The 61st Prime Time Emmy Awards is September 20, 2009 at 8pm on CBS. So, to fill the time until you have to wait in eager anticipation for your favourite actor or show to lose to someone or some show you could care less about watching, I’ll give you a heads up on the more popular Emmy categories (read: the categories I care about) and nominees so you can take a shot at making your own predictions.
Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House in House – So, after being told that House is like the Sherlock Holmes of Medical Mysteries, and loving Hugh Laurie’s take on what a drug addicted genius would act like, I find that he is one actor I thoroughly enjoy watching as he does the same thing over and over again. Also, I found last season’s Dr. House very compelling as he disintegrated from one death to the next. Am I looking forward to next year? Hell yes!

Gabriel Byrne as Paul in In Treatment – I like Gabriel Byrne and I’ve been told the show is really good, but I have not taken the time to watch so I can’t complain if he wins or loses. Sorry Gabriel.

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in Dexter – I have seen episode 1 of next season and I am totally in love with this show. Maybe it says something about me, especially considering I thought the idea of watching a show about a serial killer and rooting for said serial killer was despicable, that I love this show so goddamn much, but it is a great show. Michael C. Hall brings Dexter to life and makes him a very amicable anti-hero. You almost forget that Dexter has no true feelings because of how warm Michael C. Hall is, but in an instant, in the blink of an eye, Hall takes Dexter from fooling the world with his charm to cold blooded killer and you can have no doubt which Dexter you’re facing. However, last season’s storyline was a bit lackluster, despite some surprising events, so if he loses the category over Hugh Laurie, I would understand.

Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad – I was very disappointed with Bryan Cranston’s win last year, but I only saw a couple of episodes of the series and probably not in the right order. I was talking to a friend and he said that he thought that Bryan Cranston deserved the win last year because his character is not only so different from the ones he’s played in th epast, but that he is finally showing his chops in this dramatic role. So I have the entire season one on standby and waiting to get season 2, but based on what I’ve seen, I still say no to Cranston.

Simon Baker as Patrick Jane in The Mentalist – While I don’t think that Baker deserves this award over Michael C. Hall or Jon Hamm, I definitely think he deserves to be on the list with his portrayal of Patrick Jane. Maybe it is because he didn’t have as much time to show the depth of emotions that this character has (I can only think of 2 episodes where we actually see that his hatred of Red John goes very, very deep – versus assume, since RJ killed his wife and child), but I found that Baker brought a great deal more levity and made us believe Patrick Jane was capable of the surprising things he was known for doing. Maybe next year, as the season unfolds, as we begin to get closer to Red John, maybe we will plumb the depths of Patrick Jane, but brilliant start, Mr. Baker!

Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men – Maybe it’s because we have all wanted to Draper some shit, maybe it’s because his character has a lot of depth, but he is one of two actors I wouldn’t mind winning this category over Michael C. Hall. Also, I am voting for him for guest actor in a comedy because he was funny as hell on 30 Rock. And if he’s living in a bubble on Mad Men, it will be striking, and very entertaining, if and when that bubble breaks.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Mariska Hargitay as Dt. Olivia Benson in Law and Order: SVU – I haven’t watched SVU in a while. And by in a while, I mean I’ve only been watching the show on USA when they show like the first two seasons over and over again. So, that being said, I like Mariska Hargitay and if she won, I think I would be okay with that.

Sally Field as Nora Walker in Brothers and Sisters – I’ve only seen 4 episodes of Brothers and Sisters: the first three episodes of the first season and one from this current season. The only person I liked in each one was Sally Field. I can think of at least two other entrants that should win over Sally Field and I’m going to talk about them in just a few seconds.

Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson in The Closer – Kyra Sedgwick is my pick for the Emmy in this category. If it went to Elizabeth Moss, I would also be okay. Kyra Sedgwick’s Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson is a bad mutha-shut-your-mouth! She brought her whole team from dissension to compliance in season one just because she was just that damn good at her job. Then she solidified the connection, making them all know she had their back if they effed up. Then she made them a team with each other, so much so that when one was shot saving the other, it became a blood bond as solid as the blood and spit you and your best friend shook on when you were 7. When two people started dating and then got their emotions so tangled up they couldn’t do their jobs, they didn’t mind that they weren’t as connected in the job, they worried that they would upset their boss, who was Brenda Leigh Johnson. Yeah, she was a bad ass and Kyra Sedgwick made her so. Vote for Kyra!

Elizabeth Moss as Peggy Olson in Mad Men – Peggy is the strongest wall flower I’ve ever seen on television. I mean, the only times you really notice her is when she finally stands up for herself. I think that wall flower persona is a calculated action on the part of the writing and the actress and I think that is what makes Elizabeth Moss’s inclusion in this category worth it.

Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko in Saving Grace – Grace was a drinking, sexing, lunatic driving, goddess of a character. Also, her show got canceled. I loved Holly Hunter as Grace, loved the characters, but I didn’t like the pace of the show and found myself watching it less and less as the series went on. Holly Hunter’s performance, however, was very compelling. A vote for her wouldn’t be a vote in vain.

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes in Damages – Patty Hewes is a cold hearted bitch, and yes, that’s a compliment to Glenn Close’s portrayal. I loved how you didn’t know if she was the good guy or the bad guy and sometimes, neither did the show. They just followed this character wherever she was going and it was a fun ride. I found, however, that I didn’t like the show as much and watched only a few episodes here and there. I know the show shouldn’t distract me from the acting, but it does influence how strongly I believe the character should be rewarded.

In all of this, I know that I haven’t seen some of the shows. And to be honest, neither has many of the voters. They may see a clip or an episode and even if it’s the best clip/episode in the world, it still isn’t the same as watching the show and become attached to the characters.

So who did you become attached to? Do you agree with me that Bryan Cranston doesn’t deserve his nomination or do you think I’m an idiot and should get my television watching license revoked? Who do you think has been left off of the nomination list? Who would you like to see on there next year? Let’s get this Emmy party started, right!