Image Credit: Glenn Watson/USA Network; John Paul Filo/CBS; AMC; Paul Drinkwater/NBCEmmy handicapping is normally a crapshoot, but I’m feeling pretty confident about my picks for best lead and supporting actress in a drama. I’m also (still) feeling a little peeved about the long list of drama queens that voters neglected to single out. Herewith is part 2 of my pre-Emmy analysis…
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Mariska Hargitay (Special Victims Unit)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
January Jones (Mad Men)
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
The Frontrunner: Julianna Margulies. Golden Globe? Check. SAG award? Check. Emmy? Barring a spectacular upset (see below), check.
The Dark Horse: Connie Britton. Nothing would make me happier than to see the long-snubbed Britton win. Plus, if anyone can defy long odds, it’s the wife of Coach Taylor.
Most Egregious Snub: Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad). My love for Mariska Hargitay knows no bounds. But that sixth slot belonged to Gunn.
Other Notable Omissions: Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy), Regina King (Southland), and Lauren Graham (Parenthood).
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Rose Byrne (Damages)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
The Frontrunner: Christina Hendricks. Her alternately tragic and triumphant work in “Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency” (the episode she wisely chose to submit) should earn the never-nominated Hendricks a fistful of gold.
The Dark Horse: Sharon Gless. The Cagney & Lacey vet has a long history with Emmy (ten nods, two wins). And her scenery-chomping performance as Jeffrey Donovan’s neurotic, chain-smoking mother certainly stands out when compared to the quiet, restrained work turned in by her competition.
Most Egregious Snub: Khandi Alexander (Treme). How glaring is Alexander’s omission? I have yet to watch a single episode of Treme and even I know she was robbed.
Other Notable Omissions: Lisa Edelstein (House), Mae Whitman (Parenthood), Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood), and Viva Bianca (Spartacus: Blood and Sand).
More Emmy Analysis:
Ausiello predicts best lead and supporting actor in a drama
Ken Tucker predicts best lead and supporting actor in a drama
Lynette Rice breaks down the episode submissions
Nothing would make me happier than watching Christina Hendricks take the Emmy!
Whoohoo – you said it! I’d be OK with Elizabeth Moss, too, but she wasn’t given much to do this season. She was robbed the last two seasons, unfortunately.
My thoughts exactly. Elisabeth Moss is great, but this was really Christina Hendricks’ year in the supporting cast of Mad Men.
Ditto.
Christina Hendricks deserves it of all of them by FAR! And ditto with Elizabeth Moss, but she hasn’t had as much to work with since the pregnancy story-line which absolutely shocked me.
I hope may the best wife win! Alicia ist the Good Wife. But Tami Taylor is the Greater Wife.
I dont see the big fuss over The Good Wife.
ditto. SO slooooooooooowwww.
It’s no True Blood
Michelle Forbes was robbed for True Blood. She devoured her scenes with such relish, i couldnt possibly understand why she was snubbed
Cause she wasn’t really a supporting actress or a leading actress. She was an actress brought in for an arc. Maybe she could have been nominated for guest actress but even that I think is a long shot.
Agrreed I don’t like it at all way too boring for me. Just slow, slow slow like Abby said.
That’s all right. THE GOOD WIFE is for grown-ups, and us grown-ups are quite happy with it.
Don’t speak for adults like we all share the same opinion. I’m a “grown up” and I can’t watch the show either.
love julianna and she totally deserves it, but i’d secretly be jumping for joy if connie won!
SO glad you believe Christina Hendricks should win. Her work last season was short of incredible. How much so? The scene in the finale where she walks through the doors to work for the new agency ….. made me jump of the couch, and all she did was walk through the doors. That’s how awesome her entire season was. A single walk through the door with a triumphant return elicited that kind of response.
I’m still catching up on the third season of Mad Men – but I just watched the episode where she straps on the accordian to entertain her guests…. OMG ….Hendricks almost made me cry with satisfaction
She was certainly the high point of a somewhat weak season.
it would be so great to see Christina Hendricks win, especially for that episode.
The Emmys have always loved Christine Baranski so I think they’ll go that route again.
I hope you are right. I would love to see Baranski win. She is fab.
Lisa Edelstein also should’ve been nominated after season 5 as well. Such a shame she’s being overlooked, especially considering Elizabeth Moss was barely even in the last season of Mad Men.
Um, what for?! For ruining the once best show ever with her crappy character?!
“Um,” the show is being ruined by the terrible rendering of House himself. The boombox scene in “House Divided” was painful; as if he’d ever do anything that lame in the early seasons. Likewise, the dictator’s murder was ridiculous, House’s time in the mental ward was one giant laughable cliche, and his hallucinations which lead there were exercises in inanity. Once the writers began churning out absurd drivel the show became crappy on it’s own. As if anyone even cares about the POTW anymore; Lisa’s “crappy character” has nothing to do with that.
I never knew that one of the criterias for being nominated for an emmy was constantly relying on tit’s and ass shots like LE has year after year. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
lmao @ chiller but so true LE hasn’t had good enough work for her to be nominated
Your snub list has no mention of Sandra Oh, Michelle Forbes, or Calista Flockhart (ridiculous that Flockhart was submitted as supporting though).
Kyra Sedgwick, Sharon Gless
I wish they would recognize Kyra Sedgwick! She is so fun to watch on “The Closer”. Don’t know why they always go with the same gals and guys allllllll the time. There are so many more deserving actors and actresses and not saying that some of those nominated weren’t good in said programs, but give some of the other deserving, never-before-nominated or never-won-an-emmy-before folks a chance!
I agree that they should finally recognize Kyra Sedgwick! The Good Wife is pretty good, but her character does not come close to the great character development of Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson. I’m sad that Holly Hunter wasn’t nominated for her last season of “Saving Grace” as she was also deserving of a nomination. I wish Ana Gunn would have been submitted in the supporting category as her portrayal of Skyler of “Breaking Bad” was incredible this season.
If there’s any kind of snub at all for Supporting Drama Actress, it would be Sandra Oh. Hands down. Pfft, she should have won the Emmys. But they’re so dead set on punishing Grey’s Anatomy.
They are punishing “GA”, for sure. Due to Kathy H. and the backlash from ‘fans’.
I’d add that Chandra Wilson was snubbed as well – especially for the finale.
I completely agree. Sandra Oh as Cristina is fantastic acting and every single year she delivers. How has she still not won an emmy? Not only are her dramatic scenes amazing and genuine but she also has comedic timing. Give this woman an emmy already.
I agree that Mae Whitman was a notable snub. She brings an incredible amount of heart to her role as troubled teen, Amber. I’m excited to see what she does for season 2.
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I favor Christina or Archie. Isn’t it amazing that Moss was nominated
as Best Actress last year, and gets “dumped-down” to supporting. No wonder she is now doing Excedrin commercials.
I noticed those too! I think they’re from years ago, though. They’re capitalizing on her fame now. (I think…)
I believe those Excedrin spots were made while she was still on The West Wing! While I love me some Christina Hendricks, the episode where Peggy gets high has me leaning more Elisabeth Moss’s way. Hope they don’t cancel each other out!
LOVE Archie Panjabi. I see her as the dark horse in this category. Her performance is subtle, mysterious and dryly humorous. She’s a strong contender. In fact, she’s part of the reason I tune in to the Good Wife at all. (the other part: incredible writing and mature, intelligent storylines)
Julianna totally desrves it, The Good Wife is fantastic! I hope she wins
I would also love to see Christine or Archie win, however Christina would be great as well!
LE for Emmy?! Best JOKE ever! LOL