The 2014 Emmy Awards are upon us, and it's almost time to find out which comedies, dramas and reality shows made us laugh, cry and question our taste levels this year. Will "Breaking Bad" sweep the drama categories for the last time? Will Netflix take home some major hardware for its original series? Will "Modern Family" win "Outstanding Comedy Series" yet again?
We won't know the answers to these questions until the night of Aug. 25, but that hasn't stopped many people from predicting who will reign supreme come Emmys night. Based on the predictions of their experts, awards prediction website Gold Derby has come up with the odds each nominee has of winning on the big night (nominees are listed in descending order of their likelihood of winning). Here's how I think their predictions for the main comedy and drama categories are going to fare at this year's Emmys.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Allison Janney ("Mom"): 1/4
Kate Mulgrew ("Orange is the New Black"): 11/2
Julie Bowen ("Modern Family"): 50/1
Mayim Bialik ("The Big Bang Theory"): 50/1
Anna Chlumsky ("Veep"): 100/1
Kate McKinnon ("Saturday Night Live"): 100/1
My Take: Allison Janney basically just has to breathe, and she will deliver a stellar performance. She's a critical darling who's likely to bring home the Emmy for this category.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Tony Hale ("Veep"): 10/9
Andre Braugher ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine"): 10/9
Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("Modern Family"): 50/1
Ty Burrell ("Modern Family"): 50/1
Fred Armisen ("Portlandia"): 100/1
Adam Driver ("Girls"): 100/1
My Take: As the winner of this category during last year's Emmy Awards, Tony Hale is going to be tough to beat. However, with "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" already getting some love from the Golden Globes in January and with Braugher stealing the spotlight in every episode with his fine portrayal of Captain Holt, I think Braugher could pull this one out.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss ("Veep"): 2/11
Taylor Schilling ("Orange is the New Black"): 10/1
Amy Poehler ("Parks and Recreation"): 50/1
Melissa McCarthy ("Mike and Molly"): 50/1
Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie"): 50/1
Lena Dunham ("Girls"): 100/1
My Take: With four Emmys already under her belt, two of which have been won for her role as Vice President Selina Meyer on "Veep," Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is poised to take home yet another golden statue this year.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory"): 7/5
Ricky Gervais ("Derek"): 21/10
Louis C.K. ("Louie"): 11/2
William H. Macy ("Shameless"): 6/1
Matt LeBlanc ("Episodes"): 100/1
Don Cheadle ("House of Lies"): 100/1
My Take: Jim Parsons truly embodies his character Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory" and though there is some serious competition in this category, none of the other actors come close to winning the same sort of acclaim as Parsons. Parsons is the clear frontrunner and will likely add one more Emmy win to the three he already has for this role.
Outstanding Comedy Series
"Orange is the New Black": 3/2
"Modern Family": 19/10
"Veep": 11/2
"Louie": 12/1
"The Big Bang Theory": 50/1
"Silicon Valley": 100/1
My Take: I think "Modern Family" is going to take home the top prize again this year. Although "Orange is the New Black" has gotten a lot of buzz, its nearly 50-minute episodes and subject matter make it not your conventional sitcom, and Emmy voters tend to vote pretty conservatively.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad"): 2/11
Christine Baranski ("The Good Wife"): 10/1
Joanne Froggatt ("Downton Abbey"): 50/1
Maggie Smith ("Downton Abbey"): 50/1
Lena Headey ("Game of Thrones"): 100/1
Christina Hendricks ("Mad Men"): 100/1
My Take: Having won last year for her gut-wrenching performance in the first half of "Breaking Bad"'s final season, Anna Gunn is a shoe-in to win again this year.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad"): 2/3
Josh Charles ("The Good Wife"): 4/1
Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones"): 10/1
Jon Voight ("Ray Donovan"): 12/1
Mandy Patinkin ("Homeland"): 100/1
Jim Carter ("Downton Abbey"): 100/1
My Take: Josh Charles poses some fierce competition with his heartbreaking final season as Will Gardner on "The Good Wife," but Aaron Paul's performance as a Jesse Pinkman who has lost everything on "Breaking Bad" should win out.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife"): 9/10
Robin Wright ("House of Cards"): 13/5
Claire Danes ("Homeland"): 12/1
Kerry Washington ("Scandal"): 12/1
Lizzy Caplan ("Masters of Sex"): 100/1
Michelle Dockery ("Downton Abbey"): 100/1
My Take: Julianna Margulies won the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for her role as Alicia Florrick on "The Good Wife." However, I feel like the momentum behind "House of Cards" this year will swing the award in Robin Wright's favor.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Matthew McConaughey ("True Detective"): 1/4
Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"): 11/2
Kevin Spacey ("House of Cards"): 50/1
Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"): 100/1
Woody Harrelson ("True Detective"): 100/1
Jeff Daniels ("The Newsroom"): 100/1
My Take: This is probably the most stacked category of them all, so it's really hard to pick a winner for this one. This is the year of Matthew McConaughey, but ultimately, I think Emmy voters will be swayed by Bryan Cranston's performance in the final season of "Breaking Bad."
Outstanding Drama Series
"Breaking Bad": 1/10
"True Detective": 33/1
"Game of Thrones": 50/1
"House of Cards": 50/1
"Mad Men": 100/1
"Downton Abbey": 100/1
My Take: As a continuation of its Emmy-winning fifth season, "Breaking Bad" will surely win this category for the last time it is eligible.
Head over to Gold Derby to see the predicted winners in all of the Emmy Awards categories.
