Your Guide To The 2014 Emmy Awards

By Brian Frosti on August 23, 2014

Image via chron.com

It’s almost time for the Emmy Awards: the annual celebration of television, by television.

This year is shaping up to have some of the most interest races in recent memory and features some new, and fairly impressive, blood in previously unimportant categories as well as the farewell seasons for both “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men.”

If you don’t have time to watch the awards or you just want to impress your friends with your predictions, read on to find out who will be taking home gold this year.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Downton Abbey” (PBS)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“True Detective” (HBO)
“House of Cards” (Netflix)

This year “True Detective” burst onto the scene and blew audiences and critics away, “Breaking Bad” wrapped up an epic run, and “Game of Thrones” upped the ante yet again.

But despite the overall fantastic year for television dramas, the winner has to be “Breaking Bad.” The show never let for a second in its final incredible season and it deserves this exclamation point on its incredible run.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom” (HBO)
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards” (Netflix)
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men” (AMC)
Matthew McConaughey, “True Detective” (HBO)
Woody Harrelson, “True Detective” (HBO)

This category is as competitive as the dramas themselves, but in the end it comes down to a two man race: McConaughey vs. Cranston.

Fresh off an Oscar win, Mathew McConaughey was nothing short of astounding this season on “True Detective,” though once again, it’ll be hard to beat the last bit of “Breaking Bad.”

I think Bryan Cranston walks off with one last, well-deserved, Emmy. Though it wouldn’t surprise me at all if McConaughey pulls the upset.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)
Claire Danes, “Homeland” (Showtime)
Robin Wright, “House of Cards” (Netflix)
Kerry Washington, “Scandal” (ABC)
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife” (CBS)
Lizzy Caplan, “Masters of Sex” (Showtime)

Again, this category comes down to two. Robin Wright was impressive as Claire Underwood on “House of Cards,” and may very well walk away with her first Emmy after taking home the last Golden Globe.

But she faces stiff competition from “The Good Wife’s” Julianna Margulies. “The Good Wife” missed out on a top drama series nomination but a Margulies win would help make amends for that.

I think “The Good Wife” takes this one, though Wright and “House of Cards” could very easily steal the show.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan” (Showtime)
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland” (Showtime)
Josh Charles, “The Good Wife” (CBS)
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
Jim Carter, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)

It’s going to be Aaron Paul. This is one of only two “sure things” at the Emmy’s this year.

Paul’s performance was phenomenal as he stole every scene he was in from a cast of fellow nominees (and likely winners). Peter Dinklage and Josh Charles both make strong cases for themselves, but if Aaron Paul doesn’t win then the fix is in.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)
Lena Headley, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife” (CBS)
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men” (AMC)
Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)

If “Mad Men” ended any year but this year, this award would go to Christina Hendricks. She stepped up her game for the period drama but likely won’t be rewarded in light of Anna Gunn’s final performance as Skyler White.

This is Gunn’s award to lose, though more for the overall excellence of “Breaking Bad” than her own performance. The sleepers here are Maggie Smith and Lena Headley; both are deserving of recognition and I personally think they deserve the win over Gunn, but “Breaking Bad” will not be denied.

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Nic Pizzolatto, “True Detective” (HBO)
Beau Willimon, “House of Cards” (Netflix)
David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Vinci Gilligan, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
Moira Walley-Beckett, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)

When you write one of the best endings to any series ever, you win the Emmy. This one goes to Vince Gilligan for the “Breaking Bad” finale “Felina.”

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Neil Marshall, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Cary Fukunaga, “True Detective” (HBO)
Carl Franklin, “House of Cards” (Netflix)
David Evans,”Downton Abbey” (PBS)
Vince Gilligan, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
Timothy Van Patten, “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)

Okay, so when I said “Breaking Bad” will not be denied, I lied.

As fantastic as “Felina” was, the finale was notable for its writing, not the directing. That’s not to say it wasn’t an expertly directed episode, but it wasn’t the best this year.

“The Watchers on the Wall” featured “Game of Thrones” most intense hour of television yet and was a battle as grand in scale as any movie you’ve ever seen. This will be “Game of Thrones’” lone win, and a well-deserved one.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
“Louie” (FX)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Veep” (HBO)
“Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)
“Silicon Valley” (HBO)

This is an interesting one. “Modern Family” is the perennial top dog year in and out, but this may be the year the King finally falls.

“Orange is the New Black” had a tremendous first season and the academy tends to recognize drama whenever possible, even in the comedy category.

So I predict this one goes to “Orange is the New Black,” though no one will be even a little surprised if “Modern Family” continues its dominance.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes” (Showtime)
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies” (Showtime)
Louis C.K., “Louie” (FX)
William H. Macy, “Shameless” (Showtime)
Ricky Gervais, “Derek” (Netflix)

This might be the most competitive category this year.  There isn’t a single name among the nominees, save for Matt LeBlanc, who I would be surprised to see giving an acceptance speech on the 25th.

My best guess, I think Louis C.K. is the winner here, but Gervais, Macy and Parsons are all strong competitors.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Lena Dunham, “Girls” (HBO)
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime)
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation” (NBC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep” (HBO)
Melissa McCarthy, “Mike and Molly” (CBS)
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)

If I made the decisions, I’d hand this award to Amy Poehler. She stands out on “Parks and Recreation” and is absolutely deserving of some Emmy recognition.

But I don’t get to choose, so this award will probably go to Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She’s consistently funny and the academy is enamored with her performance on “Veep.”

Another contender is Taylor Schilling, but I don’t think Piper can pull this one off.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Adam Driver, “Girls” (HBO)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family” (ABC)
Fred Armisen, “Portlandia” (IFC)
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family” (ABC)
Tony Hale, “Veep” (HBO)
Andre Braugher, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox)

Tony Hale took it home last year, and may very well repeat, but I expect Andre Braugher to ride his Golden Globe momentum to another win.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family” (ABC)
Anna Chlumsky, “Veep” (HBO)
Allison Janney, “Mom” (CBS)
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Kate Mulgrew, “Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)

“Mom” isn’t very good, but Allison Janney is as good as it gets. She’s already taken home a guest actress Emmy for “Masters of Sex” and will probably win her second award on Monday.

Her chief competition is “Orange is the New Black’s” Kate Mulgrew, and if this were going by OITNB’s second season I’d give it to her, but I think this one goes to Janney.

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Alec Berg, “Silicon Valley” (HBO)
Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, “Veep” (HBO)
Liz Friedman, Jenji Kohan, “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Jeffrey Klarik, David Crane, “Episodes” (Showtime)
Louis C.K., “Louie” (FX)

When the nominations came out I was happy to see “Silicon Valley” get some recognition, but less enthusiastic about the lack of acting nominations.

A win here will help make up for that. “Optimal Tip-To-Top Efficiency” featured the longest, smartest, most beautiful dick joke in the history of television and deserves to be commended for it.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Iain B. MacDonald, “Episodes” (Showtime)
Mike Judge, “Silicon Valley” (HBO)
Jodie Foster, “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Gail Mancuso, “Modern Family” (ABC)
Louis C.K., “Louie” (FX)
Paris Barclay, “Glee” (Fox)

This is always an unpredictable category, but I think OITNB’s dramatic elements work in its favor here and Jodie Foster accepts the Emmy.

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES

“American Horror Story: Coven” (FX)
“Fargo” (FX)
“The White Queen” (Starz)
“Bonnie and Clyde” (Lifetime)
“Treme” (HBO)
“Luther” (BBC America)

If “True Detective” is a drama, then so is “Fargo,” but that’ a debate for another article.

For now, all you need to know is that this award is “Fargo’s” to win. The inaugural season gets fans on the edge of their seats for the entire run and will be taking home an Emmy for it.

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE

“The Normal Heart” (HBO)
“The Trip to Bountiful” (Lifetime)
“Killing Kennedy” (National Geographic Channel)
“Sherlock: His Last Vow” (PBS)
“Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight” (HBO)

Sherlock fans can gripe all they want, this season was simply not that good. It’s a crime that the show hasn’t been awarded an Emmy yet, but this is not the season it happens.

The Normal Heart” was one of the most powerful things to air on television this year, and it will be one of the bigger upsets of the night if it doesn’t win.

The dark horse here is “Killing Kennedy,” but “The Normal Heart” is tough to beat.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

Billy Bob Thorton, “Fargo” (FX)
Mark Ruffalo, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)
Martin Freeman, “Fargo” (FX)
Benedict Cumberbatch “Sherlock: His Last Vow” (PBS)
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Dancing on the Edge” (Starz)
Idris Elba, “Luther” (BBC America)

This is the most talented bunch this category has seen in a long while. Every single actor was excellent and deserves some form of recognition beyond this nomination.

Unfortunately, only one can win, and my pick is Billy Bob Thorton. Thorton was chilling as Lorne Malvo on “Fargo,” delivering my favorite performance by any actor not named Aaron Paul this year.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

Kristin Wiig, “The Spoils of Babylon” (IFC)
Cicely Tyson, “The Trip to the Bountiful” (Lifetime)
Sarah Paulson, “American Horror Story: Coven” (FX)
Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Coven” (FX)
Minnie Drive, “Return to Zero” (Lifetime)
Helena Bonham Carter, “Burton and Taylor” (BBC America)

Another ultra-competitive category. Wiig, Paulson and Driver seem to have a leg up on the rest, though nothing would surprise me here. I think Sarah Paulson beats the rest this time, but anything goes.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

Joe Mantello, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)
Jim Parsons, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)
Alfred Molina, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)
Colin Hanks, “Fargo” (FX)
Martin Freeman, “Sherlock” (PBS)
Matt Bomer, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)

Starting to realize how much the academy loves “The Normal Heart”? This is the other “sure thing” I mentioned.

Matt Bomer took a page from Matthew McConaughey’s book and lost an unsettling amount of weight for his role in the AIDS drama. By all accounts this award is already Bomer’s, I’ll be absolutely shocked if he doesn’t win.

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

Allison Tolman, “Fargo” (FX)
Julia Roberts, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)
Frances Conroy, “American Horror Story” (FX)
Ellen Burstyn, “Flowers in the Attic” (Lifetime)
Angela Basset, “American Horror Story” (FX)
Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story” (FX)

More love for “The Normal Heart.” This isn’t an easy win, as both “American Horror Story” women gave strong performances and newcomer Allison Tolman may yet steal the show.

But the smart money is on Julia Roberts reigning victorious.

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

Eric Overmyer, David Simon, “Treme” (HBO)
Neil Cross, “Luther” (BBC America)
Noah Hawley, “Fargo” (FX)
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, “American Horror Story” (FX)
Steven Moffat, “Sherlock: His Last Vow” (PBS)
Larry Kramer, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)

You can probably guess this one. “The Normal Heart” should take the writing prize over some stiff competition.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

Nick Hurran, “Sherlock: His Last Vow” (PBS)
Ryan Murphy, “The Normal Heart” (HBO)
Stephen Frears, “Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight” (HBO)
Colin Bucksey, “Fargo” (FX)
Adam Bernstein, “Fargo” (FX)
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, “American Horror Story” (FX)

This is another tough one. Every nominee is impressive in its own right, but I’m betting on Adam Berstein and “Fargo” for “The Crocodile’s Dilemma.”

But again, “The Normal Heart” will be tough to beat, and if “Sherlock” steals any awards on Monday, it’ll be this one.

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