2012 Emmy Predictions: Best Lead Actress In A Drama Series

And the nominees are:

- Kathy Bates (Harry Korn) in Harry's Law
- Claire Danes (Carrie Mathison) in Homeland
- Glenn Close (Patty Hewes) in Damages
- Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crowley) in Downton Abbey
- Elisabeth Moss (Peggy Olson) in Mad Men
- Julianna Margulies (Alicia Florrick) in The Good Wife

MY REACTION TO THE NOMINATIONS:

Despite all the sexism in Mad Men, the show is one of the best feminist, pro-women shows ever on television. The 1960's was an amazing time in our country not only for Blacks but also for women and Matthew Weiner sure as hell puts that on display throughout his show. The symbolism for the woman's movement is shown through Peggy Olson and, as always, Elisabeth Moss delivers another amazing season... What can I say about Claire Danes for her amazing performance as Carrie Mathison? Mathison suffers from bi-polarism and boy howdy does she play both manic and depressive and everything in between as the lead in Homeland. A great rookie year for all in the show and a great year for Danes.... Despite how boring and dreadful I thought Season Two of Downton Abbey was there were some really great performances. Michelle Dockery as Mary Crowley gets the most screen time as if you like the show you have to credit a lot of that to her. Truthfully, I never watched Dockery on screen and thought to myself, "Wow, she's just amazing" but in a truly weak category she really is one of the best. However, she's a far #3 behind Danes and Moss... I do not watch Damages or Harry's Law. But then again neither do Emmy voters or the rest of America... I don't have an excuse why I don't watch The Good Wife, except that I'm not a middle aged woman. From what I've heard The Good Wife is the best cable drama on television but that doesn't mean anything considered how amazing the programming on AMC, FX, HBO, Showtime, and others are... Like the movies, there are just very few roles for women and that shows in television and this category as well. If you look at the eligible nominations for this category you will notice that this category as a lot less candidates than most of the other candidates.

If I Had An Emmy Vote:

- Elisabeth Moss (Peggy Olson) in Mad Men
- Michelle Dockey (Lady Mary Crawley) in Downton Abbey
- Elizabeth McGovern (Cora, Countess of Grantham) in Downton Abbey
- Claire Danes (Carrie Mathison) in Homeland

MAJOR SNUBS:

While I watch a crap ton of T.V. and (at least what I think) a crap ton of good T.V. it just so happens that I do not watch a ton of shows with good leading ladies. Or really any leading ladies. Believe me, this is not because I'm sexist but it is because most of the best shows have men in the leading role or if the show does star a female then the show is just not very good.  If Lena Headey actually wanted to get an Emmy nomination it would be best for her to throw her name with the big boys (or "girls" shall I say), but since she is only eligible for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role she's not a snub (for this category this year) Same could be said about Anna Gunn. (Although Gunn might win a Emmy this year)

Also, I'm extremely glad that Jessica Pare (who played Megan Calvet) in Mad Men did NOT get a nomination. I know the blogosphere was HUGE on Megan this season and adored her but I thought the weakest episodes and story lines of the season surrounded Megan and I don't think it was a coincidence that when Megan's role diminished the show got better. It seems that the Emmy voters agreed with me on this one as she was one of the only actors from Mad Men to NOT earn an acting nomination.

WHO WILL WIN / WHO DESERVES TO WIN:

- Who Will Win: Claire Danes
- Who Deserves To Win: Claire Danes

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2012 Emmy Predictions: Best Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

And the nominees are:

- Tina Fey (Liz Lemon) in 30 Rock
- Zooey Deschanel (Jessica Day) in New Girl
- Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope) in Parks and Recreation
- Lena Dunham (Hannah Horvath) in Girls
- Julia-Louis Dreyfus (Selina Meyer) in Veep
- Melissa McCarthy (Molly Flynn) in Mike and Molly
- Edie Falco (Jackie Peyton) in Nurse Jackie

MY REACTION TO THE NOMINATIONS:

SEVEN NODS?! Really Emmys? This is a tad ridiculous... I enjoyed 30 Rock this season and Liz Lemon had some great moments (especially the episode where she "turns into" The Joker and Jack Donaghy as Batman/The Tuxedo) but my biggest frustration with Liz Lemon was not Fey's acting but the way Fey choose to write for her character. I would have liked to see her develop and change but for most of the season she did not... I love New Girl and while the show was at its best when it focused on Schmidt and Nick and less on Jess, Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day was still really funny and Deschanel is always fun to watch. Even when being forced to watch "Yes Man"... Amy Poehler is just amazing and Leslie Knope is just amazing. Pick an awesome adjective and that describes Amy Poehler and Leslie Knope... While I did not consistently watch Mike and Molly this year I find it hard to believe that Melissa McCarthy and her character did anything better or worse than what she did throughout her entire show's run (this is based on the limited episodes I've seen of her this season and the type of show she is on). She was hilarious in Bridesmaids but I think that momentum will not go past this year. In fact, if she didn't win this award last year I don't think she would have been nominated this year... I've heard Girls is an amazing show and I probably should watch it but alas I did not. I guess a show entitled "Girls" about four early 20-somethings living in New York does not appeal to the heterosexual male in me... I also don't watch Nurse Jackie or Veep but I'm not going to make any excuses about it and I probably will never watch the shows.

If I Had An Emmy Ballot:

- Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope) in Parks and Recreation
- Tina Fey (Liz Lemon) in 30 Rock
- Zooey Deschanel (Jessica Day) in New Girl
- Lea Michelle (Rachel Berry) in Glee
- Martha Plimpton (Virginia Chase) in Raising Hope
- Christina Applegate (Reagan Brinkley) in Up All Night

MAJOR SNUBS:

Another category where the list of eligible nominations is thin and weak (you'll see what I am talking about when I post my Lead Actress in a Drama Series post). I don't think there are any snubs but I do like Martha Plimpton and Christina Applegate in Raising Hope and Up All Night, respectively. While I do not particularly care for either of the shows, I do think both actresses are very funny in them.

WHO WILL WIN / WHO SHOULD WIN:

Who Will Win: Lena Dunham
Who Should Win: Amy Poehler

This I think is another tough category to predict. Edie Falco won this award two years ago, but I think that was more of a "you were awesome on The Sopranos and while we didn't see Nurse Jackie you're probably good in it" pick and I don't think she'll ever win again for Nurse Jackie. Melissa McCarthy won this award last year but she was coming off of an amazing, Oscar-nominated performance in "Bridesmaids" and since the Emmy's have Little Brother Syndrome to the Oscars and movies and general, Melissa won based off of her movie role and not her T.V. role. But I don't think she repeats. With the quality of T.V. and new T.V. getting better, I think the Emmys are catching up to that. "Girls" is not only extremely well received but Dunham also received an Emmy nominations for both writing and directing Girls and I think her talent will (at least) be rewarded in this category. Although if the Emmys continue to have Little Brother Syndrome (which I don't think they will this year) then Deschanel as this award locked down and its not close.

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