The 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are finally upon us! It looks like it’s shaping up to be an exciting show too. While most of the typical nominees are back once again, “newcomers” like Kevin Spacey and his show House of Cards and Louie C.K. plus Louie seek to make critical upsets. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a creature of habit if anything, so a show or actor/actress would really have to be special to take down last year’s winners. Seeing as nearly every winner last year is back once again expect some repeat wins, especially in categories like Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. What about every other show? That’s where rampant speculation comes in! Below are the major award categories and who “Will Win” and who “Should Win” with each award and be sure to watch the show tonight at 8:00 PM! That is, unless you’re a Breaking Bad fan obviously.
Outstanding Drama Series: Breaking Bad (AMC), Downton Abbey (PBS), Game of Thrones (HBO), Homeland (Showtime), House of Cards (Netflix), Mad Men (AMC).
Will Win: This is actually a very tough category to call. Each show nominated deserves this award without a doubt. However, Breaking Bad has been absolutely phenomenal as of late and it all started last year with the first half of Season 5. It has yet to actually bag this award but I believe that this will finally be “the” year. If it’s not 2013, it WILL be 2014. I’m calling it now in advance.
Should Win: I’d be absolutely ecstatic if Game of Thrones took this prize. Season 3 was an incredible mix of acting, drama, and fantasy and it’s time the Academy took notice. The only thing working against Thrones is the fact that it’s at a bursting point trying to mix all of the separate stories together. If the Academy can look past this, the Emmy should go to Westeros.
Outstanding Comedy Series: 30 Rock (NBC), The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Girls (HBO), Louie (FX), Modern Family (ABC), Veep (HBO).
Will Win: It’s time for this Emmy to return to the halls of 30 Rockefeller Plaza one final time. The final season of 30 Rock was absolutely lauded, much more than any show on here, and it has the best shot of usurping reigning comedy juggernaut Modern Family.
Should Win: 30 Rock does deserve this award, but you know who else does? Louie. That show has been on an absolute meteoric rise since its premiere in 2010 and the people are calling for its recognition.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham on Downton Abbey (PBS), Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad (AMC), Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy on The Newsroom (HBO), Jon Hamm as Don Draper on Mad Men (AMC), Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody on Homeland (Showtime), and Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood on House of Cards (Netflix).
Will Win: It’s obvious that this race is between Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, and Damian Lewis with Kevin Spacey running up the rear for a chance of a complete upset. A lot of experts believe that this will finally be Hamm’s year, but I’d give the edge to Cranston for his still stellar performance as Walter White.
Should Win: I have yet to see House of Cards, but I think Spacey should go home with this prize. He has a much better chance of winning this award than his show has of taking the top honors. Where am I getting this claim from? The critics, who have fallen head over heals for Francis Underwood. Plus Spacey has got movie star power behind him which the Academy just gobbles up like candy.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes on Nashville (ABC), Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison on Homeland (Showtime), Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley on Downton Abbey (PBS), Vera Farmiga as Norma Louise Bates on Bates Motel (A&E), Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson on Mad Men, Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope on Scandal (ABC), Robin Wright as Claire Underwood on House of Cards (Netflix)
Will Win: Kerry Washington, Vera Farmiga, Elisabeth Moss, and Claire Danes are the definite frontrunners of this award but it’s likely going to be Carrie Mathison herself taking the top prize. The second season of Homeland as a whole didn’t receive the immense buzz the first season did, but Danes hasn’t waned in the eyes of critics.
Should Win: Full disclosure, I have yet to watch any of these shows so my personal opinion on who “should” win is not from personal experience. That being said, Washington should absolutely take this award home for Scandal and become the first African-American woman to win in this category. Her performance has been critically acclaimed and the fact that her show isn’t nominated for the biggest prize of all doesn’t mean the Academy should overlook her.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock (NBC), Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth on Arrested Development (Netflix), Louis C.K. as Louie on Louie (FX), Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan on House of Lies (Showtime), Matt LeBlanc as Himself on Episodes (Showtime), and Jim Parsons as Dr. Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory (CBS).
Will Win: Seeing as his show ended this following year to intense acclaim, this award is Alec Baldwin’s to win. It would be a fitting farewell to the old favorite Jack Donaghy. Plus, he’s familiar territory for the Academy and we all know how much they love familiarity.
Should Win: If the Academy really wanted to break out from the pack, they would give this award to Louie C.K. Just like Louie deserves to take home top honors for comedy, the lead himself deserves the ultimate television acting trophy.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe on Enlightened (HBO), Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath on Girls (HBO), Edie Falco as Jackie Payton on Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Tina Fey as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock (NBC), Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer on Veep (HBO), Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation (NBC).
Will Win: This award is easily a toss up between Tina Fey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Both are absolutely hilarious in their roles but Fey has the fact that 30 Rock is done for good working in her favor. Louis-Dreyfus will likely get the nomination and probably win next year after all.
Should Win: I want Amy Poehler to take this award so badly. Everyone knows how funny she is, especially with Fey in tow, but it’s undeniable that her cohort in comedy has overshadowed her every award year. It’s time for her to get this Emmy once and her all.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut on Breaking Bad (AMC), Bobby Cannavale as Gyp Rosetti on Boardwalk Empire (HBO), Jim Carter as Charles Carson on Downton Abbey (PBS), Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones (HBO), Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad (AMC), Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson on Homeland (Showtime).
Will Win: It’s honestly looking like this is Mandy Patinkin’s year to win this award for Homeland. His performance this past season has received an incredible amount of buzz and I believe that the Academy will give him a slight edge over everyone else.
Should Win: Aaron Paul should take this award. His performance on Breaking Bad is on par with his co-star Bryan Cranston. If he doesn’t take it this year, don’t worry fans. He’s a lock for next year.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife (CBS), Morena Baccarin as Jessica Brody on Homeland (Showtime), Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones (HBO), Anna Gunn as Skyler White on Breaking Bad (AMC), Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris on Mad Men (AMC), Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey (PBS).
Will Win: It’s going to be Maggie Smith. You don’t even need to watch Downton Abbey to know how amazing she is as an actress. She won last year and I’m fully expecting her to take the prize home again.
Should Win: Anna Gunn is the most deserving out of anyone on here, including Smith. Yes Smith is outstanding at what she does, but Gunn has completely dominated a role that has mainly received vehement hatred from a massive fanbase. Her ability to just brush off all the hate is spectacular, but that’s nothing compared to her stellar acting chops. Remember that scene where she walked silently into a pool? Wordless perfection.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family (ABC), Adam Driver as Adam Sackler on Girls (HBO), Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family (ABC), Bill Hader as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (NBC), Tony Hale as Gary Walsh on Veep (HBO), Ed O’Neill as Jay Pritchett on Modern Family (ABC).
Will Win: Statistically speaking, Modern Family has a 50% chance of winning this prize. Quite frankly, I think it’s completely ridiculous that one show can take three nominations, but whatever. Ty Burrell is the critical favorite here and him taking home the award is basically guaranteed.
Should Win: The OTHER three nominees, specifically Bill Hader. He carried Saturday Night Live on his shoulders and the sheer fact that people don’t think the show will be good without him is enough for me. That man has developed immense star power in what I believe is a very difficult form (live sketch comedy) and this award, if anything, should be in recognition of his work.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Mayim Bialik as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family (ABC), Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer on Veep (HBO), Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock (NBC), Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester on Glee (FOX), Sofía Vergara as Gloria Pritchett on Modern Family (ABC), Merritt Wever as Zoey Barkow on Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Will Win: Yeah, expect Modern Family to take this one again. It’ll probably be Julie Bowen who has already won this two times in a row. Not many people are happy with that but you can’t deny how funny she is. It also helps that the Academy is just head over heals for that entire show.
Should Win: Going off the 30 Rock finale wave, this award should absolutely go to Jane Krakowski. The fact that she can rise in a show filled with big names like Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan is testament to her ability as an actress. I’ve seen very little of 30 Rock as well and know without a doubt that she’s amazing in her role. She has to take this award.
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