Television has become just as popular as film these days. With hit shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Girls, Game of Thrones, and Orange Is the New Black taking over small screens, television enthusiasts have been gearing up to see which shows will see their spotlight come time for the Primetime Emmy Awards. The aforementioned shows made the cut, as well as Emmy regulars Parks & Recreation, The Big Bang Theory, and Modern Family. This years show will take place on Monday, August 25th live on NBC. Check out the full list of nominees below, where we have included several predictions for winners:
Drama series:
Breaking Bad, AMC
Downton Abbey, PBS
Game of Thrones, HBO
House of Cards, Netflix
Mad Men, AMC
True Detective, HBO
It would be very hard to argue the impact that Breaking Bad had on modern television. Sure, there have been shows to push boundaries – but never to the extent that BB did, especially on a cable network. Hardcore drug use, explicit violence, even blatant sex scenes – all of this gave the show an edge that had never truly been seen before. Even putting all of that aside, the casting for Breaking Bad was phenomenal. Not many shows can throw a group of complete strangers together and make magic quite the way that this AMC hit did. For that, we say bravo.
Comedy series:
The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Louie, FX
Modern Family, ABC
Orange Is the New Black, Netflix
Silicon Valley, HBO
Veep, HBO
Netflix took a shot in the dark when they decided to stream their own ‘television’ show. Although the first season seemed to have more of a cult following than a broad, nationwide audience, Orange Is the New Black really hit the ground running come time for the release of its second season this past June. With a predominately all-women cast, OITNB captured the hearts (and funny bones) of millions of viewers largely thanks to a cast of quick-witted, strong women. The competitors in this category may have had plenty of more time to shine – not to mention air time – but OITNB holds its own and we think that’s enough to win.
Actor, drama series:
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (HBO)
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Woody Harrelson, True Detective (HBO)
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective (HBO)
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix)
In an act of completely unbiased opinion, our favorite to win for actor in a drama series goes to Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad. Having already won several times for his role on the show, it would come as a complete shock for him to lose this year, especially being that the show has ended. Speaking of shock, how can we forget the shock heard nationwide when Jeff Daniels snubbed Cranston last year for this exact award? We will hold hope that this time around will be different.
Actress, drama series:
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime)
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS)
Kerry Washington, Scandal (ABC)
Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix)
Actor, comedy series:
Louis C.K., Louie (FX)
Don Cheadle, House of Lies (Showtime)
Ricky Gervais, Derek (Netflix)
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes (Showtime)
William H. Macy, Shameless (Showtime)
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Actress, comedy series:
Lena Dunham, Girls (HBO)
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly (CBS)
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
This category is tricky as all of the women listed above have their very own distinct style of humor. Dark humor comes in the form of Taylor Schilling in Orange Is the New Black, while witty sarcasm comes from Lena Dunham in Girls. As we previously stated, OITNB maintained a strong cult following for its first season, and the same can be said for Girls – even three seasons in. We’re torn between the two when it comes to who will take home the award but, if under the right amount of pressure, we would probably lean towards Taylor Schilling for the win.
Supporting actor, drama series:
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland (Showtime)
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan (Showtime)
Josh Charles, The Good Wife (CBS)
Supporting actress, drama series:
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Joanna Froggatt, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men (AMC)
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (CBS)
Supporting actor, comedy series:
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)
Adam Driver, Girls (HBO)
Ty Burrell, Modern Family (ABC)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family (ABC)
Fred Armisen, Portlandia (IFC)
Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)
Supporting actress, comedy:
Julie Bowen, Modern Family (ABC)
Allison Janney, Mom (CBS)
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Anna Chlumsky, Veep (HBO)
Actor, miniseries or movie:
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge (Starz)
Idris Elba, Luther (BBC America)
Martin Freeman, Fargo (FX)
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart (HBO)
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo (FX)
Actress, miniseries or movie:
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor (BBC America)
Minnie Driver, Return to Zero (Lifetime)
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Kristen Wiig, Spoils of Babylon (IFC)
Variety:
The Colbert Report, Comedy Central
The Daily Show, Comedy Central
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC
Saturday Night Live, NBC
Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, NBC
Late night talk shows have been the talk of the town for a good part of this year as hosts were being swapped, networks were rumored to be canceling, and David Letterman announced his retirement. Through the smoke of change, Jimmy Fallon came out on top as he took over The Tonight Show. In true Fallon fashion, his first night was full of cameos from his famous friends, witty banter, and his lovable laugh – all resulting in a massive amount of viewers. Since that first night, Fallon has remained on top, which is why he is our pick for the winner.
Reality competition:
The Amazing Race, CBS
Dancing With the Stars, ABC
Project Runway, Lifetime
So You Think You Can Dance, Fox
Top Chef, Bravo
The Voice, NBC
Reality host:
Betty White, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (NBC)
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night (NBC)
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway (Lifetime)
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Anthony Bourdain, The Taste (ABC)
Miniseries:
American Horror Story: Coven, FX
Fargo, FX
Luther, BBC America
Bonnie & Clyde, A&E
Treme, HBO
The White Queen, Starz
Movie:
Killing Kennedy, National Geographic Channel
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, HBO
The Normal Heart, HBO
Sherlock: His Last Vow, PBS
Trip to Bountiful, Lifetime
Guest actor, drama series:
Paul Giamatti, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards (Netflix)
Robert Morse, Mad Men (AMC)
Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Joe Morton, Scandal (ABC)
Dylan Baker, The Good Wife (CBS)
Guest actress, drama series:
Dianna Rigg, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Kate Mara, House of Cards (Netflix)
Allison Janney, Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Kate Burton, Scandal (ABC)
Margo Martindale, The Americans (FX)
Jane Fonda, The Newsroom (HBO)
Guest actor, comedy series:
Nathan Lane, Modern Family (ABC)
Steve Buscemi, Portlandia (IFC)
Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Gary Cole, Veep (HBO)
Guest actress, comedy series:
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Natasha Lyonne, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Joan Cusack, Shameless (Showtime)
Animated program:
Archer, FX
Bob’s Burgers, Fox
Futurama, Comedy Central
South Park, Comedy Central
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Manhattan Project, Nick
