Emmy 2006: The Last Minute Predictions and Notes

Wow! Emmy night already. When it comes to the awards shows I watch, and there are very few of those, I have become a first rate procrastinator when it comes to posting my picks. So, here we are, mere hours away from the first presentation and here I am taking a look at the list of nominees. Read on and you will see my predictions, and other random notes for the major categories.

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Arrested Development
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• The Office
• Scrubs
• Two and a Half Men
• My Thoughts: This is a tough one for me, as I have three of my favorites in this category, and it is tough to pick one of them. In the end, if I had to choose, I think that Scrubs will and should win, althought I think my heart is with the cancelled brilliance of Arrested Development. I haven't seen enough of Curb to choose it, and I have to ask, why Two and a Half Men? I would have taken something like My Name is Earl over it in a heartbeat.

Outstanding Drama Series

• Grey's Anatomy
• House
• The Sopranos
• 24
• The West Wing
• My Notes: I have a few favorites that I feel were overlooked in this category. First and foremost is Battlestar Galactica, although I doubt a science fiction series will ever be nominated, no matter how great it is. Also overlooked are Rescue Me and Lost. Granted, Lost wasn't as good this season, it was still compelling television with a great ensemble cast. As for those nominated. I think it is a toss up between 24 and House, after consideration, I would have to go with 24. Although, I wouldn't write off Grey's Anatomy or The West Wing for its final season.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Steve Carell for The Office
• Larry David for Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Kevin James for The King of Queens
• Tony Shalhoub for Monk
• Charlie Sheen for Two and a Half Men
• My Notes: This is a pretty easy decision, based on these nominees, the winner will and should be Steve Carell, though I would not mind seeing Tony Shalhoub win. There were oversights in this category as well. I would like to have seen Zach Braff and Jason Bateman in place of Kevin James and Charlie Sheen, and what about Jason Lee?

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Peter Krause for Six Feet Under
• Denis Leary for Rescue Me
• Christopher Meloni for Law & Order: SVU
• Martin Sheen for The West Wing
• Kiefer Sutherland for 24
• My Notes: Another toss up for me, betweem Kiefer Sutherland and Denis Leary. I think Kiefer will win, but my heart goes with Denis Leary. I don't really care for Meloni's nomination, not that he is bad, but I don't like how they pimp out these overly dramatic series focusing on the two leads on the series, the show doesn't strike me as a format that lends itself to this award, despite it being my favorite L&O series. Those overlooked in this category would include Edward James Olmos and Hugh Laurie.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Stockard Channing for Out of Practice
• Jane Kaczmarek for Malcolm in the Middle
• Lisa Kudrow for The Comeback
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus for The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Debra Messing for Will & Grace
• My Notes: Sadly, nothing stands out here, as I don't watch four of the nominated series, and the fifth I don't feel deserved a nomination this year, while having been snubbed for the win in years past. I guess I will go with her to win, that being Jane Kaczmarek.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Frances Conroy for Six Feet Under
• Geena Davis for Commander in Chief
• Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: SVU
• Allison Janney for The West Wing
• Kyra Sedgewick for The Closer
• My Notes: This is an easy choice for who I want to win, Kyra Sedgewick. Who will win is a bit tougher, as I don't think it will be Kyra. I am going to say Mariska Hargitay will win, although the same caveats apply here as mentioned for Christopher Meloni. I wouldn'tbe surprised to hear Geena Davis' name either.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Will Arnett for Arrested Development
• Bryan Cranston for Malcolm in the Middle
• Jon Cryer for Two and a Half Men
• Sean Hayes for Will & Grace
• Jeremy Piven for Entourage
• My Notes: I want Will Arnett to win, without a doubt, but I also doubt that he will win. I would also like to see Bryan Cranston win, as he was the funniest and most consistent member of the Malcolm cast. Something tells me this will be won by Sean Hayes. Again I ask, what is it with these Two and a Half Men nominations? Maybe I just don't get it, but the show doesn't strike me as being all that special. Overlooked in this category are John C. McGinley, Eddie Steeples, Tony Hale, and John Krasinki.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Alan Alda for The West Wing
• Michael Imperioli for The Sopranos
• Gregory Itzin for 24
• Oliver Platt for Huff
• William Shatner for Boston Legal
• My Notes: I would love to see Gregory Itzin take this category, his performance as the sleazy president on 24 was great. However, I have a feeling that it is going to go to William Shatner, again. Overlooked actors include Jorge Garcia, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Omar Epps.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Cheryl Hines for Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Megan Mullally for Will & Grace
• Elizabeth Perkins for Weeds
• Jaime Pressly for My Name is Earl
• Alfre Woodard for Desperate Housewives
• My Notes: Desperate Housewives is not a comedy, and that is all I need to say on that. I would like to see Jaime Pressly win, her trashy role is hilarious. However, I think it is much more likely at Megan Mullally will win, even if I don't want her to. Nominees I would have liked to see here include Sarah Chalke, Jenna Fischer, and Jessica Walter.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Candice Bergen for Boston Legal
• Blythe Danner for Huff
• Sandra Oh for Grey's Anatomy
• Jean Smart for 24
• Chandra Wilson for Grey's Anatomy
• My Notes: Could the Grey's nominations cancel each other out? Probably not, as I think that Sandra Oh will win this one, despite my wanting Jean Smart to take it for her role on 24. Never cared for Boston Legal, and I don't watch Huff, so I could be way off base here. Among the overlooked are Evangeline Lilly, Callie Thorne, and Katee Sackhoff.

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien
• Late Show with David Letterman
• Real Time with Bill Maher
• My Notes: As I don't watch any of these with any great regularity, I am not sure who will win, although I know who I want to win. I want The Colbert Report to win, without a doubt. Stephen Colbert is very funny, and the show is just flat out consistently entertaining.

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing with the Stars
• Project Runway
• Survivor
• My Notes: Frankly, I do not care who wins this, as I do not like reality television, so you'll excuse me if I don't pick one here.

That concludes my overview of the major (in my mind) categories for tonights broadcast. It is interesting to note how some of last years big winners were not included this time around. There were few to no nominations for Desperate Housewives and Lost. Neither one of them had terribly great sophomore seasons, although I still found Lost to me more compelling than not. It will be interesting to see how things turn out, and if any of the shows with wins, or no nominations alike, change their approaches at all this season. Will the lack fo attention to last years big two spur them on to strive harder for greatness this year? We will see when the new seasons kick off this fall.

Be sure to tune in tonight to NBC at 8 PM EST for the telecast of the awards show, but before that, be sure to take a click over to the Emmy site to see a complete list of categories and nominees for tonight.