Emmy Winner Predictions 2011

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.