Emmy Predictions: Movies and Series

Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Nominees: Da Ali G Show, The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Late Show with David Letterman, Real Time with Bill Maher

Should Win: The Daily Show has all the buzz (and really rocked it during Indecision 2004) but the second season of Da Ali G Show was every bit as brilliant as the first, six tight episodes of incisive social and political critiques.

Will Win: The Daily Show has all the buzz.

Should’ve Been Nominated: As far as I can tell they actually got this one right.


Reality Competition
Nominees: The Amazing Race, American Idol, The Apprentice, Project Runway, Survivor

Should Win: The Amazing Race still sets the standard in this field, and the past season saw three separate editions air. Consider this another win for Chip & Kim and Uchenna & Joyce, not Freddy & Kendra.

Will Win: Race already has two Emmys, but that shouldn't stop it from nabbing number three.

Should’ve Been Nominated: Uh, The Starlet? Don’t think so. America’s Next Top Model has its fans but I don’t watch. So I’ll say Nashville Star, since it does the American Idol format better than any show besides Idol, and it doesn’t involve Donald Trump.


TV Movie
Nominees: Lackawanna Blues, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, The Office Special, Warm Springs, The Wool Cap

Should Win: If I was a TV movie purist I’d say Warm Springs. But I’m not. So even though The Office Special wasn’t really a TV movie it was presented that way for its American TV debut and it was the perfect ending to the best short-lived series ever.

Will Win: Warm Springs should take it provided the voters aren't distracted by the empty flash of Peter Sellers.

Should’ve Been Nominated: I don’t watch enough TV movies to say for sure but I know that Showtime’s slight but snazzy Reefer Madness: The Musical was at least better than the Peter Sellers movie.


Miniseries
Nominees: Elvis, Empire Falls, The 4400, The Lost Prince

Should Win: I’ve only seen two of these and even though The 4400 was really the first season of a series masquerading as a miniseries, Empire Falls put me to sleep.

Will Win: It’ll be hard for Emmy voters to say no to the cast of Empire Falls, but if they do PBS’ no-doubt classy The Lost Prince could pull an upset.

Should’ve Been Nominated: Yeah right.


Drama Series
Nominees: Deadwood, Lost, Six Feet Under, 24, The West Wing

Should Win: Lost made network TV interesting again, 24 delivered a little over half a great season and Six Feet Under was much better than its reputation but Deadwood was the season's best show. Period.

Will Win: Hmm. This would be the perfect time for 24 to sneak in and nab its first win after three previous nominations, Emmy loves to reward great shows at unexpected times. But I doubt it. The HBO shows seem to be out, I guess they're both too good. Even though some think The West Wing will return for its fifth win in six seasons (good lord) I don't think that genre prejudice will stop the Emmys from rewarding network hit Lost. I hope I'm not wrong (unless, of course, one of the HBO shows win).

Should’ve Been Nominated: For the fourth season in a row The Shield was better than ever before.


Comedy Series
Nominees: Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives, Everybody Loves Raymond, Scrubs, Will & Grace

Should Win: Not because the Housewives weren’t great, they were, but Arrested Development was still TV’s best comedy in its second season.

Will Win: By giving an award to Desperate Housewives Emmy voters can not only reward a great genre-defying show, but also reward something that people actually watch.

Should’ve Been Nominated: Two words: Gilmore Girls.