The Emmy nominations will be announced tomorrow morning, and you know who’s going to do well with multiple noms? Modern Family! Mad Men! 30 Rock! Boardwalk Empire! And what shows won’t get enough of the respect they deserve? Fringe! Justified! Community! But it doesn’t take a wizard to hazard those guesses, does it? So I’m going to take a much deeper dive into speculating on just which shows will fill out the nominations in every major category. Ready? It’s a long list. I’m pretty confident about these predictions. Hold your nose and take the plunge with me.
Remember: The shows I’m about to list are the ones I think will be nominated, not the shows I wish would be nominated. You can see a gallery of my ideal “dream ballot” nominations on EW.com as well.
Drama
Boardwalk Empire
Mad Men
The Good Wife
Game of Thrones
Friday Night Lights
Dexter
With no new Breaking Bad episodes airing during this voting period, Game of Thrones has a slot it can fill. And if you didn’t think this was the strongest season for Dexter, you can be sure that the show has many fans among the Emmy nominators.
Drama, actor
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Tom Selleck, Blue Bloods
Sean Bean, Game of Thrones
I know: Why won’t they nominate Timothy Olyphant? Because he makes it look so easy, is the short answer. And every EW reader worth his or her salt wants either Chandler to win for the final Lights season, or Bean for his decisive turn on Thrones, right? Well, while I think they may make the nomination cut, consider this a Hamm versus Buscemi battle, when it comes time to vote for a winner among the Academy members.
Drama, actress
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Wouldn’t it be a hoot if Bates were nominated and won? Well, no — because as good an actor as Bates is, Law isn’t a first-rate show. But if Britton or Margulies could triumph, that would be mighty fine.
Comedy
Modern Family
30 Rock
Glee
The Office
Big Bang Theory
Parks and Recreation
I’d prefer to see Community take the Big Bang or Glee spot, and only in my dreams could Louis C.K.’s brilliant Louie crack the Emmy nomination process. The odd duck here is the hour-long, mood-shifting Glee, which I think might, along with shows such as Nurse Jackie and The Big C and even Entourage and Louie, benefit from a new “dramedy”-style category.
Comedy, actor
Steve Carell, The Office
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Rob Lowe, Parks and Recreation
Joel McHale, Community
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Showtime’s Episodes is, I predict, this year’s we’ll-show-’em-we-can-pick-something-quality-that’s-low-rated Emmy nod. And McHale is the guy who’ll be the standard-bearer for the other nominations Community deserves. I suspect Carell will eventually win; he’s terrific, and even though this wasn’t a great Office season, the sentimentality behind Carell’s final season may catapult him past Baldwin and Parsons.
Comedy, actress
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Patricia Heaton, The Middle
Laura Linney, The Big C
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
If I were in a voting booth, I’d be pulling the lever for a full-on Parks and Recreation ticket. As it is, any of these women could win and I’d be happy, they’re all that good. Except that while Linney is excellent, The Big C isn’t very funny.
Comedy, supporting actor
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Chris Colfer, Glee
Ed O’Neill! Ed O’Neill! I’m starting a grassroots O’Neill campaign. Want to join?
Comedy, supporting actress
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Jane Lynch, Glee
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
I go Bowen, but in an ideal scenario, Gillian Jacobs from Community would take the Wiig slot.
Variety series
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
The Colbert Report
Late Show With David Letterman
Saturday Night Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Is there any way Jon Stewart will not win in this category? This, despite the fact that I think, laugh for laugh, Colbert deserves it more.
Reality competition
Top Chef
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
The Voice
Voice fans, be patient: This show is too new to have dented the consciousness of most Emmy voters yet. Coming off a season of renewed energy among the judging panel, I’d bet Idol has a strong chance.
Reality series
Intervention
Deadliest Catch
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
Mythbusters
Pawn Stars
Dirty Jobs
What’s the hottest show in reality right now? Pawn Stars. But voters may go one of two ways: either ignore all the outdoorsy stuff and run straight into the open arms of Kathy Griffin, or head for the reality show many people know best, Deadliest Catch.
Drama, supporting actor
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
John Slattery, Mad Men
Michael Pitt, Boardwalk Empire
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
John Noble, Fringe
Yes, I do think it’s possible for Noble to be nominated, the most likely of any Fringe nomination.
Drama, supporting actress
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Debra Winger, In Treatment
Margo Martindale, Justified
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Martindale’s season-long turn on Justified justifies a nomination, and a win, in my opinion. Although Debra Winger was fearless in In Treatment as well…
Where’s the Comedy Supporting Actress? Busy Phillips!!
Yeah – where is the comedy supporting actress category?
“lydia” stole my comment! Nasty spam-bot…
Comedy, supporting actress
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Jane Lynch, Glee
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Joshua Jackson & Melissa McCarthy will be announcing the Emmy nominations tomorrow.
Emmy nominations aren’t the same without LOST…
wow bradley you just read my mind! I was literally thinking that while reading the article…
All of these articels have saved me a lot of headaches.
Sorry–Fixed!
Best,
Ken
Where are the supporting categories for Drama???
why is Parenthood tagged in this post when there is no Parenthood love to be had. I pray for a Mae Whitman nomination! Pray I tell you!
KEN, what do you think — no love for the surprise buzz show, THE WALKING DEAD?
I’m with Strepsi – The Walking Dead for best drama would be sweet! And no Nick Offerman for best supporting comedy actor? Srsly?
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Betty White is not funny on HIC, nor is the show. Give Busy Philips her Emmy already though I wouldn’t mind Bowen or Vergara getting recognized. They spun some twine into gold this season but Busy is TV’s MVP no doubt, especially after Cougar Town’s decent into a modern day 40-something. Blah.
I don’t understand why people make sweeping comments as to who is funny and who is not…just because you don’t enjoy Betty White in HIC or the show doesn’t mean it is not funny. It means you have an opinion. I love Busy Philips but not the show, does that mean something is wrong with me, no, imo, but in your opinion most likely. Nonetheless this whole article is speculation, bring out your claws again tomorrow instead.
I really wish in the female comedy categories Busy Phillips and Kaitlin Olson got nominated. In my opinion they are the most consistently funny women on tv.
This 45th anniversary rsealee is FANTASTIC. True, it isn’t a complete soundtrack of the movie, but if it were what would we have to look forward to for the 50th Anniversary? To date, the most complete version of the soundtrack is the 35h anniversary 2-disc set, which is not as good of a quality as this 45th anniversary. This most recent version has been completely digitally remastered by using the original audio tracks. The original audio tracks had been damaged some time ago and could not be used for digital remasters. A copy was used. We have finally developed the technology to use the original, damaged tracks. The developers of this 45th anniversary edition were able to isolate the music and the voices and remaster them independently, which allowed them to bring out the voices of the children, the sounds of the wind and birds in the opening scene, and the different instruments that have previously been hidden in the recordings. If you listen to this remastered version alongside the 35th anniversary edition, there is a marked difference in the quality.I don’t care what anyone says, this disc is absolutely worth it! Be sure to check out the BluRay version of the 45th Anniversary edition of the movie. It is simply amazing how much work was put in to restore this classic, and the BluRay is a testament to that. It’s amazing.
Where is Alison Brie for Community? She is far better than Gillian jacobs.
Yes, I think both Alison Brie and Yvette Nicole Brown are better than Gillian.
Could not agree more.
Not that Gillian isn’t talented, because she really is, but Alison and Yvette are much better choices.
Agree! Very few of my favorites are on the list! My personal faves:
COMEDY: Raising Hope (more LOL moments per show)
DRAMA: Game of Thrones
REALITY: So You Think You Can Dance
ACTRESS DRAMA: Jennifer Carpenter, Dexter
ACTRESS COMEDY: Wendie Malick, Hot In Cleveland
ACTOR DRAMA: Sean Bean, Game of Thrones
ACTOR COMEDY: Zachary Levi, Chuck
SUPPORTING ACTOR DRAMA: Alexander Skarsgard, or Nelsan Ellis, True Blood
SUPPORTING ACTOR COMEDY: Garret Dillahunt, Raising Hope, or Darren Criss, Glee
SUPPORTiNG ACTRESS DRAMA: Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
SUPPORTING ACTRESS COMEDY: Busy Phillips, Cougar Town
I don’t think Darren Criss would be eligible since he was only billed a guest star all season.
As much as I love Wendy Malick – she’ has played the exact same character more than just once before. HOT IN CLEVELAND is NOT funny!
Agree about So You Think You Can Dance. It needs to win! SO much better than a lot of the other competition series. But I agree with davey, Hot In Cleveland is not funny, though I love Betty White, Malick, and the rest.
I’m with you on Emilia Clarke. I definitely wouldn’t count her out of the supporting race.
Okay, okay, I just love Wendie Malick. How about my other favorite?
ACTRESS COMEDY: Courteney Cox, Cougar Town
Would love to see maisie Williams get some Emmy love!
I’m with you on Emilia Clarke.
I just hope that Southland gets some noms/recognition this year. FANTASTIC show
Absolutely! Regina King gets all the attention for some reason, but Shawn Hatosy delivered a phenomenally heartwrenching performance as Sammy Bryant aka the detective undergoing to worst year of his life
Where is Danny Pudi for Community??
Obviously not someone Ken Tucker THINKS will be nominated. But we all (who watch) know he is very deserving of a nomination. Ken makes it very clear with the Joel McHale nomination that he thinks Community deserves a lot more.
Well said. In a truly just world most of the cast of Community would be nominated.
I’m just hopeful that as there was a month or so back, Abed will analyze the nominees and explain who will win and why.
Completely agree. As an avid watcher of The Office, Parks & Rec, Community, and 30 Rock, Community stole the season of Comedy (where I think still shined in the previous season, but Parks & Rec’s season 2 prevailed). Community has had a huge cast of characters who were able to not only fulfill a lot of character development, but also give the most laughs out of not just NBC shows, but many others. It’s way too underrated! In, my opinion, 30 Rock doesn’t come close to a Comedy nomination to Community because of it’s desperate and rocky season of Tracy Morgan troubles..
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hopefully this will not end in another boring mad men tribute show.
eleven, man men is a seriously amazing show. if you think it’s boring, it’s because you’re not smart enough for it. what would you prefer? more GLEE!?
He didn’t say Mad Men was boring (though he may think that) I think, but that if the Emmy’s turns into a Mad Men tribute show it will be boring.
You don’t have to lob out insults if someone doesn’t like Mad Men either. I saw the first season, thought it was well acted, well written etc etc, but I didn’t like it and the hysteria about its quality has put me off ever since, though I suppose it deserves another go.
Count me as another person underwhelmed by Mad Men. Many of the ingredients are excellent (and Hamm is fine hunk of man) but the sum of the parts to me is a little boring. And the kick of the first season, looking at a retro time through post-feminist irony, got old for me fast. So yeah, I’d love to see Game of Thrones win.
what keiran said.
i have absolutely nothing against mad men.
what keiran said.
i have absolutely nothing against mad men. couldn’t care less about glee. i’d love to be surprised once in a while when it comes to the emmys.
Agreed with Kieran. Tried to like it, but couldn’t get into it. Hope Fringe and Game of Thrones dominate the Emmys this year.
Gotta agree with Kieran. It’s not about Mad Men so much as perhaps it’s time for another show to get the award. Maybe Friday Night Lights or Game of Thrones.
Ooooh, so that’s what it’s about? We should give everyone a turn, CK1? It’s supposed to be something that surprises us, eleven? I’m sorry, I thought it should go to the best show/performance/etc. I’m still not understanding how the Emmy’s were ever a Mad Men “tribute show” when the lead actor gets robbed year after year. Give me a break!
I hope True Blood sneaks Mad Men’s spot
I really wish Raising Hope would take Glee’s spot; it’s the funniest and most heartwarming comedy on tv. Glee doesn’t deserve a nomination this year.
I think a lot of shows could and should take Glee’s spot. I don’t understand why Glee is in the comedy category. Raising Hope was excellent, Community was as well. I also think 30 Rock should not be nominated. It’s been very weak lately. I mean let’s get real, it’s time to put it out to pasture.
Agree. Glee is CrapTV at its worse. Raising Hope and Martha for the win!! (she should also win for guest appearance on Good Wife)
Jenna, I think we could be best friends. Glee is so awful. Raising Hope is hilarious! I’d love to see Garret Dillahunt get a nomination.
Where is this love for Raising Hope coming from? That show and Big Bang Theory are shows I couldn’t get into. I’ve watched numerous episodes, and in stopped because they weren’t funny, just obnoxious. And Glee hasn’t rediscovered the quality from the first 13 episodes of season 1, and doubt it ever will.
Totally agree. Glee doesn’t deserve a nomination this year, and I don’t think any of the actors deserve a nomination, even Jane Lynch. She was given no material this year. Such a disappointment.
But academy voters are creatures of habit and will probably nominate Glee because it gets buzz and was nominated last year.
But frankly it lost a lot of positive buzz and actually received negative buzz. Honestly I can see it getting shut out entirely.
And Glee wasn’t even funny…the best moments this year on that show were dramatic ones. In reality, it’s a musical dramedy. Maybe it should be in the “Variety” category?
I love Raising Hope. I loved Glee the first season, now I can barely stand to watch it. Neither Colfer nor Lynch should get nominated, and as much as I love Lea Michele, none of the former nominees were given decent material. The writing was awful. Stupid Ryan Murphy. Congratulations, you destroyed a good show.
I completely agree- Raising Hope is fantastic. I wish they would nominate it!
I also think Glee doesn’t deserve a nomination, and the only actor that would deserve to get in is Chris Colfer. Even Jane Lynch was unimpressive this year, though that’s more the fault of the writing than her acting. But Glee is definitely more of a comedy than a drama. Just because most of the comedy doesn’t work/isn’t actually funny, it doesn’t mean it’s not a comedy. I base this sort of thing more on the overall tone, and it definitely feels more like a comedy than a drama.
Glee needs to not be nominated. It was not funny or entertaining this year. If there was a “Preachiest TV Show” category then it would win. Glee was a disappointment this year. Community was far superior and actually you know FUNNY!
I love Glee, but I agree with you. This season was not very good. It had a couple great episodes, but not enough to warrant it being nominated.
Help, I’ve been inrfomed and I can’t become ignorant.
A Season has a lot of episodes — and they submit AN episode for consideration. if they submit the one where Kurt first goes to Dalton Academy (“Teenage Dream”) that’s one of the most memorable moments of the year, and Award-worthy. Certainly more than the Big C, which as Tucker points out is… not funny.
No noms for the Killing?? I think it deserves a nom over Friday Night Lights …
Also ( not listed) Michelle Forbes at least deserves a nom for best supporting actress in a drama series
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA… this is a joke right?
I knew something was missing. The Killing definitely deserves recognition, especially for Enos and Forbes.
I’m with you on Forbes but no way The Killing should bump FNL. If it took Dexter’s slot I could maybe see your point because last season was a bit of a disappointment. But The Killing didn’t, IMO, live up to the hype.
u don’t like Dexter?
My wife loved Glee, but was then mad when she found out the show wasn’t actually cinmog until the fall! I’ll send her this post to help get her through the summer!
what about The Walking Dead? i think it deserves a nom too.
I think the Killing will gets some noms. A read that many members sent their nomination lists in before the finale. I don’t think the show will get any votes though.
agreed with Amy for Parks & Rec (in fact I’d like to see way more P&R), and yes, it would be awesome if Louie was nominated. won’t happen though.
I really wish Adam Scott would be nominated for his work on Parks and Rec. His expressions are priceless. He has been a way better addition than Rob Lowe.
Not to mention that Lowe should probably fall in the “supporting actor” category, shouldn’t he? He didn’t have that much screen time.
Lowe just has a huge ego, I guess; he definitely is supporting. But considering the dearth of talent in the Best Actor category, I wouldn’t have a problem with his getting a nod. Parks and Rec is great, after all.
I’m definitely down with Amy Poehlar getting the nom for Parks and she deserves to win the damn thing too.
Where is your best support actor/actress for Drama and supporting actress for comedy? Patricia Heaton, Martha Plimpton? Come on Ken, you are better than this. If these are who you think WILL actually get nominated, you are extremely delusional.
And there is no way some of those actually get nominated. Joel McHale? Not a chance.
The Emmys are such a joke these days. While I’m not saying the probable nominiees aren’t deserving, I do think its a crime that really deserving actors and shows won’t get nominated due to the popularity contest that this show has become.
I completely agree.
Well, you can’t nominate everyone. There are always going to be snubs, like in any awards show. The problem is more that they tend to nominate the same things year after year even if, for a particular year, an actor or a show is undeserving, though it may have been deserving in a previous year. They also don’t recognize a lot of genre shows, particularly sci-fi, fantasy and teen shows (except for Glee).
This.
Interesting. It’s sad how many shows are out there that don’t get this kind of recognition…. but then again there are SOOOO many shows to choose from. I think it would be interesting to separate some of the categories more. Like have a category for network tv (which is bound by more restrictions than cable) and one for cable. This current format (if I’m not mistaken) has been around for ages and it doesn’t reflect the changes to programming- well other than adding in reality stuff. I don’t know, I just think there could be a little more legitimate recognition.
While I get your point, I think that having separate categories for network and cable TV would just reinforce the widely believed but entirely wrong assumption that cable is superior to network. If a network show is better than a cable show, then it should be able to compete against cable shows. Fewer restrictions don’t automatically improve a show’s quality.
I hope you’re right about Ed O’Neill!
One of the other reviewers gave 2 stars pslimy because the first version of Edelweiss was absent from this disc. BOO! How could anyone say anything blasphemous about The Sound of Music? This song wasn’t available on previous recordings, along with a LOT of other music from the movie. The only edition of the soundtrack that has all of the music from the movie (including the first Edelweiss, the Laendler, the Processional Waltz, the Grand Waltz, Sixteen Going on Seventeen Reprise, etc.) is the 35th Anniversary 2-disc special edition. So I really don’t see what the complaint is. That reviewer should have looked at the track list before they purchased the CD.This 45th anniversary release is FANTASTIC. True, it isn’t a complete soundtrack of the movie, but if it were what would we have to look forward to for the 50th Anniversary? This version has been completely digitally remastered by using the original audio tracks. The original audio tracks had been damaged some time ago and could not be used for digital remasters. A copy was used. We have finally developed the technology to use the original, damaged tracks. The developers of this 45th anniversary edition were able to isolate the music and the voices and remaster them independently, which allowed them to bring out the voices of the children, the sounds of the wind and birds in the opening scene, and the different instruments that have previously been hidden in the recordings. If you listen to this remastered version alongside the 35th anniversary edition, there is a marked difference in the quality.I don’t care what anyone says, this disc is absolutely worth it! Be sure to check out the BluRay version of the 45th Anniversary edition of the movie. It is pslimy amazing how much work was put in to restore this classic, and the BluRay is a testament to that. It’s amazing.
Olyphant better be nominated this year or ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE!!!!!!!
YES- I do not like how Justified was left completely off Ken’s list- total BS.
Reread Ken’s article. This is a list of Emmy nominations he thinks will come down – not his personal picks. He implies in the drama actor category that Olyphant deserves a nomination.
And Ken’s right. Tim Olyphant deserves a nomination and I will be stunned if it actually happens. The Emmys go with their old favorites.
I know that this is what he thinks will happen and not what he wants to happen- which is why is said bs? It sucks bc I wish Justified had a better chance at getting nominated.
In my humble opinion, Timothy Olyphant deserves a nomination and Justified also deserves to be nominated for Best Drama.
If Timothy Olyphant doesn’t get nominated, I won’t watch. He should be that show is sooo good
Yeah, if Dexter gets a Best Drama nod instead of Justified … I mean, I am a big Dexter fan but last season sucked.
No way Tom Selleck….I love the show but does not deserve the nomination this year.
Selleck won’t be nominated. Substitute Hugh Laurie on that list instead.
errr wrong substitute Timothy Olyphant for Hugh Laurie.
Hugh Laurie’s best performance of the season < Timothy Olyphant's
Emmy voters don’t have the time or inclination to watch a lot of shows. They tend to nominate and vote on reputation, buzz and they vote for their friends. Selleck has been around a long time and has a lot of friends in the industry plus he has a good reputation. I think Laurie may get it based on reputation, even if he’s been phoning it in this season.
The Emmy nominations have been a predictable snoozefest for years (30 Rock, Mad Men, The Office, etc) and the same people always win. There’s no excuse to include has-been crap and consistently ignore other shows that are just as good (if not better) but suffer from a lack of exposure or EW pimping. Where’s the love for Justified? Cougar Town? House? Sorry Jon Hamm and Tina Fey, but you should only be allowed to win so many times for playing the SAME CHARACTER that there should be a cap on those nominations.
Jon Hamm has never won for Mad Men (always loses to Brian Cranston)
and rightfully so!
Cranston is awesome, but he’s won so many times. It’s time to spread some love around. Brilliant performances by Hugh Laurie, Jon Hamm, and Michael C. Hall haven’t been honored with an Emmy yet.
Maggie, normally I would agree with you. I really dislike that the Emmy voters just vote for the same people over and over again. 30 Rock and Alec Baldwin really aren’t as good as they were in the early seasons and a lot of new shows/actors have surpassed them. However! Bryan Cranston is still amazing and still producing high quality performances in a character that is evolving.
Sorry then, it just SEEMS that way with the habitual nominations lol. Substitute Cranston or Alec Baldwin and my point still stands.
I hear what you’re saying….but one of the other perpetual nominees is very, very deserving of a win this year for his body of work. For the love of all that is good in the world, PLEEEAAASSSE let Steve Carell win this year! His Michael Scott is an amazing mix of moronic doofus and heart. Not every actor could pull that off the way he does.
Go Steve!!
Yeah, Jon Hamm has never won. Though, I won’t really argue against the idea that there should be a cap on nominations, or probably more fairly, on wins.
The only one I’m rooting for is Ashley from The Bachelorette for Best Actress in a Comedy.
LOL Great comment!
No, Best Actress in a Tragedy. with all the crying she does.