Emmy Hopes For 'Breaking Bad,' 'Homeland'

With the Emmy Awards less than one week away, it’s time to stop being angry about the many comedy snubs and start guessing the winners. The two big questions: Who will win next Sunday night? And who should win?

Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, Mad Men. Of the great options to choose from for Outstanding Drama Series, I think that Mad Men will take home its fifth consecutive Emmy win. The show is still top-notch and arguably more ambitious than ever, and Emmy voters like sticking with a good thing. Breaking Bad, however, should be taking home the statuette. Critics and fans have repeatedly hailed Bad as the best show on television, and anyone who gives it a chance will see why. New show Homeland also deserves a win, but fans of the show shouldn’t worry, because:

Claire Danes should and will win for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Homeland. Emmy voters have shown love for Danes in the past for her role in the TV movie Temple Grandin. Dane’s portrayal of mentally unhealthy CIA officer Carrie Mathison in Homeland is her best dramatic work to date and will be recognized. Elizabeth Moss will have to wait another year.

Bryan Cranston has more competition than ever in the Drama Series-Lead Actor category, but come on, he’s still going to win! Season four of the show saw Walter White in a state of silent impotence for its majority, pitted against Giancarlo Esposito’s seemingly unbeatable Gus Fring. Seeing Walt suffer a complete breakdown was the finest display of acting on television this year. Jon Hamm had some stellar work on Mad Men, as did Damien Lewis on Homeland, but this one has to go to the Cranst-man.

Speaking of Breaking Bad, Esposito will win Best Supporting Actor for his sometimes-terrifying, always-awesome work in Season Four. He, along with the show’s writers, made Gus Fring into a larger-than-life character who at times won more sympathy from viewers than the show’s anti-hero, Walt. Aaron Paul also had a phenomenal season on Bad as the tortured Jesse Pinkman, and should win for his work. Jesse’s PTSD scenes in Bad were incredibly moving.

The last big drama series category, Best Supporting Actress, will reward Maggie Smith for her portrayal of Violet on Downton Abbey. This is the first year that the Emmy favorite appears in the drama categories instead of the miniseries category, and the always-great Smith has some serious cred. But I’d rather see Christina Hendricks win for her performance in the stunning Mad Men episode, “The Other Woman.”

Moving onto comedy, we have The Big Bang Theory, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Girls, Modern Family, 30 Rock, and Veep all competing for the biggest award. This category is a bit of a toss-up. Modern Family has been an Emmy favorite, and since the show hasn’t seen a major dip in quality, it will remain at the top next Sunday for its third consecutive year. What should beat it? HBO newbies Girls and Veep are equally deserving of the win. The latter has biting satire and non-stop laughs, the former showed surprising depth in its unflinching portrayal of a not-very-likeable young writer.    

Veep should and will get some of the credit it deserves when Julia Louis-Dreyfus wins Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The category is strong, with competitors like Amy Poehler, and Lena Dunham from Girls. And isn’t Zooey Deschanel in New Girl just the most adorkable thing you’ve ever seen? But this is a comedy category, and Louis-Dreyfus was the funniest.

In the Lead Actor-Comedy Series category, Jim Parsons will win again for The Big Bang Theory. I may not love the show, but Parsons is shaping up to be the new Alec Baldwin in Emmy voters’ eyes. Many critics will say that Louis C.K. should win for his convention-defying work on Louie, but I’d prefer to see Larry David win for his consistently hilarious portrayal of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm. What’s funnier than watching David argue with Mad Dog over office cabinet space, for God’s sake?

Last but not least are the Supporting Actor/Actress comedy categories, so it’s time to talk Modern Family. It’s Ed O’Neill’s turn to win for his work as Jay Pritchett, and with no Nick Offerman in the mix, he deserves the win. Likewise, it’s Sofia Vergara’s year for her portrayal of Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, but the Supporting Actress award should go to SNL’s Kristen Wiig. She will be missed on late-night television.

To speak briefly of snubs, check out the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series nominations for what the comedy categories should have looked like this year.