I’m not going to lie: The fact that the Emmys are only five hours away fills me with a cocktail of pure elation and nameless dread. (My use of the word "cocktail" in no way implies that I’ll be hittin’ the sauce while I live blog E!’s red-carpet pre-show and ABC’s Emmys telecast with my colleagues Mandi Bierly, Chad Schlegel, and Couture Correspondent™ Meeta Agrawal. Though if Vanessa [L. Yeah] Williams doesn’t take home the prize for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, I can’t promise I won’t numb the pain with vodka.)
But I digress! This blog post is all about the folks we’re pulling for at the Emmys tonight (check out the list of Emmy nominees in the major categories here.) I’m leading the cheering section for L. Yeah (obvs), but would also be totally stoked to see Zeljko Ivanek (Damages) as Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy) as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, and Lost land its rightful place as Best Drama. I fear Ivanek’s heartbreakingly subtle turn as conflicted lawyer Ray Fiske will probably be overlooked in favor of one of the more bold-faced names in his division, but perhaps Wilson will grab a trophy for the way she uses righteous fury and humor to keep Grey’s watchable even during its most irritating episodes.
Speaking of rooting interests, my colleague Michael Ausiello (be sure to try to outwit him before 8 p.m. ET in EW’s new Emmy predictions game) worked the red carpet at EW’s pre-Emmy party last night, and got House’s Lisa Edelstein to make a case for why her co-star Hugh Laurie must win Best Actor in a Drama tonight (see video below). But Mad Men’s Jon Hamm, who’s up against Laurie, is betting on a different nominee altogether. Check out his surprising pick in the video embedded after the jump, then tell us your choices (and root-against nominees) for the night’s major divisions in the comments section below.
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My wishes for tonight:
Best Actor, Drama: Hugh Laurie. Just way overdue and so perfect. He embodies House.
Best Actor, Comedy: Alec Baldwin. Just perfect as Jack Donaghy. The therapy scene with Tracy was priceless.
Best Actress, Drama: Glenn Close. Too good as Patty.
Best Actress, Comedy: Tina Fey. Awesome. If she doesn’t win, blurg!
Best Drama: Lost or Mad Men – don’t care which, they’re both incredibly told stories with amazing characters.
Best Comedy: 30 Rock. Just too funny and clever not to win
Best Actor, Drama: Hugh Laurie, for the American accent alone. He’s just fantastic and embodies the role of cynical House so well. Plus his speech would be really funny.
Best Actor, Comedy: Steve Carell, even though I think Alec Baldwin is great. I just think it’s time for him to get recognition, he plays the awkwardness and sadness of Michael amazingly well.
Best Actress, Drama: Kyra Sedgwick or Glenn Close, those women are powerhouses.
Best Actress, Comedy: Tina Fey, because she’s amazing in everything she does. Comedic genius.
Best Drama: Mad Men, a wonderful show that captures the 1960s so well and has great actors.
Best Comedy: The Office. I LOVE 30 Rock but let’s see some Office love.
Is it just me or J. Hamm sounds a bit “stoned”?. I beg your pardon but English is not my native tongue and he sounds strange to me.
I really hope H. Laurie wins. What does the man have to do to win an Emmy? It is long overdue.
Drama Series: I’ll be happy with either Dexter or House winning. In general, I’m hoping Mad Men will NOT sweep tonight. It may be the most overrated series that has ever been on tv. James Wolcott nailed it when he called Mad Men “a simulation exercise”.
Best Actor, Drama: Gabriel Byrne, Hugh Laurie, or Michael C. Hall. An upset by Bryan Cranston wouldn’t upset me, either. Just as long as Spader doesn’t win..
Supporting Actress, Drama: Dianne Wiest.
Best Actress and Supporting Actress, comedy: Christina Applegate and Jean Smart for Samantha Who?
Best Actor, comedy: Alec Baldwin, though I’m expecting Steve Carell to prevail (which I wouldn’t mind too much).
Directing, Drama: Vince Gilligan for Breaking Bad. Gilligan did such fabulous work on X-Files, I would like to see him get his due.
Writing, Drama: David Simon and Ed Burns? for The Wire. This is the Emmy’s last chance to honor The Wire, plus it would take a writing Emmy away from undeserving Mad Men.
Comedy Series- 30 Rock
Comedy Actor- Alec Baldwin
Comedy Actress- Tina Fey
Comedy Supporting Actor- Neil Patrick Harris
Comedy Supporting Actress- Amy Poehler
Drama Series- LOST
Drama Actor- Michael C. Hall
Drama Actress- Glenn Close
Drama Supporting Actor- Michael Emerson
Drama Supporting Actress- Chandra Wilson
i dont care about the rest as long as America Ferrera and Vanessa Williams win emmys for ugly betty!
Comedy: The Office (curb has seen better days, i just don’t get 30 rock, entourage is entertaining but not emmy worthy at all, and two and half men is just a bunch of dirty jokes loosely tied together)
Actor in a Comedy: No Shalhoub (sick of monk), and no Sheen (why should he be rewarded for playing himself)
Supporting Actor in Comedy: NPH
Best Drama: Anything but Boston Legal will suffice, i’m torn lost and damages though
Actor in Drama: Hugh Laurie, just love him as House–also, read his book “The Gun Seller”…fantastic
Supporting Actor: How can i choose between the Damages actors?
All I want is for Jon Hamm to win and then I will be happy.
Vanessa Williams for ugly betty!
NPH, Michael Emerson, Steve Carell. And most importantly, give Stephen Colbert an Emmy already!
Maybe it’s not a “major” category, but I am really rooting for Stephen Dillane for Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie. As Thomas Jefferson in John Adams, he stole every scene he was in, and with an understated performance.
All I want is for Lost to win Best Drama and Michael Emerson to win Best Supporting Actor! GO LOST!!!
Hugh Laurie.
The man’s brilliant every week. He must win. And he will give a wonderful speech.
Greg Yaitanes for directing House’s Head. An exceptional, difficult brilliant episode. Go, Greg!
Best Drama: I love Mad Men, but LOST accomplished so much more this year than any other show on tv. period. LOST for BEST DRAMA
and Michael Emerson for Support.
Michael C. Hall for Lead Actor
and The Wire for Writing…
=]
Ivanek is the ONE for me this year. If he won but all my other faves lost, I’d still walk away happy. Also, I just can’t decide between Lost and Mad Men. So conflicted!
Like bex, when I saw this headline all I really thought of was Stephen Dillane. I really want him to win, aong with Micheal Emerson. Everything else I can take or leave.
I do feel like Mad Men is going to sweep everything, which is why I am sad VK wasn’t nominated because he’s the castmember that impresses me most on that show.
LEE PACE for Pushing Daisies. It’s a longshot, but i would love it if he won.
I’m rooting for all things Lost and 30 Rock.
If it doesn’t relate to The Wire, I don’t really care.
Anybody from Mad Men or Damages!!!! I’m looking forward to basic cable kicking some ass!
Sandra Oh. The most in depth character.
And she as an actress is great.
‘Recount’, ‘Mad Men’, Neil Patrick Harris
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