In order to forecast the final five Emmy contenders for best drama series you need to heed the two key elements of the voting process — the original popular vote of TV academy members that determined the Top 10 run-off, then the scores that judges gave to sample episodes at screenings on June 28 and 29. Accountants combine both on a 50/50 basis, then — presto — we have five nominees, which will be unveiled on July 17.

The reason that the TV academy devised this weird combo of voting methods was, frankly, because of the flapdoodle that erupted when "Lost" wasn't nominated in 2006 after winning the category in 2005. But in 2006 — the first year of the new voting process utilizing Top 10 runoffs — only judges' scores were used to determine nominees, so contenders had to sink or swim based upon how smart (or the opposite) they were when picking sample episodes. "Lost" screwed up and entered an eppy that was a real head-scratcher to anyone who's not a regular viewer, so the Emmy hopes of those island castaways — glug, gurgle — drowned.

After that fiasco, the TV academy decided to make the voting process idiot-proof by reducing the value of the judges' scores by half, then factoring the popular vote back in. That way super-popular shows like "Lost" would, theoretically, get in even if they submitted a stinker episode. "Lost" picked a better episode in 2007, but still didn't get in, but at that point Emmy-watchers were used to not seeing it and they liked the five they did see. So the 50/50 mix voting process is back again this year — till new screaming starts.

This year "Lost" picked a superb episode ("The Constant"), so a big Emmy cliffhanger this year is: Will it finally be nominated again?

Before we start analyzing these top series races, check out how they fared at the Emmy judging panels.

First, here are the episode samples submitted— CLICK HERE.

DRAMA-SERIES PANEL: Tattle from Secret Judge No. 1 — CLICK HERE

DRAMA-SERIES PANEL: Tattle from Secret Judge No. 2 — CLICK HERE

COMEDY-SERIES PANEL: Tattle from Secret Judge No. 1 — CLICK HERE

COMEDY-SERIES PANEL: Tattle from Secret Judge No. 2 — CLICK HERE

COMEDY-SERIES PANEL: Tattle from Secret Judge No. 3 — CLICK HERE