Sunday, Sep. 21, 2008

Wealth of talent makes Emmy picks tough

Let's play a little game called pick the winners.

With the Emmy Awards ready to be handed out tonight and a sizzling slate of worthy nominees, the game might be a little tough this year. But, hey, who doesn't love a challenge?

Category: Drama series

Nominees: "Boston Legal"; "Damages"; "Dexter"; "House"; "Lost"; "Mad Men"

Rundown: Wow, that's a lot of worthy choices -- six instead of the usual five, in fact. Sure, I'd toss out "Boston Legal" right off the bat. I'd also argue that the battle at the top is between "Damages" and "Mad Men" with a rejuvenated "Lost" coming in third. But Emmy voters love an edge, and "Dexter," about a serial-killing police blood-spatter expert, definitely has a sharp one.

Who will win: "Mad Men." Emmy voters love to jump on a bandwagon and the "Mad Men" wheels have been spinning dervish-style since it started capturing media attention.

Who should win: My heart beats for "Mad Men," too, but "Damages" -- with its delicious twists and amazing acting turns -- really is better, if by only a nose.

Category: Comedy series

Nominees: "30 Rock"; "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; "Entourage"; "The Office"; "Two and a Half Men"

Rundown: Again, this is a category filled with great fare -- unless, of course, you're looking at that last nod, clearly tossed in as No. 5 so the category wasn't limited to four nominees. If you nix "Curb" because misanthropy is a tough vote, and if you nix "Entourage" because that show never wins the big one, then you really just have two to debate.

Who should win: Oh, come on. There is no debate. "The Office" is good, but it's no "30 Rock."

Who will win: Duh. "30 Rock."

Category: Comedy actor

Nominees: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"; Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies"; Steve Carell, "The Office"; Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men"

Rundown: Shalhoub has won this a few too many times, and you can't discount Emmy voters' big hearts for a neurotic role. Pace is too new and Sheen is, well, Sheen. Carell is loved, but Baldwin? He's top-notch as the quirky NBC boss.

Who will win: Baldwin

Who should win: Baldwin

Category: Comedy actress

Nominees: Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"; Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"; America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"; Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"

Rundown: Applegate is cute, Louis-Dreyfuss is a sentimental favorite, Ferrera is a modern favorite and Parker has the edge factor. That's all nice, but Fey is the funniest, hands-down, and the heart, soul and wit behind this show. But a "30 Rock" sweep? Mmmmmm.

Who will win: No sweep. Ferrera wins.

Who should win: Fey

Category: Drama actor

Nominees: James Spader, "Boston Legal"; Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"; Hugh Laurie, "House"; Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment"; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Rundown: This category is wide open and could go in any one of several directions. For some reason, Emmy voters can't get enough of Spader. Me, I've had plenty. Cranston and Hall share the edge factor and Laurie is an industry favorite. Byrne and Hamm have the buzz.

Who will win: I have a sick feeling it will be Spader, but I'll give the Emmy folks the benefit of the doubt. Hamm is the safe bet, but I'll predict Hall. He'll be Emmy's edge win this year.

Who should win: Oh, I'd love to say Hamm, based solely on my love for his show, but it should go to Cranston. His turn as a meth-making, chemistry-teaching cancer patient has pathos and bite.

Category: Drama actress

Nominees: Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"; Glenn Close, "Damages"; Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order"; Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace"; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

Rundown: Hargitay shares that confoundingly odd Emmy love with Shalhoub and Spader. Enough already. Field has the sentiment vote. But crazy-good acting chops from Close, Hunter and Sedgwick make this a three-way competition -- and a crazy-tough one, at that.

Who will win: My money's on Sedgwick. Her character is the easiest to like and Emmy can't pick too many unlikable characters to honor -- even if the actors playing them are rather nice folks. Close and Hunter play women seriously flawed in some unappealing ways.

Who should win: Close. Again, my heart belongs to another -- Hunter -- but Close is amazing as a morally questionable, wickedly clever, possibly criminal corporate attorney.

Bee entertainment editor Pat Clark can be reached at pclark@modbee.com or 578-2312.