Our top Emmy experts –  Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria, who also contribute to AwardsHeaven.net – agree that four of last year's five nominated comedy series will return to the race this year. They expect reigning two-time champ "30 Rock" to face off against 2006 winner "The Office" as well as three-time nominee "Two and a Half Men" and two-time also-ran "Entourage." Both of them left that last show off their otherwise perfect list last year.

While Boomer thinks HBO laffer "Flight of the Conchords" will land its first nod, Rob predicts that animated champ "Family Guy" will score its first comedy series bid. And they disagree over which CBS comedy will get the sixth slot – Rob opts for "The Big Bang Theory" while Boomer goes for "How I Met Your Mother."

BEST COMEDY SERIES
"The Big Bang Theory":– Rob
"Entourage" – Boomer, Rob
"Family Guy" – Rob
"Flight of the Conchords" – Boomer
"How I Met Your Mother" – Boomer
"The Office" – Boomer, Rob
"30 Rock" – Boomer, Rob
"Two and a Half Men" – Boomer, Rob

BOOMER'S COMMENTARY: I think everybody feels comfortable projecting "Entourage," "The Office,"  "30 Rock" and "Two and a Half Men" as return nominees in this category With "Curb Your Enthusiasm" taking a break and the new rules allowing six nominees, that opens up two slots that are quite a challenge to predict.

The producers of "How I Met Your Mother" have launched a very impressive campaign to get nominated in this category. Even though the show has never even made the Top 10 list of contenders, I think the expanding popularity of Neil Patrick Harris and the abundance of reruns now airing on Lifetime will gain the show entry as a Comedy Series nominee.

For that final slot, I guess the only thing I can look for is a passionate base of followers and that leads me to "Flight of the Conchords." The appeal of the show is lost on me, but I just can't see "Weeds,"  "Californication," "Ugly Betty" or "Desperate Housewives" making the cut. Despite cancellation, I do think "Pushing Daisies" has a decent shot at a nomination here. My choice would be "The Big Bang Theory,"  but I don't have the guts to predict three CBS shows to make it.

ROB'S COMMENTARY: "30 Rock," "The Office" and "Two and a Half Men" are the locks here, with "Entourage" a pretty good bet for the category too. This is a much less competitive category than the Drama Series one, and so those last two slots are open to any of the contenders really.

I have "Family Guy" in one of them – we know from last year’s top 10 announcement that "Family Guy" made it in, obviously due to its overall popularity with voters who no doubt appreciate a good belly laugh, even if said laughter is at the most politically incorrect ever. I also have "The Big Bang Theory" in the sixth slot. This is a gamble, because it has not been on the Emmy radar at all until now and could be forgotten again.