Emmy Winner Predictions 2011 By The Emmys [30 more lists]

This Emmy Predictions List covers my best guess as to who will walk away with the night's biggest awards. See

2011 Emmy Award nominees were announced on July 14th, 2011. HBO led the back with over 100 combined nominations. The most nominated shows included AMC's "Mad Men," HBO's "Game of Thrones" and "Boardwalk Empire" and NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock." An interesting theme of this year's comedy nominations: both Louis CK and Matt LeBlanc are up (for "Louie" and "Episodes," respectively) for playing versions of themselves. The nominees were announced by Joshua Jackson ("Fringe") and Melissa McCarthy (a nominee for "Mike and Molly.")

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards will air on September 18th on Fox. The host will be actress Jane Lynch of "Glee!" fame.

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Rank Name

1

Outstanding Drama Series

Nominees:

- ""Boardwalk Empire,"" HBO
- ""Dexter,"" Showtime
- ""Friday Night Lights,"" DirecTV
- ""Game of Thrones,"" HBO
- ""The Good Wife,"" CBS
- ""Mad Men,"" AMC

PREDICTED WINNER: ""Mad Men"

Feels like this year is going to belong to Matt Weiner's ""Mad Men."" With usual competition like ""Breaking Bad"" out of the way, there aren't a lot of other shows that can really stack up to ""Mad Men's"" combination of hype and praise. (Two strong, well-reviewed HBO shows are in the running, but are both in their debut seasons. They may need more time to marinate in viewer's minds before grabbing the top prize.)

Possible Dark Horses: HBO's ""Boardwalk Empire"" and ""Game of Thrones."" Debut seasons, but both hot and popular shows with talented ensembles and a lot of esteem.
2

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

- Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
- Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
- Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights"
- Timothy Olyphant, "Justified"
- Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

PREDICTED WINNER: Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Hamm has never won for his portrayal of iconic '60s ad man Don Draper. He's consistently nominated and then beaten out by AMC-mate Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad." But due to scheduling, Cranston's not nominated this year, opening the door for Hamm to take the prize for what is arguably "Mad Men's" finest season to date. This season showed Draper hitting rock bottom and then starting to piece his life back together, and demanded a tremendous amoutn of range and subtle emotion from Hamm. (Honestly, he should win for the episode titled "The Suitcase" alone.)

Possible Dark Horse: Steve Buscemi (for "Boardwalk Empire"). "Empire" had a big first year, was quickly renewed for another season and revolved largely around Buscemi's complex portrayal of crooked politician Nucky Thompson. If "Boardwalk" looks to sweep on Emmy Night, Buscemi could easily walk away with the top prize.
3

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

- Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights"
- Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
- Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"
- Mareille Enos, "The Killing"
- Mariska Hargitay, "Law and Order: SVU"
- Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"

PREDICTED WINNER: Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"

Perennial favorite Margulies has already won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for her work as Alicia Florrick in "The Good Wife," and she was nominated for the Emmy the previous year. (She lost to the currently un-nominated Kyra Sedgwick in "The Closer."

Possible Dark Horse: Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights." This was the final season for critically-lauded "Friday Night Lights." Britton was already nominated last year. She could get the votes from viewers sorry to see the show go off the air.
4

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

- Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
- Josh Charles, "The Good Wife"
- Alan Cumming, "The Good Wife"
- Walton Goggins, "Justified"
- John Slattery, "Mad Men"
- Andre Braugher, "Men of a Certain Age"

PREDICTED WINNER: John Slattery, "Mad Men"

Roger Sterling has always been one of the audience favorite characters in "Mad Men,' but this year, he really got to spread his wings and make the character more three-dimensional (and also far more pathetic.) In particular, an episode in which Sterling is the lone holdout against taking on the Japanese Honda account showed the darker, damaged man behind the icy witticisms.

Possible Dark Horse: Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones." Pretty much universally agreed to be the best character on the HBO fantasy hit "Game of Thrones," Dinklage's Tyrion Lannister gets the lion's share of great dialogue, and becomes at times the audience's way in to the crazily complex world created by George R R Martin.
5

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

- Kelly Macdonald, "Boardwalk Empire"
- Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"
- Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
- Margo Martindale, "Justified"
- Michelle Forbes, "The Killing"
- Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"

PREDICTED WINNER: Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"

Panjabi walked away with the Emmy last year for the role of Kalinda Sharma on CBS' "The Good Wife," and none of the field this year looks strong enough to unseat her.

Possible Dark Horse: However, TWO actresses are nominated for "Good Wife" in this category - Christina Baranski is the other - meaning that there is a possibility the two women will split the vote, allowing someone else to take the top prize. We're thinking it could possibly be glamorous redhead Christina Hendricks of "Mad Men" or Kelly Macdonald should "Boardwalk Empire" prove the night's big winner.
6

Outstanding Comedy Series

Nominees:

- ""The Big Bang Theory,"" CBS
- ""Glee,"" FOX
- ""Modern Family,"" ABC
- ""The Office,"" NBC
- ""Parks and Recreation,"" NBC
- ""30 Rock,"" NBC

PREDICTED WINNER: ""Modern Family"

Steve Levitan's sitcom juggernaut walked away with 17 total nominations for 2011 Emmys, the most of any comedy show. It also earned the Best Comedy Series Emmy last year, along with a SAG Award for Best Comedy Ensemble in 2011. The cast as well is absolutely dominating the Supporting Actor categories this year, indicating the continued popularity of the series, now in its second season. The professional award prognosticators have this one as the biggest lock of the night.

Possible Dark Horse: You never want to count ""Glee"" totally out, and the Academy is clearly on board - the ""Glee"" cast opened the Emmy broadcast last year, and star Jane Lynch (who won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy last year) is hosting this year's event.
7

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

- Jim Parsons, ""The Big Bang Theory"
- Johnny Galecki, ""The Big Bang Theory"
- Matt LeBlanc, ""Episodes"
- Louis C.K., ""Louie"
- Steve Carrell, ""The Office"
- Alec Baldwin, ""30 Rock"

PREDICTED WINNER: Steve Carrell, ""The Office"

Get this...Carrell has been nominated in this category 5 times and has NEVER one. Seeing as this is his final season on the show, and that his loss was already felt in the final few episodes of this season, it seems highly unlikely the Academy would overlook him this time around. Plus, as popular as ""Big Bang Theory"" is, it seems likely Parsons and Galecki will split the votes there, leaving it open for Carrell to take the prize. (Also, it doesn't hurt that Joel McHale from the beloved ""Community"" wasn't nominated.)

Possible Dark Horse: Alec Baldwin, ""30 Rock."" Baldwin has won twice previously for playing Jack Donaghy...but it's Jack Donaghy! And Emmy voters love them some ""30 Rock."" So you can't count him out completely.
8

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

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

PREDICTED WINNER: Laura Linney, "The Big C"

Showtime's surprise hit "The Big C" returned for its second season the same week that Linney found herself nominated for an Emmy for the role of Cathy. (This coming season, Cathy will finally be ready to tell the people in her life that she's suffering from cancer.) Linney's a critical darling, the show has a ton of hype behind it (not to mention supporting work from "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe) and Emmy voters may have tired of giving Tina Fey awards at this point.

Possible Dark Horse: Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation." Though shockingly, Poehler's co-star Nick Offerman was snubbed in the Supporting Actor category, this may be a chance for the Academy to redeem themselves. After a somewhat lackluster first season, "Parks and Rec" has become one of the hottest ensemble comedies on TV.
9

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

- Chris Colfer, "Glee"
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
- Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"
- Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"
- Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
- Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"

PREDICTED WINNER: Chris Colfer, "Glee"

Colfer's Kurt Hummel has become a true TV icon, and this past season of "Glee" revolved around his character in many ways. He won the 2011 Golden Globe for Supporting TV Actor for the role, and was previously nominated for an Emmy last year, but lost to "Modern Family's" Eric Stonestreet. (Also nominated this year.) We're betting this time he goes all the way.

Possible Dark Horse: Ty Burrell, "Modern Family." It seems likely that with 4 different "Modern Family" cast members all in the running, fans of the show will split up their votes allowing Chris Colfer to win. But if a "Modern Family" cast member does manage to pull it out, we're betting it will be Burrell as prickly doofus Phil.
10

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

- Jane Lynch, "Glee"
- Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"
- Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
- Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
- Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"
- Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"

PREDICTED WINNER: Jane Lynch, "Glee"

Veteran character actress Jane Lynch won in this category last year for the role of nefarious gym teacher Sue Sylvester, and with a nearly identical field to face down again this year, we see no real reason she won't continue to take home the award this year. The show's as hot as ever, the "Modern Family" ladies seem poised to cancel each other out. And though Wiig is hot following the release of the summer comedy "Bridesmaids," no "Saturday Night Live" cast member has EVER won in this category. (Amy Poehler has previously been nominated for "SNL" in 2008, and both Poehler and Wiig were nominated in 2009.)

Possible Dark Horse: Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland." White has been on a crazy hot streak of late, and she actually beat out Lynch in a different category (Guest Comedy Actress) last year. Whiet also won the 2011 SAG Award for Female Comedy Actor, for which Lynch was also nominated.
11

Outstanding Animated Program

Nominees:

- "The Cleveland Show," FOX (Episode: "Murray Christmas")
- "F*turama," Comedy Central (Episode: "The Late Philip J. Fry")
- "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III," Cartoon Network
- "The Simpsons," FOX (Episode: "Angry Dad - The Movie")
- "South Park," Comedy Central (Episode: "Crack Baby Athletic Association")

PREDICTED WINNER: "South Park," Comedy Central

"South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have indicated that this may, in fact, have been the final season of their venerable animated satire. Not to mention how hot they've been in award shows generally this year, having swept the Tonys with their musical "The Book of Mormon." This is the 10th Emmy nomination for "South Park" - the show previously won for the episodes "Margaritaville" (in 2009), "Make Love Not Warcraft" (in 2007) and "Best Friends Forever" (in 2005).

Possible Dark Horse: "F*turama." Everyone's still delighted "F*turama" is back, and it's perennially on animated fans list of the best shows currently on TV. The show's no stranger to winning this category, either. The episode "Roswell That Ends Well" took the top prize in 2002.
12

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

Nominees:

- "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central
- "Conan," TBS
- "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central
- "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," NBC
- "Real Time with Bill Maher," HBO
- "Saturday Night Live," NBC

PREDICTED WINNER: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Comedy Central

In 2010, "The Daily Show" won in this category for the eighth consecutive year. The last show to win before "The Daily Show" sweep begun was "The Late Show with David Letterman," all the way back in 2003. All the other nominees have remained the same in that time - save Conan's show jumping from NBC to TBS and the addition of Jimmy Fallon to the line-up - so it seems unlikely that anything else would come along and break the streak.

Possible Dark Horse: "The Colbert Report." It seems unfair to continually recognize Stewart and Co. and not their partner-in-crime Stephen Colbert's similarly satirical look at cable news. Maybe, what with appearing before Congress and all, this is finally Colbert's year?
13

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special

Nominees:

- "Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On," HBO
- "Carrie Fisher in Wishful Drinking," HBO
- "The Kennedy Center Honors," CBS
- "Lady GaGa Presents The Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden," HBO
- "The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway," HBO

PREDICTED WINNER: "The 2010 Kennedy Center Honors"

Just to screw with HBO!

Possible Dark Horse: "Lady GaGa Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden." Feels like GaGa might get the top prize just because Emmy voters want to see what she'll do.
14

Outstanding Miniseries/Made for Television Movie

Nominees:

- "Cinema Verite," HBO
- "Downton Abbey," PBS
- "The Kennedys," ReelzChannel
- "Mildred Pierce," HBO
- "The Pillars of the Earth," Starz
- "Too Big to Fail," HBO

PREDICTED WINNER: "Mildred Pierce," HBO

HBO has dominated this category throughout the last decade, making one of their original films or series the most likely winner. As well, Pierce was beloved by critics, features a big box-office name (Kate Winslet) and high profile director (Todd Haynes) and it performed well in the Made for TV movie acting categories.

Possible Dark Horse: "The Kennedys" also had a lot of acting nods and was a hugely ambitious project for the relatively new ReelzChannel. It could be tough to beat. As well, HBO's "Too Big to Fail" deals with a pressing contemporary issue (the financial crisis) and featured a slew of big names, many of whom are nominated in the acting categories.
15

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries/Made for Television Movie

Nominees:

- Edgar Ramirez, "Carlos"
- Greg Kinnear, "The Kennedys"
- Barry Pepper, "The Kennedys"
- Idris Elba, "Luther"
- Laurence Fishburne, "Thurgood"
- William Hurt, "Too Big To Fail"

PREDICTED WINNER: Edgar Ramirez, "Carlos"

"Carlos" is the hugely ambitious French-German miniseries (released in the US by IFC Films) followers the life of infamous international terrorist Carlos the Jackal. The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival as a 5.5 hour film, with Ramirez's bold multi-lingual performance earning the lions share of the praise. (The film has already won the 2010 Golden Globe for "Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV.")

Possible Dark Horse: Idris Elba, "Luther." Elba is a favorite of TV fans for his portrayal of the classic character Stringer Bell on "The Wire," so there's a lot of built-up good will for him. Not to mention the stellar reviews for British mystery series "Luther," which premiered this year to US audiences.
16

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries/Made for Television Movie

Nominees:

- Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite"
- Elizabeth McGovern, "Downton Abbey"
- Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"
- Taraji P. Henson, "Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story"
- Jean Marsh, "Upstairs Downstairs"

PREDICTED WINNER: Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"

Just as the series itself is favored to take the top spot, it seems Winslet is the likely winner of the top acting award for her work. She stepped in to a role made famous by the legendary Joan Crawford, a feat which may win her bonus points with Academy voters.

Possible Dark Horse: Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite." Though the HBO original film about what many consider to be the first "reality show" flew largely below the radar, Diane Lane is always a hit with critics and award voters, and the other most recognizable name in the field.
17

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries/Made for Television Movie

Nominees:

- Tom Wilkinson, ""The Kennedys"
- Guy Pearce, ""Mildred Pierce"
- Brian F. O'Byrne, ""Mildred Pierce"
- Paul Giamatti, ""Too Big to Fail"
- James Woods, ""Too Big to Fail"

PREDICTED WINNER: Paul Giamatti, ""Too Big To Fail"

Playing a very recognizable contemporary figure is never easy, and popular character actor Paul Giamatti knocked it out of the park this year personifying the very recognizable Ben Bernanke in ""Too Big to Fail."" If he and James Woods don't split the vote, look for him to run away with it. As well, this could be the only chance to honor ""Too Big to Fail,"" as ""Mildred Pierce"" is likely to take the top prize.

Possible Dark Horse: Guy Pearce, ""Mildred Pierce."" Not just because of the good fortune to share the same name as the title of the film (it makes him memorable), but Pearce has a central role in the mini-series. If there's a ""Pierce"" sweep, Guy could get up there on stage.
18

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries/Made for Television Movie

Nominees:

- Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
- Evan Rachel Wood, "Mildred Pierce"
- Melissa Leo, "Mildred Pierce"
- Mare Winningham, "Mildred Pierce"
- Eileen Atkins, "Upstairs Downstairs"

PREDICTED WINNER: Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

"Downton Abbey," a lavish period drama series from ITV set in the fictional home of the aristocratic Crawley family, was nominated several times in the Miniseries category. Look for it to win simply for Maggie Smith's performance as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham.
19

Outstanding Reality Competition Series

Nominees:

- "The Amazing Race"
- "American Idol"
- "Dancing with the Stars"
- "Project Runway"
- "So You Think You Can Dance"
- "Top Chef"

PREDICTED WINNER: "The Amazing Race"

"Amazing Race" has won in this category more than any other show. It lost the award for the first time since it's creation in 2010, to "Top Chef."

Possible Dark Horse: "Top Chef"