Emmys 2007: Cultural Learnings’ Final Emmy Awards Predictions

[Months ago, Cultural Learnings put its neck out there to predict which shows and performers might get those coveted Emmy Nominations. Now, it’s time to put the prediction power to the test again, predicting who will win during tomorrow night’s ceremony. Some of them might be wishful thinking, others might be far too safe. Regardless, it’s our job to stand by them to the bitter end. We’ll see how things turn out during tomorrow night’s LiveBlogging Extravaganza!]

Cultural Learnings’ 2007 Emmy Predictions

Oustanding Drama Series

The Sopranos [WINNER]

Heroes

Boston Legal

Grey’s Anatomy

House

[It only won once, it had a critically acclaimed final season, and the rest of the competition was either too uneven or too green. Simply put, it is the class of this field, and will easily walk home with the Emmy]

Oustanding Comedy Series

The Office

Entourage

Two and a Half Men

30 Rock [WINNER]

Ugly Betty

[This is going with my gut on this one, but I think that 30 Rock combines the liberal-minded sentiment of Emmy voters and strong pedigree in Baldwin/Fey. The Office got their due last year, and Ugly Betty will get theirs eventually. This is 30 Rock’s year.]

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

James Spader (Boston Legal)

James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) [WINNER]

Kiefer Sutherland (24)

Denis Leary (Rescue Me)

Hugh Laurie (House)

[While Laurie is a potential spoiler, I’d say that Gandolfini should easily ride the Sopranos wave to victory within this category.]

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) [WINNER]

Ricky Gervais (Extras)

Steve Carell (The Office)

Tony Shahloub (Monk)

Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)

[Picking between Carell and Baldwin is very tough, as Carell got robbed last year, but I think that Baldwin was the breakout star of the year in comedy, while Carell’s star just didn’t shine as brightly.]

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Patricia Arquette (Medium)

Edie Falco (The Sopranos) [WINNER]

Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters)

Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)

Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Minnie Driver (The Riches)

[This is a tough category: Falco has the Sopranos push, but not to the degree of other performers. At the same time, the rest of the field will likely split a lot of different ways, leaving Falco the lone standout. Watch for Driver/Field.]

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives)

Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)

Julia-Louis Dreyfus (New Adventures of Old Christine)

America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) [WINNER]

[The other actresses all have their charms, but it is Ferrera who owns Ugly Betty and who has won everything else under the sun. Despite the delay, the show’s Pilot has become no less impressive, and she waltzes away with this one.]

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Michael Emerson (Lost)

Terry O’Quinn (Lost) [WINNER]

T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy)

Masi Oka (Heroes)

Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos)

William Shatner (Boston Legal)

[Finally, the Sopranos train stops here: Imperioli has won before, and I think that with Lost getting shut out of every other category voters might look more seriously at O’Quinn, so seriously shafted (By Shatner) two years ago.]

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) [WINNER]

Kevin Dillon (Entourage)

Rainn Wilson (The Office)

Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

[Piven has the pedigree, and perhaps Dillon the sympathy, but it is Neil Patrick Harris who has both a fantastic episode and, more importantly, is really funny. You can’t beat that combination, although that might indeed happen.]

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters)

Aida Turturro (The Sopranos)

Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy)

Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy)

Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) [WINNER]

Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos)

[She’s yet to win an Emmy, and in her third nomination I think that the rest of the candidates will split and leave her and Bracco in a showdown. And I think it’s finally Oh’s year, even if Grey’s hit some rough patches this season.]

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Jaime Pressley (My Name is Earl)

Jenna Fischer (The Office) [WINNER]

Conchata Ferrell (Two and a Half Men)

Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men)

Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds)

Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)

[The Men women split, Perkins and Williams have poor episodes, and Pressley’s show has lost all critical buzz: this leaves Jenna Fischer, whose charm and wit might just be enough to win over Emmy voters.]

Direction in a Drama Series

Jack Bender (Lost – Through the Looking Glass) [WINNER]

Writing in a Drama Series

David Chase (The Sopranos – Made in America) [WINNER]

Direction in a Comedy Series

Richard Shepard (Ugly Betty) [WINNER]

Writing in a Comedy Series

Tina Fey (30 Rock – Tracy Does Conan) [WINNER]

Best Competition Reality Program

The Amazing Race [WINNER]

Best Variety Program

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart [WINNER]

Writing for a Variety Program

The Colbert Report [WINNER]

Directing for a Variety Program

Rob Marshall (Tony Bennett) [WINNER]

Individual Performance in a Variety Program

Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report) [WINNER]

Outstanding Made for TV Movie

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee [WINNER]

Outstanding Miniseries

Broken Trail [WINNER]

Lead Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Robert Duvall (Broken Trail) [WINNER]

Lead Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Helen Mirren (Prime Suspect: Final Act) [WINNER]

Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Thomas Hayden Church (Broken Trail) [WINNER]

Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Anna Paquin (Bury My Heart…) [WINNER]

Outstanding Direction for a Miniseries/TV Movie

Walter Hill (Broken Trail) [WINNER]

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries/TV Movie

McGibbon/Parriot (The Starter Wife) [WINNER]