64th Primetime Emmy Awards Predictions
Though the Oscars have always been the most buzzed-about event of awards season — and likely will be for the foreseeable future — they might no longer be the most important. Long thought to be out of touch and subject to the whims of Academy politics, the ceremony’s self-righteous sanctimony and lack of any real entertainment value would be only half tolerable even if Hollywood itself weren’t growing more stagnant each year.
This Oscar fatigue combined with the unprecedented quality of the Golden Age of television leaves the field open for the second most respected accolade in entertainment to gain some real ground in the public consciousness. It’s too bad, then, that the Emmys might be more egregious than their big screen cousin in the way they completely and arbitrarily ignore some of the most deserving candidates, instead latching onto certain performances or programs year after year.
Progress, though, is not out of the question, as reflected by this year’s largely accurate slate of drama nominees. And though the comedy side of things still leaves much to be desired, the Emmy ceremony itself, thankfully enough, is usually more than watchable. And no matter the quality of an awards show, predicting and then arguing over the outcome remains a guilty pleasure.
Supporting Comedy Actress
Should win: Kristen Wiig as various characters in Saturday Night Live
Will win: Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in Modern Family
Snubbed: Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate in Parks and Recreation
Supporting Comedy Actor
Should win: Max Greenfield as Schmidt in New Girl
Will win: Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy in Modern Family
Snubbed: Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation
Best Comedy Actress
Should win: Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation
Will win: Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath in Girls
Snubbed: Gillian Jacobs as Britta Perry in Community
Best Comedy Actor
Should win: Louis C.K. as Louie in Louie
Will win: Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory
Snubbed: Joel McHale as Jeff Winger in Community
Supporting Drama Actress
Should win: Anna Gunn as Skyler White in Breaking Bad
Will win: Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey
Snubbed: Lena Headey as Queen Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones
Supporting Drama Actor
Should win: Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring in Breaking Bad
Will win: Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones
Snubbed: Michael Pitt as Jimmy Darmody in Boardwalk Empire
Lead Drama Actress
Should win: Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland
Will win: Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife
Snubbed: Katey Sagal as Gemma Teller Morrow in Sons of Anarchy
Lead Drama Actor
Should win: Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Will win: Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Snubbed: Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in Justified