Predicting the Emmy winners and losers

Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (MCT) - You'll have to forgive network executives if they show up for Sunday's 60th Emmy Awards wearing black armbands and stealing swigs from a flask of whiskey hidden under their tuxedos. This is cable's year to shine _ and the networks have no one to blame but themselves.

Criminal procedurals and goofy soap operas might entertain the masses, but they're not going to get you any hardware to display on the mantel. ABC's "Pushing Daisies" is the only new show that deserves the title "critics' darling," and I can think of at least a dozen superior programs on AMC, Fox, HBO, FX and Showtime.

When cable players take the stage to pick up one award after another, I hope the network execs will stop sniffling long enough to consider spending more time creating bold, smart programs and less time developing "CSI: Dubuque."

Here's how I think the night should _ and will _ play out:

BEST DRAMA

Nominees: 'Boston Legal,' 'Damages,' 'Dexter,' 'House,' 'Lost,' Mad Men.'

Should win: 'Damages' rules. Sue us.

Will win: It would be insane to bet against 'Mad Men.'

BEST COMEDY

Nominees: 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' 'Entourage,' 'The Office,' '30 Rock,' Two and a Half Men.'

Should win: We couldn't be more wild about the latest season of 'Enthusiasm.'

Will win: Despite an uneven season, '30 Rock' is the stone-cold favorite.

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY

Nominees: Alec Baldwin, '30 Rock'; Steve Carell, 'The Office'; Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies'; Tony Shalhoub, 'Monk'; Charlie Sheen, 'Two and A Half Men.'

Should and will win: Baldwin is finally forgiven for his less-than-Emmy-worthy phone message.

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY

Nominees: Christina Applegate, 'Samantha Who?'; America Ferrera, 'Ugly Betty'; Tiny Fey, '30 Rock'; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 'Old Christine'; Mary-Louise Parker, 'Weeds.'

Should win: Parker continues to grow on us.

Will win: Fey's the fave, but we smell an upset win for good ol' Louis-Dreyfus.

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA

Nominees: Glenn Close, 'Damages'; Sally Field, 'Brothers and Sisters'; Mariska Hargitay, 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit'; Holly Hunter, 'Saving Grace'; Kyra Sedgwick, 'The Closer.'

Should and will win: Close by a mile.

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA

Gabriel Byrne, 'In Treatment'; Bryan Cranston, 'Breaking Bad'; Michael C.Hall, 'Dexter'; Jon Hamm, 'Mad Men'; Hugh Laurie, 'House'; James Spader, 'Boston Legal.'

Should win: Cranston made 'Bad' look good.

Will win: Hamm is 'Mad' money.

BEST REALITY HOST

Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With The Stars'; Heidi Klum, 'Project Runway'; Howie Mandel, 'Deal Or No Deal'; Jeff Probst, 'Survivor'; Ryan Seacrest, 'American Idol.'

Should win: Tease all you want, but Seacrest has the toughest assignment _ and pulls it off.

Will win: Bergeron dances to victory.

BEST REALITY COMPETITION

Nominees: 'The Amazing Race'; 'American Idol'; 'Dancing With the Stars'; 'Project Runway'; 'Top Chef.'

Should and will win: The 'Race' goes on to win its sixth in a row.

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

Nominees: 'Bernard and Doris'; 'Extras'; 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter'; 'A Raisin in the Sun'; 'Recount.'

Should win: I'm hoping it's 'Doris''s day.

Will win: 'Recount' gets the votes.

MINISERIES

Nominees: 'The Andromeda Strain'; 'Cranford'; 'John Adams'; 'Tin Man.'

Should win: 'Cranford' proved storytelling is often better with age.

Will win: 'Adams' is poised to be biggest movie winner ever.

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© 2008, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)