2010 Emmy Watch Part 1

The nominees for the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced this week and in lieu with that starting today I've prepared a series of post discussing my predictions on who will be nominated for the major categories. Please note that this is a list of who I think WILL be nominated and not who I Want to be nominated. Let's start with the acting categories for a Drama series:

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson on Mad Men (AMC)
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons on Damages (FX)
Chloe Sevigny as Nicki Grant on Big Love (HBO)
Betsy Brandt as Marie Schrader on Breaking Bad (AMC)

Wildcard:

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife (CBS)

Last year's winner Cherry Jones of 24 did not submit this year so the race is wide open. Consistent nominees Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh are shoo-ins for nods as well as Rose Byrne from Damages and Elisabeth Moss who was nominated last year for Lead Actress for Mad Men. Chloe Sevigny won Best Supporting Actress on a Comedy/Drama/TV Movie/ Mini-Series (yes, they lump all genres for supporting into one!) on this year's Golden Globes so she should not be counted out. Betsy Brandtz is my wild guess, she might be a beneficiary of what is predicted to be a love fest of nominations for Breaking Bad this year. Baranski is my wildcard as she is as veteran TV actress that has a good Emmy track record but what's keeping me from putting her on my predicted list is that her role for this show is not remarkable but who knows her name might be enough for the voters.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad (AMC)
Terry O'Quin as John Locke on Lost (ABC)
John Slattery as Roger Sterling on Mad Men (AMC)
Michael Emerson as Benjamin Linus on Lost (ABC)
Andre Braugher as Owen Thoreau, Jr on Men of a Certain Age (TNT)
Chris Noth as Peter Florrick on The Good Wife (CBS)

Wildcard:

Martin Short as Leonard Winstone on Damages (FX)

Last year's winner Michael Emerson is a safe bet for a nomination and after not submitting last year, Terry O'Quin is back in the game and as a previous winner himself with a good role on the final season of Lost (he essentially played two characters) I will be shocked if he won't get a nod. Aaron Paul is raved by critics and since this has been a breakout year for Breaking Bad a second nomination for Paul is almost sure. Braugher and Noth are TV veterans from well-reviewed new dramas and they might get attention this year especially Braugher who is an Emmy favorite. Consistent nominee Slattery completes the field. Short is a well-known actor who might be nominated if Damages continues to be loved by the voters but I'm guessing that Damages is in a vulnerable state this time around due to lost buzz so I just picked Short as a wildcard than a predicted nominee.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Juliana Marguiles as Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife (CBS)
Glenn Close as Patricia "Patty" Hewes on Damages (FX)
Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Johnson on The Closer (TNT)
Sally Field as Norah Walker on Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Katey Sagal as Gemma Morrow on Sons of Anarchy (FX)

Wildcard:

Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko on Saving Grace (TNT)

This year Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild winner Marguiles is a lock for a nomination and possibly a win. Close is the winner for the past two years while Hargitay, Sedgwick, and Field are consistent nominees. My wild guess prediction is that Katey Sagal takes the slot of consistent nominee Holly Hunter whose series fell out of the buzz this time around.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad (AMC)
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan on Dexter (FX)
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House on House (FOX)
Jon Hamm as Don Draper on Mad Men (AMC)
Ray Romano as Joe Tranelli on Men of A Certain Age (TNT)
Matthew Fox as Jack Sheppard on Lost (ABC)

Wildcard:

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer on 24 (Fox)

Two-time winner Bryan Cranston is looking good for another nomination and frequent nominees (and losers) Hall, Laurie, and Hamm are sure bets as well. Romano's dramatic turn on "Age" is well -reviewed and since he is an Emmy veteran he could get a recognition for this dramatic shift. The last slot could be between the lead men of two landmark series that just ended their run, Fox for Lost and Sutherland for 24 but I bet the former might get his first (and last) nomination for his epic role on Lost. But never count out previous winner Sutherland who was consistent nominee except last year where he was nominated instead for Lead Actor on a TV Movie for 24: Redemption.

Tomorrow: My predictions for the acting categories in a Comedy series.