Emmy Predictions: Drama

It’s that time of year again! THE EMMYS! It’s the most important day in television and here at JuniorTV. Although many of the categories won’t go in my favor (as you’ll see below), I’m still rooting for many people and their respective shows. Besides, there has to be a shocking win somewhere this year, right? (Remember Kyra Sedgwick last year?) So today, a day before the ceremony(!), here are my predictions on who will win, and who should win for the major drama categories, including Best Drama and the Best Acting categories for in drama.:

Outstanding Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Dexter (Showtime)
Friday Night Lights (Direct TV)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Mad Men (AMC)

WHO WILL WIN: Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

This show has every single ingredient for Emmy glory: A period drama with a seemingly unending but thrilling storyline with characters that keep viewers hooked. AMC’s Mad Men is getting it’s Drama Emmy streak taken away and there’s nothing it can do about it.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Friday Night Lights (DirecTV)

My favorite drama ever ends it’s five season run and I’m so disappointed that it hasn’t won a single Primetime Emmy throughout it’s run, and that’s just criminal on the Academy’s part.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights (Direct TV)
Michael C. Hall, Dexter (Showtime)
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Hugh Laurie, House (FOX)
Timothy Olyphant, Justified (FX)

WHO WILL WIN: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire

This man is the heart of this show, and his performance already scored him a SAG Award for Best Actor in a Drama. I have almost no doubt in my mind that he will win, but I would be glad if he lost to a certain someone.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights

This is that certain someone. For five seasons, he lead a now legendary role as Coach Eric Taylor in one of the most critically-acclaimed shows of all-time. Its about time that he gets one, and it’s the Academy’s last chance to redeem themselves, but they wont.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Drama Series
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Walton Goggins, Justified
John Slattery, Mad Men
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age

WHO WILL WIN: Walton Goggins, Justified

I’m so glad that FX’s ‘Justified’ will finally get the recognition it deserves tonight, as Goggins’ performance was the best of the year for actors in the supporting role. See why I think so below.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Walton Goggins, Justified

His character is sinister but also has much emotion. He helps his enemy, but also wants to destroy him, and that makes him one of the most versatile characters on TV.

Outstanding Lead Actress in A Drama Series

Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

WHO WILL WIN: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Last year, many thought her award was robbed by Kyra Sedgwick, but this year, she is invincible.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights

Although not a leading lady like Margulies, Britton has had incredibly important storyline moments throughout Friday Night Lights’ five season run, and the award is long overdue.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Margo Martindale, Justified
Michelle Forbes, The Killing
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

WHO WILL WIN:Margo Martindale, Justified

Her performance as the wicked Mags Bennett is historic, portraying one of the most evil characters on television. Martindale has this one locked.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Margo Martindle, Justified

It’s nearly impossible for Emmy voters not unanimously vote in her favor to win. I hope she has her speech ready.

That’s all for now! Come back soon to see who I think will win on the Comedy side–see you then! And don’t forget: The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards airs this Sunday, September 18 on FOX, hosted by Jane Lynch!

ALSO: For live updates, go to my twitter page @JuniorTV. Follow me while you’re at it! 🙂

Most Wanted Special Edition: The Emmys!

10 shows either premiere or end this week on this super-packed Special Edition

Awards season is in full swing and I’ll be having full coverage of the ceremonies LIVE here on JuniorTV! With the Emmys nearing, that also means another thing: Fall TV! Make sure to look further down the list to see a few new shows (mostly from The CW) premiering this week! Because this is a Special Edition, I’ve decided to supersize this week’s list to ten! This is Emmy week here at JuniorTV and it begins with this week’s Most Wanted List! It’s all down below:

1. The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards

TV’s biggest night is finally here! Will ‘Modern Family’ take home the Best Comedy Emmy for the second year in-a-row? Will ‘Boardwalk Empire’ finally end Mad Men’s three-year streak for Best Drama? And who will win the hotly-contested Best Actor in a Drama category?

2. Big Brother – Season Finale

In what could be one of the show’s worst possible turnouts, Big Brother ends up with 1 Veteran (Rachel), and 2 Newbies (Porsche & Adam) in the final three. The next and final question is: Who will win it all? I’ll make predictions on Wednesday, but it’s not looking to bright for the newbies, even as they outnumber Rachel. I don’t think I’ll be fully satisfied with any winner, but I hope and pray that it’s not Adam! Tune in Wednesday to see who is crowned the winner of $500,000!

3. Ringer – Series Premiere

Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to television in The CW’s only hope for a hit show this season. Gellar plays a woman who plays her twin sister in a world completely opposite of her character. Confused? Yeah, so am I.

4. Survivor: South Pacific – Season Premiere

Last year marked ratings lows for CBS’ hit series. Could it rebound this year? We’ll see, as two former cast members return for another chance at a million dollars. I haven’t seen the show in the last few years, but I will begin to watch again, as I need some kind of quality-reality fix throughout the Fall.

5. Real Time with Bill Maher – Season Premiere

THANK GOD HE’S BACK! I need his hilarious insight on politics, especially these insanely boring Republican debates! This is a must-see show for anyone remotely interested in politics.

6. Up All Night – Series Premiere

The star-studded new comedy starring Will Arnett, Christina Applegate, and Maya Rudolph premieres on Wednesday, and with those three, I have to at least give it a chance!

7. The Vampire Diaries – Season Premiere

Will Stefan ever return to his good ways? Will Jeremy keep seeing his dead ex-girlfriends? What about Caroline and her twisted relationships with Matt and Tyler? We’ll get answers, as season 3 of The CW’s best show returns on Thursday!

8. Free Agents – Series Premiere

The other comedy on Wednesday nights for NBC, the Hank Azaria-starring ‘Free Agents’ is about two trying a new kind of relationship: co-workers with benefits. What could possibly go wrong?

9. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – Season Premiere

FX’s long-running comedy is back, and I haven’t seen one episode of it. Since I’ll be tuning in seven seasons late, I’m bound not to get the jokes, but I’m willing to figure them out. This show is a modern cult classic, and early reviews are nothing but raves. Season 7 of ‘Sunny’ premieres this Wednesday on FX.

10. Parenthood – Season Premiere

Season 3 is business as usual for the busy and large family that is the Bravermans. Will this be the show’s breakout year? We’ll see. Many cast members were this close to getting some Emmy nominations.

That’s a wrap! Come back next week where we will see more Fall shows premiere and more on the Most Wanted List!

Emmy Nominations: Who got Nominated and Who Didn’t?

Before I get to the analysis, I have to say—this is the best list of Emmy nominations I have ever seen! So many people and shows that deserved to be nominated were finally recognized by the Television Academy. They mostly got it right, giving nominations to Timothy Olyphant (Justified), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Mireille Enos, Michelle Forbes (The Killing), and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) in the Drama categories. They should also be commended for giving nominations to Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Louis C.K. (Louie), Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope), the guys and gals from Modern Family (Ed O’Neill, Eric Stonestreet, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen, and Sofia Vergara), Chris Colfer (Glee) and Laura Linney (The Big C) in the Comedy categories.

Even though they did a great job, they could always do better, and they definitely overlooked some performers. Katey Segal was snubbed like crazy, not getting any recognition for her performance in Sons of Anarchy. Speaking of SOA, the show didn’t get nominated either, and neither did any of the actors on the show. Over on the Comedy side, I think it was a big error to nominate Melissa McCarthy for her performance in Mike & Molly. Don’t get me wrong, she definitely deserves the nomination, but just not this year. I truly thought that this would finally be the year that Patricia Heaton would return to the Emmy ballots for her incredible performance as Frankie Heck on the ABC Comedy The Middle. Another snub was the exclusion of Sean Bean in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category. I’m also disappointed that Fox’s Fringe didn’t get nominated for one single thing. The CW barely gets recognized by the academy, but it did get nominated for one thing this year: Sound Editing on Nikita. Nice. Another snub is in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category, where both Joel McHale (Community) and Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation) were overlooked by the academy and instead placed Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory) and Matt LeBlanc (Episodes). The biggest disappointment that I had with the nominations were that none of the guys from Parks and Recreation weren’t nominated, especially Nick Offerman! He was truly robbed of the nom by Jon Cryer.

For now, those are the surprises and snubs that I know of. If there are any more (which chances are, there are,) I will of course update the post with more of my rants. So that’s it! Emmy nominations announced! We’re now 66 days away from the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards! Make sure you watch on September 18 at 8/7c on FOX.

EMMYS: Final Predictions! My Emmy Ballot for Tomorrow

We’re less than 24 hours until Emmy Nominations! Of course I’ll be analyzing who got nominated and who didn’t (effectively being snubbed), and just so you’ll see how I will react for the most part on the nominations, here are my predictions for the major Drama and Comedy categories, performers included! NOTE: This will not include nominations for non-scripted categories and miniseries or television movies.

DRAMA

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

MAD MEN
THE GOOD WIFE
JUSTIFIED
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
GAME OF THRONES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

JON HAMM, MAD MEN
SEAN BEAN, GAME OF THRONES
KYLE CHANDLER, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
TIMOTHY OLYPHANT, JUSTIFIED
STEVE BUSCEMI, BOARDWALK EMPIRE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

JOHN SLATTERY, MAD MEN
PETER DINKLAGE, GAME OF THRONES
MICHAEL PITT, BOARDWALK EMPIRE
WALTON GOGGINS, JUSTIFIED
JOHN NOBLE, FRINGE
ALAN CUMMING, THE GOOD WIFE

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

JULIANNA MARGULIES, THE GOOD WIFE
ELISABETH MOSS, MAD MEN
KYRA SEDGWICK, THE CLOSER
CONNIE BRITTON, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
KATEY SEGAL, SONS OF ANARCHY
KATHY BATES, HARRY’S LAW

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

CHRISTINA HENDRICKS, MAD MEN
ARCHIE PANJABI, THE GOOD WIFE
CHRISTINE BARANSKI, THE GOOD WIFE
MARGO MARTINDALE, JUSTIFIED
KELLY MACDONALD, BOARDWALK EMPIRE
DEBRA WINGER, IN TREATMENT

COMEDY

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

30 ROCK
THE OFFICE
GLEE
MODERN FAMILY
PARKS AND RECREATION
LOUIE

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

STEVE CARELL, THE OFFICE
ALEC BALDWIN, 30 ROCK
JIM PARSONS, THE BIG BANG THEORY
JOEL MCHALE, COMMUNITY
LOUIS C.K., LOUIE
ROB LOWE, PARKS AND RECREATION

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

ERIC STONESTREET, MODERN FAMILY
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON, MODERN FAMILY
ED O’NEILL, MODERN FAMILY
NICK OFFERMAN, PARKS AND RECREATION
CHRIS COLFER, GLEE
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

TINA FEY, 30 ROCK
EDIE FALCO, NURSE JACKIE
AMY POEHLER, PARKS AND RECREATION
PATRICIA HEATON, THE MIDDLE
MARTHA PLIMPTON, RAISING HOPE
LAURA LINNEY, THE BIG C

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

JULIE BOWEN, MODERN FAMILY
SOFIA VERGARA, MODERN FAMILY
JANE LYNCH, GLEE
BETTY WHITE, HOT IN CLEVELAND
JANE KRAKOWSKI, 30 ROCK
BUSY PHILLIPS, COUGAR TOWN

There you go! So many nominees, and I would’ve loved to include non-scripted categories, but this post would’ve been infinitively long! Just know that I’m pulling for The Daily Show and Real Time to get noms in the variety category! Make sure to wake up nice & early tomorrow for the 63rd Annual Emmy Award Nominations! Melissa McCarthy and Joshua Jackson will announce, along with John Shaffner at 8:30AM Eastern Time (5:30AM for you people on the West Coast!). I’ll have full coverage and live reactions on twitter (follow me @JuniorTV) and right here on the blog! I’ll be up super early before the nominations to have full coverage. See you then!

Emmys: Favorite Performers in Drama

NOTE: As of this post, we are just one week away from the Primetime Emmy Award nominations!

As I mentioned in my last Emmy post, the Drama category has greatly improved versus seasons past, but I don’t expect a gigantic change in the performing categories. First, lets begin with the actors. For Outstaning Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Bryan Cranston is out of consideration this year, so someone new will get the Emmy this year, and god willing, it will be Kyle Chandler (DirecTV/NBC’s Friday Night Lights), but I’m also hoping that Timothy Olyphant (FX’s Justified) gets one as well for his outstanding performance as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Others likely to get nominated are Jon Hamm (AMC’s Mad Men), Michael C. Hall (Showtime’s Dexter), and a new entry, Steve Buscemi (HBO’s Boardwalk Empire). Another newcomer to the category could be Peter Krause (NBC’s Parenthood,) who critics say had a monumental season on the show, and Sean Bean (HBO’s Game of Thrones) who pleased viewers and critics alike on the most anticipated new series of 2011. One more thing: Remember this name, William H. Macy (Showtime’s Shameless), you might hear it.

For Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, there are at least two slots open for newcomers, since the guys from ABC’s Lost (Michael Emerson and Terry O’Quinn) are obviously out of contention. Expect a big change with this category, as John Noble (Fox’s Fringe), and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) are very likely to get nominations. Martin Short (FX’s Damages) and Andre Braugher (TNT’s Men of a Certain Age) got nominations last year, but anything can happen, and newcomers could take over in this very vulnerable category, although this is rather unlikely. Other names that I’m just going to throw around are the guys from The Good Wife, Alan Cumming and Chris Noth, who had audiences reeling during the sophomore season of CBS’ older-skewing drama. Also, Walton Goggins (Justified) and Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire) could get a nomination as well.

Next: The actresses! For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, I barely expect a change, but if I had to choose one who won’t get a nom, it would be Mariska Hargitay (NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), which is becoming a more repetitive character on the show. Who could fill in her slot? I definitely hope it’s Regina King (TNT Southland) who’s performance of Detective Lydia Adams has gotten universal praise from critics and viewers alike. Some other possible candidates are Lauren Graham (NBC’s Parenthood) and Anna Torv (Fox’s Fringe). For this category, I’m going full force with support for Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights,) and no one else. Her performance on FNL is hands down the best in all of television. Also, don’t be surprised if Emmy voters flip-flop on the leading women of AMC’s Mad Men. January Jones was nominated last year, and Elisabeth Moss could possibly have her turn this year, as they both go head-to-head for the first time this year. Kyra Sedgwick surprisingly won last in when pretty much everyone (including me) thought it would be Julianna Margulies from The Good Wife, chances are she’ll win this year. Before the next category, here’s another name you might hear: Mireille Enos (AMC’s The Killing).

Last but not least, the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, which had a pleasantly shocking winner (The Good Wife’s Archie Panjabi,) but will that win hold up this year? Possibly. Competition is stiff and Panjabi’s costar Christina Baranski could steal her thunder. Margo Martindale’s incredible performance in FX’s Justified might just get her her first Emmy, and Kelly MacDonald could get a nomination; this time in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Although I don’t expect Sharon Gless from USA’s Burn Notice to get a nomination like she did last year, I do expect to see Rose Byrne get another nomination for Damages.

That was a lot of typing, but it was completely worth it! That’s a wrap of Emmy nomination analysis! Stay tuned next week as I’ll have full coverage of the 63rd Primetime Emmy nominations! I have tons of stuff in store for next week, so stick around!

Most Wanted List: The Beginning of the End for ‘Friday Night Lights’

This one’s a special one. The people of Dillon, Texas will get love once again, and it kills me to do this. Other things on the list this week include the final new show of the midseason, and for the first time, a book! And for your viewing, the list is below:

1. Friday Night Lights Final Season Premiere

Oh the horror, dread, sadness, unhappiness (I could go on all day) that I’ve had for this post, because honestly, I would like Friday Night Lights to run forever if possible. The only show that might do that is SNL and I’m not extremely excited about that. Season 5 starts with Julie’s promiscuous adventure in college and Tami’s new job at a new school and on top of all of that, coach Taylor has to keep an entire football team under his full control. Hold on tight, this is going to be a crazy, dramatic, and emotional ride. The Final Season Premiere airs on Friday at 8 P.M. on NBC.

2. Water For Elephants (Book)

Never have I been so excited and passionate about a book before, but like I mentioned on twitter, I couldn’t put it down. I’m almost done reading the book, and it’s endlessly intense. It always keeps you reading, with suspense that’s calibrated for your pleasure and the development of the characters throughout the story. I originally judged it as a dumb book about a guy who joins a circus. It’s so much more than that. It’s an emotional love story and you really feel for the characters. It’s so great, I can’t stop raving about it. It’s being made into a movie, and don’t be surprised to see it here soon.

3. The Relaunch/Return of Law & Order LA

After a big change in everything, from major cast members leaving, to the show’s format overall, what we’re going to watch tonight will probably be a series premiere of sorts, because it’s going to be a totally different show. Terrence Howard and Alfred Molina are now going to be in every episode, and a detective will die tonight, and that itself, is huge; the first time that’s happened in the Law & Order.

4. HBO’s Game of Thrones

This show has gotten so much buzz, it’s ridiculous. There’s been hype ever since the show was announced, and fans of the book are ecstatic about what the series will and could be. The title explains the show, it’s a battle for the throne of a kingdom, and everyone is fighting for it. Is it HBO’s most expensive series, no, but it is one of their biggest endeavors in recent time. You should watch, the premiere should be thrilling.

5. Rio

Fox’s latest CGI animated effort is already being hailed by critics and is reviving the international box office, earning over $50 million this weekend, and that’s not counting the U.S. From the makers of Ice Age, Rio is about a group of birds and their adventures and troubles in Brazil’s main city, which set a record this past weekend as the best opening weekend for an animated film ever for the country. I’m definitely going to give this one a try, and so should you.

That’s a wrap! Come right back here next week for a fresh but old (hint!) Most Wanted List!