2011 Primetime Emmys, Part 2: Dramas

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Continuing on, today we look at all of the Primetime Drama Emmy Award nominees. Just a few days until the ceremony, so get excited!!

Outstanding Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Mad Men
- There are a lot of outstanding dramatic programs on television these days. Of course, I still miss the delights of ER, but these are still some fine candidates. I think I'm going to take a lesson from my Creative Arts predictions and go with Boardwalk Empire.

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
"Always" from Friday Night Lights by Jason Katims
"Baelor" from Game of Thrones by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss
"Pilot" from The Killing by Veena Sud
"The Suitcase" from Mad Men by Matthew Weiner
"Blowing Smoke" from Mad Men by Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton
- We're in one of those situations where I'm not in love with any of the nominees for this category. I'm close to going with Friday Night Lights, but I'm going to go with Game of Thrones.

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire "Pilot" by Martin Scorsese
Boardwalk Empire "Anastasia" by Jeremy Podeswa
The Borgias "The Poisoned Chalice / The Assassin" by Neil Jordan
Game of Thrones "Winter is Coming (Pilot)" by Tim Van Patten
The Killing "Pilot" by Patty Jenkins
- The picking between Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones never stops. This time, I'm going with the pilot for the former.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in Dexter
Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House in House
Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens in Justified
Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men
- Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire. done.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor in Friday Night Lights
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick in The Good WifeKathy Bates as Harriet "Harry" Korn in Harry's Law
Mireille Enos as Sarah Linden in The Killing
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson in Mad Men
- I personally feel that Julianna Margulies has emerged on The Good Wife. But I'm sure Elisabeth Moss will give her a run for the money...

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones
Josh Charles as Will Gardner in The Good Wife
Alan Cumming as Eli Gold in The Good Wife
Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder in Justified
John Slattery as Roger Sterling in Mad Men
Andre Braugher as Owen in Men of a Certain Age
- I'm going to push for Peter Dinklage, even if it does make me look like I'm trying too hard for Game of Thrones.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Kelly Macdonald as Margaret Schroeder in Boardwalk Empire
Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma in The Good Wife
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart in The Good Wife
Margo Martindale as Mags Bennett in Justified
Michelle Forbed as Mitch Larsen in The Killing
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris in Mad Men
- I think I might be selecting a fan favorite in Christina Hendricks for her work on Mad Men, but I guess that's okay.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Bruce Dern as Frank Harlow on Big Love
Beau Bridges as Nick Brody on Brothers & Sisters
Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning on The Good Wife
Paul McCrane as Josh Peyton on Harry's Law
Jeremy Davies as Dickie Bennet on Justified
Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper on Mad Men
- I love it when there's a good guest on a show. So determining who the best guest was can turn into a tricky dilemma. Here, I can't see past Michael J. Fox, especially on such a quality program like The Good Wife.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Mary McDonnell as Captain Sharon Raydoe in The Closer
Julia Stiles as Lumen Pierce on Dexter
Loretta Devine as Adele Webber on Grey's Anatomy
Randee Heller Miss Blankenship on Mad Men
Cara Buono as Faye Miller on Mad Men
Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson on Shameless
Alfre Woodard as Ruby Jean Reynolds on True Blood
- I'm torn here. I think that three of these lovely ladies are deserving for their efforts. But (and maybe this is because of all the State of Georgia I've seen lately), Loretta Devine has my vote for Grey's Anatomy.