Outstanding Actress – Miniseries or Movie

The Nominees: Jessica Lange (AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN), Helena Bonham-Carter (BURTON AND TAYLOR), Sarah Paulson (AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN), Minnie Driver (RETURN TO ZERO), Cicely Tyson (THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL), Kristen Wiig (THE SPOILS OF BABYLON)

Will Win: Jessica Lange
Until she decides to stop appearing in these installments of AMERICAN HORROR STORY (which will be in a year since this upcoming season will be her last), Jessica Lange is my pick to win. She created an incredible character in Supreme Witch Fiona Goode. She was cruel and capricious and manipulative but she was never boring. And no one inhabits a character as fully as Lange does.

Should Win: Jessica Lange
Did you think I was joking? Lange is amazing and deserves all the awards.

Got Robbed: Khandi Alexander (TREME)
I have always been a fan of Alexander’s ability to bring a quiet intensity and gritty realism to all of her roles and she has been doing that regularly throughout TREME’s run so it would have been nice to see her get recognized with a nomination now that the show is winding done.

Outstanding Actor – Miniseries or Movie

The Nominees: Chiwetel Ejiofor (DANCING ON THE EDGE), Billy Bob Thornton (FARGO), Idris Elba (LUTHER), Martin Freeman (FARGO), Benedict Cumberbatch (SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOWS), Mark Ruffalo (THE NORMAL HEART)

Will Win: Mark Ruffalo
THE NORMAL HEART was a powerful film and it featured a host of great performances and as the lead, Ruffalo is going to get the Emmy just for being the top guy in that ensemble. I thought Ruffalo did fine but his was not a performance that really grabbed me and I really considered him to be the weakest performance of the whole cast.

Should Win: Martin Freeman
Freeman’s turn as the reprehensible Lester Nygaard in FARGO was incredible. To watch as he transformed from a put-upon bullied shell of a man and became a manipulative, ruthless sneaky little weasel was the height of entertainment.

Got Robbed: Wendell Pierce (TREME)
In much the same way that I feel Khandi Alexander’s combined performance throughout the run of TREME deserves recognition the same goes for Pierce. He has been the one thing that draws me back into TREME when I find myself struggling to stay invested with the show. An Emmy nod would have been a much deserved reward.

Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or Movie

The Nominees: France Conroy (AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN), Kathy Bates (AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN), Angela Bassett (AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN), Alison Tolman (FARGO), Ellen Burstyn (FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC), Julia Roberts (THE NORMAL HEART)

Will Win: Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is a big Hollywood star and THE NORMAL HEART is projected to win in all categories so this is a safe bet. Roberts was good in the film in her limited screen time but she shouldn’t get this win over some of the more deserving actresses in this category.

Should Win: TIE – Kathy Bates & Angela Bassett
I can’t choose between these two women who both gave ferocious and over-the-top performances in COVEN that were equally electric and captivating. If there is any justice in entertainment we will get to see both of these women on stage sharing that Emmy statue on Monday night.

Got Robbed: Amanda Abbington (SHERLOCK)
Amanda who? Amanda Abbington that’s who! Ms Abbington portrays Mary Morstan, Watson’s better half, on SHERLOCK. Abbington was fine in her previous appearances on the show but Series 3 opened up the character of Mary by delving into her background and revealing a mjor secret about her that shook Holmes and Watson to their core. And Abbington was able hold her own with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman while also revealing new layers to the Watson/Holmes relationship as well as creating an even deeper connection with Mary and Watson. She was a truly unsung performance from last year that deserves praise.

Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or Movie

The Nominees: Colin Hanks (FARGO), Alfred Molina (THE NORMAL HEART), Martin Freeman (SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW), Matt Bomer (THE NORMAL HEART), Jim Parsons (THE NORMAL HEART), Joe Mantello (THE NORMAL HEART)

Will Win: Matt Bomer
I think it is so awesome when an actor you are familiar with for lightweight roles and who is know more for his cheekbones than his acting chops delivers a performance that just blows you away. And it is with THE NORMAL HEART that Matt Bomer delivered just that performance. To watch the tragic progression he goes through from a healthy, happy man who is living life to the fullest to the pitiful husk that he became as his mind and body was ravaged by AIDS was just heartbreaking. It was the strongest performance from a film full of them.

Should Win: Matt Bomer
This is a one man race, people.

Got Robbed: Danny Huston (AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN)
Only an actor with the quirky versatility of a Danny Huston could make an axe wielding serial killer actually come off as a sympathetic figure. Huston was able to go from hip and coolly frightening to a jumbled mess of unbridled emotion at the turn of a dime and a Emmy nod would have been very justified.

Outstanding Movie

The Nominees: THE NORMAL HEART (HBO), THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (Lifetime), KILLING KENNEDY (National Geographic Channel), SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW (BBC), MUHAMMAD ALI’S GREATEST FIGHT (HBO)

Will Win: THE NORMAL HEART
There was no more powerful film televised this year and it is pretty much a 100% certainty that THE NORMAL HEART will win this award.

Should Win: THE NORMAL HEART
All the other nominees should have just pulled their names out of competition.

Got Robbed: CLEAR HISTORY
This was just a fun movie and it brought the incomparable Larry David back to TV (please come back again, Larry!). Featuring a tight cast, smart writing and the distinctive David humor…CLEAR HISTORY was a hoot and well deserving of an Emmy nod.

Outstanding Miniseries

The Nominees: FARGO (FX Network), AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN (FX Network), DANCING ON THE EDGE (Starz), LUTHER (BBC), THE WHITE QUEEN (Starz)

Will Win: FARGO
Fargo was a pleasant surprise because I thought there was no way that a TV show would be able to capture the charm and complexity of the Coen Brothers mV series deliver on all of those fronts, I think I might even like it more than the movie!

Should Win: FARGO
I loved AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN but it was a very uneven season that was buoyed by magnificent performances from the cast and LUTHER had a very good series send off but neither show could match FARGO as far as quality and consistency.

Got Robbed: MOB STORY
This show did not make the splash I expected it to which was a shame because it was well made with wonderful acting performances (most notably by THE WALKING DEAD vet Jon Bernthal) and was directed by a well regarded auteur like Frank Darabont. I was sure it would have gotten some Emmy love.