2013's Worst Television Series and Episodes

The Worst 

I rarely put the shows that are obviously bad on this list, I would rather put the shows who have fallen from grace, jumped the shark or shows in their first year who tried too hard to be "great" rather than just finding quality writing.  In fact every major network got a lump of coal in their stocking, including one pay cable show.  I honestly hate doing a "worst" list, but some shows, are just begging for it!

1-Dexter (Showtime)

This list has the opposite of the best list.  The best show of the year (Breaking Bad) had one of the best closing seasons of all time, while Dexter had one of the worst, and an atrocious series finale that did not redeem things from the season.  The plot with the beginnings of the code was cool enough, but divide between Dexter and Deb was oddly handled.  While some shows can have a season that has a ho-hum business as usual season this show always was best when it pushed the envelope, like with Trinity.  This was one of the most uneven shows I have ever watched, even last season had rebounded, but this season fell flat, and (SPOILER) Dexter throwing his sister in the sea with all his other victims proved the writers just went along with the motions and the constant changing creative minds can ruin a show. End rant.

2-Family Guy and The Simpsons (tie-FOX)

Brian Griffin died, and he's apparently coming back to life.  Well the creative team behind this show needed people to start talking about this show again in some capacity, and it got the twitter buzz it wanted, but people moved on, something FOX should do, let go.  This show just is not funny any more.

Speaking of shows that need to be put out of their misery, The Simpson's is another animated series, which needs to be put out of its misery.  I watched this years Halloween episode, the intro directed by Guillermo del Torro was awesome, but the rest of the episode felt like it was made 20 years ago without the laughs.  Terrible, time to end! 

4-The Millers (CBS)

A show with so much talent, Will Arnett, Margo Martindale, Beau Bridges, and Jayma Mays wasted.  This material for this show is terrible, CBS's number one comedy is number one because of its placement on Thursday nights, why change the channel, oh that's right because this show like their other crap Thursday show Two and a Half Men is dumb.  This is honestly the best I can do to describe this show, this write up is as simplistic as this show.

5-1600 Penn (NBC) 

Putting Bill Pullman back in the White House seems like a slam dunk, right?  I mean he helped stopped those aliens in the film Independence Day so he should be able to help save an NBC comedy.  Wrong!  This was NBC's worst new comedy last year, but the talent was there.  Josh Gad was directed poorly, and while Jenna Elfman had her funny moments she could not help save this show.  Comedy and politics has worked a lot recently, but this show was a big fat 00.

The Worst Episodes

1-Dads-"Pilot"

Beyond the racism, of the Asian assistant this pilot set in motion a show that almost made the worst list, it would be number 6 above.  The episode itself tries too hard, and guess what characters in real life can't be made like able the way they are set up in Family Guy.  This was just the biggest piece of garbage.

2-Dexter -"Remember the Monsters?"

One of the worst series finales of all time, and that includes my anger towards the fade to black in The Sopranos.  A massive hurricane is coming and Dexter kills someone, goes back and forth driving, toward this storm and ends up a mountain man alone without his son, leaving him with a crazy murderer he really doesn't know?  That's the plan you had from the beginning?  Awful.

3-Glee-"Shooting Star"

When this show gets heavy handed, it gets heavy handed, and this school shooting episode was just out of place.  I get why they wanted to try this, and help people cope, but this was a clunker, and just proves this show needs to be put out of its misery.  (World be number 7 on the list above).

4-Community-"History 101"

The build up from the stars of this show, talking about Community with Dan Harmon was their undoing.  This was an overstuffed episode that tried too hard, and did not get Community.  I hope Dan Harmon makes season four a dream.

5-Mad Men- "The Crash"

I know some people will yell at me for this (my friend Keith), but I hated this episode.  Don and the office on amphetamines? This reminded me of when The Sopranos attempted their trippy stuff, this worked better because of the era, but this episode felt odd, and out of place.  The exposition on Don's past was all that was need, not a trip gone wrong, to make the episode feel just off.

Jumping the Shark Part 4: A New Hope.... to Improve

This part of of my "jumping the shark" entry is going to be a little different.  In the past I called for the end of shows, which had moved past their prime in more ways than one.  Most of the shows in parts one, two, and three have been cancelled, or on the road to ending.  My goal with this entry is to push hope that these few shows will bounce back, and achieve greatness once again.  I am not calling for these shows to cancelled, I am just challenging them to think about their current state, and the direction they are heading.  Be mindful of of spoiler midfield!

Community (2009-Present)-NBC  Dan Harmon is back! I removed this show from a previous list, because there is hope with Harmon back that this show will climb out of the abyss from the wreckage of the fourth season to be the show that it once was.  If I were Harmon I would make the fourth season part of one of the alternate time lines, or something more clever.  Dan Harmon was the genius behind the show, and when NBC canned him I was nervous.  The cast stated that in productions things were feeling and looking the same even without Harmon, but a true fan can see this show has lost something, the fire which made it the wittiest, independent show on television.  The plots are still outlandish, and there are still elements of the original Community, but the show has lost its edge.  The new show runners pulled a Britta, but with Harmon back I have hope this show can be better.

Update: Guess what NBC, bringing Dan Harmon made this show better, who would have thought that the creative mind behind the show, would have done that, sarcasm intended!  From GI Jeff to MeowMeowBeenz, and getting rid of Pierce this show is back, and better than the previous season.  6 seasons and a movie!

Downton Abbey (2010-Present)-PBS/BBC-Season one, or series one was epic, and great.  Series two was solid, but not as great.  Series three was depressing, and just did not hold my interest the way the show has in the past.  The fourth series/season is currently playing in the UK, but it will air starting on January 5th in the States.  My hope is that the show will be able to capture the magic even with Matthew gone.  The love story of Matthew and Mary was what made season three watchable.  These two characters had finally gotten together, but at the end of the third season Matthew dies.  My hope is that the show captures the evolving era well, and the way it influences the traditions/societal norms of the residents of Downton Abbey.

Update: Oh wait, what's that I just barely woke up after watching the most boring season of this show. The only character who even made it worth watching was Jim Carter's Mr Carson.  Raping Anna was pointless.  Julian Fellowes with Robert Altman is drowning in his lack of creativity.  Time to end things, there is no hope.

Girls (2012-Present)-HBO-Season two ended on odd, but interesting note.  Hannah is her own worst enemy; she wants to be a writer, but can't get there.  I know people find this show, and the characters vapid, but I look at it as an interesting sociological study on my generation.  With that said I can see this show faltering, and not lasting long, its niche.  My hope is that is that Lena Dunham continue to use her unique voice, but to not let it over power that natural occurrences within the series.

Update: Season 3 was great, and the finale showed Hannah growing in more ways than ever before.  Hannah reminds me of my Caitlin on many levels, Caitlin is a much better person though.  Should the show have ended here?  I often think shows should end while on top, and this show redeemed itself.  While the show got better I wonder if it should have ended this season.

Homeland (2011-Present)-Showtime One word, Dana. Enough already.  Fans of the show tell you they hate a character, and you give audiences more of her?  I am baffled on this one, fans of a show do not always know best, but in this instance they are correct.  While some of you may think I am as crazy as Carrie for putting this show on the list, there is something that has happened to this show post the episode entitled "Q&A" which have pushed this show on a slight downward spiral in quality.  The acting is great, and Mandy Patinkin is killing it; he is the reason I watch this show now.  I have faith in the show runners, that there is always a plan but the third episode of season entitled "Tower of David" was a clunker, a boring way to tie Carrie and Brody's story together.  A show can not always maintain a high level of quality, and I will stick by this show, but at the moment I am just holding out hope that the creative minds behind this show will push in the right direction.  Now Carrie is pregnant?  How did this not come out while she was being treated?

Update: Season 3 was a creative fail, but Brody is dead, does that mean things will get better? Probably not.  I like that this show can start from a fresh place in season 4, but is one more season enough for this show?  Probably, my prediction it ends at 5 or 6.

Mad Men (2007-Present)-AMC- Season 6 of Mad Men tackled the fall of Don Draper, as he became a shell of himself, losing touch with his suave nature, and becoming unable to hide who he truly has been all his life, Dick Whitfield.  The show also tackled the different civil rights movement well.  Beyond these things characters like Joan, and Peggy felt wasted.  The show felt more lost than usual, the writing less punchy.  The show seemed to spiral in the sense that it just felt like it went nowhere for most people.  I know I am not alone in the feeling that this last season of Mad Men was off.  Mad Men has one two part season left, much like Breaking Bad.  I hope Mad Men can end on top like Breaking Bad did.

No updates for Mad Men, still waiting for the premiere, which airs April 13th.  Critics were allowed to see the first episode only and the reactions have been mixed.  I have heard the general tone is good character development, no plot development.  Which is the shows biggest critique recently.  Only time will tell, but there are only 7 episodes, which could be tricky for this show.

Emmy Dream Ballot: Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Drama Series (2012-2013)

 I decided to separate these categories from the writing and directing this year.  All I can say is that The Good Wife could fill all twelve spots on these lists.  The Good Wife's use of their recurring/guest stars is handled better than any other television series on the air.  Wife seamlessly blends together the guest with their main characters.  Whether you are watching Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston) a lawyer who often work with Lockhart Gardener, or is sometimes represented by them, or Clarke Hayden as Lockhart Gardener's trustee.  These are just two of the many memorable guest performances from this past television season.

What makes a memorable guest performance?  Hard to say, but these twelve people do a great job, and represent some of the best I have ever seen in these categories.  William Daniels is a person on few people's radar, but as Dr. Craig Thomas a mentor to Christina Yang he made your heart melt as someone Christina finally believed in without sleeping with him.  Game of Thrones has so many moving parts, but Diana Rigg who played Lady Olenna Tyrell stood out as a larger than life character in the few scenes she has had.  While Daniels was on Grey's Anatomy for several episodes, and Rigg has had only a few scenes their impact on the season has been important, and they have made an impressive showing.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama

Jim Beaver-Justified

William Daniels-Grey’s Anatomy

Rupert Friend-Homeland

Nathan Lane-The Good Wife

Ray Romano-Parenthood

Ray Stevenson-Dexter

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama

Alison Brie-Mad Men

Jane Fonda-The Newsroom

Margo Martindale-The Americans

Martha Plimpton-The Good Wife

Carrie Preston-The Good Wife

Diana Rigg-Game of Thrones 

2012's Best and Worst in Television: The Episodes

Best Television Episodes

Community “Basic Lupine Urology” How do you spoof Law and Order by paying homage to the show while making fun of the procedural, ask Community, because they are the master.  I may be a bit biased because to me this is the funniest show on the air, but this show is of the hook.  From a hilarious cross examination by Annie to Abed and Troy switching from good to bad cop, there is no reason to stop this show.

“Troy: How did we get the short straw?

Abed: It's not a short straw. It's a hot potato.

Troy: Yeah, well, it looks pretty cold to me.

Abed: Cold or dead?.

Troy: Survey says...

Abed: We can't both do the zinger.”

Game of Thrones “Black Water” One of the best directed episodes of the year, and that I have ever seen in television history.  The battle mixed with the genuine brilliant story telling is so well done.  Game of Thrones had a solid season, but this episode catapulted the season into greatness.  How this episode was ignored by the Emmy Awards in the directing category is beyond me.  From the action to Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey’s great on screen acting chemistry this was off the hook.

Mad Men-“The Other Woman”- Mad Men had its weakest season (which is not saying much), but there were some episodes that were out of this world amazing.  “The Other Woman” highlighted one of the most difficult stories as Joan gave up her body to help land the Jaguar account, and become a partner.  Joan steals the episodes and her scenes with Pete, Roger, Don, and Lane are brilliant.  Peggy also completes her growth as she steps out of Don’s shadow on her own.

Homeland- Q&A-Cat and mouse finally catch up to one another.  Carrie is finally justified on her opinion when everyone at the CIA finally finds out that Brody was a terrorist.  This episode takes place almost entirely in the interrogation room, and its brilliance is sealed in the final moments when Carrie confronts Bordy.  If you take out Brody’s daughter’s storyline, this is one of the most perfect episodes.

Revenge “Reckoning” The best season finale of last year!  Revenge knows how to ramp up the drama, while this year the show is a bit more like Alias (good and bad thing), the season ender was one of the most exciting episodes of a television series.  With twists and turns, cliffhangers about major deaths, and Emily finally being challenged, there was a lot of good here.

Parks and Recreation “The Debate” -Leslie Knope versus. Bobby Newport in a debate to hilariously end all debates.   This is not the end of her campaign, but one of the funniest moments where these two go toe to toe on the stage.  While this remains the main story, the best side story involves Andy reenacting his favorite films because their cable is out and they can’t watch the debate.   This episode proves this ensemble fires on all cylinders.

Worst Television Episodes

Grey’s Anatomy-“Flight” Enough already Shonda!  Stop needlessly killing your characters in these awful tragic accidents.  Losing both Lexie and Mark has proven to set your show in a downward spiral (no pun intended).  You continue to use major plot devices to drive the story rather than let natural character development occur.  Your fans are getting fatigue with this crazy episodes.

How I Met Your Mother “The Autumn of Breakups”-Wait didn’t Ted and Victoria break up in season one over Robin, and wait didn’t Ted tell Robin he loved her last season, and things ended incredibly bad for Ted?  Don’t we already know Robin ends up with Barney?  Why are writers wasting their time and their fans time with retread story lines over and over and over again.  Pick the mother!!

Glee “Dynamic Duets”- Thwap! Bam! Pow!  Blaine and his super hero club came off and cloying, and odd, rather than a cute way for him to get over Kurt.  Couldn’t they have just had him going through a crisis rather than dress up in spandex in order to be tempted back into the world of the Warblers.  I am tired of this shows absolutely poor character development, and storyline progression.  This episode proved this show needed to pick a steadier direction rather than fracturing the direction of the show to NY, Ohio and wherever else folks may be.  This episode stands as something beyond camp, but just an awful train wreck.

Revolution “Pilot” One of the worst pilots I have watched in years, this show had no charismatic characters and never made me invested in the mystery nor did I care about the journey.  Now I often give most pilots the benefit of the doubt because they are establishing the story, and building at something bigger.  This show looked like all of the most recent Lost wannabe shows like Alcatraz, the re-make of V, etc.  Stop trying too hard!

The Office “Here Comes Treble” This show has fallen so far from grace, and even fans know this show is no longer relevant or even funny (most of the time).  This season’s Halloween episode entitle “Here Comes Treble” is proof.  Trying to combine four or five entertaining stories can be provide even a mess with longer dramatic episodes, so why add this element to a comedy.  No storyline seemed to hit its groove.

Emmy Week 2012: Direction takes DramaticTelevision to a New Level

Last year when talking about the Emmy Awards and their actual nominees I cited the fact this branch of the Academy tends to reward the best, for example this year Parks and Recreation, Community received nominations.  Before I go off on a tangent on why the writers know good writing, let me stick the task at hand.

Television direction, either with or without an Emmy nomination, has gone to a new level.  Throughout the years television series have rarely attracted major motion picture directors, used styles and techniques from major films, which could cost a show lots of extra money, or used beautiful exotic foreign shooting locations, and so much more. That's not to say that there weren't landmark television directors throughout the years who directed both comedies and drama series that broke barriers, or helped with the evolution of television.  (Shows that pushed the boundaries)

Yet when I think about the larger span of television, the most famous television director that always comes to my mind first, resides within the world of directing comedic television, and that person is James Burrows.  Burrows represents the old school style of comedic direction, the typical sitcom with the laugh track, camera styling, and so on.  Throughout most of television history dramatic television had a different persona then it does today, the style and format were more formulaic.  Shows like Hill Street Blues, started to break the barriers.  Yet to my knowledge there were not major directors who were power players the way Burrows was in the comedic world.  This started to change when dramatic series like ER, NYPD Blue, The X-Files, hit the television landscape.  These television shows emphasized a more realistic, grittier side of the television drama that had never been seen before.

Smaller names (but big within the industry) started to pop up in these grittier shows,  like Paris Barclay, Thomas Sclhamme, Vince Gilligan, Alan Taylor, and Laura Innes, to name only a few.  Once shows like ER, NYPD Blue, and many of the other 90s dramas started to fade into the background these directors and many more continued to push the envelope, while the major networks became stagnant.  Many major directors became producers and brought their material to basic and pay cable networks like HBO, Showtime, AMC, and F/X.   These networks were ready to step out on a limb, and to push the envelope even further.

HBO started to pave the way, and their first dramatic series within this realm was Oz.  Oz was a dramatic series about the reality of a maximum security prison.  The show was harsh/realistic, and did things that network television series could do.  HBO started a smart trend with their shows including Oz, which was to release a smaller number of episodes stretching the possibility for more quality programming along with making it possible to do more with their budget.  The show also breaks the fourth wall using Augustus Hill, an inmate as the narrator who addresses the audience, and narrates the underlying tone of the episode.  This show's success proved American audiences had a desire to see more realistic television programming.

HBO took things a step further in 1999.  David Chase created a show about a mobster name Tony Soprano who not only bumps people off, but has panic attacks.  The show and its direction provided episodes that felt like nothing that had ever been on television before.  Men like Tim Van Patten, Allen Coulter, and the above mentioned Alan Taylor made episodes like "Pine Barrens" some of the most memorable for avid fans of the show.  These three men continue to be some of the greatest working television directors today, they have set the tone with their work on The Sopranos, and not only forced other cable/pay cable networks to get on board, but they have also created their own worlds.

In the years after Oz and The Sopranos other networks have caught up to the legacy HBO started.   Using a more realistic undertone to guide a dramatic series.  Showtime started with Queer as Folk (2000) and Soul Food (2000), two dramatic series focusing on minority characters, providing something networks did not offer.  Moving forward the create The L Word (2004), Dexter (2006), The Tudors (2007), and Homeland (2011).

Queer as Folk and The L Word, may have been hyper sexualized, but Showtime was one of the few networks willing to create two different dramas about LGBT folks.  Dexter's dark undertone was too dark for parent company CBS, but the series direction highlights some of the most tense moments as the main character takes the the lives of criminals who should be punished.  As Showtime moved forward with their true dramatic series, having a series like The Tudors proved the period drama could be handled well by a television series, and that the key to this series, and series like this were skillful directors who created the right look and tone.  The same can be said for Homeland, one of the most gripping dramas on television to date.  Homeland pushes further than the network drama 24 did, making the concept of counter terrorism more powerfully formulated than most films have done in recent years.  Homeland is the perfect example of how strong direction has changed the landscape of television today.

AMC has done something similar to both HBO and Showtime, but is not a pay cable network.  While many networks jumped on the reality series band wagon AMC (which does have some reality television) challenged HBOs authority in the world of creating realistic dramas, with strong direction.  The fact that people have to pay for Showtime and HBO provides them with opportunity to show people swearing, show nudity, and show more graphic scenes of any nature.  AMC challenged this notion.

In 2007 AMC launched the series Mad Men about 1960s advertising executives.  The show was an instant hit with critics, and became a series that was can't miss television.  What makes Mad Men different is the fact that it feels like a great film, but is a great emotionally packed television series. Mad Men used the foundation laid by The Sopranos, and took television direction to a whole new level.  After Mad Men came Breaking Bad (2008), which has also challenged the norm, and the most recent season ender is one of the best directed hours of television I have ever seen.  Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan, a director from the 90s uses his dark vision to create a tone when he directs his show he created.  Realism is a trend that breaks in AMCs The Walking Dead about zombies.  Zombie movies have either seemed hokey, or not well written, while this graphic novel turned television series is the exact opposite.  Writing is an important reason for this, but film director Frank Darabont's creation/direction helped make this small screen drama have a big screen feel.

More and more today big screen director's are going to the small screen, and creating or directing for television series, and providing television viewers with more quality programming than ever before.  Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption) created and Directed for The Walking Dead (2010), Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver) is an executive producer, and directed the pilot for Boardwalk Empire (2010), Patty Jenkins (Monster)  has directed two episodes of the AMC drama The Killing (2011),  Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) directed the Starz pilot for the Kelsey Grammer drama Boss (2011), Michael Mann (Heat) directed for was an executive producer for television series Luck (2012) on HBO, and these are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head.  Film directors are taking to the small screen.  Neil Jordan who directed Interview with the Vampire has gone on to work on The Borgias for Showtime stated the following "Hollywood isn't doing anything like this material anymore, with cable, there's this wonderful domain that's emerged for film directors like me who enjoy the kind of material that Hollywood finds too boring for words."

Jordan raises an interesting point about the problem with films, and their lack of variety.  Television, especially cable networks provide a venue for incredible amounts of artistic expression that has lured directors from the bring screen.  Television direction has come a long way from shows like Qunicy, or Marcus Welby M.D.  Looking at those shows then the episode of Game of Thrones from this season entitled "Blackwater" which was directed by Neil Marshall.  "Blackwater" is one of the best directed episodes of television ever, the scale is incredibly large, yet Marshall does not minimize the importance of character development, and the performances from actors like Peter Dinklage.  

There is an artistic inversion going on here.  In the past films provided more opportunities for directors to show their heft because of budget, and more range for freedom of expression.  Television is now the space for this to happen.  There are opportunities within a shortened amount of episodes to tell great stories, and create well directed episodes that allow auteurs to make it work.  

Looking at this year's nominees in Outstanding Directing category is proof that even within ten years television direction has evolved into something special that provides viewers with world, and opportunities they never had before.  Whether we find ourselves lost a post World War I Downton Abbey, or trying to become a kingpin in the drug world on Breaking Bad, these shows prove television direction is a whole new ball game.

The nominees for this year's Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series are:

Boardwalk Empire-To the Lost-Tim Van Patten (HBO)
Breaking Bad-Face Off-Vince Gilligan (AMC)
Downton Abbey-Episode 7-Brian Percival (BBC) 
Homeland-Pilot-Michael Cuesta (Showtime) 
Mad Men-The Other Woman-Phil Abraham (AMC)

Of these the winner should be Homeland, and I have a feeling it will win this award, along with Danes for Lead Actress in a Drama series.  There is of course one interesting statistic about this list and the Outstanding Drama series nominations, not one of them is from a basic cable network.  Throughout the years basic cable shows have ended up on this list, but within the last two years they have been persona non grata.  The problem is that basic network television series are not challenging the norm like they did with Lost, or 24, they are playing it safe and letting other networks (they may own) step up to the plate and put forth creative programming.  As a fan of the direction of television I am not going to complain, I am going to sit back and watch as television gets more and more film directors to direct, create and executive produce shows that are surpassing films today.

Emmy Award's Drama Series Submissions (2011-2012)

I posted the Comedy Series submissions over a week ago, but the drama categories have not fully released their episodes.  I am tired on waiting to hear what Mad Men has submitted in the Drama series category, so here I go with my thoughts/predictions at this moment.

Best Drama Series

BOARDWALK EMPIRE * Season 2 * HBO  
Tape A: "21" & "Ourselves Alone"
Tape B: "Peg of Old" & "Two Boats and a Lifeguard"
Tape C: "Under God's Power She Flourishes" & "To the Lost"

BREAKING BAD * Season 4 * AMC
Tape A: "Box Cutter" & "Salud"
Tape B: "Problem Dog" & "Crawl Space"
Tape C: "End Times" & "Face Off"

DOWNTON ABBEY * Season 2 * PBS
Tape A: "Episode 1"
Tape B: "Episode 6"
Tape C: "Episode 7"

GAME OF THRONES * Season 2 * HBO
Tape A: "What is Dead May Never Die" & "Garden of Bones"
Tape B: "The Old Gods and the New" & "A Man Without Honor"
Tape C: "Blackwater" & "Valar Morghulis"

HOMELAND * Season 1 * SHOWTIME
Tape A: "Pilot" & "Grace"
Tape B: "The Good Soldier" & "The Weekend"
Tape C: "Marine One"

MAD MEN * Season 5 * AMC 
Tape A: "Signal 30" & "Far Away Places"
Tape B: "At the Codfish Ball" & "The Other Woman"
Tape C: "Commissions and Fees" & "The Phantom"

I grew tired of waiting for Mad Men's tape submissions, but this four time winner is in the game no matter what they submit.  While I agree Mad Men is the most accessible of the shows  I do not think it will become the most winning show of all time after an underwhelming season.  Breaking Bad is currently airing, and the episodes are on fire, Mad Men used to have this during the Emmy voting, and it help them incredibly.  I think Breaking Bad or Downton will take the crown.  Downton is an an incredibly impressive show, and feels so important, the same way Mad Men does.  This is a tight three way.
UPDATE: Mad Men submitted incredibly well!!  They truly have a great shot at breaking the record and winning their fifth trophy in this category.

1-Downton Abbey
2-Mad Men
3-Breaking Bad
4-Homeland
5-Boardwalk Empire
6-Game of Thrones

BEST DRAMA ACTOR: 
Hugh Bonneville - Downton Abbey ("Episode 7")
Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire ("Two Boats and a Lifeguard")
Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad ("Crawl Space")
Michael C. Hall - Dexter ("Nebraska")
Jon Hamm - Mad Men ("The Other Woman")
Damian Lewis - Homeland ("Marine One")

Cranston for the fourpeat with a great episode, and no Kelsey Grammer I think he has this one locked up again.  Damien Lewis could be a spoiler; he has a great tape, and could carry the popularity of one of the few shows in their first year to be successful.  The rest of the men have outside shots, last year's winner Kyle Chandler was a shock, although his tape was great and won the writing award. Everyone but Hall has a shot because he submitted the worst episode of Dexter EVER!

1-Bryan Cranston
2-Damien Lewis
3-Steve Buscemi
4-John Hamm
5-Hugh Bonneville
6-Michael C. Hall

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS:
Kathy Bates - Harry's Law ("Onward and Upward")
Glenn Close - Damages ("I've Done Way Too Much For This Girl")
Claire Danes - Homeland ("The Vest")
Michelle Dockery - Downton Abbey ("Episode 7")
Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife ("Parenting Made Easy")
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men ("The Other Woman")

I think Danes submission is a weak one, and she has always been the favorite to win this award this past year, in my opinion.  Look out for David E. Kelley's Emmy machine to potentially steal Kathy Bates her first ever Emmy.  Kelley produces Emmy magic for his stars, but her show was cancelled, which can work against her.  The only other threat to Danes is Marguilles, but this is not her year.

1-Claire Danes
2-Kathy Bates
3-Julianne Marguilles
4-Glen Close-Damages
5-Elisabeth Moss
6-Michelle Dockery

BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Jim Carter - Downton Abbey ("Episode 2")
Brendan Coyle - Downton Abbey ("Episode 7")
Peter Dinklage - Game of Thrones ("Blackwater")
Giancarlo Esposito - Breaking Bad ("Hermanos")
Jared Harris - Mad Men ("Commissions and Fees")
Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad ("End Times")

A fight between the Breaking Bad guys and Jared Harris.  Of the tapes I would say Aaron Paul has the best tape, one interesting statistic stands in his way, no person has repeated a win in this category in 16 years!  Do the voters know this, probably not as well award show gurus.  Esposito was the talk of the season and he has a great tape as well, so I think he has a better shot than Paul, but there is one other factor, Jared Harris.  Harris is a first time nominee for the show, and has a much better story line than John Slattery ever had.  It would be ironic if Harris were the shows first win because he is no longer with the show.  

1-Giancarlo Esposito
2-Jared Harris
3-Aaron Paul
4-Brendan Coyle
5-Peter Dinklage
6-Jim Carter

BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Christine Baranski - The Good Wife ("Alienation of Affection")
Joanne Froggatt - Downton Abbey ("Episode 7")
Anna Gunn - Breaking Bad ("Cornered")
Christina Hendricks - Mad Men ("The Other Woman")
Archie Panjabi - The Good Wife ("The Dream Team")
Maggie Smith - Downton Abbey ("Episode 1")

After watching the tapes (which help) look at Margo Martindale's win this race is down to two women.  Joanne Froggatt, and Christina Hendricks.  Factor in the other anomalies of this category like Blythe Danner winning two years in a row, and Diane Wiest winning, and you have to throw in Maggie Smith, and Christine Baranski.  How do the dice shake up?  Will Hendricks score Mad Men's first win?  This is one of the tougher categories on the drama side to predict, with so many variant factors.  Smith is great, and she did win last year I could see this counting against her; she also never shows up, which does not effect things most of the time, but watching Froggatt's excitment she will be campaigning. Hendricks has one of the best tapes she has ever had.  Right now my gut and heart is going with Hendricks, but Froggatt and Smith (by name) are nipping at her heals.

1-Christina Hendricks
2-Joannne Froggatt
3-Maggie Smith
4-Christine Baranski
5-Anna Gunn
6-Archie Panjabi

BEST DRAMA GUEST ACTOR:
Dylan Baker - The Good Wife ("Marthas and Caitlins")
Jeremy Davies - Justified ("Coalition")
Ben Feldman - Mad Men ("Dark Shadows")
Michael J. Fox - The Good Wife ("Parenting Made Easy")
Mark Margolis - Breaking Bad ("Face Off")
Jason Ritter - Parenthood ("Politics")

The Good Wife men will square off in the battle of who will win this award, my money is on Michael J. Fox, I think he will win here (Fallon in Guest Comedy).  Look out for Dylan Baker he is nipping on his heals, and Mark Margolis could be a spoiler.

Prediction: Michael J. Fox-The Good Wife

BEST DRAMA GUEST ACTRESS:
Joan Cusack - Shameless ("Can I Have a Mother")
Loretta Devine - Grey's Anatomy ("If Only You Were Lonely")
Julia Ormond - Mad Men ("The Phantom")
Martha Plimpton - The Good Wife ("The Dream Team")
Jean Smart - Harry's Law ("The Rematch")
Uma Thurman - Smash ("Tech")

Patricia Clarkson is the only actress who has won this award for playing the same character, and her win came 4 years a part from each other.  Can Loretta Devine break this pattern; she has a great shot.  Truth be told as a Good Wife junkie I would love to see Plimpton and Fox win together, but that won't happen.  David E, Kelley is an Emmy machine so look for Jean Smart another Emmy favorite to be a strong possibility, in fact I am predicting her at the moment.  

Prediction: Jean Smart-Harry's Law

BEST DRAMA SERIES DIRECTING
Tim Van Patten, "Boardwalk Empire" - "To the Lost"
Vince Gilligan, "Breaking Bad" - "Face Off"
Brian Percival, "Downton Abbey" - "Episode 7"
Michael Cuesta, "Homeland" - "Pilot"
Phil Abraham, "Mad Men" - "The Other Woman"

Despite the fact that "Blackwater" from Game of Thrones was snubbed, I think that this is a fight between Vince Gilligan's "Face Off" and the Homeland "Pilot."  Mad Men has shockingly never won this category, but this is not going to be their year here.  I think I am going to give the slight edge to Breaking Bad, but watch out for Homeland, this is a tight race.

Prediction-Breaking Bad "Face Off"

BEST DRAMA SERIES WRITING
Julian Fellowes, "Downton Abbey" - "Episode 7"
Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, and Gideon Raff, "Homeland" - "Pilot"
Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner, "Mad Men" - "The Other Woman"
Andre Jacquemetton and Maria Jacquemetton, "Mad Men" - "Commissions and Fees"
Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner, "Mad Men" - "Far Away Places"

Mad Men had won this award for its first three seasons, but lost last year for one of their best written episodes ever, The Suitcase.  "The Other Woman" has the best shot here the help them reclaim this category, but I think Fellowes will claim the writing category again this year in the drama series race.

Prediction-Downton Abbey "Episode 7"