2013 EMMYS: Final Predictions, Hopes and Analysis

The 2013 Emmy awards will be given out today on live television (on CBS), providing recognition of the best achievements in television for the last year (since September 2012). The full list of Emmy nominations is here. Last year I analyzed the 2012 Emmy nominations and in the top 10 categories only 4 of the winners were what I had hoped. Last year one of my favorite shows, Homeland was a big winner and this year my favorite show Game of Thrones has a record 17 nominations.

Unlike my annual Oscar predictions, for the Emmys I usually just say which ones I wanted to win, not which ones I thought would win. However, this year I have decided to put in bold who I want to win and in italics who I think will win. We will know how well I did by 8pm PDT tonight! Openly gay Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Emmy awards for the second time.

The interesting things to look for are whether comedy powerhouse Modern Family can continue its unbeaten string of winning this category or will voters finally acknowledge  the most watched comedy on television, The Big Bang Theory. Hip shows like Louie, Girls and Veep also have a (small) chance of upsetting the 3-time champ in this category.

The other thing to look for is whether a show that is not even broadcast on television, the Netflix show House of Cards starring 2-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and an eye-popping $100 million production budget will be acknowledged, or will Homeland repeat its stunning success from last year, stopping the run of Mad Men. That show has prevented Breaking Bad from winning a Best Drama Series Emmy and since it is currently at its zenith in attention with its final episode set to air next week, will voters reward it, or wait until next year? I'm hoping that my favorite, HBO's Game of Thrones is recognized for its excellence this season.

Here are the nominations in the Top 10 categories for Drama and Comedy. Bold picks are ones I hope win and Italic picks are the ones I think will win. Bold italics is when they coincide :)

Outstanding Comedy Series:

"30 Rock" (NBC)

"The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)

"Girls" (HBO)

"Louie" (FX)

"Modern Family" (ABC)

"Veep" (HBO) 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"

Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"

Louis C.K., "Louie"

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

Laura Dern, "Enlightened"

Lena Dunham, "Girls"

Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"

Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:

Adam Driver, "Girls"

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"

Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"

Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"

Tony Hale, "Veep"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:

Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"

Jane Lynch, "Glee"

Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"

Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"

Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"

Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"

Outstanding Drama Series:

"Breaking Bad" (AMC)

"Downton Abbey" (PBS)

"Game of Thrones" (HBO)

"Homeland" (Showtime)

"House of Cards" (Netflix)

"Mad Men" (AMC)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"

Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"

Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"

Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"

Claire Danes, "Homeland"

Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"

Connie Britton, "Nashville"

Kerry Washington, "Scandal"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:

Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"

Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad"

Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"

Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"

Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:

Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"

Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones"

Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"

Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"

Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"