Best Drama
“Homeland” should and will win.
“Game of Thrones” could win, but I think voters will discount it because they don’t think that dressing up in robes and giant beards for fantasy death and destruction is as important as dressing up in robes and giant beards for Middle Eastern death and destruction.
Don’t believe me? Then why did “Homeland” win Emmys last week for things like Best Hairstyling and Costumes.
Other nominees: “Boardwalk Empire”; “Breaking Bad”; “Downton Abbey”; “Mad Men”
Best Comedy
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” should win for the “Palestinian Chicken” episode alone, but “Girls” will win.
“Curb” doesn’t reach the ad-desirable 18-to-34-year-old demographic so adored by TV networks. They figure the audience is old Jewish guys and everyone else who was alive during the Carter Administration.
And they wouldn’t dare give it to “Modern Family” again. (Would they?)
Other nominees: “The Big Bang Theory”; “30 Rock”; “Veep”
Best Actress in a Drama
Claire Danes should win as crazy Carrie Mathison in “Homeland” and probably will win — unless the voters believe, in order to look smart, they have to go British. In which case, Michelle Dockery will win as Lady Mary in “Downton Abbey.”
Other nominees: Glenn Close (“Damages”); Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”); Kathy Bates (“Harry’s Law”); Elisabeth Moss (“Mad Men”)
Best Actor in a Drama
Damian Lewis should win for playing Marine-turncoat Nicholas Brody in “Homeland.”
But my guess is Jon Hamm may win as the suavely depressed Don Draper for the now-tired “Mad Men.”
Why? Because Hamm’s been nominated five times and never been kissed by Emmy, even though Draper has kissed everyone else.
Other nominees: Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire”); Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”); Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”); Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey”)
Best Actress in a Comedy
So many girls, so few slots. (Clean up your brain — I said slots!)
Anyway, Zooey Deschanel should win for “New Girl,” but Lena Dunham will win for “Girls,” because it’s the hipster thing to do, and because Hollywood loves nothing more than an actress who looks dumpy.
That said, they could again bless Melissa McCarthy on “Mike & Molly” (she won last year) because — for one thing — she’s not ashamed of being fat, and anorexic stars think that fat is daring as opposed to the American norm.
Other nominees: Edie Falco ( “Nurse Jackie”): Amy Poehler ( “Parks and Recreation”); Tina Fey (“30 Rock”); Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”)
Best Actor in a Comedy
Louis C.K. should win for “Louie,” but I’m picking Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan on “House of Lies” as the “will win” guy.
For one thing, he’s an actor’s actor and I mean, seriously? The man from “Hotel Rwanda” is making us guffaw? Yes.
Other nominees: Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”); Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”); Alec Baldwin ( “30 Rock”); Jon Cryer ( “Two and a Half Men”)