Tonight's 65th Annual Emmy Awards is probably the most special for me because just this year I've thoroughly invested myself in some of the heavily nominated series. Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Scandal, The Newsroom, and House of Lies are all nominated shows of which I took the time to bring myself up to speed in the last nine months. Last year it was Homeland.
I'll be casting my votes for Drama and a few Writing categories with some added commentary on likely favorites.
American Horror Story: Asylum (FX) leads all categories with 17 nominations; Game of Thrones (HBO) leads all drama series with 16 total nominations. HBO pulled 108 nominations altogether, 27 more than last year, followed by CBS and NBC, tying for 53. Here are my votes (*) in these categories:
Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad*
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men
Homeland took the award last year, deservingly, but Vince Gilligan's series on AMC has had the most outstanding drama and chaos. I wouldn't mind seeing Game of Thrones on a potential steal, and I can't vouch for Mad Men or House of Cards, but given the context of Bad now down to it's final two episodes, I'd say this is an appropriate lock-in.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)*
Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Damian Lewis (Homeland)
Kevin Spacey (House of Cards)
Damian Lewis took it as Agent Brody last year. Give credit to Bryan Cranston for making Walter White/Heisenberg a household name and rejuvenating his career. I came close to picking Jeff Daniels because Will McAvoy could be my favorite character on television right now. I'm told Kevin Spacey is doing awesome work on House of Cards, but I'm rolling with Cranston.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Danes (Homeland)
Vera Farmiga (Bates Hotel)
Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey)
Robin Wright (House of Cards)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Connie Britton (Nashville)
Kerry Washington (Scandal)*
Even though Claire Danes is fit for her second straight Emmy in this category, I like Kerry Washington for the electric catalyst she is for ABC's Scandal. The show goes as she goes, and she has my humble vote for lifting it to prominence.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire)
Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)*
Jim Carter (Downton Abbey)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Mandy Patinkin (Homeland)
Going for his second consecutive and third overall victory in this category, a unanimous vote should go to Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman. His suffering role on Breaking Bad is gripping and genuine. You like that Jonathan Banks was also nominated as Mike Ehrmantraut from Bad. Saul from Homeland had to be nominated (Mandy Patinkin) and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. Still, Aaron Paul should be the winner tonight.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)*
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Morena Baccarin (Homeland)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Who is anyone to pick against Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen: Queen of the Andals and the First Men: Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea: Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.
Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Margo Martindale (The Americans)
Diana Rigg (Game of Thrones)
Carrie Preston (The Good Wife) WINNER
Linda Cardellini (Mad Men)
Jane Fonda (The Newsroom)
Joan Cusack (Shameless)
-- The winner of this category was announced. Carrie Preston has points from me for True Blood (can we get that nominated?). I would have loved to see Jane Fonda win as Leona Lansing in The Newsroom. Joan Cusack (Shameless) was a nice sighting.
Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Nathan Lane (The Good Wife)
Michael J. Fox (The Good Wife)
Rupert Friend (Homeland)
Robert Morse (Mad Men)
Harry Hamlin (Mad Men)
Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal) WINNER
-- The winner of this category was also announced. Bucatinsky would have been my underdog pick against the likes of Michael J. Fox, but a big and deserving victory for him and Scandal.
Writing for a Drama Series
George Mastras - Breaking Bad ("Dead Freight")
Thomas Schnauz - Breaking Bad ("Say My Name")
Julian Fellowes - Downton Abbey ("Episode Four")
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss - Game of Thrones ("The Rains of Castamere")*
Henry Bromell - Homeland ("Q&A)
"The Lannisters send their regards." Biggest line of the year.
I'll also be rooting for Don Cheadle (House of Lies) in the lead acting for a comedy series and Julie Bowen (Modern Family) for supporting actress in a comedy series. The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards air tonight at 8PM EST on CBS from Los Angeles.
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