OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
In the running: Laura Linney (Cathy Jamison in The Big C), Edie Falco (Jackie Peyton in Nurse Jackie), Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreations), Melissa McCarthy (Molly Flynn in Mike & Molly) and Tina Fey (Liz Lemon in 30 Rock).
Best candidate: Laura Linney. Despite the programme’s gloomy undertone of death – her character deals with terminal stage IV melanoma – Linney imbues such warmth, humour and sincerity into her role that you can’t help but applaud Cathy’s convictions.
LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
In the running: Matt LeBlanc (as himself in Episodes), Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory), Steve Carell (Michael Scott in The Office), Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter in The Big Bang Theory), Louis CK (Louie in Louie) and Alec Baldwin (Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock).
Best candidate: Matt LeBlanc. He makes a formidable comeback playing a larger-than-life version of himself and also proves he is more layered as an actor than the industry gave him credit for.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
In the running: Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester in Glee), Betty White (Elka Ostrosky in Hot in Cleveland), Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy in Modern Family), Kristen Wiig (various characters in Saturday Night Live), Jane Krakowski (Jenna Maroney in 30 Rock) and Sofia Vergara (Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in Modern Family).
Best candidate: Sofia Vergara. She is one of the most talked about actresses of the moment and a lot of it has to do with her nasal-voiced character, boasting a Colombian accent. Besides, her sexy character is spot on the money when it comes to comic timing.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
In the running: Jon Cryer (Alan Harper in Two and a Half Men), Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel in Glee), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett in Modern Family), Ed O’ Neil (Jay Pritchett in Modern Family), Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker in Modern Family) and Ty Burrel (Phil Dunphy in Modern Family).
Best candidate: I suspect the award will probably go to one of the guys in Modern Family, I am keeping my fingers crossed for Eric Stonestreet. He is a barrel of laughs in his camp role.
COMEDY SERIES
In the running: Glee (Fox), Parks and Recreation (NBC), The Office (NBC), Modern Family (ABC), 30 Rock (NBC) and The Big Bang Theory (CBS).
Best candidate: A razor-sharp script, first-rate quirky cast. Really, how could The Big Bang Theory not walk away with the honours?
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
In the running: Elisabeth Moss (Peggy Olson in Mad Men), Connie Britton (Tami Taylor in Friday Night Lights), Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Mireille Enos (Sarah Linden in The Killing), Julianna Marguilies (Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife) and Kathy Bates (Harriet Harry in Harry’s Law).
Best candidate: Her compelling portrayal of a woman who chooses to stand by the side of her disgraced politician husband while also juggling a demanding career as a litigator makes Julianna Marguilies worthy of the honour.
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
In the running: Steve Buscemi (Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire), Michael C Hall (Dexter Morgan in Dexter), Kyle Chandler (Coach Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights), Jon Hamm (Don Draper in Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (Dr Gregory House in House) and Timothy Olyphant (Raylan Givens in Justified).
Best candidate: Steve Buscemi is an actor worth his weight in salt and his role in Boardwalk Empire fortifies this fact.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
In the running: Kelly Macdonald (Margaret Schroeder in Boardwalk Empire), Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris in Mad Men), Michelle Forbes (Mitch Larsen in The Killing), Archie Panjabi (Kalinda Sharma in The Good Wife), Margo Martindale (Mags Bennett in Justified) and Christine Baranski (Diane Lockhart in The Good Wife).
Best candidate: An under-rated actress, Archie Panjabi certainly bolsters the appeal of The Good Wife. Her character’s misanthropic views on life and steely determination as an in-house private investigator made for intriguing storylines.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
In the running: John Slattery (Roger Sterling in Mad Men), Andre Braugher (Owen in Men of a Certain Age), Walton Goggins (Boyd Crowder in Justified), Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones), Josh Charles (Will Gardner in The Good Wife) and Alan Cumming (Eli Gold in The Good Wife).
Best candidate: Game of Thrones has been making serious waves on the TV scene, I wouldn’t be surprised if Peter Dinklage walked off with the accolade.
DRAMA SERIES
In the running: Boardwalk Empire (HBO), The Good Wife (CBS), Mad Men (AMC), Friday Night Lights (DirecTV), Dexter (Showtime), Game of Thrones (HBO).
Best candidate: Hmm, this is a tough one indeed. I think it is going to be a tug-o’-war between Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men.
LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
In the running: Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce in Mildred Pierce), Elizabeth McGovern (Coral Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey), Diane Lane (Patricia Loud in Cinema Verite), Taraji P Henson (Tiffany Rubin in Taken From Me: The tiffany Rubin Story) and Jean Marsh (Rose Buck in Upstairs Downstairs).
Best candidate: A doyenne of period sagas, I think Kate Winslet will steal this one.
LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
In the running: Greg Kinnear (John F Kennedy in The Kennedys), Barry Pepper (Bobby Kennedy in The Kennedys), Edgar Ramirez (Carlos in Carlos), William Hurt (Henry “Hank” Paulson in Too Big To Fail), Idris Elba (John Luther in Luther) and Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood Marshall in Thurgood).
Best candidate: Greg Kinnear’s accomplished portrayal of John F Kennedy will hold him in good stead in this category.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
In the running: Evan Rachel Wood (Veda Pierce in Mildred Pierce), Melissa Leo (Lucy Gessler in Mildred Pierce), Mare Winningham (Ida in Mildred Pierce), Maggie Smith (Dowager Countess of Grantham/Violet in Downton Abbey) and Eileen Atkins as Lady Maud Holland in Upstairs Downstairs).
Best candidate: A seasoned actress, Maggie Smith unfailingly adds such luminosity to the genre. She is a strong contender indeed.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
In the running: Guy Pearce (Monty Beragon in Mildred Pierce), Brian F O’Byrne (Bert Pierce in Mildren Pierce), Tom Wilkinson (Joe Kennedy in The Kennedys), Paul Giamatti (Ben Bemanke in Too Big To Fail) and James Wood (Richard Fuld in Too Big To Fail).
Best candidate: Gee, I think either Paul Giamatti or James Wood will bag this one.
MINISERIES OR MOVIE
In the running: Mildred Pierce (HBO), Downton Abbey (PBS), The Kennedys (ReelzChannel), Cinema Verite (HBO), Too Big To Fail (HBO) and The Pillars of the Earth.
Best candidate: Given its sterling cast, captivating period backdrop and mesmerising impact on viewers, my money is on Mildred Pierce.
VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
In the running: The Colbert Report (Comedy Central), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC), Saturday Night Live (NBC), Conan (TBS), Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO) and The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central).
Best candidate: It has been running for ages, but Saturday Night Live, which often pushes the envelope with its satire, gets a thumbs up.
REALITY – COMPETITION PROGRAMME
In the running: So You Think You Can Dance? (Fox), The Amazing Race (CBS), Project Runway (Lifetime), American Idols (Fox), Dancing With the Stars (ABC) and Top Chef (Bravo).
Best candidate: With the dance genre getting a lot of mileage on television these days, I wouldn’t be surprised if either one of the similar themed shows makes a big impression.
HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAMME
In the running: Jeff Probst (Survivor), Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance?), Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race), Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars) and Ryan Seacrest (American Idol).
Best candidate: Ryan Seacrest has pizzazz, is quick off the mark and makes for a dapper host. Did I mention he has oodles of charm?