All you need to know about the 2013 Emmy Awards.

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Actor-producer Michael Douglas, who mentioned his incarcerated son in his Emmy Awards speech Sunday night, afterward spoke on prison reform with reporters backstage.
"I'm hoping I'll be able, and they'll allow me, to see him soon," Douglas said of his oldest son while accepting an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or a movie, for playing pianist Liberace in HBO's "Behind the Candelabra."
"My son is in federal prison," Douglas later told reporters in comments transcribed by numerous news organizations. "He's been a drug addict for a large part of his life. Part of the punishment if you happen to have a slip is solitary confinement. Right now I've been told that I can't see him for two years. . . . And I'm questioning the system."
In April 2010, Cameron Douglas, 34, was sentenced to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to heroin possession and to conspiracy to distribute drugs. In December 2011, a judge added another 4 1/2 years for possessing drugs behind bars, though federal prosecutors had asked only for an additional two years. He also received a two-year ban on family visits. After another prison drug bust in January of this year, he received solitary confinement.
"Obviously at first, I was certainly disappointed in my son," Michael Douglas, 68, told reporters. "But I've reached a point now where I'm very disappointed with the system."
Meanwhile, preliminary ratings for Sunday's Emmy broadcast indicate that 17.6 million viewers watched, compared with 13.3 million viewers last year.

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Michael Douglas speaks at Emmys about son Cameron, prison reform

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We now know the winners of the 65th Annual Emmys, but who really won? (Who really lost?) Here are six things the big show got right, and five things that it got wrong. But don't necessarily assume they cancel each other out -- because on balance, the 65th got this show mostly right. 
 1.) The host: Yeah, that dude in the tux scores again. Neil Patrick Harris -- as a facile agile host who is visible when he needs to be, invisible when he needs to be. Of the latter, he seemed MIA for much of the show, although that was for costume change as well as conceding to the reality that hosts of these affairs need to be seen, not always heard from. The job of the presenters has become almost equally important and either works (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler at outset) or doesn't (Will Ferrell; see below). 
 2.) The opening: Captured essentially what voters, critics, and above all viewers are going through circa 2013, which is the confrontation of a tower of babble, screaming (all at once) for attention, love, devotion and awards. Never has there been so much good TV, and bad TV, and a vast gulf in between. All this attempted to do -- with malice toward none -- was establish the obvious. &nbsp; 
 3.) The opening, part 2: I know from the tweet stream that some people liked, some did not, but in my mind this worked particularly well -- bringing hosts from Christmas past to the stage in a mock salute to their own moment of glory. It took attention away from NPH, at a critical point, when all sorts of stuff is supposed to come flying offstage at the Nokia -- notably memorable one-liners from the host, which instead were (mostly) supplied by predecessors. This group host turnout was expected, but the results felt mostly fresh and unexpected. 
 4.) "In Memoriam" tributes. This was tricky terrain insofar as it was fraught with politics -- the insistence that Cory Monteith get special tribute -- but it all turned out to be appropriate, even moving. Monteith -- and certainly no one pretended this -- did not have the stature of those others honored, but Jane Lynch's tribute still felt exactly right: A young man, beloved cast member, whose life ended as the result of a "rapacious" drug that had killed so many others. In a sense, too, her tribute was a "what might have been" -- as in, what this actor might have turned out to be had he lived. Meanwhile, both Rob Reiner and Edie Falco swung for the fences with their respective tributes -- Jean Stapleton and James Gandolfini -- and cleared them. 
 5.) The winners: Beginning and ending with "Breaking Bad," which deserved best drama honors and until last night never got 'em. This was a very tough category, jam packed with deserving nominees. In fact, when there are this many worthies, Emmy voters head down the path of least resistance: the previous year's winner. But somehow, someway, they avoided the temptation this year, at least here. 
 6.) Tone: Important, hard to define element that seemed right -- not seedy, or cheap, or tinged with self-loathing, or that sense, so often conveyed in years past by either hosts or presenters that "we'd rather be anywhere but here .?.?." Instead, NPH and the show got it just about right -- the sense that this is an important industry and awards show bestowing honors on honorees who deserve some measure of recognition. There were no apologies for that. 
 Now, to the five things that fell flat: 
 1.) Ferrell: Schtick attached to the major awards never works. It diminishes them and bugs the audience, both at home and in the audience. This is a huge moment, and why rob it of drama at the exact moment when drama is expected and totally justified? Instead, he rushed out those words "Breaking Bad," which could have been almost any words. This was a huge moment, never felt like one. 
 2.) Tribute to black actors and actresses: Why bring attention to the yawning deficiency in the "mainstream" television awards show -- that there are so few nominees of color? Diahann Carroll was in the awkward position of both celebrating the fact that for black actors fifty years ago "the Emmy was unfortunately all too rare" yet essentially confirming that -- at least on this night -- things didn't seem to have changed all that much. Only Don Cheadle and Kerry Washington were in line for major awards, neither won. 
 3.) The 1963 tribute. This must've seemed like a good idea on paper, but on screen, not so much. Yoking the assassination with the first arrival of the Beatles made no sense -- one or the other, not both, and certainly the latter would make no sense at all considering the anniversary is next year anyway. Instead, this ended up feeling like an excuse to get Carrie Underwood on stage, who covered "Yesterday" in a lackluster performance that dragged the show to a dead halt. 
 4.) The wrong winners. Imagine not complaining about who did/who did not win after an Emmys telecast? But the predictable nod to "Modern Family," the fourth straight, falls under my theory (see above, No. 5) that voters usually just follow the path of least resistance. "Family" did NOT have a standout year, certainly not compared to the first or second seasons -- fans know that, and you suspect those assembled on stage knew that, too -- but there they were again. And Jon Hamm not winning? Oh come on! Taking nothing away from Jeff Daniels, terrific in "The Newsroom," at some point the Emmys have to honor the actor who has made "Mad Men" one of the great dramas of TV history. &nbsp;Without Hamm, "Mad Men" would simply not have the stature it deserves and has been recognized for. Yet once again, he's passed over. 
 5.) Elton John's tribute to Liberace. This could go above ("Things that worked") or here; I mean, always good to have John, and the performance was fine, but I'm choosing the "here" due to the reason of the entire ludicrous idea that Liberace in some way instrumental in catalyzing gay rights or gays' advancement in the arts, or whatever. "Candelabra" pretty much established the exact opposite -- that he was aggressively closeted, had no interest in social issues, but a great deal of interest in sequins and sexual conquests. This felt like an excuse to get Elton John onstage at the Emmys.

Six best, five worst Emmy moments

Emmys 2013: Six best, five worst moments

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Talk about pressure. It was on for "Scandal" star Kerry Washington at the 65th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night. After just being named "world's best-dressed woman" by People magazine, well what's a girl to wear? In Washington's case, it was the blushy, hot-off-the-runway finale gown Marchesa just showed. In a word, "goddess." 
 Others brought out their goddesses in less ethereal ways. It was all about dangerous curves for ladies in red -- Sofia Vergara in painted-on Vera Wang, Heidi Klum in dominatrix pomegranate Versace and Morena Baccarin showing the curve of her baby bump in scarlet Alexander McQueen. 
 Speaking of curves, hey, hey Tina Fey in custom cobalt Narciso Rodriguez. Allison Williams went for the same shade (hers was right off Ralph Lauren's runway). Other gals were singing the blues, too -- Zooey Deschanel in silvery-blue J. Mendel, Connie Britton, sassy, in blue and gold Naeem Kahn, Jessica Paré in an Oscar de la Renta turquoise job and -- holy handiwork -- "Game of Thrones" star Emilia Clarke in Donna Karan Atelier, the leaves of which were cut and hand-folded onto her body. 
 Some did the black-and-white thing, notably Elizabeth Moss in a pebbly Andrew Gn and her best-ever haircut. And there were the nudists (of sorts) and pales, such as Claire Danes, whose faux bob distracted from her paillette-coated Armani Privé. Taylor Schilling of "Orange Is the New Black" wore a slit up to there (yeah, there) Thakoon number in ivory. Julia Louis-Dreyfus did a fab, silver Monique Lhuillier column and Julie Bowen said fitting into her pale pink, skintight Zac Posen confection made carbs a big no-no. 
 And, oh, yes, there were some big fashion no-nos. Love the show "Girls," but Zosia Mamet's leather busted, watercolor floral job by Honor . . . oy! And some felt Lena Dunham missed big time with the oversized floral Prada, though we're thinking the makeup artist gets the blame. That green, goopy smoky eye -- don't try it at home. Ever.

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Emmys 2013 red carpet hosts goddesses Kerry Washington, Sofia Vergara

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"Breaking Bad" won best drama Sunday night at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. The AMC show, by critical consensus TV's best show, finally got the industry consensus, too, by winning its first Emmy for best drama after four nominations. 
 Jeff Daniels of HBO's "The Newsroom" was a surprise winner for lead actor in a drama, upsetting "Breaking Bad's" Bryan Cranston and "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm. Claire Danes won lead actress in a drama for the second consecutive year for her role as Carrie Mathison on Showtime's "Homeland." 
 ABC's "Modern Family" won its fourth consecutive best comedy award, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus again winning lead actress in a comedy for her role as Vice President Selina Meyer on HBO's "Veep." Jim Parsons of CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" won his third Emmy for lead actor in a comedy. 
 Among other notable upset winners were "The Colbert Report" (variety series) and "The Voice" (reality competition program), which unthroned the longtime champs in their respective categories, "The Daily Show" and "The Amazing Race." 
 Other highlights included: 
 ABOUT THAT OPENING. The opening for any Emmys telecast is perilous terrain, where good and not-so-good hosts stumble and flail through weak material that never quite captures the state of TV. Not so Sunday night: Host Neil Patrick Harris opened with a pretaped bit where he was overwhelmed by a tower of monitors -- and of babble -- reflecting the bewildering diversity of TV circa 2013: "It's more than entertainment, it's education," he deadpanned, as "Duck Dynasty" flashed on a screen -- then segued to hosts of recent Emmys past, with Jimmy Kimmel, Jane Lynch, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien appearing onstage. But the moment was stolen by nominee Kevin Spacey, from the audience, who observed to the camera (as he does in voice-over on "House of Cards"): "It's all going according to plan." Unclear what that meant, but it was still funny. 
 REMEMBRANCES. The Emmys this year made a controversial decision to break out "in memoriam" tributes to several stars who died during the past year -- controversial because "Glee's" Cory Monteith was among those to be honored, while major TV stars like Jack Klugman or Larry Hagman were not. Robin Williams honored Jonathan Winters ("a brilliant kid who never grew up"), and Rob Reiner closed his tribute to his "All in the Family" co-star Jean Stapleton with this: "Carroll [O'Connor] and Jean, I love you." Lynch said this of her "Glee" co-star: "This gifted and wonderful man was worthy of your love if you were lucky enough to witness his goofy, breezy sense of humor. . . . I promise you, you would have loved him even more." Finally, there was Edie Falco's moving tribute to "Sopranos" co-star James Gandolfini: "Over the years, I was particularly moved by Jim's devotion to his family and his fierce devotion to his friends. If you needed anything at all, ever, Jim was there to take care of it before you had a chance to ask . . . It's Jim, the man, the very dear man, that I will miss most of all." 
 A HALF-CENTURY AGO. Fifty years ago this November, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and Sunday night the Emmys attempted to suture together the horror of that moment with the joy of another, arriving just two and a half months later, when The Beatles appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Segue to Carrie Underwood singing "Yesterday" -- a nice, understated rendition, but it probably did little to explain why the Emmys chose to yoke these two disparate events into one unwieldy tribute. 
 PIANO MEN. Liberace, who once sued a tabloid for reporting that he was gay, got a tribute at the Emmys for essentially being a gay icon -- from one of the world's biggest. Elton John offered a memorable Emmy tribute to Liberace, even if it was unclear how the lyrics to the song he sang, "Home Again," referred exactly to the Sequined One.

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Emmys 2013 sees Jeff Daniels beat Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm

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Jeff Daniels won for best drama series actor for his portrayal of an idealistic TV anchorman in "The Newsroom," with Claire Danes capturing top actress honors for her troubled CIA agent in "Homeland." 
 Daniels noted that he'd also received an age 50-plus acting honor from AARP, which represents the interests of older Americans. 
 "With all due respect to the AARP, this is even better," Daniels said. 
 Danes, who captured her second trophy for the terrorism drama, paid tribute to one of the series' writers, Henry Bromell, who died last March and who received a writing Emmy posthumously Sunday. 
 The ceremony often struck a melancholy note with extended tributes to stars and other industry members who died in the past year. It also included upsets, defying the conventional wisdom in several categories, including acting categories. 
 "This just in. Nobody in America is winning their Emmy office pool. Surprises galore," host Neil Patrick Harris. 
 Danes' win ended the hopes that "Scandal" best actress nominee Kerry Washington would become the first African-American to win in the category since Cicely Tyson in 1995 for "Sweet Justice." 
 Julia Louis-Dreyfus claimed her second consecutive best comedy actress award for her role as an ambitious political second banana in "Veep," with Jim Parsons again claiming the top comedy acting trophy for "The Big Bang Theory." 
 "This is so much good fortune it's almost too much to bear," said Louis-Dreyfus. "I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to make people laugh. It's a joyful way to make a living." 
 Parsons added to the awards he won in 2011 and 2010 for the role of a science nerd. 
 "My heart, oh my heart. I want you to know I'm very aware of how exceedingly fortunate I am," he said. 
 Merritt Wever of "Nurse Jackie" won the night's first award, for best supporting actress in a comedy series, kicking off the ceremony on a surprising note and with a remarkably brief acceptance speech. 
 "Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Um, I got to go, bye," Wever told the audience after besting a field that included two-time winner Julie Bowen of "Modern Family." 
 "Merritt Wever, best speech ever," host Neil Patrick Harris said. 
 Backstage, she offered an explanation: "I'm sorry I didn't thank anyone. I was going to cry." 
 Tony Hale of "Veep" claimed the trophy for best supporting actor in a comedy, a category that has been the property in recent years of the men of "Modern Family." 
 "Oh, man.... This is mindblowing, mindblowing," Hale said. 
 Laura Linney was named best actress in a miniseries or movie for "The Big C: Hereafter." ''The Voice" won best reality-competition program, and Tina Fey won for writing "30 Rock." 
 Michael Douglas was honored as best actor for his portrayal of Liberace in "Behind the Candelabra," besting his co-star Matt Damon. The film also captured a top trophy as best movie or miniseries. 
 "This is a two-hander and Matt, you're only as good as your other hand," Douglas said, then got really racy: "You want the bottom or the top?" 
 Bobby Cannavale, from "Boardwalk Empire," won as best supporting actor in a drama, and Anna Gunn from "Breaking Bad" won the best actress award in the same category. 
 Derek Hough of "Dancing with the Stars" won the trophy for best choreography, which offered an opportunity to include an upbeat dance number late in the show. 
 In the variety show category, "The Colbert Report" broke a 10-year winning streak held by "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." It also won for best writing for a variety show. 
 The ceremony's first hour was relatively somber, with memorial tributes and a doleful song by Elton John in honor of the late musical star Liberace, the subject of the nominated biopic "Behind the Candelabra." 
 "Liberace left us 25 years ago and what a difference those years have made to people like me," said John, who is openly gay in contrast to the closeted Liberace portrayed in the TV movie. 
 Robin Williams offered another tribute. "Jonathan Winters was my mentor," Williams said of the actor-comedian. "I told him that and he said, 'Please, I prefer 'idol.'" 
 Also honored was Cory Monteith, the "Glee" star who died at age 31 in July of a drug and alcohol overdose. "His death is a tragic reminder of the rapacious, senseless destruction that is brought on by addiction," said his co-star Jane Lynch. 
 The inclusion of Monteith despite his abbreviated career and the exclusion of such enduring stars as Jack Klugman and Larry Hagman drew criticism from some. Adam Klugman, son of "The Odd Couple" actor, called his father's omission "criminal." 
 Edie Falco recalled her late "The Sopranos" co-star James Gandolfini, saluting him for his "fierce loyalty" to his friends and family and his work with military veterans. 
 "You all knew Jim the actor. I was lucky enough to know Jim the man," she said. 
 Harris started out the ceremony with help — and harassment — from past hosts including Jimmy Kimmel, Lynch and Conan O'Brien. When they started to squabble, nominee Kevin Spacey of the online show "House of Cards" got a close-up. 
 "It's all going according to my plan. I was promised the hosting job this year and they turned me down," Spacey said, channeling the scheming politician he plays on the digital series. 
 Diahann Carroll, the first African-American Emmy nominee in 1963 for "Naked City," created one of the night's most heartfelt moments when she took the stage with Washington and noted the importance of diversity in the industry and Emmys. 
 "Tonight, she better get this award," Carroll said of Washington, who covered her eyes in embarrassment. Danes' victory denied Washington a chance to end a 45-year drought for black women winning the best drama award. 
 All eyes were on "House of Cards" from Netflix. The political thriller, the first online program to compete for the top trophy, is part of a video universe explosion that's added streaming services including Netflix and websites like YouTube to broadcast, cable and satellite TV delivery. 
 ABC's "Modern Family" has the chance at its fourth consecutive best comedy series trophy. 
 "House of Cards" faces tough opposition. AMC's "Breaking Bad" is after its first best drama award as it nears the end of its five-season run, and "Mad Men" would like to claim a fifth honor to set a record for most wins in the category. 
 AMC's "Mad Men" is tied with past greats "Hill Street Blues," ''The West Wing," and "L.A. Law." Last year, Showtime's "Homeland" played spoiler by taking the trophy and is nominated again along with PBS' "Downton Abbey" and HBO's "Game of Thrones." 
 THE WINNERS 
 — Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie," Showtime. 
 — Writing, Comedy Series: Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, "30 Rock," NBC. 
 — Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Hale, "Veep," HBO. 
 — Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep," HBO. 
 — Directing, Comedy Series: Gail Mancuso, "Modern Family," ABC. 
 — Actor, Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS. 
 — Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter," Showtime. 
 — Writing, Drama Series: Henry Bromell, "Homeland," Showtime. 
 — Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad," AMC. 
 — Reality-Competition Program: "The Voice," NBC. 
 — Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire," HBO. 
 — Actor, Drama Series: Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom," HBO. 
 — Actress, Drama Series: Claire Danes, "Homeland," Showtime. 
 — Directing, Drama Series: David Fincher, "House of Cards," Netflix. 
 — Writing, Variety Series: "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central. 
 — Directing, Variety Series: Don Roy King, "Saturday Night Live, NBC." 
 — Variety Series: "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central. 
 — Choreography: Derek Hough, "Dancing With the Stars," ABC. 
 — Writing, Miniseries or Movie: Abi Morgan, "The Hour," BBC America. 
 — Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum," FX Networks. 
 — Directing, Miniseries or Movie: Steven Soderbergh, "Behind The Candelabra," HBO. 
 — Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals," USA. 
 — Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra," HBO. 
 — Miniseries or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra," HBO. 
 — Comedy Series: "Modern Family," ABC. 
 — Drama Series: "Breaking Bad," AMC.

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Emmy Awards 2013 winners include Jeff Daniels, Claire Danes, more

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We have arrived, friends, at the final Emmys 2013 pick/guesses -- the last entry in my weeklong series telling you who should win (but alas probably won't). 
 Good thing about this year's nominees? Not a piker in the bunch. They are all outstanding, and so if any of the following wins, no one should be surprised. With that, to our nominees ... 
 COMEDY SERIES: "The Big Bang Theory," CBS; "Girls," HBO; "Louie," FX; "Modern Family," ABC; "30 Rock," NBC; "Veep," HBO 
 Who will win: The past six years have been dominated by just two comedies, but even dominance eventually cracks, and for "Modern Family," this could well be that year. The winner is "The Big Bang Theory." 
 Who should win: "Louie," without question. But dark comedies -- and "Louie" is hardly always comic -- don't fare well here. Couple of "Girls" episodes merit a win, too, but like, "Louie" -- also produced in NYC, where there are fewer Academy voters -- this is a tough sale. 
 DRAMA SERIES: "Breaking Bad," AMC; "Downton Abbey," PBS; "Homeland," Showtime; "Game of Thrones," HBO; "House of Cards," Netflix; "Mad Men," AMC. 
 Who will win: "Homeland" had a so-so sophomore season, but voters hate to disawow their judgment, especially after crowning this with such gusto after its freshman season. Could be guilt over snubbing "Bad" for so long, but I fully believe it will prevail at the 66th Emmys, if not Sunday night. That's why the edge goes to ... "Homeland." 
 Who should win: "Game of Thrones." "Thrones" had a remarkable season (another one), but fantasy fiction is a tough sell to voters. I wouldn't mind seeing that long-overdue nod to "Bad," either -- and what a nice achievement to be awarded on the night your penultimate episode airs. &nbsp;

Emmys predictions: Best drama, comedy

Emmys 2013 best drama, best comedy predictions

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Newsday TV critic Verne Gay answered our burning Emmys and fall TV questions. 
 <a href="http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/emmy-nominees-2013-1.5717333" target="_blank">Check out the Emmys nominees here</a>. 
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Emmys 2013 live chat

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Now we're getting to where the rubber meets the road in our weeklong Emmy predictions series (word to the wise - do not bet the kids' milk money on these guesses): Best actor and actress!&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;Let's get straight to it, shall we? 
 LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES: Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey, PBS Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad, AMC Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom, HBO Jon Hamm, Mad Men, AMC Damian Lewis, Homeland, Showtime Kevin Spacey, House of Cards, Netflix 
 Who will win: In three years, three different winners in this category, which logic dictates Lewis will not repeat. Never trust anything as foolish as "logic" when it comes to the Emmys, but the winner is still...Kevin Spacey. 
 Who should win: Seriously? You have to ask? Jon Hamm. 
 LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES: Connie Britton, Nashville, ABC Claire Danes, Homeland, Showtime Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey, PBS Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel, A&amp;E Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men, AMC Kerry Washington, Scandal, ABC Robin Wright, House of Cards, Netflix 
 Who will win: Again, over the last three years, three different winners, which does not bode well for a Danes repeat. But not to worry, fans. She will. The winner: Claire Danes. 
 Who should win: Robin Wright. If anyone stands any chance of nudging aside Danes, she is the one to do it. A "House of Cards" twofer would match last year's "Homeland" top actor feat.

Emmys 2013 predictions: Best actor, actress

Emmys 2013 predictions, best actor, actress 

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The 65th annual Primetime Emmy Awards are almost upon us, so without further warning, here are my picks, along with the usual caveat: Don't bet the kids' milk money on this. (This is a guessing game, after all, and with the Emmys, you just never know.) The Sunday telecast originates from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (CBS/2 at 8 p.m.). (Red-carpet coverage begins at 5 p.m. on E!.) 
 COMEDY SERIES 
 "The Big Bang Theory," CBS 
 "Girls," HBO 
 "Louie," FX 
 "Modern Family," ABC 
 "30 Rock," NBC 
 "Veep," HBO 
 WHOW WILL WIN The past six years have been dominated by just two comedies ("Modern Family" and "30 Rock"), but even dominance eventually cracks, and for "Modern Family," this will be that year. The winner is "The Big Bang Theory." 
 WHO SHOULD WIN "Louie," without question. But dark comedies -- and "Louie" is hardly always comic -- don't fare well here. 
 DRAMA SERIES 
 "Breaking Bad," AMC 
 "Downton Abbey," PBS 
 "Homeland," Showtime 
 "Game of Thrones," HBO 
 "House of Cards," Netflix 
 "Mad Men," AMC 
 WHO WILL WIN "Homeland" had a so-so sophomore season, but voters hate to disavow their judgment, especially after crowning this with such gusto after the freshman season. There could be residual guilt over snubbing "Breaking Bad" for so long, but I fully believe it wins anyway at next year's Emmys. That's why the edge goes to ... "Homeland." 
 WHO SHOULD WIN "Game of Thrones." There is simply no contest here -- "Thrones" had a remarkable season (another one), but fantasy fiction is an almost impossibly tough sell to voters. 
 LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES 
 Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development," Netflix 
 Louis C.K., "Louie," FX 
 Don Cheadle, "House of Lies," Showtime 
 Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes," Showtime 
 Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS 
 Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock," NBC 
 WHO WILL WIN Emmy voters were in a mildly adventurous mood here last year (Jon Cryer) and may now be remorseful (he wasn't even nominated). Will they turn instead to old faves (Parsons, Baldwin)? Nah. Winner is Jason Bateman. 
 WHO SHOULD WIN Louis C.K., except that voters don't know whether to laugh or cry when watching. 
 LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES 
 Lena Dunham, "Girls," HBO 
 Laura Dern, "Enlightened," HBO 
 Tiny Fey, "30 Rock," NBC 
 Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation," NBC 
 Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep," HBO 
 Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie," Showtime 
 WHO WILL WIN Tough category because each nominee is perfectly solid, but when confronted with a very difficult choice, voters usually land on the default one. Winner is Julia Louis-Dreyfus. 
 WHO SHOULD WIN Can I ask for a tie here? If so, Dern and Dunham. But if pressed, I'll settle for Dunham because of the strength of her nominated episode, "Bad Friend." 
 LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES 
 Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey," PBS 
 Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad," AMC 
 Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom," HBO 
 Jon Hamm, "Mad Men," AMC 
 Damian Lewis, "Homeland," Showtime 
 Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards," Netflix 
 WHO WILL WIN Over the past three years, there have three different winners in this category, so logic dictates Lewis will not repeat. Never trust anything as foolish as "logic" when it comes to the Emmys, but the winner will be... Kevin Spacey. 
 WHO SHOULD WIN Seriously? You have to ask? Jon Hamm. 
 LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES 
 Connie Britton, "Nashville," ABC 
 Claire Danes, "Homeland," Showtime 
 Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey," PBS 
 Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel," A&amp;E 
 Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men," AMC 
 Kerry Washington, "Scandal," ABC 
 Robin Wright, "House of Cards," Netflix 
 WHO WILL WIN This category can surprise. Could Washington pull an upset? Dockery? Like the actor category, there have been three different winners over the past three years, which does not bode well for a Danes repeat. But not to worry, fans. She will. 
 WHO SHOULD WIN Robin Wright. If anyone stands a chance of stopping the Danes Express, Wright is the one to do it. A "House of Cards" twofer would match last year's "Homeland" top actor feat.

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Emmys predictions 2013: Kevin Spacey a clear winner

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The best actress and actor category in the 2013 65th Primetime Emmy Awards is possibly the most difficult to call of 'em all -- many fine candidates, only two will win. And let's get to those, shall we? 
 My picks: 
 LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES: Jason Bateman, Arrested Development, Netflix Louis C.K., Louie, FX Don Cheadle, House of Lies, Showtime Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, Showtime Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory, CBS Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, NBC 
 Who will win: Emmy voters were in a mildly adventurous mood here last year (Jon Cryer) and may now be remorseful. (He wasn't even nominated.) Will they instead turn to old faves (Parsons, Baldwin)? Nah. Winner is Jason Bateman. 
 Who should win: Louis C.K., except that voters don't know whether to laugh or cry when watching. 
 LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES: Lena Dunham, Girls, HBO Laura Dern, Enlightened, HBO Tiny Fey, 30 Rock, NBC Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation, NBC Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie, Showtime 
 Who will win: Tough category because each nominee is perfectly solid, but when confronted with a very difficult choice, voters usually land on the default one. Winner is Julia Louis-Dreyfus. 
 Who should win: Can I ask for a tie here? If so, Dern and Dunham, however if pressed, I'll settle for Dunham because of the strength of her nominated episode, "Bad Friend."

Emmys predictions: Best lead in a comedy

Emmys 2013 predictions, best actor, actress comedy series

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Welcome to movies, miniseries and -- what the heck -- let's do reality and variety series too, in today's Emmys' picks. The minis category is always a good one, thanks to HBO. And as you will notice below, HBO will most assuredly will win something this Sunday. 
 LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE: Michael Douglas, "Behind The Candelabra," HBO; Matt Damon, "Behind The Candelabra," HBO; Toby Jones, "The Girl," HBO; Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End," HBO; Al Pacino, "Phil Spector," HBO 
 Who will win: Not as easy as this looks here, and -- in fact, this may be the most interesting category in Emmy-Dom this year. Really, this is down to just two -- Douglas or Damon -- but either choice works. 
 Who should win: Douglas. Remarkable performance that never once fell to the level of mimicry or gimmickry. Doesn't mean Douglas didn't ham it up in parts, but then how could he resist? 
 LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE: Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story," FX; Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter," Showtime; Helen Mirren," Phil Spector," HBO; Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals," USA; Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake," Sundance Channel 
 Who will win: Imagine the poor, harried, crazed voters agonizing over this one? But, at the end of the day, they will punch the ticket for Sigourney Weaver, if only because her political suasion in this mini so clearly matches their own. 
 Who should win: Elisabeth Moss. No one seems to realize that her work in "Top of the Lake" often exceeded (or is, at the very least, was as good as) her work in "Mad Men." 
 MINISERIES OR MOVIE: "American Horror Story: Asylum," FX; "Behind the Candelabra," HBO; "Phil Spector," HBO; "Political Animals," USA; "The Bible," The History Channel; "History Top of the Lake," Sundance Channel 
 What will win: Simply no contest here. The sequined one walks away with it. 
 What should win: "Animals" doesn't really belong here; "AHS" had an uneven season (some really good episodes, some really not good episodes), "Phil Spector" was silly; "The Bible" was good in parts, way over the top in others; "Top of the Lake" was relentlessly grim under that wide blue New Zealand sky. Leaving ... just one: "Candelabra." 
 REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM: "The Amazing Race," CBS; "Dancing With the Stars," ABC; "Project Runway," Lifetime; "So You Think You Can Dance," Fox; "Top Chef," Bravo; "The Voice," NBC 
 Who will win: "The Amazing Race" 
 Who should win: "The Voice" This is a category in need of fixin'. Nothing against "Amazing," which is a fine television show, but I have long held the belief that voters have an inherent bias against unscripted, and consider it beneath their dignity as TV professionals. So they go for the lesser of evils: "Amazing Race." It's not a wrong choice but you wonder if they bother to watch some of the other worthy contenders here, like "SYTYCD"? 
 VARIETY SERIES: "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central; "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central; "Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC; "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," NBC; Real Time With Bill Maher," HBO; "Saturday Night Live," NBC 
 Who will win: "The Daily Show" 
 Who should win: "The Colbert Report" and for a whole bunch of reasons — some of them dating back years. "Colbert" deserves a win here big time, and the failure of the Academy to recognize this show represents a failure of either imagination or thinking outside of the obvious box, which in this instance has enclosed — for over a decade — you-know-what. It's a good box, but try another one sometime.

Emmys predictions: Douglas' Liberace should win

Emmys predictions 2013: Movie/miniseries, reality show, variety

liberace cropped

The Emmys' telecast "In Memoriam" feature -- forever a staple of the show and not immune to controversy given the weight accorded, or not, to those honored -- will offer expanded tributes to several major industry figures, including James Gandolfini and "All in the Family's" Jean Stapleton.&nbsp; 
 Cory Monteith, who died over the summer, will also get an expanded tribute, and one wonders whether pressure to give him a big tribute on the show led to this unusual break in format. Typically (as you are aware) industry figures who died during the preceeding year are part of a lengthy tribute reel, but rarely is anyone accorded special treatment. &nbsp;2013 was certainly an unusual year -- Monteith's death was a blow to the solar plexus of &nbsp;not only "Glee" fans but pretty much any TV fan. But should he have received &nbsp;a special tribute when (say) Stapleton is relegated to a tribute reel? It's unclear whether that idea was ever on the table, but there were trade reports that indicated CBS and the Academy were under pressure to do something special for the 31-year old who died of a drug overdose in a Vancouver hotel room..&nbsp; 
 Here's how it'll work now, per CBS:&nbsp; 
 "The telecast producers have selected five individuals who warrant special recognition. To honor them, close friends and co-workers have been invited to provide personal tributes which will be presented during the ceremony, held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles and telecast live on Sunday, Sept. 22, (8:00 PM, ET / 5:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network. Those who will provide special tributes include Edie Falco, who will remember “Sopranos” co-star James Gandolfini; Michael J. Fox, who will pay tribute to “Family Ties” producer Gary David Goldberg; Jane Lynch will remember her friend and “Glee” co-star Cory Monteith; Rob Reiner will pay tribute to his long-time “All in the Family” cast member Jean Stapleton; and Robin Williams will remember his friend and mentor Jonathan Winters (“Mork and Mindy”).

Emmys expands tributes for Gandolfini, Monteith

Emmys to expand 'in memoriam' tributes for James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith, others

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Welcome to TVZone's annual rehash of the Emmy &nbsp;nominations, where you will learn: What the surprises were; 2.) Who got snubbed; 3.) How ridiculous some of the nominations were; and 4.) What's Bugging Gay This Time: 
 Lead actor in a drama series Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"; Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"; Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"; Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"; Damian Lewis, "Homeland" 
 My say: Pretty much as expected, although I thought there might be a couple of surprises here -- I like Ving Rhames, for example, and projected a nom for him; and Jonny Lee Miller, too. But they were long shots. Everyone here deserves to be here, and while I hate to make predictions this early. Kevin Spacey is probably the front-runner. (Always remember -- Emmy voters love big movie actors; it makes them feel better about what they do.). I hope and pray in my small way for a Jon Hamm victory however. 
 Lead actress in a drama series Connie Britton, "Nashville"; Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"; Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"; Kerry Washington, "Scandal"; Robin Wright, "House of Cards" 
 My say: Farmiga. Seriously? No Julianna Margulies? Seriously? This is a confounding category. Sure, yours truly accurately called most of these save Margulies in my Emmys wrap Monday, but this is a hugely exciting category and I sort of wished the Emmy voters had been a little less doctrinaire, or by the book. Keri Russell of "The Americans" was brilliant and should have been on this; same with Tatiana Maslany of "Orphan Black."&nbsp; 
 Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or a movie Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"; Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"; Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"; Toby Jones, "The Girl"; Al Pacino, "Phil Spector" 
 My say: Perfect picks, though I honestly think Pacino's presence here is due to name value as opposed to performance value; "Spector" was not good. 
 Outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or a movie Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"; Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter"; Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"; Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"; Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals" 
 My say: USA marketed "Political Animals" as aggressively as any show on TV this past year; even though a.) it was boilerplate; b.) the audience largely rejected ti. 
 Drama series "Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," "House of Cards," "Homeland," "Mad Men" 
 My say: "House of Cards" was on everyone's list as a likely nominee, and by being here really truly establishes Netflix's entry into the major leagues. This is just a phenomenal score for Netflix and a validation of the strategy that HBO fashioned so many years ago: If you build a smart, well-acted, well-produced show, viewers will come. 
 Comedy series "30 Rock," "The Big Bang," "Girls," "Louie," "Modern Family," "Veep" 
 My say: Obviously, this was an easy category for voters to, umm, vote on. But many of us Professional Emmy Watchers out there really figured "Arrested Development" would be here, too. In fact, that was the genesis of all those "Year of Netflix" stories you've seen everywhere the last few days. This is not quite an oversight, but I still think "AD" deserves to be here, even though many critics turned against it almost immediately; I suspect that's why it got snubbed in the end. Besides, who are you going to knock off this list? "Veep?" Not likely. It had a brilliant season, and I'll bet it could even upset "Modern Family," which did not. 
 Miniseries or movie "American Horror Story," "Behind the Candelabra," "The Bible," "Phil Spector," "Political Animals," "Top of the Lake" 
 My say: Oh for crying out loud, this is just plain silly. Or mostly just plain silly. "Candelabra" and "Lake" belong here; the others do not. (OK, maybe "Bible" does -- if only because it was so ambitious, and had some well-done things; but it was also very clunky and corny at times, and .?.?. wait, shows can only be reviewed once.) &nbsp;Who got snubbed? Without question, in my humble opinion, "Parade's End." 
 Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"; Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad"; Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"; Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"; Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"; Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland" 
 My say: Just about perfect. But give me a second, I'm sure I'll find an imperfection. 
 Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"; Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"; Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones"; Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"; Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"; Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" 
 Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"; Louis C.K., "Louie"; Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"; Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"; Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" 
 My say: Here's the thing: Fox had a terrible morning. Nothing for "The Mindy Project;" nothing for "New Girl." That's terribly deflating and even more so when Jake Johnson gets bumped off this list. Everyone thought he was secure, but everyone was wrong. 
 Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series Laura Dern, "Enlightened"; Lena Dunham, "Girls"; Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"; Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"; Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation" 
 My say: Again, the "New Girl" snub is a bit confounding. The show really got its legs last season, so the neglect here would appear to be counterintuitive at the very least. The thing is, you have a very, very strong slate here. Do you really want to drop Falco off this? I don't think so. Louis-Dreyfus? She's the immediate past winner. Dern, who I expected, also absolutely deserved this, and could even win. If you never saw "Enlightened," you missed a show that grew and grew (Mike White? Snubbed!). Dern was terrific and may well pull down a win come September. In fact, that's my call: Dern wins. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series Adam Driver, "Girls"; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"; Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"; Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"; Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"; Tony Hale, "Veep" 
 My say: The supporting actor category has been dominated by "Mad Men" for years, if only because the show is so steadfast is putting leads on the ballot as "supporting" as opposed to leads. I supposes this is "Family's" way of keeping peace in the house. 
 Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"; Jane Lynch, "Glee,"; Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"; Julie Bowen, "Modern Family," Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"; Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"; Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"&nbsp; 
 My say: All good and all absolutely expected. This is the least surprising list of the day.

Emmy nominations: Snubs and surprises

Emmy Awards nominations 2013 snubs and surprises

will arnett -- cropped edf

Netflix. 
There, in a word, is your wrap of the 65th annual Emmy Awards nominations announced Thursday. Four huge nods -- best drama ("House of Cards"), best actor (Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards") and actress/drama (Robin Wright, "House of Cards"), and best actor/sitcom (Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development") -- and just like that, Netflix has busted into the most exclusive club in television.
The Emmy arrival of this DVD-rental mail order start-up that nearly went up in flames a few years ago does, in fact, feel more like a watershed moment than a fluke -- like when Fox broke in, then HBO, and later, AMC. Netflix isn't even "TV," really, in the traditional sense, but something almost wild and woolly, where people get lost for hours trolling through old series and movies. 
Traditional "linear TV" this is not, but Thursday tradition took a hard hit. When the awards ceremony arrives Sept. 22, it could take another: Both Spacey and Wright already are considered front-runners, if not prohibitive favorites, to win.
Otherwise, these nominations pretty much followed script. There were snubs and surprises (always are) but for the most part, the usual suspects lined up exactly where they were expected to. 
Under the "surprise" heading was Fox, which had a blisteringly bad morning, with both "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project" nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Vera Farmiga ("Bates Motel") came out of nowhere to land a nomination for best actress.
Now, on to Sept. 22 and the Nokia Theatre, where more surprises may await.
<h3>And the nominees are... BEST DRAMA"Breaking Bad," AMC"Downton Abbey," PBS"Game of Thrones," HBO"Homeland," Showtime "House of Cards," Netflix "Mad Men," AMC BEST COMEDY"The Big Bang Theory," CBS "Girls," HBO "Louie," FX Networks "Modern Family," ABC "30 Rock," NBC "Veep," HBO BEST ACTOR, DRAMA Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"Damian Lewis, "Homeland"Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"BEST ACTRESS, DRAMAVera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"Claire Danes, "Homeland"Robin Wright, "House of Cards"Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"Connie Britton, "Nashville"Kerry Washington, "Scandal"BEST ACTOR, COMEDY Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"Louis C.K., "Louie"Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY Laura Dern, "Enlightened"Lena Dunham, "Girls"Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"Tina Fey, "30 Rock"Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"</h3>

ETEMMY19

Tradition takes a hit in Emmy nominations

American Horror Story: Asylum cropped

As the Academy of Television Arts &amp; Sciences gets set for Thursday's 8:15 a.m. prime-time Emmy nominations announcement, there is much speculation about surprises and new entries. Netflix, for example, is widely expected to get best drama and best comedy nods for "House of Cards" and "Arrested Development" and at this point, if they don't get them it will be a surprise. 
 But the most exciting major category this year is for best actress in a drama. I can't remember a season when there have been so many qualified candidates, so few places (six) to honor them. Obviously you will see repeat customers Thursday morning — Claire Danes and Julianna Margulies, for example, and new arrivals, like Kerry Washington. But don't be surprised if a handful of new names arrive. Robin Wright, for example, deserves to be here (maybe even deserves to win). 
 &nbsp;But so does this particularly intriguing newcomer: 
 Tatiana Maslany. 
 Remember the name, for it is one to be reckoned with. The 27-year old Canadian actress is star of BBC America's Canadian production of "Orphan Black," about a woman who has been cloned multiple times. Her performance is remarkable as the aforementioned can only hint at: She acts the part of each of her clones — soccer mom, detective, and on and on — as well as the part of the lead, Sarah Manning, who also assumes the identity of one of her clones. 
 Will Maslany and her clones get a nod tomorrow? I think the odds are much better than 50/50. If there was justice in the Emmy nomination process — honestly, there really isn't — she'd be a cinch. But even given the question of justice (or lack thereof), this is an extremely tough category. So many actresses who deserve to be here, so few spots. 
 But she may be one of the happy surprises. Here's a good &nbsp;(recent) interview, if you want to catch up on Maslany. 
 <iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GjlnFysWomk" width="560"></iframe>

'Orphan Black's' Maslany: Emmys shocker?

Emmy surprises? How about this one: 'Orphan Black's' Tatiana Maslany

orphan black cropped

Think of Emmy nominations as a game of musical chairs, and when the music stops... only so many seats left. Or another way of putting this: The nominations for the 65th Primetime Emmys are out Thursday morning, and expect most of the nominees from the 64th to repeat. 
 But there will be surprises -- that's a guarantee -- filling a few of the open chairs. And with that, on to my predictions: 
 BEST COMEDY 
 "Modern Family" (ABC); "Girls" (HBO); "Arrested Development" (Netflix); "Louie" (FX); "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS); "30 Rock" (NBC) 
 My say "30 Rock," again! But how could it not be here (nominated for every year on the air), particularly after the excellent final season? The key addition will be "Arrested Development," as the Emmys embrace Netflix. "Veep," despite a great season, gets overlooked. 
 Possible surprise "Veep" doesn't get overlooked! Plus, a possible nod for "The Mindy Project." 
 ACTRESS (COMEDY) 
 Tina Fey ("30 Rock"); Zooey Deschanel ("New Girl"); Lena Dunham ("Girls"); Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep"); Amy Poehler ("Parks &amp; Recreation"); Laura Dern ("Enlightened") 
 My say A facsimile list from 2012 with one obvious exception -- yes, Laura Dern, who, I think, convinces Emmy voters that if the Globes got it right, so can they. 
 Possible surprise Will this be the year Mindy Kaling ("The Mindy Project") gets her first acting nomination? Very possible, which may mean either Dern or Deschanel gets edged off this list. 
 ACTOR (COMEDY) 
 Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"); Don Cheadle ("House of Lies"); Jim Parsons ("Big Bang Theory"); Louis C.K. ("Louie"); Jake Johnson ("New Girl"), Jason Bateman ("Arrested Development") 
 My say Another category with almost no breathing room for newbies. And where's Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men"), who won last year? But I suspect the Academy is so enamored of "A.D." that Bateman -- who was last nominated in 2005 for the original version -- will find a way back in here. 
 Possible surprise Can't imagine what it would be, unless Johnson gets dropped, which seems unlikely. Highly. 
 BEST DRAMA 
 "Breaking Bad" (AMC); "Game of Thrones" (HBO); "Mad Men" (AMC); "Homeland" (Showtime); "Downton Abbey" (PBS); "House of Cards" (Netflix) 
 My say The Year of Netflix continues, with "House of Cards" breaking into the nominee's circle. 
 Possible surprise Could BBC America's "Orphan Black" or FX's "The Americans" break into this tight little circle? I don't think so -- yet. Emmy voters often take care of good shows by rewarding their leads in other categories. That may happen this year, while these two (and others) wait for "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" to finally leave the air. 
 ACTOR (DRAMA) 
 Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"); Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"); Ving Rhames ("Monday Mornings"); Kevin Spacey ("House of Cards"); Jeff Daniels ("The Newsroom"); Jonny Lee Miller ("Elementary") 
 My say Finally, a shake-up. Or maybe a shake-up -- I'm probably in the minority here, but I see Miller and Rhames busting in (they certainly deserve to), and Spacey, who is a dead certainty to join. Michael C. Hall ("Dexter") is finally dropped. 
 Possible surprise Hall is not dropped, and he returns for another Emmy tease. 
 ACTRESS (DRAMA) 
 Kerry Washington ("Scandal"); Claire Danes ("Homeland"); Connie Britton ("Nashville"); Keri Russell ("The Americans"); Robin Wright ("House of Cards"); Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife") 
 My say I'm expecting some fun, exciting changes this year, and all you have to do is look at my list to see how fun/exciting. Washington! Britton! Russell! Wright! This is this year's best category, or at least most competitive category I'm most excited about -- by far. With so many worthy contenders on so many shows, 2013 is the Year of the Actress. 
 Possible surprises Tatiana Maslany ("Orphan Black"), Michelle Dockery ("Downton Abbey") or Khandi Alexander ("Treme") could sneak in.

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