"Two and a Half Men" is a really funny show. It's a traditional multi-camera sitcom with laugh track (what used to be the bread and butter of network comedy). It has multiple nominations for its actors. But it doesn't really have a shot. It's crass, it's lowbrow entertainment and it is definitely not cool. However, working for it is that it will score high in the "laugh out loud" stakes, because, I know, when voters plug in their DVDs and watch 10 episodes (2 from each series for each voter), the more laughs, the more likely they will tick the box. It would have helped to have seen a directing and/or writing nomination for the show.

"Entourage" finally made it in after a few tries. It is a great show. Very funny, very cool, on HBO, with a great and likeable cast. But there's a reason why it never managed to break through this category before now. It is a very young show. Lots of voters over a certain age will be watching this show, shrugging and saying "what's the fuss about?". It's not secret that "Entourage" skews young. Yet, with a few excellent episode choices they can submit for their reels, "Entourage" may join "Sex and the City" as an Emmy
favourite.

"Ugly Betty" is a fresh, funny, psychedelically colorful and supercamp instant classic. It has all the look and feel of a spoiler for the upset win. Hour-long episodes filled with laughs and guffaws aplenty — it will
attract some of the older set that will appreciate its dry sarcastic tone, while enthralling the younger set with its sense of cool. At the end of the day, I'm not picking this newbie because it is still really new, and needs
what "30 Rock" has going for it to really push its way to the top. If the show keeps up its excellent writing and its energy, it could be a winner in years to come.

"30 Rock" is the beloved ratings-challenged "inside Hollywood" show that everybody was OK with to start, then ended up loving as the season progressed. A stellar cast, writing to die for and buzz galore. I think
everybody in that room on Emmy night probably watches the show every week and I will not be surprised at all when it is called out. Do I have the guts to say it will win? Maybe. It is going to be a tough call. I think voters may want to "save this show" like it tried to with "Arrested Development" a few years back (to no avail).

Last year's winner, "The Office," gave us another classic year of workplace hijinks and Michael Scott-induced cringes. The best comedy cast on TV by far also has plenty of nominations (like "30 Rock") to lead us to believe that voters love this show. It has so many brilliant episodes to choose from that will delight voters. Last year it won as the ratings-challenged gem. This year, with ratings slightly up, if it wins, it will do so because it is regarded as the "coolest" show on TV.

BOOMER'S RANKED PREDIX: BEST COMEDY SERIES

1. "The Office"
2. "30 Rock"
3. "Ugly Betty"
4. "Two and a Half Men"
5. "Entourage"

In the comedy-series race (pending Emmy episode submissions), I think it is a real battle between "The Office" (last year's winner) and "30 Rock." If "The Office" wins, it will be going against a recent trend with many different series winning the big prize. Other than "Everybody Loves Raymond" winning twice in 2003 and 2005, six different shows have won this category recently. Before that, of course, "Frasier" won a record-setting five times in a row.

The voters might want to reward "30 Rock" because it is an inside-the-business comedy that really needs an awards boost to make it through a full second season with low ratings. Another new show that started with incredible "buzz" and then backed off some is "Ugly Betty," but the only one-hour dramedy to ever win this category so far has been "Ally McBeal" (even the first-season ratings powerhouse "Desperate Housewives" couldn't do it two years ago).

I think "Entourage" is too male-centric to win this category. The only traditional three-camera audience comedy remaining in this field is "Two and a Half Men," but just like in the drama race, it is extremely rare for a show to win here without having a directing or writing nomination (the only time in the past 25+ years was "Friends").