The 2013 Primetime Emmy Awards

2013 Primetime Emmy Awards:  Who Will/Should Win

Tonight is the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.  It is going to be hosted by awards show favorite Neil Patrick Harris.  All signs point to this being Breaking Bad's night as it begins the first part of what is sure to be a two part victory lap for it's final season.  There are always surprises to be had though, remember when James Spader beat out James Gandolfini in his final performance as Tony Soprano?  So, let's take a look at each of the major races and I'll give you my predictions on who will win and who I feel should win (if there is a difference).

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Vera 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

Will Win:  The Emmy's are notorious for latching onto something like a dog with a bone and rewarding it over and over and over again, whether it deserves it or not.  That being said, if Claire Danes takes her second consecutive Emmy, it is well deserved.  Danes' portrayal of CIA analyst Carrie Mathison only deepened and became more well rounded in the Showtime dramas second season.  She is the clear front runner.

Should Win:  If there is one spoiler in this race, it is Kerry Washington.  She is the first woman of color to be nominated in this category in 18 years and if she wins, she will be the first woman of color to ever win.  This, coupled with her powerhouse performance as DC fixer and sometime Presidential mistress, Olivia Pope, could be enough to give her the win over Danes.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad

Hugh Bonneville - Downton Abbey

Damian Lewis - Homeland

Kevin Spacey - House of Cards

Jon Hamm - Mad Men

Jeff Daniels - The Newsroom

Will/Should Win:  This is Bryan Cranston's race to lose.  Last years nominees could breathe a sigh of relief since Cranston wasn't eligible, but this year they should all be practicing their gracious loser faces.    This is probably the most competitive race of the night and there is a small chance that Lewis or Hamm could upset, but all eyes will be on Walter White.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Anna Gunn - Breaking Bad

Maggie Smith - Downton Abbey

Emilia Clarke - Game of Thrones

Morena Baccarin - Homeland

Christina Hendricks - Mad Men

Christine Baranski - The Good Wife

Will/Should Win:  Playing Walter White's wife is a thankless job, and no one knows that better than front runner, Anna Gunn.  People hate on you and judge you, because  your husband is the dreaded anti-hero.  Emmy night should finally make all that internet trolling worth it, once Gunn walks away with her first Emmy.  That being said, nothing is for sure, and Maggie Smith could potentially steal this away.

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

Will/Should Win:  Remember how I said that this was going to be Breaking Bad's night?  I wasn't joking.  Aaron Paul should easily walk away with his third Emmy Award for playing unraveling accomplice, Jesse Pinkman.  Bitch.

Outstanding Drama Series

Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey

Game of Thrones

Homeland

House of Cards

Mad Men

Will/Should Win:  It's almost inconceivable that, despite four previous nominations, Breaking Bad has never won the Emmy for best drama.  You should expect the losing streak to end tonight when Bad caps off it's Emmy night with a win in this category.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Tina Fey - 30 Rock

Laura Dern - Enlightened

Lena Dunham - Girls

Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie

Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation

Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep

Will/Should Win: It should prove to be another repeat win in this category with Louis-Dreyfus taking home Emmy gold for her portrayal of acid tongued, VP, Selina Meyer on the HBO comedy.  There is a chance that Tina Fey could sneak in and steal it away for 30 Rock's farewell season.  This is a race to watch.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock

Jason Bateman - Arrested Development

Matt LeBlanc - Episodes

Don Cheadle - House of Lies

Louis C.K. - Louie

Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory

Will Win:  The Emmy's love Alec Baldwin and this is the last chance they'll have to honor him in a while, so my guess is that they will take it by giving him his third Emmy for portraying Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock.

Should Win:  No one deserves an Emmy more than sardonic sad sack, Louis C.K.  Louie is one of the funniest shows on television.  If you've never seen it, it's on Netflix.  Watch it.  You have plenty of time to catch up since there won't be new episodes until May 2014.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock

Jane Lynch - Glee

Julie Bowen - Modern Family

Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

Merrit Wever - Nurse Jackie

Mayim Bialik - The Big Bang Theory

Anna Chlumsky - Veep

Will/Should Win:  Jane Krakowski is the unsung hero of 30 Rock.  Her portrayal of self obsessed, Jenna Maroney, is one of the joys of the show.  It doesn't matter if she is playing the lead in a knock off biopic of Janis Joplin or marrying someone who female impersonates herself, Krakowski always brings the funny.  I'm betting that vote splitting between Vergara and Bowen and the fact that this was 30 Rock's final season, wll finally net Krakowski her first win.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Adam Driver - Girls

Ty Burrell - Modern Family

Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Modern Family

Ed O'Neil - Modern Family

Bill Hader - Saturday Night Live

Gary Hale - Veep

Will Win:  Someone from Modern Family.  Remember earlier?  Emmys.  Dog.  Bone.  Sigh.

Should Win:  I'm scared to watch the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, because I won't see Bill Hader.  Seriously, if Stefon and Seth's wedding isn't enough to win Hader an Emmy, I'm not sure what else will.

Outstanding Comedy Series

30 Rock

Girls

Louie

Modern Family

The Big Bang Theory

Veep

Will Win:  You can bet good money that Modern Family will score it's fourth consecutive Emmy in this category.  Ugh.  I mean, it's a fine show, but...

Should Win:  Louie is far better.  It's funny, it's real, it makes you a little uncomfortable, it does all the things that great comedy should do.  A nomination is great, but Emmy voters should do the right thing here and hand Louie it's first Comedy Series Emmy.

So, there are my predictions?  Do you agree that tonight will be all about Breaking Bad?  Is there someone you are rooting hard for?  Against?  Let me know in the comments.