over Diknlage and Stonestreet.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition: Laura Dern’s newly serene worker bee (Enlightened), Zooey Deschanel’s bubbly schoolteacher (New Girl), Tina Fey’s harried television writer (30 Rock), Laura Linney’s cancer-stricken mother (The Big C), and Amy Poehler’s government employee (Parks & Recreation).

For your information: This award usually goes to the stars of hot new shows, which bodes very well for first-time nominee Deschanel and Dern, has been nominated for three TV Globes and won two. Poehler is here for the first time for the third and fourth seasons of her show, while last year’s winner Linney returns for year two. Fey, who has won twice, is on her fifth nomination.

Who should win: Poehler, but I do like everyone in this category

Who will win: I think this goes to Deschanel.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition: Alec Baldwin’s sarcastic TV executive (3o Rock), David Duchovny’s sex-addicted writer (Californication), Johnny Galecki’s brilliant nerd (The Big Bang Theory), Thomas Jane’s prostitute (Hung), and Matt LeBlanc’s parodied version of himself (Episodes).

For your information: This is Baldwin’s sixth consecutive nomination for this role, and he has won three times. Duchovny won on his first try, and is back for the fourth time. Jane is on his second nomination, and Galecki, whose costar Jim Parsons won in this category last year, is here for the first time. LeBlanc was nominated three times for his roles on “Friends” and “Joey.”

Who should win: Jane or LeBlanc

Who will win: I hope that it will be LeBlanc, and the fact that this show made it into the Best Comedy series race over Baldwin’s suggests it very well could be.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama

The competition: Claire Danes’ CIA agent (Homeland), Mireille Enos’ retiring detective (The Killing), Julianna Marguiles’ hard-working lawyer (The Good Wife), Madeleine Stowe’s Hamptons matriarch (Revenge), and Callie Thorne’s sports therapist.

For your information: Margulies won this award two years ago, and has earned nine nominations in total, three of which were for her current show. Danes won this award seventeen years ago for “My So-Called Life” and won last year in the TV movie category for “Temple Grandin.” This is the first nomination for Enos, Stowe, and Thorne.

Who should win: I’m all for Danes, and Margulies is great too.

Who will win: Globe voters like whatever’s hot, and that’s definitely Danes.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition: Steve Buscemi’s Atlantic City gangster (Boardwalk Empire), Bryan Cranston’s meth cooker (Breaking Bad), Kelsey Grammer’s corrupt mayor (Boss), Jeremy Irons’ Pope Alexander VI (The Borgias), and Damian Lewis’ returning captive soldier (Homeland).

For your information: The only returning nominees are Buscemi and Cranston, both of whom were nominated for the first time last year, when Buscemi won. Grammer was nominated for eight years in a row for “Frasier,” winning twice. Irons has been nominated three times for TV and twice for film, winning one award per medium. Lewis was nominated in 2001 for his supporting work in the miniseries “Band of Brothers.”

Who should win: All good choices, though I couldn’t keep up with “The Borgias.” Grammer or Lewis deserve it this year, though Buscemi and Cranston were excellent as ever.

Who will win: I don’t see how this goes to anyone besides Grammer, especially considering his show scored a Best TV Series – Drama nod.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical

My predictions: 2/5
What’s missing? The Big Bang Theory, The Big C, Glee, Nurse Jackie, 30 Rock, 2 Broke Girls, Wilfred, Community, Parks & Recreation, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office

There are only two things that would have pleased me more than this list, which would be the inclusion of “Parks & Recreation” and the omission of the fading Glee. Otherwise, voters have done a great job of cleaning house, removing the all-but-guaranteed “30 Rock” from its perch after a healthy run here. The only other returning series, Modern Family, is well-deserving of its inclusion here, and I’m so happy about all three shows that fill the rest of the category. New Girl is one of the strongest network sitcoms in a while, and it’s getting better with each episode. HBO’s Enlightened is a serene delight, and I’m thrilled that it’s being recognized along with its star. Lastly, the brilliant wit of Episodes is masterful, and I’m glad that voters have chosen to recognize its smart and biting humor.

What could win? It could be “New Girl,” but I think “Modern Family” will take it for the first time, dethroning two-time champ "Glee."

Golden Globe Nominees: Best TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 2/5
What’s missing? Dexter, The Good Wife, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Justified, Shameless

Out with the old, in with the new! The lone returning nominee is sophomore series and last year’s winner Boardwalk Empire, joined by four freshman series. That means the departure of the aging (but still-great) “Dexter,” the still-hot “The Good Wife,” and “The Walking Dead.” I’m most thrilled about one of my “no guts, no glory” predictions coming true, which is the inclusion of Starz’s intense new series Boss here. It’s also joined by HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones and FX’s creepy American Horror Story. If nothing else, a brave, broad, inclusive, and forward-thinking list.

What could win? Given that “Nip/Tuck” won this thing back in the day, I’m hedging my bets on “American Horror Story.”

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Television Series

My predictions: 2/5
Who’s missing? Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Jane Lynch (Glee), Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), Margo Martindale (Justified), Betty White (Hot in Cleveland)

Gone is last year’s winner, Jane Lynch, and it seems that the Globes like their “Modern Family” actors, Eric Stonestreet and Sofia Vergara, and don’t much care for Emmy winners Ty Burrell or Julie Bowen. They also really like Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire), who earns a somewhat rare repeat TV nod in this category. Jessica Lange (American Horror Story) is having a good week, representing her show both here and with SAG. From the miniseries ranks, we have Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce) and Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey).

Who will win? I think Lange will take it, but it could easily be Smith or Wood too.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series

My predictions: 2/5
Who’s missing? Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0), Chris Noth (The Good Wife), Chris Colfer (Glee), Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation)

Gone are three of last year’s series nominees, leaving only Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family). Damian Lewis got into the lead category, which makes room for Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones). The other three nominees all come from HBO miniseries or TV movies: Paul Giamatti (Too Big to Fail), Tim Robbins (Cinema Verite), and Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce). I’ve only seen Pearce’s “Pierce” performance, and I hope to have the chance to watch the TV films before awards night. Not much more to say – this is among the least interesting of the Globe categories this year.

Who could win? Probably Stonestreet?

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actress in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

My predictions: 4/5
Who’s missing? Toni Collette (The United States of Tara), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Lea Michele (Glee), Christina Applegate (Up All Night), Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly), Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope)

This category was probably my most accurate, and I was delighted by the mistake I made. Edie Falco was swapped out for the incredibly deserving funny lady Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation), who sadly represents her show’s only mention. She’s joined by two delightful newbies, both of whom have their shows nominated in the top race, Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) and Laura Dern (Enlightened). Laura Linney (The Big C) returns with a nomination without her show represented elsewhere, and Tina Fey (30 Rock) also finds herself without a corresponding series nomination for the first time since its freshman year.

Who could win? A tight race between the new nominees, but my money’s on Deschanel.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

My predictions: 3/5
Who’s missing? Steve Carell (The Office), Matthew Morrison (Glee), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Will Arnett (Up All Night), Elijah Wood (Wilfred), Louis C.K. (Louie), Joel McHale (Community), Ed O’Neill (Modern Family), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Talk about shaking things up! Last year’s winner Jim Parsons is off the list, but he’s replaced by costar Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), who earned his first-ever Emmy nod this past year. Steve Carell is out the door, doubly ignored in the film categories with Ryan Gosling scoring a nomination without him for “Crazy Stupid Love.” Two stars of underrated shows I like manage to hang in there, with Thomas Jane (Hung) receiving his third consecutive mention and David Duchovny (Californication) rebounding from a hiatus to receive a fourth nod. Joining them is Matt LeBlanc (Episodes), whose show also scored in the top race, and Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), whose show didn’t! What an exciting list!

Who could win? Not sure – maybe LeBlanc?

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 2/5
Who’s missing? Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs), Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Kathy Bates (Harry’s Law), Maria Bello (Prime Suspect), Connie Britton (American Horror Story), Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), Lauren Graham (Parenthood), Glenn Close (Damages)

Out with the old, in with the new, and how!! Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) is the only nominee sticking around from last year, and she’s joined by some pretty interesting people. Claire Danes (Homeland) was the only one I predicted, and I’m very glad that her show performed extremely well. Next up, somewhat more predictably, was Mireille Enos (The Killing), an Emmy nominee who managed to be remembered. After that, things get crazier, as Callie Thorne (Necessary Roughness) takes the newly established USA slot from Piper Perabo to get a shocking mention. Even more surprising, ABC’s “Revenge” scores a nod, but not for Emily Van Camp – for Madeleine Stowe instead. Who could have possibly predicted that?

Who could win? I’ll still bet on Danes.

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

My predictions: 2/5
Who’s missing? Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), William H. Macy (Shameless), Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Timothy Olyphant (Justified)

Here we get a major surprise – not only the snub of Hugh Laurie, but also of Michael C. Hall, whose show was also left off the Best Drama Series list. I personally think it’s still terrific, so it’s a shame to see it ignored. That does pave the way for some fantastic inclusions however, starting with Kelsey Grammer (Boss), whose show, as I predicted in my no guts, no glory picks, also made it into the top race, and Damian Lewis (Homeland), who I had pegged to be listed as a supporting actor. Jeremy Irons (The Borgias) makes a showing despite his show being ignored at the Emmys, and he joins Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad).

Who could win? I think it’s going to be Grammer.

Final Golden Globe Predictions

The SAG Awards announcement this morning has considerably less effect on my Golden Globe predictions for television than it does for movies, especially since Globe voters often have distinctly different tastes. I’m mostly not changing my predictions, which means that the hyperlinked category headings will prove informative for my logic behind each race. The miniseries and TV movie categories are complete guesswork, which also means that the supporting categories, as always, are a crapshoot. They make me particularly nervous because there are so many contenders, and last year Chris Noth and Scott Caan came from nowhere, so we’ll see what happens there. Reactions by category tomorrow morning, followed by episode reviews from this past Sunday’s slate. Leave your predictions in the comments and come back tomorrow for reactions!

No guts, no glory:
“Once Upon a Time” for Best Drama Series
“Boss” for Best Drama Series
Connie Britton nominated twice for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama

Best Television Series - Drama
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Good Wife
Homeland
The Walking Dead

Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
New Girl
30 Rock

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Cinema Verite
Downtown Abbey
The Kennedys
Mildred Pierce
Too Big to Fail

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Kelsey Grammer (Boss)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Timothy Olyphant (Justified)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Connie Britton (American Horror Story)
Claire Danes (Homeland)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory)
Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
Laura Dern (Enlightened)
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Laura Linney (The Big C)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jim Broadbent (Any Human Heart)
Idris Elba (Page Eight)
Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood)
Greg Kinnear (The Kennedys)
Bill Nighy (Page Eight)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Hayley Atwell (Any Human Heart)
Diane Lane (Cinema Verite)
Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey)
Rachel Weisz (Page Eight)
Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Damian Lewis (Homeland)
Mandy Patinkin (Homeland)
Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Golden Globe Musings: Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
The Big Bang Theory
The Big C
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
30 Rock

New contenders:
Enlightened
Episodes
New Girl
2 Broke Girls
Wilfred

Potential first-time nominees:
Community
Parks & Recreation

Past nominees:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Office

This category is probably going to experience a shake-up. Count out the Showtime shows, with “Nurse Jackie” almost certainly gone and “The Big C” pretty likely to go too. The hottest new shows, for voter purposes, are probably “New Girl” and HBO’s “Enlightened,” the latter of which will fill the token more serious Showtime slot. I think that “Episodes” may be too stuffy, “2 Broke Girls” too crude, and “Wilfred” too weird, but they could also feasibly make the grade. I’m not optimistic about the chances of offbeat NBC hits “Community” or “Parks & Recreation.” It’s certain that “Modern Family” and “30 Rock” will be back on the list, as should “The Big Bang Theory.” It’s a bit less guaranteed that “Glee” will make the cut, but I think that it’s still enjoyable enough for voters to endorse it.

Current predictions:
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
New Girl
30 Rock

Golden Globe Musings: Best TV Series – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
The Walking Dead

New contenders:
American Horror Story
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Shameless

Potential first-time nominees:
Breaking Bad
Justified

There’s definitely going to be one new nominee this year since “Mad Men” didn’t air in 2011. The other four series, however, all had spectacular seasons, so they’re all probably in, though “The Walking Dead” may have been a one-time inclusion. Most likely to take the fifth slot is hot new show “Homeland,” which should prove considerably fresher than Emmy nominee “Game of Thrones” and considerably more normal than FX’s “American Horror Story.” I wouldn’t expect “Breaking Bad” to finally earn a nomination since it’s been almost entirely ignored the past three years, and a nomination for “Justified” is uncertain but entirely possible.

Current predictions:
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Good Wife
Homeland
The Walking Dead