My unqualified, uninformed Emmy thoughts

I watch a lot of TV, but I don’t watch all TV, so I haven’t seen every performance or piece of work that has been nominated this year. But I have opinions. Oh yes.

I will only address the big categories in scripted.

Referring from EW and their list…

Best drama series: Boardwalk Empire, Friday Night Lights, Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men

I like “Dexter” but it didn’t win for its fourth season, which was superior to its fifth. “Friday Night Lights” is supposed to be the most awesome show in TV and I work across the way from its offices, and the showrunner has never been a creep in the restroom (which is more than I can say about some movie directors), but it’s one of those series I haven’t seen and have been meaning to catch up on (first, says the missus, we have to finish “The L Word,” and start and finish the U.S. version of “Queer As Folk”). I hear people like “Game of Thrones” and “The Good Wife,” too. But I like “Mad Men” and it always wins, so that’s my pick.

Best comedy series: Modern Family, 30 Rock, Glee, The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation

“Big Bang” is not my thing and I vowed to finish the UK “Office” before I began the American one, so I still haven’t watched it, and you people saying, “That’s what she said” all the time aren’t helping me get to it quicker. I watch and love all the other shows nominated, and choosing a favorite among them is like trying to say which band I like the best (Hickey is so different from Magnolia Electric Company, yet they’re both “favorites”). But I have never been more excited each week for a sitcom than when a new “Parks & Rec” is on.

Drama actress: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU; Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights and Mireille Enos, The Killing

They’re just going to hand it to Kathy Bates, right? She’s been nominated enough times that she’s probably due.

Comedy actor: Steve Carell, The Office; Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory;  Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, Louis C.K., Louie; Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory

They always hand this to Parsons, right? But really, who I am rooting for is Louis. They should make a special award just for him considering he acts, writes, directs, and the edits the whole show.

Drama actor: Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Hugh Laurie, House; Timothy Olyphant, Justified

This is the first year in a while Bryan Cranston wasn’t eligible to win yet again for “Breaking Bad” (but he deserves it every time), so the category is opened up. I am the umpteenth person to make this observation and far from the last. You’re welcome. 

I hear good things about Chandler. I am familiar with the rest of the performances and admire them all. It’s hard to pick one. Buscemi is one of the best not only in TV, but film. However, I feel like this could be Hamm’s year. He’s never got the Emmy, though a Golden Globe and a SAG award, so he’s due.

Comedy actress: Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation; Laura Linney, The Big C; Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope; Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly

I like all these actresses, even though I don’t watch all their shows. My first instinct was that McCarthy is on a hot streak right now, but they always give Falco the award. If pressed to pick an alternate, I’d have to root for Poehler.

Supporting drama actor: Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age; John Slattery, Mad Men; Alan Cumming, The Good Wife; Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones; Josh Charles, The Good Wife; Walton Goggins, Justified

I like all these actors. I haven’t watched “Game of Thrones,” but I keep hearing how brilliant Dinklage is on it. Personally, I love Goggins, so I’ll be pulling for him. He’s as good on “Justified” as he was on “The Shield,” if not better.

Supporting comedy actor: Ty Burrell, Modern Family; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family; Ed O’Neill, Modern Family; Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family; Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men; Chris Colfer, Glee

Uh, I think the guy from “Modern Family” will win?

But Colfer had a strong storyline this year, so I could see him grabbing it.

Supporting comedy actress: Julie Bowen, Modern Family; Sofia Vergara, Modern Family; Jane Lynch, Glee; Betty White, Hot in Cleveland; Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live; Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock

All these actresses are great, but Lynch might end up being the Falco of this category.

Supporting drama actress: Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife; Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire; Christine Baranski, The Good Wife; Michelle Forbes, The Killing; Margo Martindale, Justified; Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Martindale, dammit, if this world is a good and decent place. Nothing against the other nominees, they’re great, too. But Mags Bennett is one of the best TV villains ever.