CLARK: Standing outside Emmy's TV candy store

MODESTO -- Television will hand out its biggest accolades on Sunday during the annual Emmy Awards telecast.

The talent is high in the major categories, but most of the predictions are easy. You don't even have to watch a lot of the shows to pick out the front runners in this information age of all opinions all the time. I don't see shows on the premium networks, but I can gauge with utmost confidence that Showtime's "Homeland" almost certainly will score a win for Claire Danes in the best actress category.

The lack of premium channels in my household does leave me in the dark — like a lot of viewers, actually — as to just why Danes deserves that expectation. As a rabid TV fan, it leaves me feeling a bit like the proverbial kid standing outside the candy store, looking in the window at the array of unattainable treasures inside.

Of course, I could subscribe to HBO or Showtime. But which one? The home of Emmy drama darlings "Boardwalk Empire" and "Game of Thrones" (HBO)? Or the purveyor of the other Emmy drama darlings "Homeland" and "Dexter" (Showtime)?

Laugh along with the Emmy love for comedies "Girls" and "Veep" (HBO)? Or feel that love for "House of Lies" (Showtime)?

Well, you say, just subscribe to both? Uh, no. I'm cheap. Really cheap.

We actually used to get HBO in our house, but when "The Sopranos" signed off, so did we. And, yes, I can see going back to one or the other, but not both.

So I remain in indecisive limbo. And, standing outside at least two of TV's candy stores.

Sure, I could watch some of the shows online. But I haven't embraced the idea of sitting in front of my computer in my free time after sitting in front of my computer all day at work.

Color me TV old-school.

And, honestly, I'm not interested enough in most of the shows to push the effort — although I have no doubt that if I did, I'd be as hooked as the critics are on at least some of the premium stuff.

Of course, there are Emmy sure-things from channels for the masses, too. AMC's "Breaking Bad," for instance, is up in major categories including best drama and best actor (Bryan Cranston).

Cranston is one of those sure bets to win Sunday — and one I actually can agree with given that I watch his show. But best drama? Well, maybe for last season, which this year's Emmys are gauging. Not, however, for this just-concluded season — but that's a debate for next September.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to get over the snubbing that the Emmys handed Modesto this year. No "Justified" nomination for Beyer grad Timothy Olyphant (nominated last year for best actor); no win in the creative Emmy categories (handed out last week) for Davis High grad Robert Ulrich (reigning winner for his casting of "Glee" and whose company was nominated this year for "American Horror Story); or for Hilmar's Dot Marie Jones, nominated a second time for her guest acting work on "Glee."

OK, Emmy. Be that way.

But none of this will divert me from tuning in Sunday for the pomp, circumstance — and to witness the snark expected from host Jimmy Kimmel.

Reach Scene editor Pat Clark at pclark@modbee.com.