Who Should And Who Will Win At The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 2013 65th Primetime Emmy Awards are nearly here! Come Sunday night, countless actors and actresses will be sitting in Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre, vying for the same awards while you cross your fingers in hopes that your favorite will win. With too many categories to count, I've highlighted the ones most people care about (because I'm assuming the masses won't be placing bets on who will win for Stunt Coordination in a Comedy Series) and am giving you which shows and performers I personally think should win — regardless of what critics are saying — and which will probably win. Some seem obvious to me (sorry Aaron Paul, I love you but Peter Dinklage is still making television into art), while other categories are trickier (sentimentality could take Outstanding Comedy Series away from Louie). Regardless of whether or not you agree, or if I end up completely wrong on Sunday, it's always fun to predict. So, who do you think should win?
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Vera Farmiga — Bates Motel
- Michelle Dockery — Downton Abbey
- Claire Danes — Homeland
- Robin Wright — House of Cards
- Elisabeth Moss — Mad Men
- Connie Britton — Nashville
- Kerry Washington — Scandal
Most likely, Claire Danes will win this one but it would be nice to see it go to Elisabeth Moss — though Vera Farmiga certainly delivered a great performance in the first season of Bates Motel. Considering this category is fairly lackluster in terms of standout performances, it could go many ways but Moss absolutely shone in a fairly meh season of Mad Men. Plus, no one has yet to win an Emmy for acting in Mad Men, so maybe this year will change that.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Bryan Cranston — Breaking Bad
- Hugh Bonneville — Downton Abbey
- Damian Lewis — Homeland
- Kevin Spacey — House of Cards
- Jon Hamm — Mad Men
- Jeff Daniels — The Newsroom
I highly doubt anyone will be able to pull this award from Bryan Cranston. Not only is this the final season of Breaking Bad — which is plunging everyone into a fit of mourning — Cranston has never had a misstep in his performance throughout the show's duration. Though he's already won three of these, only losing last year because of Damian Lewis and Homeland's big sweep, his no-holds-barred portrayal of the hero-turned-villain Walter White deserves another. If anyone is going to be the surprise winner, it will be Kevin Spacey because...well, because he's Kevin Spacey.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Anna Gunn — Breaking Bad
- Maggie Smith — Downton Abbey
- Emilia Clarke — Game of Thrones
- Morena Baccarin — Homeland
- Christina Hendricks — Mad Men
- Christine Baranski — The Good Wife
I'd like to see Emilia Clarke win. Not only did her character Daenerys Targaryen kick some major butt in this season of Game of Thrones, she pulled off the complete transformation from a weakling to a powerful leader, making the feminist inside me roar. That said, there's a chance the award will go to Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess, but Anna Gunn will probably pull ahead for her work on Breaking Bad. Though many hate Skyler White, they have also been praising her tragic performance this season. Plus, if anyone can inspire that much hatred through a performance, they deserve some acting recognition. Take it Gunn, it's yours.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Bobby Cannavale — Boardwalk Empire
- Jonathan Banks — Breaking Bad
- Aaron Paul — Breaking Bad
- Jim Carter — Downton Abbey
- Peter Dinklage — Game of Thrones
- Mandy Patinkin — Homeland
Though many think Aaron Paul is a shoo-in, I don't see how the award can go to anyone but Peter Dinklage. Sure, Paul is fantastic and made Jesse Pinkman one of the two stars of the show when he was originally slated for death in season one — there's no denying that. But, what Dinklage has done with Tyrion Lannister has raised Game of Thrones into the world of art. Regardless of height, I defy you to think of another actor who could play Tyrion better.
Outstanding Drama Series
- House of Cards
- Mad Men
- Breaking Bad
- Downton Abbey
- Game of Thrones
- Homeland
This one will definitely go to Breaking Bad, and as it should. The show has yet to win in this category, which is pretty surprising considering its constant praise and sky-high ratings, and the reasons why it will are obvious — it's mesmerizing and has never had a weak season. Its penultimate episode is actually airing at the same time as the Emmys, which is definitely going to put a dent in the award show's ratings.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Tina Fey — 30 Rock
- Laura Dern — Enlightened
- Lena Dunhamn — Girls
- Edie Falco — Nurse Jackie
- Amy Poehler — Parks and Recreation
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus — Veep
I miss 30 Rock and I'm not the only one. Sentimentality and nostalgia will probably give the award to Tina Fey. However, Fey has won before, whereas her buddy Amy Poehler hasn't. Poehler is fantastic in Parks, oftentimes heartwarming, and is completely deserving of the recognition. Plus, we all know that speech would be hilarious, especially if the two went up together.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Alec Baldwin — 30 Rock
- Jason Bateman — Arrested Development
- Matt LeBlanc — Episodes
- Don Cheadle — House of Lies
- Louis C.K. — Louie
- Jim Parsons — The Big Bang Theory
There are a lot of deserving names on the list but Louis C.K. is the obvious winner to me. Not only has he reaped nine nominations for his various projects this year, from Louie to his HBO comedy special Oh My God (which proves his undying popularity right now), the unique funnyman is truly in a category all his own.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Jane Krakowski — 30 Rock
- Jane Lynch — Glee
- Sofia Vergara — Modern Family
- Julie Bowen — Modern Family
- Merritt Wever — Nurse Jackie
- Mayim Bialik — The Big Bang Theory
- Anna Chlumsky — Veep
This is another category filled with a lot of deserving names, but I have a feeling Sofia Vergara may pull ahead. Though Modern Family had a lackluster season this year, Vergara has yet to win despite being nominated three times before. The upset may be Anna Chlumsky from Veep.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Adam Driver — Girls
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson — Modern Family
- Ed O'Neill — Modern Family
- Ty Burell — Modern Family
- Bill Hader — Saturday Night Live
- Tony Hale — Veep
Though it's a great list, Adam Driver should get this one for his work in Girls. His performance of Adam Sackler is at once cringe-worthy, sympathetic, and utterly hilarious. You love Adam regardless as to whether or not you want to. Still, the Emmys love Modern Family and the show has swept this category for years and if it keeps up, the award will probably go to Ed O'Neill.
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Girls
- Modern Family
- 30 Rock
- Louie
- The Big Bang Theory
- Veep
Though Modern Family has taken it for the past three years, they really don't deserve it this year — Louie does. However, dark comedies don't often get the recognition they deserve at the Emmys and Louie, while very funny, can often be incredibly introspective. Still, Louie continually pushes the boundaries of conventional sitcom structures in original, refreshing and daring ways. Plus, this show was perfect from the premiere episode and hasn't slowed down since.
The Emmys airs Sunday, September 22 on CBS, 8 p.m. eastern/5 p.m. pacific.