The 2010 Emmy Awards: Rhonnie’s Predictions (Not Picks)

TV is big in 2010: Lost went out with a bang, Heroes went out with a whimper, Glee took over the world, and Snookie has become a household name. This Sunday, aside from being the late Michael Jackson’s birthday, will be the 62nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards. If you’re obsessed with TV, then you’ve been pacing in your living room, waiting for this day to come. And if you’re really obsessed, you even took off work in June for the Daytime Emmys. The wait is over, TV addicts.


This weekend, some of the biggest names in television will gather, in all their small-screen glory, in Los Angeles for an event that could potentially change the course of their careers. For most of us normal folk, it’s a chance to catch our beloved stars in their best red carpet garb and root for our favorites. Don’t pay any attention to those who consider the Emmys a poor-man’s Academy Awards, to a lot of us this is a “big F-ing deal.”

Whether you’re a big fan of drama, comedy, reality, miniseries, or all of the above, the competition is tough. Will Glee and Mad Men sweep the awards? Here are my Emmy 2010 predictions.

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series:

• Real Time With Bill Maher
• The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien
• Saturday Night Live
• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Though avid fans of all of these shows run rampant, the late-night drama of late makes Conan O’Brien a sure thing for this Emmy. (Ahem, Team Coco.)

Outstanding Miniseries:

• The Pacific
• Return To Cranford (Masterpiece)

Outstanding Miniseries will go to The Pacific. Fans of the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers will have tuned in and, if not remained loyal for all 10 parts, made an attempt to enjoy this dark glimpse of World War II in the Pacific Ocean. Though the impact was less than that made of its sister miniseries, The Pacific will pull through here.



Outstanding Reality – Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• Project Runway
• Top Chef
• Dancing With The Stars
• American Idol

The question here is whether these four other shows have what it takes to steal the award from The Amazing Race, who has won seven Emmys in a row for this category. American Idol, who has been nominated seven times, does not stand a chance with its drab recent season. While both Top Chef and Project Runway are great shows, Project Runway, whose move to Lifetime in August of last year has made headlines, may have what it takes to break the streak this year.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Chris Colfer- Glee
• Neil Patrick Harris- How I Met Your Mother
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson- Modern Family
• Eric Stonestreet- Modern Family
• Ty Burell- Modern Family
• Jon Cryer- Two And A Half Men

Modern Family has picked up a staggering three nominations in this category. Jon Cryer, always a favorite, won the award last year. Neil Patrick Harris, who hosted last year’s event, can do no wrong in the Academy’s eyes. But there’s a good chance that newcomer “Gleek” Chris Colfer will take this one home.



Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Jane Lynch- Glee
• Julie Bowen- Modern Family
• Sofia Vergara- Modern Family
• Kristin Wiig- Saturday Night Live
• Jane Krakowski- 30 Rock
• Holland Taylor- Two And A Half Men

If the brilliant Jane Lynch doesn’t win this one, it will be one of the ladies from Modern Family. But my money’s on Lynch.



Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Jim Parsons- The Big Bang Theory
• Larry David- Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Matthew Morrison- Glee
• Tony Shalhoub- Monk
• Steve Carell- The Office
• Alec Baldwin- 30 Rock

This is another tough category, whose winner last year was Alec Baldwin. The award won’t be going to him, with such great choices here. Tony Shalhoub and Larry David represent the old dogs in this race, and though Shalhoub has previously won for his acting in Monk, Larry David has only won in the past for writing. Steve Carell, who has announced that he will stay on with The Office for one more season, will be nominated and most likely win the award for 2011. Although as fellow geeks we really want Jim Parsons to win for TBBT, Glee will likely take another award with Matthew Morrison, who plays the lovable and energetic glee club teacher Will Schuester.



Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Lea Michele- Glee
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus- The New Adventures Of Old Christine
• Edie Falco- Nurse Jackie
• Amy Poehler- Parks and Recreation
• Tina Fey- 30 Rock
• Toni Collette- The United States Of Tara

This is a complete toss-up, with great candidates from shows with huge followings. Toni Collette won last year’s Emmy in this category. This year, Amy Poehler may take home her first Emmy as the hilarious Leslie Knope on Parks & Rec.



Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:

• Aaron Paul- Breaking Bad
• Martin Short- Damages
• Terry O’Quinn- Lost
• Michael Emerson- Lost
• John Slattery- Mad Men
• Andre Braugher- Men Of A Certain Age

Lost has a great chance of taking this award, with its huge series finale in May of this year. Michael Emerson won the award last year for playing creepy-guy Benjamin Linus. This year’s award will likely go to Terry O’Quinn, whose captivating version of “The Man in Black” in Lost’s final season kept audiences on the edge of their seats. Martin Short, whose wife died this month, will not be attending the Awards this year.



Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:

• Sharon Gless- Burn Notice
• Rose Byrne- Damages
• Archie Panjabi- The Good Wife
• Christine Baranski- The Good Wife
• Christina Hendricks- Mad Men
• Elisabeth Moss- Mad Men

This category is another toss-up. Christina Hendricks, whose beauty has graced the cover of Esquire Magazine and earned her Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive title, may win because of her popularity. But my vote goes to the talented Rose Byrne, who was nominated last year as well for her acting in Damages.



Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• Bryan Cranston- Breaking Bad
• Michael C. Hall- Dexter
• Kyle Chandler- Friday Night Lights
• Hugh Laurie- House
• Matthew Fox- Lost
• Jon Hamm- Mad Men

Though there are many favorites to win in this category with actors like Hugh Laurie, Michael C. Hall, and Bryan Cranston, this will be between Matthew Fox and Jon Hamm. Matthew Fox should win his first Emmy here, with his moving portrayal of Dr. Jack Shephard in Lost’s final episode, “The End.”



Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Kyra Sedgwick- The Closer
• Glenn Close- Damages
• Connie Britton- Friday Night Lights
• Julianna Margulies- The Good Wife
• Mariska Hargitay- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• January Jones- Mad Men

The competition is fierce in this category, which was given to Glenn Close last year. January Jones makes her first appearance in the Emmy nominations, but this will most likely be given to either Kyra Sedgwick, who has been nominated before, or Julianna Margulies with her role in The Good Wife.

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Glee
• Modern Family
• Nurse Jackie
• The Office
• 30 Rock

Either Glee or Modern Family will win this one. If Glee picks up as many actor awards as I believe it will, then this may belong to Modern Family. But chances are, Glee will nab this one too.



Outstanding Drama Series:

• Breaking Bad
• Dexter
• The Good Wife
• Lost
• Mad Men
• True Blood

This may be the most difficult category to predict, with six incredible shows up for the title. Does True Blood, who wasn’t nominated in any actor categories, have what it takes to win? Will it be Lost, who picked up this Emmy in 2005 after its celebrated first season? Though I’d choose Lost, my guess is that the wildly successful Mad Men will win the award this year.



For more information on the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards go to www.Emmys.com. Download a ballot and cast your own votes to win. Tune in on Sunday, August 29, 2010 on NBC to watch the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.