My Emmy Picks and Predictions 2009

I've been asked to post my thoughts on who will take home this year's Emmy statues, so below is my list of nominees, my picks, and my opionins. I'm a little late to the game, but here are my predictions (or at least who I hope will win) for the categories we all care about.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
*The Big Bang Theory • Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
Flight Of The Conchords • Jemaine Clement as Jemaine
Monk • Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
The Office • Steve Carell as Michael Scott
30 Rock • Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
Two And A Half Men • Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper

Alec Baldwin and Tony Shaloub won this award the past two years, and I don't see them as repeat winners. Charlie Sheen and Steve Carrell have both been snubbed in this category before, but this year they are outshined by newcomers Jemaine Clement and Jim Parsons. I give this one to Jim, who is a total genius on Big Bang Theory. He completely immerses himself in Sheldon Cooper, Ph.D, who has to be the most over-the-top yet realistic character I've seen on television.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • Bryan Cranston as Walter White
*Dexter • Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
House • Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House
In Treatment • Gabriel Byrne as Paul
Mad Men • Jon Hamm as Don Draper
The Mentalist • Simon Baker as Patrick Jane

Bryan Cranston and Jon Hamm are repeat nominees and winners, leaving Gabriel Byrne, Hugh Laurie and Michael C. Hall. I've never seen In Treatment but I love Gabriel Byrne. However, my hope is that this year's winner is Michael C. Hall for his role on Dexter. The last season of Dexter didn't have the action and high drama of seasons past, but I think Michael C. Hall brought Dexter to life this season with breakthrough emotion and a poignant internal struggle as he peeled away layer upon layer of such a unique character.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
The New Adventures Of Old Christine • Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine
Samantha Who? • Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly
The Sarah Silverman Program • Sarah Silverman as Sarah Silverman
30 Rock • Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
*United States Of Tara • Toni Collette as Tara Gregson
Weeds • Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

For me, this is between Tina Fey who consistently shines despite previous wins, Toni Collette, who is just a marvellous actress, and Mary-Louise Parker, who's yet to be recognized. I'm giving this one to Toni Collette.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters • Sally Field as Nora Walker
*The Closer • Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson
Damages • Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
Mad Men • Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson
Saving Grace • Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko

Call me crazy, but I think Kyra Sedgwick will finally get her due this year. Glenn Close is undeniably chilling as Patty Hewes, but she won last year for the role. Next year, I would love to see Mary McCormack nominated for her role as Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Entourage • Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama
*How I Met Your Mother • Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
The Office • Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute
30 Rock • Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan
30 Rock • Jack McBrayer as Kenneth Parcell
Two And A Half Men • Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

For a category dominated by Jeremy Piven for the last half of the decade, Neil Patrick Harris should rise to the occasion now that Piven isn't even nominated.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal • William Shatner as Denny Crane
Boston Legal • Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson
Breaking Bad • Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman
Damages • William Hurt as Daniel Purcell
*Lost • Michael Emerson as Ben Linus
Mad Men • John Slattery as Roger Sterling

I hope beyond hope that Michael Emerson wins this year. He is a commanding presence on the screen, even with his deceivingly weak demeanor and huge, thoughtful eyes. He plays Ben with such composure and mystery that you don't know what he's all about, and that enigma could not be personified by anyone else. But he's been snubbed the past two years, so his chances may not be so good.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Pushing Daisies • Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook
Saturday Night Live • Amy Poehler as Various Characters
Saturday Night Live • Kristen Wiig as Various Characters
30 Rock • Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
Ugly Betty • Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater
*Weeds • Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes

I would love for Kristin Chenoweth to win this one, but since Pushing Daisies was cancelled her odds are dramatically lowered. I don't think SNL skits should actually count as acting, so on this one I have to go with either Jane Krakowski or Elizabeth Perkins. Since I've never seen either show this is a pure guess.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Damages • Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons
Grey's Anatomy • Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang
*Grey's Anatomy • Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey
In Treatment • Dianne Wiest as Gina
In Treatment • Hope Davis as Mia
24 • Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor

I'm really sad that Elizabeth Mitchell isn't nominated for Lost but I'm going with Dr. Bailey on this one. This is Chandra's fourth nomination, and she seriously deserves to win. She is given meaty material every year and always brings tears to my eyes. And you can guarantee her acceptance speech would be awesome.

Outstanding Comedy Series
Entourage • HBO
Family Guy • FOX
Flight Of The Conchords • HBO
How I Met Your Mother • CBS
The Office • NBC
*30 Rock • NBC
Weeds • Showtime

Let's make it a trifecta and call one more for 30 Rock. Family Guy is ridiculous and should not even be nominated. I've never seen FOTC but I haven't heard enough about it to call it a true contender. How I Met Your Mother is great for us common folk, but doesn't get any love from the critics. Unless The Office can come back from its 2-year snub I think 30 Rock is a shoe-in.

Outstanding Drama Series
Big Love • HBO
*Breaking Bad • AMC
Damages • FX Networks
Dexter • Showtime
House • FOX
Lost • ABC
Mad Men • AMC

I love Damages and Dexter, but neither of them has a chance if they couldn't win last year. House and Big Love are on the list just for recognition's sake, but I don't think they have a real chance at winning. I would love Lost to win, but I think the Academy is saving that for next year, its final season. This year is looking like a toss up between Breaking Bad and Mad Men. I'll go out on a limb and give this one to Breaking Bad purely based on all the chatter.