Emmy Predictions 2012

The Emmys 2012

Hey look it’s the television Oscars! The 2012 Emmys are here tomorrow (or tonight depending on when you read this) night and it’s time to do some predicting. Rules are, well these are only categories I care about so if you’re looking for predictions in the comedy or miniseries section check elsewhere. For everyone else it’s prediction time!

Outstanding Supporting Actor Drama

Nominees:

Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Brendan Coyle, "Downton Abbey"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Giancarlo Esposito, "Breaking Bad"
Jared Harris, "Mad Men"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Should win: Talent wise this is probably the hardest categorie. First off let’s start by throwing the two Downton Abby guys out as I am not particularly a big fan of either role. That still leaves us with four spectacular roles, wow!  Peter Dinklage (who should probably be a best lead) is fantastic still as my favorite George RR Martin character Tyrion and Jared Harris has the fantastic “Commissions and Fees” on his side but ultimately to me this comes down to the two Breaking Bad actors. While I think Aaron Paul is amazing I got to pick Giancarlo Esposito for just how much his villain Gus brought to the show in season four.

Will Win: Fun fact no one has one this award twice since the mid Nineties so Dinklige and Paul (who won it last time he was eligible). Also at this point Emmy voters refuse to give Mad Men actors awards so that leaves us with Giancarlo Esposito. Yay!

Outstanding Supporting Actress Drama:

Nominees:

Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"
Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"
Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Should Win: Easy one here; while Anna Gunn comes in close second, Hendricks is the clear best out of these picks and has the best submission episode “The Other Woman”. Easy pick…

Will Win:  …But as previously mentioned Emmy voters don’t give awards to Mad Men actors and they love big prominent British actresses. So Maggie Smith has the best chance to win this one.

Outstanding Writing Drama:

Nominees:
"Downton Abbey," "Episode 7" - Julian Fellowes
"Homeland," "Pilot" - Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon & Gideon Raff
"Mad Men," "The Other Woman" - Semi Chellas & Matthew Weiner
"Mad Men," "Commissions and Fees" - Andre & Maria Jacquemetton
"Mad Men," "Far Away Places" - Erin Levy & Matthew Weiner

Should Win: Well I guess this comes down to the three Mad Men episodes (even though I do like the Homeland pilot). “The Other Woman” is great and so is “Commissions and Fees” but the true winner here is the amazing “Far Away Places” which was the best episode of Mad Men this year. Roger on LSD!!! PS Breaking Bad not getting a writing nod is a massive, unforgivable crime…

Will Win: Here comes the curve ball. While my initial thought was to roll a dice to decide on which Mad Men episode to pick the idea crept in (and soon became prominent in my head) that the Emmy voters like pilots and Homeland’s pilot is pretty well written. So, surprisingly enough I’m going to say Homeland is the front runner here (but if you go for the any of the three Mad Men episodes you also have a great chance).

Outstanding Direction Drama

Nominees:
"Boardwalk Empire," "To the Lost" - Tim Van Patten
"Breaking Bad," "Face Off" - Vince Gilligan
"Downton Abbey," "Episode 7" - Brian Percival
"Homeland" "Pilot," - Michael Cuesta
"Mad Men," "The Other Woman" - Phil Abraham

Should Win: This one’s tough… I love Van Patten’s work on Boardwalk Empire and I thought the “Other Woman” was spectacularly directed. But again you get to Breaking Bad’s phenomenally directed season four finale and you just stop and say this is the clear winner. I recently went back and rewatched it and it would be a crime if it didn’t win!

Will Win: This one is a Downton vs. Homeland battle sadly… So I’ll go with Homeland since it’s a pilot and I like it better.

Outstanding Lead Actress Drama

Nominees:

Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"

Should Win:  Easiest award ever. Claire Danes, no one comes close to her in this category…

Will Win: This should be called the Claire Danes award…. Really, next…

Outstanding Lead Actor Drama

Nominees:
Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Should Win: You look at the list and go, hey this is tough; until you get to one name, Bryan Cranston. This just isn’t fair, not only does he have three Emmys for his role (every year he’s been eligible), but he also has the best submission episode he’s ever had “Crawl Space”. I mean I can imagine Emmy voters just turning off the television giving him the win right after they watch the final ten minutes of that episode no matter if they saw the other’s submission episodes or not.

Will Win: Cranston, no problem.

Outstanding Drama:

Nominees:
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"Mad Men"

 

Should Win: This battle essentially comes down to the two AMC shows Mad Men and Breaking Bad. In this case Breaking Bad season four just edges out Mad Men season five. Why? Because Breaking Bad had literally the perfect season with season four and it’s hard to beat the perfect season, even if you are Mad Men.

Will Win: While it comes down to Downton, Homeland, and Mad Men on this one. I got to go with my heart on this one and go Mad Men just because it’s the perfect Emmy show (nostalgic enough for the old crowd and hip enough for the new) and just because I like it better than the other really close potential winners

What do you think? Leave a comment on who you think should and will win!