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63rd Prime-Time Emmy Awards What: "Glee" star Jane Lynch is the host for television's annual awards bash. When: 8 pm Sunday(red-carpet show, "Countdown to the Emmys 2011," be gins at 7 pm). I'm going way out on a limb here with a bold prediction for ...
I'm going way out on a limb here with a bold prediction for the 63rd annual Emmy Awards ceremony, which airs live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. Sunday.. We won't see repeat winners in the categories for lead actor and actress in a drama series. Remember, you heard it here first.
I can guarantee it because, well, really, it can't happen. Incredibly, last year's winner for lead actress in a drama, Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer"), didn't get nominated this year. That's right. She's not even among the six nominees going into tonight's bash.
And "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston, who has taken home the last three Emmys for lead actor in a drama, isn't eligible this year. He's owned the category, but no original episodes of AMC's brilliantly bleak series aired during the 2010-11 season.
Does this mean that Jon Hamm, the dazzling star of AMC's other mesmerizing entry, "Mad Men," finally will break through with an Emmy victory tonight?
"Mad Men" has claimed 13 Emmy awards, including the last three for outstanding drama series and writing in a drama series. It's not as if the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has ignored this celebrated 1960s-era drama.
But as crazy as it sounds, "Mad Men" has yet to win a single Emmy for acting. With Cranston out of the race, it sure looked like this was shaping up to be the year when Hamm's portrayal of Don Draper finally would be recognized with one of those glittering statuettes.
When the Emmy nominations were announced in July, "Mad Men" led all series. It received a whopping 19 nominations. Yet uncomfortably close on Don's heels were two HBO newcomers: "Boardwalk Empire," the Prohibition-era saga starring Steve Buscemi, with 18 nominations, and the fantasy-adventure serial "Game of Thrones," with 13.
Here comes the uh-oh factor racing toward "Mad Men." If you're calculating the momentum going into tonight's Emmys telecast on WJW Channel 8, you should be gazing toward Atlantic City, not Madison Avenue.
This became clear during last weekend's creative-arts Emmy ceremony, which honors technical and behind-the-scenes achievement, as well as guest actors on a series. "Boardwalk Empire" walked off with seven of these Emmys. "Mad Men" managed a grand total of -- one, and that was for hairstyling.
Some thought Randee Heller's work on "Mad Men" as elderly secretary Ida Blankenship would snare the Emmy for guest actress in a drama series. That award went to Loretta Devine for ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." Some thought Robert Morse (Bert Cooper on "Mad Men') would receive the Emmy for guest actor in a drama series. That went to Paul McCrane for NBC's "Harry's Law."
Still, despite the creative-arts setback for "Mad Men," most of the categories featured on tonight's show remain wide-open races. And Hamm still is the favorite, although, admittedly, crystal balls are looking a bit foggy at present, making this one of the trickiest prediction years in quite some time.
The surest of the sure bets is "Mildred Piece" star Kate Winslet for lead actress in a movie or miniseries. The HBO miniseries adaptation of the James M. Cain novel led all programs with 21 nominations -- and, thanks to the creative-arts ceremony, it already has won three Emmys (including one for casting, which went to Laura Rosenthal, who grew up in Pepper Pike).
The other race that seems to be a lock is the one for best comedy. Look for ABC's "Modern Family" to be a repeat winner in this category. If it is, sharing the glory will be star Ed O'Neill, a Youngstown native, and co-executive producer Dan O'Shannon, a former Clevelander.
While Emmy host Lynch is a good bet to win the award for supporting actress in a comedy, no one should rule out the Betty White Factor. The 89-year-old TV legend is nominated for her work as Elka on "Hot in Cleveland."
And thanks largely to "Boardwalk Empire" and "Mildred Pierce," HBO has a commanding early lead with 15 creative-arts Emmys. Only 25 remaining awards will be handed out tonight, so it's fairly certain that the winning programmer for total awards already has been decided.
Most everything else is up for grabs. So, now, really out on a limb, here are my picks for who will win, who should win and who could be the upset winners in the six major categories.
Dark horse: A push for network shows would favor "The Good Wife," but it would need to be a gigantic shove to get past "Mad Men" and "Boardwalk Empire."
Lead actor in a drama Will win: Jon Hamm, who had another sensational season as Don Draper. Despite the "Boardwalk Empire" roll, he shouldn't be denied.
Dark horse: Steve Buscemi for "Boardwalk Empire," just because his Nucky has the knack of emerging from tight situations as a winner.
Lead actress in a drama Will win: Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife." She has yet to win for this CBS series, and it feels like her year.
Lead actor in a comedy Will win: Steve Carell ("The Office"), like Hamm, has been relegated to bridesmaid status. This should be his going-away present.
Lead actress in a comedy Will win: Laura Linney for "The Big C." She also gets some heavy dramatic moments on Showtime's "The Big C."
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