The 2014 Emmys are fast approaching, and we have broken down all the Drama and Comedy acting categories for you, so you can go wager all your life savings on our infallible picks. (Don't actually do that.)
ACTOR IN A DRAMA
THE CONTENDERS: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad; Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (won last year); Matthew McConaughey, True Detective; Kevin Spacey, House of Cards; Woody Harrelson, True Detective
WHO SHOULD WIN: Bryan Cranston
Not only do we have indisuptable proof that
Breaking Bad was the best series finale in the history of television-no seriously, you told us that!-but Cranston is arguably the best actor ever to grace the small screen. If he wins this year, it will be his fourth win in a row. And you know what? He deserves that! No one else made us feel as many intense emotions as Bryan Cranston's Walter White this past TV season, so the trophy should be his, to take to his grave. RIP, Walt. Thanks for the memories. And the emotional gut-punches.
WHO WILL WIN: Matthew McConaughey
Alright, alright, alright. (Why does that never get old?) As much as Cranston's kick-assery is undeniable, we also can't deny the fact that Matthew McConaughey is a huge movie star who did one singular year of TV (which deserves to be honored), and his role on
True Detective was pretty much an Emmy reel, front to finish. We get it, Matthew, you CAN ACT! Also, he just won the Oscar earlier this year for Dallas Buyers Club, and surely the Emmy voters would love the attention that would come with having Matthew McConaughey up on that stage, collecting his very first Emmy.
True Detective also just won the Casting category, so if there's anyone that even Walter White can't take out, it's this guy.
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
THE CONTENDERS: Claire Danes, Homeland; Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Robin Wright, House of Cards; Kerry Washington, Scandal; Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey; Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex
WHO SHOULD WIN AND WHO WILL WIN: Julianna Margulies
Our fingers have a
Hard Time even working when trying to type out words about the PTSD we are stilll experiencing over the death of [Spoiler Alert...But seriously, do you still not know?] on The Good Wife. Julianna's flawless, even, multi-layered portrayal of Alicia was shockingly shut out of the running last year altogether, and chance are, Emmy voters will right that wrong with a category win. It was The Good Wife's best season yet, and Julianna's best work yet, and she must be recognized. Even if she is on (gasp!) network TV.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
The Contenders: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad; Jim Carter, Downton Abbey; Jon Voight, Ray Donovan; Josh Charles, The Good Wife; Mandy Patinkin, Homeland; Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
WHO SHOULD WIN: Josh Charles
Honestly, the guy should win just for keeping the best-kept secret ever in the history of TV spoilers: That his character would, well, you-know-what on The Good Wife. (Seriously, does anyone still not know?!) You might think we're being overly sentimental to put his name in here that he deserves to win, because it's his last chance ever, and because Alicia and Will will never (sob!) get the happy ending they deserve, and well...You'd probably be right. Still, no one is better (or sexier) clearing someone's desk in a fit of rage, and no one evoked more emotions in TV fans this season than one Mr. Josh Charles. So we would love to see him take the stage.
WHO WILL WIN: Aaron Paul
There's a reason he went from being a short-lived guest star to the guy who literally defined what
Breaking Bad was ultimately all about (the relationship between his character and Walter White): Aaron Paul is an insanely good actor. All gushing about Josh Charles aside (it's just...that moment when we saw his shoe!), Aaron Paul deserves one final award for his portrayal of Jesse Pinkman and chances are, he will get it.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
THE CONTENDERS: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey; Christina Hendricks, Mad Men; Joanne Froggart, Downton Abbey; Christine Baranski, The Good Wife; Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
WHO WILL WIN AND WHO SHOULD WIN: Anna Gunn
Anna won her first Emmy last year and she's like to do it again, given that it's Breaking Bad's swan song, and there aren't any bright, new shiny contenders to bump her out of the mix. Plus, her epic final phone conversation with Walter White can't ever be etched out of our memories. So heartbreaking! Next year, Christine Baranski should win, since she never has for The Good Wife. But we'll start bitching and moaning about that then, and celebrate the awesomeness that is Anna Gunn now.
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
CONTENDERS: Lena Dunham (Girls); Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie); Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep); Melissa McCarthy (Mike and Molly); Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation); Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black)
SHOULD WIN: Amy Poehler. We have to sit down and take a deep breath every time we go to write this, but Amy Poehler has never won an acting Emmy ever ever ever and it's just so wrong we can't help but write in run-on sentences that never end because we can't even fathom how she can be so brilliant and so funny and even win a freaking Golden Globe and HOST
The Golden Globes and write and produce and star in one of the best TV comedies of all time and never have received an Emmy and we can't breathe so we'd better stop talking now.
WILL WIN: Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She's won for times before. She has a total of 16 nominations. She's funny and the Academy, apparently loves her. So JL-D is the one to beat.
DARK HORSE: Taylor Schilling.
Orange is the New Black isn't laugh-out-loud funny (much), but Schilling absolutely slayed us with her season-two performance. And given that OITNB received 12 nominations, and already won three awards, Schilling could squeak by with a win!
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
CONTENDERS: Don Cheadle (House of Lies); Louis C.K. (Louie); Ricky Gervais (Derek); Matt LeBlanc (Episodes); William H. Macy (Shameless); Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
SHOULD WIN: Louis C.K. He pulled in a record number of Emmy nominations last year, including acting, but has yet to win this category. No one works harder than Louis CK, and no one is willing to do the ridiculously awful and embarrassing things that he does on television, all for our entertainment benefit. Give him that statue!
WILL WIN: Jim Parsons. His comedy skills are worth, apparently, $90 million dollars. And while at this point, we can't imagine that another shiny trophy to put on his mantel means much of anything to Parsons (just kidding...not really), he is most likely going to take home another win. His fourth straight win in a row.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
CONTENDERS: Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory); Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Allison Janney (Mom); Kate Mulgrew (Orange Is the New Black); Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live); Anna Chlumsky (Veep)
SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN: Allison Janney. CBS' Mom is the most underrated comedy around, and Janney is doing some excellent work, which likely will be rewarded. If she wins, the West Wing vet will take home two Emmys this year. She already won for her gripping and heart-wrenching performance as a guest star on Showtime's Masters of Sex.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
CONTENDERS: Fred Armisen (Portlandia); Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine); Ty Burrell (Modern Family); Adam Driver (Girls); Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family);
Tony Hale (Veep)
SHOULD WIN AND WILL WIN: Tony Hale. Loose seal! Loose seal! Sorry, we loved him even more when he only had one arm on Arrested Development, but this category is Tony's to lose, thanks to his hilarious performance on HBO's Veep. He won last year, and pretty much cemented another win when he played a version of his character and held Julia Louis-Dreyfus' purse as she accepted her own award. Perhaps the show's best moment.
DARK HORSE: Andre Braugher
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