Emmy Predictions Part One: Big Wins for "30 Rock," "The Amazing Race" and Emmy Host Neil Patrick Harris

Following several consecutive Emmy Awards telecasts that have been poorly produced and painful to watch the Academy of Television Arts ampamp Sciences this year faces a titanic twopronged task It must regain the support and respect of the very industry it honors and the audience it wishes to attract It must also find a way to appease the broadcast networks that carry the Emmys now that so many quality cable programs are routinely and deservedly winning so many major awards The Academy seems to understand the magnitude of these challenges as indicated by the changes it has implemented in recent months with results that have been alternately promising and problematic Indeed the ups and downs have been strikingOn the upside the number of nominees in certain categories was increased there are seven each in the categories of Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series and six nominees in each of the series acting categories On the downside even though the Academy made more room in key categories the three best dramas on television last season amp8211 The Shield Battlestar Galactica and Friday Night Lights amp8211 received no major nominations Continuing with the Academy39s wild ride it announced last month that eight categories included in the traditional Emmy telecast would be handed out before the live show and that highlights from those eight acceptance speeches would be inserted into the prime time Emmycast on September 20 The idea didn39t seem half bad in that it would reduce by eight the number of segments in which winners stand receive congratulations from those around them make the long walk to the stage receive more applause and then make long speeches thanking their lawyers agents managers mothers etc This plan might have freed up time for the addition of some actual entertainment in the show or at least for more of those clips viewers seem to crave But the timeshifted honorees would have included writers and directors and their respective guilds cried foul The plan was quickly scrappedOne great move amid all the noise and nonsense that has met with universal praise and rightly so was the selection of Neil Patrick Harris as host of the ceremony This is a huge win for CBS the network that will televise the show this year because Harris stars in one of its hottest and youngestskewing series How I Met Your Mother Harris was nothing short of sensational as host of this year39s Tony Awards another entertainment industry event that was in dire need of critical new energy It is hoped he will erase painful memories of recent hosting misfires including Ryan Seacrest in the round in 2007 and the shocking spectacle in 2008 of five popular reality show hosts trying to share cohosting duties without benefit of a script The latter was a major Emmy failHarris can only help Emmy reverse the ratings erosion it has suffered in recent years and grow its audience a mandate for all involved On that note I have long wondered why the annual Emmy ceremony has not included performances by popular competitors from Fox39 American Idol and ABC39s Dancing with the Stars They are the biggest and brightest and most interactive shows on broadcast television and they generally draw larger audiences than any original programs on cable Audience favorites from NBC39s America39s Got Talent might also appear Since the Emmys are telecast on the broadcast networks and because the broadcasters always complain about quality cable programming stealing their thunder by winning so many awards each year wouldn39t a showcase for some of broadcast39s most popular personalities soften the blowSpeaking of cable expect it to once again dominate the Emmys this year in the Drama series movies and miniseries categories I39ll address those in tomorrow39s column Collectively the broadcasters won39t be happy about that but if Emmy gets the Comedy and Reality awards right it should be a good night for CBS NBC and Fox at leastHere are my predictionsOutstanding Comedy Series NBC39s 30 RockCBS39 The Big Bang Theory is bizarrely absent from the nominees in this category Had it been included I am certain it would have won Unless there is an upset by one of this category39s novelty nominees Fox39 Family Guy HBO39s Flight of the Conchords expect a third consecutive win for NBC39s most valuable seriesOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Jim Parsons of CBS39 The Big Bang TheoryPrevious winners Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock and Tony Shalhoub of USA Network39s Monk are formidable competitors but Parsons is the one to beat for his riotously inventive performance as frenzied nerd Sheldon on television39s funniest showOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Toni Collette of Showtime39s United States of TaraI can39t think of any reason why Toni Collette will not take home this award She played the most challenging role on television A woman with four dramatically disparate personalities five if you count the creepy Gimme I39m sure the Academy will be tempted to once again honor Tina Fey of 30 Rock but she will likely be named the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her funny and influential portrayal of Governor Sarah Palin on NBC39s primetime special Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008 so this one should go to ColletteOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Neil Patrick Harris of CBS39 How I Met Your MotherKevin Dillon of HBO39s Entourage is way overdue and with fourtime nominee and threetime winner Jeremy Piven left out of the running he may have a shot But this feels like Harris39 year It would be foolhardy for the Academy to ignore the hottest star in this categoryOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series I have no clueI39d like to see Kristen Wiig honored for her work on NBC39s Saturday Night Live but since Emmy passed on her SNL costar Amy Poehler in this category last year there is no reason to believe that it will go with Wiig or repeat nominee Poehler this time If Wiig can39t have it then I think the delightful Kristin Chenoweth of ABC39s Pushing Daisies should be recognized if only to give that uniquely wonderful and regrettably shortlived series a sweet sendoffOutstanding Reality amp8211 Competition Program CBS39 The Amazing RaceStill a marvel of onlocation production and direction The Amazing Race is on track to take home its seventh consecutive Emmy in this categoryOutstanding Host for a Reality or RealityCompetition Program Jeff Probst of CBS39 SurvivorMy preference in this category is the ultrasmooth Tom Bergeron of ABC39s Dancing with the Stars But Emmy picked Probst last year and will likely do so once againOutstanding Reality Program Bravo39s Kathy Griffin My Life on the DListOkay broadcast can39t own the entire reality arena on Emmy night mainly because it has no nominees for Outstanding Reality Program Emmy loves Griffin making her the frontrunner hereCheck out the complete list of nominees for the categories mentioned in this columnTomorrow My predictions in the Drama Series Movies and MiniSeries categories

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Emmy Predictions Part One: Big Wins for "30 Rock," "The Amazing Race" and Emmy Host Neil Patrick Harris

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Emmy Predictions Part One: Big Wins for "30 Rock," "The Amazing Race" and Emmy Host Neil Patrick Harris

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