SEASON IN REVIEW: The 2013 Emmy Nominations

Here are the nominees in the major categories along with some comments!

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Homeland (Showtime)
House of Cards (Netflix)
Mad Men (AMC)
Comments: For the second year in a row, the broadcast networks are shut out in this category (unless you count  PBS) as it remains almost the same as last year except House of Cards replaces Boardwalk Empire. Homeland won last year but buzz seemed to cool slightly on this show. I would give the edge to Breaking Bad right now.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (HBO)
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Damian Lewis, Homeland (Showtime)
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix)
Comments: Four of last year's nominees including winner Damian Lewis return here and they are joined by Jeff Daniels who received better reviews than his show, and Kevin Spacey, whose House of Cards stunned people with its number of nominations. Jon Hamm has never won for Mad Men but that show doesn't seem to be as hot as it once was. I think this will come down to Spacey and previous winners Lewis and Bryan Cranston.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Connie Britton, Nashville (ABC)
Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime)
Michelle Dockery, Downtown Abbey (PBS)
Vera Faminga, Bates Motel (A&E)
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (AMC)
Kerry Washington, Scandal (ABC)
Robin Wright, House of Cards (Netflix)
Comments: This category got seven nominations and brought in many newcomers as veterans like Julianna Marguiles were overlooked. Newbies include the very deserving Kerry Washington of Scandal, Vera Faminga of Bates Motel who got tons of critical praise, Robin Wright of House of Cards, and Connie Britton of Nashville. I love Connie Britton but she did not deserve a nomination for this role. Co-star Hayden Panettiere was actually more deserving if anyone from Nashville was going to get something. I really don't know who will win here: Claire Danes could easily repeat but a surprise win from Faminga or Washington wouldn't shock me either.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland (Showtime)
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Comments: I always feel like this category is a crapshoot. Past winners Aaron Paul and Peter Dinklage are back as is previous nominee Jim Carter. The rest are newbies including Mandy Patinkin, who many felt was overlooked last year. That slight could put him in the race against Paul and Dinklage.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Morena Baccarin, Homeland (Showtime)
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (CBS)
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men (AMC)
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey (PBS)
Comments: Four of last year's nominees including winner Maggie Smith are back and they are joined by newcomers Morena Baccarin and Emilia Clarke. I think Smith has a good chance to repeat as this may be where voters decide to reward the popular Downton Abbey. It seems like Baranski, Hendricks, and maybe Gunn have seen their chances past and the newbies will get more chances.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock (NBC)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Girls (HBO)
Louie (FX)
Modern Family (ABC)
Veep (HBO)
Comments: This category stays almost the same except Louie replaces Curb Your Enthusiasm. Poor Parks and Recreation was overlooked yet again as was New Girl's fantastic second season. Modern Family has won three years in a row and could very well win again although its unanimous critical acclaim seems to be waning a bit. Previous winner 30 Rock could get a sentimental win for its final season but many thought it was uneven and Girls seems like its fading. Louie is popular but Louis C.K. stands a better chance than the show. Therefore, I think this comes down to Family, The Big Bang Theory, and Veep.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC)
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development (Netflix)
Louis C.K., Louie (FX)
Don Cheadle, House of Lies (Showtime)
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes (Showtime)
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Comments: Two previous winners (Alec Baldwin and Jim Parsons) return though last year's winner Jon Cryer is nowhere to be found. Baldwin could certainly win for his final season but I think his time has passed. Don Cheadle and Matt LeBlanc can't seem to be able to break through and Jason Bateman's show didn't get nominated. Therefore, I think this one comes down to Parsons and Louis C.K.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Laura Dern, Enlightened (HBO)
Lena Dunham, Girls (HBO)
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Tina Fey, 30 Rock (NBC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Comments: Three previous winners are in this category (Edie Falco, Tina Fey, and last year's Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as well as seemingly perennial nominees Amy Poehler and Lena Dunham. Only Laura Dern of the cancelled Enlightened is new. I think Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a real good chance to repeat but I would love to see Amy Poehler finally get some respect and a win for a brilliant performance.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ty Burrell, Modern Family (ABC)
Adam Driver, Girls (HBO)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family (ABC)
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)
Ed O'Neill, Modern Family (ABC)
Comments: Three of the four Modern Family men are back but previous winner Eric Stonestreet was shut out. This isn't two surprising as his shtick can get a little old on the show. Ty Burrell has won before but who knows if this will be a Modern Family year. Bill Hader is unlikely because Saturday Night Live actors never get these but newcomers Adam Driver and Tony Hale could be wildcards.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Julie Bowen, Modern Family (ABC)
Anna Chlumsky, Veep (HBO)
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock (NBC)
Jane Lynch, Glee (FOX)
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family (ABC)
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Comments: Like Lead Drama Actress, this category expanded to seven nominees and I think it's truly wide open. Julie Bowen has won two years in a row while Jane Lynch made a surprise return to the category as I thought her time had passed. I really don't know what will happen here but right now I'd say it's between Bowen, Mayim Bialik, and Anna Chlumsky.