Chris "Boomer" Beachum, Rob Licuria (AwardsHeaven) and I agree that Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife") will win the Emmy for best drama actress, but we're not confident. Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") submitted the best sample episode to judges. Usually, that decides who wins. Sedgwick has something else going for her. After four defeats so far, she's long overdue to triumph. So this contest is a squeaker — really too close to call. But since we're pundits we have to call it anyway. Watch how we squirm with nervousness in our webcam smackdown.

DRAMA LEAD ACTRESS: ROB'S PREDIX
1. Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife" ("Threesome")
2. Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" ("Maternal Instincts")
3. Glenn Close, "Damages" ("Your Secrets Are Safe")
4. Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights" ("After the Fall")
5. Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ("Perverted")
6. January Jones, "Mad Men" ("The Gypsy and the Hobo")

ROB'S COMMENTARY: January Jones has never been better than in Season 3 of "Mad Men" and is a deserving nominee, but I couldn't help but feel that she was a little out of her league here. Opposite Jon Hamm in this pivotal episode, I think she came across a little wooden and more reactionary rather than being the highlight/standout of the episode (aka Jon Hamm himself). Against the caliber of some of these other actresses, I think Jones brings up the rear in this category.

Mariska Hargitay also does not do anything that I would call particularly Emmy-worthy in her episode. She is good. In fact, she is always good, but I can't see "winner" in this one. Sorry. I think her nomination is the reward.

Connie Britton has some excellent material in her episode, but she suffers from not having as much impact as is often necessary. Her acting style is natural, almost underplayed in most respects, and while she has some brilliant writing to showcase her charm and wit (even defiance), the lack of "fireworks" disadvantages her. But I really like her alot, and think she is one of the best actresses on TV right now, and definitely deserving of an Emmy sometime soon.

Glenn Close is Glenn Close. Enough said. That she has a mediocre episode without anything remotely Emmy-worthy harms her chances at a three-peat. But I've learned over the years to never count out Glenn Close. She is all-powerful. And she has two scenes in particular -- one in the flash-forward car accident, and one opposite Lily Tomlin, that are really impressive.

Kyra Sedgwick officially has the best episode of the bunch. Range, impact, screen time. All winners. Some of her scenes with the dying teenage boy are absolutely perfect. Plus, she is likeable, popular in the industry, and well overdue.

But I have Julianna Margulies in the top spot because I think that her episode is enough for her to scrape across the line. She has been criticized for being too subtle, but I think she does enough to evoke the pain, humiliation and confusion of the jilted wife of the philandering politician husband. The subtlety isn't a bad thing. It's just that Emmy voters love their fireworks. It doesn't hurt that she is the star of the biggest new network show of the season and a nominee for best drama series.

DRAMA LEAD ACTRESS: BOOMER'S PREDIX
1. Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife" ("Threesome")
2. Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" ("Maternal Instincts")
3. Glenn Close, "Damages" ("Your Secrets Are Safe")
4. January Jones, "Mad Men" ("The Gypsy and the Hobo")
5. Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ("Perverted")
6. Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights" ("After the Fall")

BOOMER'S COMMENTARY: First of all, I want to thank the voters for getting rid of some major stars (Sally Field and Holly Hunter) who could no longer be justified with nominations based on their most recent seasons. I wish they had done the same with Mariska Hargitay, who continues to essentially receive one showcase episode each year, but whose show has had a major downfall in quality in the last few years. I don't think she really has a shot this time to win.

Never mind which TV shows and stars are favored by Emmy voters. Yahoo measured the lists of Emmy nominees according to which ones were searched most by their Web browsers during the eligibility period spanning June 1, 2009, to May 31, 2010.

TOP SEARCHED BEST SERIES, DRAMA

1. "Lost"

2. "True Blood"

3. "Dexter"

4. "Mad Men"

5. "Breaking Bad"

6. "The Good Wife"
 


TOP SEARCHED BEST SERIES, COMEDY
1. "Glee"

2. "The Office"

3. "Modern Family"

4. "30 Rock"

5. "Nurse Jackie"

6. "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
 

TOP SEARCHED BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
1. Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
2. Hugh Laurie, "House"

3. Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

4. Matthew Fox, "Lost"

5. Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"

6. Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights"

Our two resident Emmys experts -- Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Rob Licuria (Awards Heaven) -- disagree about which previous award winner will prevail in the supporting actor in a drama series category. For Rob, 2007 champ Terry O'Quinn is the frontrunner for the final season of "Lost." However, Boomer believes Andre Braugher, from "Men of a Certain Age," will add to the two lead actors Emmys he already has for the series "Homicide" (1998) and the telefilm "Thief" (2006). Both place Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad" in the second position.

Below is their analysis of this race. Rob and Boomer already have shared their insights on guest drama actor, guest drama actress, guest comedy actor and guest comedy actress. And the three of us have weighed in on the top drama series and comedy series races as well as best TV movie, best reality/competition show and best reality show host.

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR: ROB'S PREDIX
1. Terry O'Quinn, "Lost" ("The Substitute")
2. Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad" ("Half Measures")
3. Andre Braugher, "Men of a Certain Age" ("Powerless")
4. Michael Emerson, "Lost" ("Dr. Linus")
5. John Slattery, "Mad Men" ("The Gypsy & the Hobo")
6. Martin Short, "Damages" ("You Haven't Replaced Me Yet")

ROB'S COMMENTARY: This is a terribly difficult category in which to decide who the front-runners are, because at least four of these guys deliver a performance that in any other year would be seen as worthy of a win. Starting with those I think are easiest to rule out, I would suggest that Martin Short's few scenes with his grafter father are good but not great (in terms of impact and screen time), and in this company, a nomination should be all that the awesome Martin Short should expect. Same goes for John Slattery, who has chosen his best submission yet but fails to deliver much in the way of impact. However, some of his one-liners are gold.

Of the top four who are truly in this race, I think it boils down as follows. Of the two actors from "Lost," Michael Emerson and Terry O’Quinn share some scenes in their respective episodes, and both do quite well both in their scenes in the alternate "sideways" timeline and on the island itself. Emerson has a couple of more flashy scenes where he discusses how he has sacrificed his daughter to save the island and plays the Dr Linus role quite effectively. O'Quinn, on the other hand, is in practically all of the scenes in his episode and commands the screen as the villain on the island and as the stubborn wheelchair-bound John Locke in the sideways world. Of the two, I think O'Quinn’s performance is the more memorable, not to mention the more buzzed-about from the last season.

Andre Braugher is no stranger to Emmy voters, having won twice before in relatively little-known or buzzed-about shows. He makes another Emmy appearance in this TNT drama that did not make much of an impact elsewhere in other categories, and immediately you can see that many voters will be drawn to his flawed, bitter and regret-filled character. I think the show itself is a little depressing, dreary and slow, but I don't think that's enough to turn off voters. They love Braugher and will respond to the "journey" of sorts he makes in this episode, which, perhaps most importantly, ends happily in a scene that is quite effective.

Aaron Paul was probably the front-runner last year for his performance in an episode that I don't think he will ever top. This time around, he delivers the same tension, nuance and anguish, but he may be slightly overshadowed by Bryan Cranston in the scenes they share. Don't completely write him off, though, as voters may decide to give him this award to make up for last year and to award the show in general, which has proved to be quite popular with the academy. Based on the episode itself, a win is not out of the question but just not the slam dunk it could have been a year ago.

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR: BOOMER'S PREDIX
1. Andre Braugher, "Men of a Certain Age" ("Powerless")
2. Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad" ("Half Measures")
3. Michael Emerson, "Lost" ("Dr. Linus")
4. Terry O'Quinn, "Lost" ("The Substitute")
5. Martin Short, "Damages" ("You Haven't Replaced Me Yet")
6. John Slattery, "Mad Men" ("The Gypsy & the Hobo")

BOOMER'S COMMENTARY: I think four men have a very legitimate shot at winning this category, but their names are not Martin Short or John Slattery. Both are good in their episodes but have limited screen time and impact compared with their competitors.

Fourteen different men in the last 14 years have won this category. Somebody will break that streak in the near future, but until it happens, you will not find me going against such a strong trend. With Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson as recent winners, I do question whether they will win again this year. Of the two, I would absolutely vote for O'Quinn myself because of his overall importance to the final season of "Lost" (in a dual good-guy/evil-guy role), but Emerson gets the more emotional material in his chosen episode (especially toward the end, when he seems a very broken man with a life-shattering choice).

Just as they disagree over who will prevail in the supporting drama actor race, our Emmy gurus Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Rob Licuria (Awards Heaven) differ on which woman will win the equivalent award. Boomer is buzzed about the return of two-time lead actress champ Sharon Gless ("Cagney & Lacey," 1986, 1987) to the derby while Rob prefers the chances of Christina Hendricks ("Mad Men"). However, both place another Emmy winner -- Christine Baranski ("The Good Wife") -- in the second position.

Their commentary on this contest is below. Rob and Boomer have already analyzed guest drama actor, guest drama actress, guest comedy actor and guest comedy actress. And the three of us have weighed in on the top drama series and comedy series races as well as best TV movie, best reality/competition show and best reality show host.

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS: BOOMER'S PREDIX
1. Sharon Gless, "Burn Notice" ("Devil You Know")
2. Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife" ("Bang")
3. Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" ("Love Among the Ruins")
4. Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" ("Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency")
5. Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife" ("Hi")
6. Rose Byrne, "Damages" ("Your Secrets Are Safe")

BOOMER'S COMMENTARY: Look back over the years, and you'll find two trends for this category. Voters like emotional performances with anger, fear, crying and/or overwrought emoting (a lot!!), and they usually like veteran actresses (Cherry Jones, Blythe Danner, Allison Janney, Stockard Channing, Tyne Daly, etc.). There is only one lady this year with an emotional performance (Sharon Gless), and she just happens to be a longtime Emmy favorite with multiple wins. I am as surprised as anyone that I am making this prediction for a popcorn action show like "Burn Notice," but follow the facts and not your heart to come to the same conclusion.

Christine Baranski is very solid in her episode but has no real emotional work, not even in the courtroom scenes, which normally win over voters due to the passionate speeches given. If voters want to reward consistency over time, they will select Elisabeth Moss for her great work on "Mad Men." Her character has gone from a meek, lowly secretary to a copywriter with more power at work and in her love life in just a few short yet pivotal years. Her chosen episode showcases some of that change but doesn't have a single "wow" moment.

Everybody seems to be jumping on the Christina Hendricks bandwagon, but I just don't buy it for an actual Emmy win yet. Her sexpot image will probably work against her with voters who will not give her credit for the fine acting she exhibits. I would love to see her recognized for this performance, though. Archie Panjabi is one of the strong points of her show, but I found nothing memorable on her episode to make me want to vote for her. Rose Byrne wins the prize for one of this year's worst episode selections. She barely has anything to do in it.

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS: ROB'S PREDIX
1. Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" ("Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency")
2. Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife" ("Bang")
3. Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" ("Love Among the Ruins")
4. Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife" ("Hi")
5. Sharon Gless, "Burn Notice" ("Devil You Know")
6. Rose Byrne, "Damages" ("Your Secrets Are Safe")

ROB'S COMMENTARY: I am puzzled as to why Rose Byrne chose this episode, the third-season premiere. Perhaps she doesn't want to win an Emmy, or maybe she doesn't care all that much, because she is given very little at all to do in the episode, and when she is on screen, I liken her performance to something akin to comatose. Very disappointing, especially when she could have been really competitive with an episode from later on in the season (like "All That Crap About Your Family," for instance).

Sharon Gless is one of the Emmy veterans who pops up every so often for a show that is not usually on the Emmy radar. Having been close to a nomination before (Gless made the top 10 "run-off" a few years ago), this nomination was not a total shock but more of a welcome surprise. And to back up the affection that the academy has for her, the episode she has chosen really does showcase her character as best as possible and puts her in this race as a spoiler to her competition from more fancied Emmy-friendly shows.

Archie Panjabi is one of the breakthrough stars of the past TV season and one of my favorite characters on TV at the moment. I was a little concerned about what episode she would choose, because, although her character, Kalinda Sharma, makes an impact in every scene in which she appears, there is no real stand-out episode that Panjabi has to really knock the socks off voters. "Hi" was probably as best as she was going to find (although I would've picked the season finale, "Running").

Our Emmy experts Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria (Awardsheaven.net) agree that Lily Tomlin will win her first performance Emmy for her guest turn as a mean mama on the drama series "Damages." In 1996, Tomlin contended in this same category for "Homicide: Life on the Street" losing to Amanda Plummer for "The Outer Limits." This versatile talent -- who earned her first Emmy nomination in 1972 for her character roles on "Laugh-In" -- won three writing Emmys in the 1970s as well as one for her special "Lily: Sold Out" in 1981.

Among the other actresses in contention are two Oscar winners -- Sissy Spacek ("Coal Miner's Daughter") for "Big Love" and Shirley Jones ("Elmer Gantry") for "The Cleaner" -- as well as Emmy champ Mary Kay Place for her recurring role on "Big Love." After losing lead actress in a movie or miniseries four times and supporting once, Ann-Margret is looking for her first Emmy win for a turn on "Law & Order: SVU." Rounding out the roster is Elizabeth Mitchell, who picked up her first Emmy nom for reprising her regular role on "Lost."

GUEST DRAMA ACTRESS: ROB'S PREDIX
1. Lily Tomlin, "Damages" ("Your Secrets Are Safe")
2. Sissy Spacek, "Big Love" ("End of Days")
3. Ann-Margret, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ("Bedtime")
4. Mary Kay Place, "Big Love" ("The Mighty & the Strong")
5. Shirley Jones, "The Cleaner" ("Does Everybody Have a Drink?")
6. Elizabeth Mitchell, "Lost" ("The End, Parts 1 & 2")

ROB'S COMMENTARY: This category was difficult to judge. Not one of the six episodes I viewed really knocked my socks off. I would love nothing more than to say that Elizabeth Mitchell will win this Emmy. Beloved by fans of the show for a few seasons now, I suspect this nomination is more about honoring her for that rather than for her two or three main scenes in the "Lost" finale. She just isn't given enough to do, and, if we are basing opinions on episodes alone, then she is at a real disadvantage.

Same goes for Shirley Jones, who is given much more to do (a drunk, a worried mother, a cabaret performer), but, frankly, the quality of the writing lets her down. I can't imagine a win for her here. Mary Kay Place has been excellent on "Big Love" over the years, so her inclusion in this category was a welcome surprise for me. She essentially has two great scenes to work with, but I still have the feeling that it will not be enough to get her over the line.

Ann-Margret on the other hand is just way over the top, almost ridiculous in her episode, and yet she is given much more to do (i.e. screen time) and even though her performance may be seen as a little too hammy, this hasn't stopped voters from rewarding "SVU" guest actresses before (hello, Cynthia Nixon). Plus, it's Ann-Margret, and that might just count for something.

The reality is the two front-runners in this category are the two biggest names (not a surprise, as the guest acting categories have always been a celebrity prize). Sissy Spacek has an outstanding opening scene with Bill Paxton and third scene in the Paxton family home. She also gets to say the best line of the category, comparing Bill Henrickson to a piñata: "Every time I give you a whack, more goodies fall out."

Lily Tomlin was absolutely brilliant in her run as the Tobin matriarch in "Damages" and, if she was able to include a few scenes from later episodes, she would be the shoo-in front-runner. That she has chosen the season premiere disadvantages her slightly, as she is given three main scenes in which she plays it cool,  unlike later in the season when everything appears to unravel for her character. That being said, the extended interview scene with Glenn Close and Martin Short is fantastic and memorable, and I think may be enough to get her over the line.

GUEST DRAMA ACTRESS: BOOMER'S PREDIX
1. Lily Tomlin, "Damages" ("Your Secrets Are Safe")
2. Sissy Spacek, "Big Love" ("End of Days")
3. Mary Kay Place, "Big Love" ("The Mighty & the Strong")
4. Shirley Jones, "The Cleaner" ("Does Everybody Have a Drink?")
5. Ann-Margret, "Law & Order: SVU" ("Bedtime")
6. Elizabeth Mitchell, "Lost" ("The End")

BOOMER'S COMMENTARY: This category appears to be a three-way battle between Lily Tomlin, Sissy Spacek and Mary Kay Place, but nobody knocks it out of the park to take command of the race. I am predicting Tomlin to win based on her past Emmy success and the fact that she plays against type with a dramatic role. She is very good in basically two scenes (one with Glenn Close and one with Campbell Scott) and is actually mesmerizing through her time on screen.

The freshman hit "The Good Wife" is one of six nominees for drama series at this year's Emmy Awards. The show's star Julianna Margulies has already picked up the lead actress prize from both the Golden Globes and SAG this year. Though an early favorite, she is not a sure thing to take home the Emmy. However, her TV comeback vehicle could well win the series race.

In the first round of predictions, one of our Emmy experts, Chris "Boomer" Beachum, and I rank "The Good Wife" in the middle of the pack. However, Rob "Rob L" Licuria has the CBS smash in second place. At this stage, all three of us are predicting "Mad Men" to pull off a three-peat.

The prospects for "The Good Wife" has generated much discussion in our Emmys forum. For east/west, "As this goes for drama series, the show is totally in the race. These two episodes had everything going for it and it stands out from the pack. It's not a period piece, thriller, or sci-fi show. I would give the award to 'Breaking Bad,' but if 'Wife' gets enough votes in the top three it can upset and it would be deserved."

However, iskolar cautions, "they did good but I don't think they'll win. It's still 'Mad Men' in the end." And Benito Delicias says, "I think the show had buzz for being nominated, I don't think it has it for a win. 'Mad Men' submitted perfectly, 'Lost' ended and has the fantastic 'The End' as one whole tape, 'Dexter' had plenty of buzz too. I think it's too much for 'The Good Wife' to handle."

And adamunc admits, "I've been going back and trying to catch up; seen six episodes so far, and, save the pilot, they feel distressingly formulaic. And there seems to be a pattern of intriguing set-ups and seriously anti-climactic solutions. Saw 'Hi' most recently and the solution to the murder was so ho-hum and mundane (not to mention predictable) it was almost an after-thought."

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Photo: "The Good Wife" promotional poster. Credit: CBS.

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The honor roll for the supporting actress in a drama series category at the Emmy Awards is almost as varied as the one for actors. The first winner of the supporting actress in a drama series award in 1979 was Kristy McNichol ("Family"), who had also won a more expansive race that included telefilms two years earlier. Then Nancy Marchand ("Lou Grant") won three years in a row (1980-1982), adding to her win in the wider race in 1978.

In the 27 races since then, there have been just three repeat winners for the same role: Bonnie Bartlett, "St. Elsewhere" (1986, 1987); Alison Janney, "The West Wing" (2000, 2001); and Blythe Danner, "Huff" (2005, 2006). Tyne Daly won this race for both "Christy" (1996) and "Judging Amy" (2003). All of this adds up to 27 different characters prevailing in the 31-year history of this Emmy (as compared with 27 different actors).

None of this year's six nominees has ever won this race, and just one of them -- Rose Byrne ("Damages") -- is a previous contender for this prize. However, two of these women are past Emmy champs in other categories. Christine Baranksi ("The Good Wife") won the first of her four consecutive supporting Emmy noms for the laffer "Cybill" in 1995, while Sharon Gless won the fourth and fifth (1986, 1987) of her six consecutive lead drama bids for the cop drama "Cagney and Lacey."

Elisabeth Moss -- one of the "Mad Men" women -- was in the lead race last year, while the other -- Christina Hendricks -- is a first-time Emmy nominee, as is "The Good Wife" featured player Archie Panjabi.

One of our top Emmy Awards gurus -- forums moderator Chris "Boomer" Beachum -- deftly disproves the notion that the Emmys anoint the same winners year after year. Although the likes of Don Knotts ("The Andy Griffith Show") and John Larroquette ("Night Court") virtually owned the supporting award in the 1960s and 1980s, respectively, both of those talented men featured on comedy series.

Since being created in 1979, the drama supporting actor category has rarely had repeat winners, with 27 different men winning the 31 races. Only four have won this category twice for the same role, and the first two -- Stuart Margolin for "The Rockford Files" (1979, 1980) and Michael Conrad for "Hill Street Blues" (1981, 1982) -- did so in the early days of this award. Larry Drake won for "L.A. Law" (1988, 1989) while Ray Walston was a repeat champ with his two consecutive wins for "Picket Fences" (1995, 1996).

Of this year's nominees, only the men from "Lost" -- Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn -- have prevailed previously in this race. Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad") and John Slattery ("Mad Men") are repeat nominees in this category while Andre Braugher ("Men of a Certain Age") and Martin Short ("Damages") are past Emmy champs in other categories.

In the last 14 years, 14 different men have taken home this award:

1996 Ray Walston ("Picket Fences")
1997 Hector Elizondo ("Chicago Hope")
1998 Gordon Clapp ("NYPD Blue")
1999 Michael Badalucco ("The Practice")
2000 Richard Schiff ("The West Wing")
2001 Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing")
2002 John Spencer ("The West Wing")
2003 Joe Pantoliano ("The Sopranos")
2004 Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos")
2005 William Shatner ("Boston Legal")
2006 Alan Alda ("The West Wing")
2007 Terry O'Quinn ("Lost")
2008 Zeljko Ivanek ("Damages")
2009 Michael Emerson ("Lost")

Before this year, the six women competing for lead actress in a drama series at the Emmy Awards had tallied up an impressive 26 nominations among them, with five wins. Returning nominees Glenn Close ("Damages") and Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: SVU") are two of the three most recent winners in this category; the other, Sally Field ("Brothers & Sisters"), was dropped from the race after three bids.

Reigning champ Close won this award for each of the first two seasons of the FX legal drama. She took home her first Emmy Award (out of eight performance nods) for headlining the 1995 telefilm "Serving in Silence." This year marks Hargitay's seventh consecutive nomination for "Law & Order: SVU," with her win coming in 2006.

Julianna Margulies -- who contends for the freshman hit "The Good Wife" -- was nominated for all six of the seasons she was on "ER." She won the supporting award for the first year of that ratings smash in 1994, then contended again in that category the following year before moving up, albeit unsuccessfully, to the lead race for four years.

All three of these women have won Golden Globes for their Emmy-nominated roles -- Hargitay and Close on the first of their two nods in 2004 and 2007, respectively, and Margulies at the most recent ceremony.

Although Kyra Sedgwick has yet to prevail at the Emmys despite four previous nominations for "The Closer," she did win on the second of her five consecutive Golden Globe nods in 2006. While this is the first Emmy recognition for January Jones ("Mad Men"), she did contend in the lead race at the last two Golden Globes. This is the first Emmy nomination for Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights").

The men in the lead actor drama series race have 17 previous performance nominations but only two wins. Both of those were for reigning champ Bryan Cranston for the first two seasons of "Breaking Bad." Before these victories, Cranston was a three-time also ran in the supporting actor comedy series race for "Malcolm in the Middle" (2002, 2003, 2006).

Here's who I predict will score bids when Emmy Awards nominations are unveiled Thursday morning:

BEST DRAMA SERIES
"Breaking Bad"
"Damages"
"Dexter"
"Mad Men"
"The Good Wife"
"Lost"

ALTERNATES: "Big Love," "Friday Night Lights," "House M.D.," "Sons of Anarchy," "Treme"

BEST COMEDY SERIES
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Family Guy"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"30 Rock"

ALTERNATES: "Community," "How I Met Your Mother," "Entourage," "Nurse Jackie," "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," "Weeds"

BEST DRAMA ACTOR
Simon Baker ("The Mentalist")
Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad")
Michael C. Hall ("Dexter")
Jon Hamm ("Mad Men")
Hugh Laurie ("House")
Timothy Olyphant ("Justified")

ALTERNATES: Matt Bomer ("White Collar"), Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights"), Matthew Fox ("Lost"), Peter Krause ("Parenthood"), Denis Leary ("Rescue Me"), Bill Paxton ("Big Love"), Wendell Pierce ("Treme"), Kiefer Sutherland ("24")

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS
Glenn Close ("Damages")
Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: SVU")
January Jones ("Mad Men")
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife")
Katey Sagal ("Sons of Anarchy")
Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer")

ALTERNATES: Sally Field ("Brothers and Sisters"), Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad"), Holly Hunter ("Saving Grace"), Melissa Leo ("Treme"), Anna Paquin ("True Blood")

BEST COMEDY ACTOR
Steve Carell ("The Office")
Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock")
Larry David ("Curb Your Enthusiasm")
Matthew Morrison ("Glee")
Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory")
Tony Shalhoub ("Monk")

ALTERNATES: David Duchovny ("Californication"), Joel McHale ("Community"), Thomas Jane ("Hung"), Charlie Sheen ("Two and a Half Men")