How "Friday Night Lights" will fare at the Emmys is one of the most curious cliffhangers in this year's contest. Will it finally break into the game for best drama series and earn notice for stars Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton?

It's only been nominated three times (once for directing, twice for casting — it won one of the latter bids in 2007), but the critically acclaimed show about intrigue in a Texas town where high-school football is king has come close to scoring big time.

During the show's first two seasons, "Friday Night Lights" made the Emmys' top 10 lists of semi-finalists for best drama series and Kyle Chandler made the run-off for best actor (a list of 15 contenders in 2006, 10 in 2007). In its freshman season, Britton made the short list for best actress, but now she competes in the supporting slot. None of those bids resulted in nominations when judging panels whittled the lists down to five nominees in each race, but the show and its stars showed consistent Emmy strength when run-offs were determined by a popular vote of academy members. This year, the TV academy has dropped the judging panels during the first voting round, leaving a popular vote to determine nominees, but the number of nominations per category will expand to six from the usual five in those categories. That might help.

"Friday Night Lights" proved to be kudos-worthy in the past. It won the award for best program of the year bestowed by the Television Critics Association in 2007. TCA has nominated it three times for best drama series. Chandler was nominated once and Britton twice for best individual achievement in drama. The latter category is a performance contest that combines male and female actors, but it usually scorns women, so Britton's repeat bids are noteworthy. The show has also received nominations from the Writers' and Screen Actors' Guilds.

If any TV series needs awards love, it's "Friday Night Lights," which has only managed to fend off early cancellation in the face of low ratings thanks to strong praise from TV critics and persistent support from NBC and, most recently, DirectTV, which now partners with the peacock web to produce and telecast the show.

But why does such a socko TV program have to struggle at all to stay alive? And what's going on in the Emmy game where "Friday Night Lights" continues to get close to the goal line, but not score a touchdown?

Gold Derby chats with Connie Britton to hear her views. As a follow-up, we set up a discussion thread in our forums to solicit thoughts from our posters about "Friday Night Lights," Britton's performance and what sample episode she should submit to Emmy judges if she finally reaps a nominationa on July 16.

Photo: NBC

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Maybe it's wacky to tackle this so early — nominations don't come out till July — but I just invited our gutsy forum posters to start forecasting the next Emmy lineups. So let's add some Gold Derby perspective too.

Nominees for this TV award are a lot like TV reruns. They come back again and again, year after year, but now there's a radical revamp in the voting process that may trigger somewhat different results. Among new series, "The Mentalist" has been a hit but is perhaps too fantastic and eerie for the safe taste of Emmy voters, who usually aren't too welcoming to crime procedurals anyway. Voters often do embrace new HBO series, whatever they are, but a stake may be driven through the Emmy hopes of "True Blood" (which was nominated for best drama at the Golden Globes), considering how that superhit "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was once so cruelly shunned by the TV academy.

"Kings" gets praise from some TV critics and mixed reviews from others. The L.A. Times calls the modern update of the Old Testament tale of David and Goliath "an interesting muddle of a show," but it's pretentious, so that's a plus with those notorious Emmy snobs. Read this L.A. Times article about a few more dramas premiering in midseason.

In recent years, nominees were selected using a two-stage voting process. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, 10 series and actors in each category (15 in the acting races in 2006) were chosen by academy members using a popular ballot. Then the semifinalists were whittled down to the final nominees after sample TV episodes were screened by judging panels that convened at the TV academy and the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

This year the TV academy just made the terrible decision to kill off the judging panels in an effort to save money. That means we're right back where we started prior to 2006, with lower-rated underdog contenders getting screwed. In other words, Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") might be back this year because he gained stature after winning best drama actor last September, but don't expect other critically hailed work on little-seen, brilliant cable shows to get a fair shot.

However, this new system does make predicting the Emmys much simpler, since pundits need only to focus on the most popular faves. In an effort to help the small fries a bit, the academy has increased the number of nominees in each race to six (sometimes seven), up from the usual five.

Let's start off dishing the battles in the top drama categories for series, actors and actresses. See more noodling and predix in The Envelope's Gold Derby forums.

* = Nominee last year

BEST DRAMA SERIES
(Favorites)
"Boston Legal" *
"Damages" *
"Dexter" *
"House" *
"Lost" *
"Mad Men" * (last year's winner)
"No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency"
"24"

Due to an accounting quirk, there were six nominees in this race last year and five of them will probably be back: "Damages," "Dexter," "House," "Lost" and "Mad Men." "Boston Legal" is vulnerable now that it's saying bye-bye. Past champ "24" (2006) wasn't eligible last year, so there's a good chance it'll nab a bid now that it's jumping back into the derby. "The Tudors" made the top 10 rundown last year and "Big Love" in 2006, so they could make the next top six or seven. "In Treatment" didn't make the 2008 semifinalist list, but it could be buoyed now by its two Emmy victories last September for best supporting actress (Dianne Wiest) and guest star (Glynn Turman). Maybe in an alternate universe the critically praised "Battlestar Galactica" might have a shot. What about "Dollhouse"?

A few of our forum posters think past champ "ER" has a shot since it's experiencing a comeback in its final season. Among new series, HBO's "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" hasn't premiered yet, but reviews from U.K. where it aired last week are strong. "The Mentalist" is a relative ratings success, "True Blood" was nominated at the Golden Globes, and "Kings" reigns among some TV critics.

BEST DRAMA ACTOR
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment" *
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" * (winner)
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" *
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" *
Hugh Laurie, "House" *
James Spader, "Boston Legal" *
Kiefer Sutherland, "24"

Past champ Kiefer Sutherland will be back because "24" has been much missed. Denis Leary ("Rescue Me"), Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights") and Patrick Dempsey ("Grey's Anatomy") made the top 10 runoff last year, so that tells us they have a strong base of popular support. Jonathan Rhys-Myers ("The Tudors") didn't make the runoff in 2008, but he may soon be forgiven for weighing 300 pounds less than the real King Henry VIII and being infinitely more pretty. Bill Paxton ("Big Love") made the run-offs a few years ago, but not since. This year's newbies who might break through include Ian McShane ("Kings"), who was nominated in this Emmy race for "Deadwood" in 2006,  Patrick Swayze ("The Beast") and Simon Baker ("The Mentalist").

Remember, we don't want to know who you want to win, but who you predict will prevail! Show us what a brilliant kudos forecaster you are! That's a dare!

Drama - actress

Ray Richmond of the Hollywood Reporter and I don't really hate each other, though I'm sure it might look like that when we get into our frequent slugfests over award predix. In fact, I absolutely love beating up on Ray more than any other journalist — really, and that's saying something. Here we go at it over what will be nominated for Emmys this Thursday morning and, to prove what a noble gent I am, I let Ray have the first word (so that I — ha, ha, ha — could have the last . . . well, at least until nominations come out).

BEST COMEDY SERIES
RAY: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Family Guy," "The Office," "Pushing Daisies," "30 Rock"
TOM: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Office," "Pushing Daisies," "30 Rock," "Two and a Half Men"

RAY: Yes, "Family Guy" makes the cut -- not necessarily because it deserves to, but because the TV Academy loses its marbles every once in a while. And this is that once. The only other question is whether "Pushing Daisies" gets pushed out by its ABC sister "Ugly Betty," but Betty has so dropped from the radar I'm thinking not. "Weeds"? Only if Woody Harrelson takes over the voting process from those bean counters in suits.

TOM: Obviously, Ray, you were partying with Woody when you made these Emmy predix if you really think that "Family Guy" will get in over "2.5 Men." The latter's been nominated every year that the TV academy has had these panels — that is, the last two years. The last (and ONLY) time a cartoon sneaked into this comedy lineup was "The Flintstones" MORE THAN 45 YEARS AGO — back before computers, cable TV and double Pinkberry scoops — when the Emmy counters were using real beans.

BEST DRAMA SERIES
RAY & TOM: "Boston Legal," "Damages," "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Mad Men"

RAY: "Mad Men" and "Damages" are locks. "House" probably is too. I'm thinking "Grey's" gets in over "Lost." "Boston Legal" is in because it is written that David Kelley shall always be in the running in some fashion. "The Wire"? No matter how deserving, it's probably a miracle it made it even this far.

TOM: Uh-oh. Ray and I are in total agreement here. Why does that terrify me so?

BEST DRAMA ACTOR
RAY: Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"), Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Hugh Laurie ("House"), James Spader ("Boston Legal")
TOM: Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Hugh Laurie ("House"), Denis Leary ("Rescue Me"), James Spader ("Boston Legal")

RAY: Spader's a lock because he talks so slowly and intensely, it seems, but he ain't winning this time. Hamm's the one to beat seemingly. And the AMC momentum with "Mad Men" could — I pray — carry Cranston in. He is SO deserving. But he could get beaten out by Byrne, just because he's Gabriel Byrne. Hall deserves a nom for sure, and Laurie has deserved to win for three years running. He still does. But he won't. But if he doesn't get nominated, I say firebomb the ATAS headquarters and let's just start over.

TOM: Yeah, Hamm, Laurie and Spader are in. Ray (amazingly) is right about those, but he's wrong about Spader not winning again. Come on, Spader's NEVER LOST. He's gone three for three in this race and the reason he won repeatedly in the past was because writer/producer David E. Kelley kept penning him those grandstanding speeches he'd spew to juries at the end of each episode of "Boston Legal" that he submitted to Emmy judges. This year Spader submits his BIGGEST speech doozy ever — in which he chews out the whole U.S. Supreme Court. How can Hollywood lefties NOT vote THAT? READ MORE

As for Ray's deluded hope that Cranston will get in — well, I'd cheer that if it happened, but it won't. Cranston would have to rank in the top seven or so places in the popular vote and I think that's unlikely for a new, lowly rated, cable show about a guy toying with crystal meth and terminal cancer. Denis Leary's been nommed consistently for the past three years, surviving all wacky, radical changes in the voting process. I see no reason why he suddenly gets bumped now.

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS
RAY & TOM: Glenn Close ("Damages"), Minnie Driver ("The Riches"), Sally Field ("Brothers & Sisters"), Holly Hunter ("Saving Grace"), Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer")

RAY: This is probably the easiest major category to handicap. It's difficult for me to see it being anyone other than Close, Driver, Field, Hunter and Sedgwick, though Arquette or Moss could pull an upset if enough of their relatives are permitted to vote (and Moss surely would deserve it). Field could also be victimized by backlash to last year's dead-on but controversial acceptance speech ("You gagged me, you really gagged me!"). Close will win, however. End of story.

TOM: Ray and I are in agreement again. Shoot me.

BEST COMEDY ACTOR
RAY: Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"), Steve Carell ("The Office"), Larry David ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies"), Tony Shalhoub ("Monk")
TOM: Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"), Steve Carell ("The Office"), David Duchovny ("Californication"), Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies"), Charlie Sheen ("Two and a Half Men")

RAY: Baldwin was jobbed last year in favor of "Extras' Ricky Gervais, and everyone knows it. Probably won't happen again. He and Carell are slam dunks, as is Shalhoub. David only seems to generate greater affection for his misanthropic "Curn" role as the years pile up, so he's likely in too along with the charming Pace (who could be edged out by Emmy darling Garrett, but I don't think so).

TOM: Ray may have blundered upon a smart set of predix here and he may even out-score me because — what the heck — I feel like throwing some Emmy dice. Betting against Shalhoub to return may be foolish. He's been nommed for the last five years, winning three times (2003, 2005, 2006), but his episode entry this year is a bit weak ("Mr. Monk and the Naked Man"), which will bring down his typical judges' score. And I think his popular-vote score will be down, too, because he's old news. Sure, Duchovny's old Emmy news too — he used to be nommed routinely for "The X-Files," so we know that voters love him — and now his comeback in new series "Californication" is sexy.

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Somehow I've managed to coax six suckers brilliant kudos seers to join me in predicting the Emmy nominations that will be announced this Thursday morning: Michael Ausiello (EW.com), Matt Webb Mitovich (TVGuide.com), Marc Berman (MediaWeek), Ray Richmond (Hollywood Reporter) and our two resident Emmy gurus — our forums moderators Robert "Rob L" Licuria (AwardsHeaven.net) and Chris "Boomer" Beachum. To see how we fared predicting the Emmy top 10 lists, CLICK HERE! Below: how we size up the races for best drama and comedy series. To see our predix for best lead actor and actress, CLICK HERE!

KEEP READING - CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR PREDIX FOR BEST ACTOR AND ACTRESS IN DRAMA AND COMEDY SERIES!

Can poor Hugh Laurie ("House") finally win the Emmy, please? He reaped two Golden Globes (2006, 2007), but both times he was nommed for TV's top prize, he got skunked by James Spader ("Boston Legal"). Well, doesn't everybody? Spader's never lost — he's three for three in this category.

Part of the reason that Spader never loses is because producer/writer David E. Kelley usually gives him one of those great, grandstanding courtroom speeches near the end of the episode. They're hard to beat. This year James Spader may have his greatest ever. He stands before the U.S. Supreme Court justices, roaring, "Who are you people? You've transformed this court from being a governmental branch devoted to civil rights and liberties into protector of discrimination, guardian of government, a slave to monied interests and big business and today, hallelujah, you seek to slay a mentally disabled man!" Noticing that Justice Clarence Thomas isn't paying attention, Spader shouts, "Put down that magazine!"

Now how can Hollywood lefties not vote for that, eh?

Well, it looks like Hugh Laurie might tempt voters with what some "House" fanatics say is his greatest perf yet. In the episode he gave to Emmy judges, "House's Head," he battles temporary amnesia while struggling to recall which fellow passenger he diagnosed with a life-threatening medical problem just prior to a bus crash. The season finale is poignant, hilarious, mysterious, packed with drama and full of flashy acting scenes like when House goes all Rambo.

James Spader's and Hugh Laurie's nearest rival may be Jon Hamm. Everybody's gone crazy over "Mad Men" this year and Emmy voters adore hailing new stars. Hamm submitted a perfect episode to voters too. In "The Wheel," hotsy-totsy advertising exec Don Draper (Hamm) suddenly redeems himself for being a sly alley cat when we see him give a slide show to Kodak. The new, round slide projector is tentatively called "The Wheel, " but he wants the manufacturer to give it a new name that "takes us to a place where we ache to go," he says, tearing up, voice cracking as he shows off old, happy photos of him and his wife. "It's not called 'the wheel.' It's called 'the carousel.' It lets us travel the way a child travels, around and around and back home again — to a place where we know we are loved."

Yikes! There are lots of great perfs in this category this year. You and I have only looked at three so far and haven't even considered the other seven yet. What to think? I asked our forum moderators and special Emmy seers Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria (AwardsHeaven.net — read Hollywood Reporter's profile of Rob HERE).

While making their forecasts, Rob and Boomer track the voting process exactly. First, they predict the Top 10 semifinalists after members of the TV academy's actors' branch were polled in a popular vote. Then they predict how judges will rank the sample episode entries. Then they combine both scores on a 50-50 basis, just like the accountants do, to determine nominees.

For example, Rob gave Hugh a No. 1 on the popular vote and No. 2 on the list of judges' scores. Combining the numbers, total score is three. Remember: Lowest score equals best score.

How Rob ranks the popular vote outcome — 1.) Hugh Laurie 2.) Jon Hamm 3.) James Spader 4.) Denis Leary 5.) Patrick Dempsey 6.) Michael C. Hall 7.) Gabriel Byrne 8.) Bryan Cranston 9.) Eddie Izzard 10.) Kyle Chandler

Here's how Boomer thinks the pop vote went down — 1.) Hugh Laurie 2.) Jon Hamm 3.) Michael C. Hall 4.) James Spader 5.) Patrick Dempsey 6.) Gabriel Byrne 7.) Kyle Chandler 8.) Denis Leary 9.) Bryan Cranston 10.) Eddie Izzard

How Rob thinks the judges ranked episode entries — 1.) James Spader 2.) Hugh Laurie 3.) Bryan Cranston 4.) Michael C. Hall 5.) Gabriel Byrne 6.) Jon Hamm 7.) Kyle Chandler 8.) Eddie Izzard 9.) Denis Leary 10.) Dempsey

Here's how Boomer ranks the judges' views of the episodes — 1.) James Spader 2.) Hugh Laurie 3.) Jon Hamm 4.) Gabriel Byrne 5.) Bryan Cranston 6.) Michael C. Hall 7.) Kyle Chandler 8.) Denis Leary 9.) Eddie Izzard 10.) Patrick Dempsey

BEST DRAMA ACTOR: ROB'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) Hugh Laurie, "House" ("House's Head") — 3 points
2.) James Spader, "Boston Legal" ("The Court Supreme") — 3 points
2.) Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" ("The Wheel") — 8 points
4.) Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" ("There's Something About Harry") — 10 points
5.) Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" ("Pilot") — 11 points
6.) Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment" ("Paul and Gina: Week 4") — 12 points
7.) Denis Leary, "Rescue Me" ("Babyface") — 13 points
8.) Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy" ("Freedom") — 15 points
9.) Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights" ("Last Day of Summer") — 17 points
9.) Eddie Izzard, "The Riches" ("Last Temptation of Wayne") — 17 points

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To predict which shows will be nominated for best drama series on July 17, Gold Derby has gone to the Emmy mountaintop — to our lofty forum moderators and special Emmy seers: Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria (AwardsHeaven.net — read Hollywood Reporter's profile of Rob HERE).

Before we go any further, wait: If you need a primer on how Emmy voting works, CLICK HERE. OK, now let's consider how Boomer and Rob cooked up their predix. First, they guessed how the Top 10 series probably did in the popular vote of all TV academy members.

Rob ranked them this way: 1.) "House" 2.) "Mad Men" 3.) "Boston Legal" 4.) "Lost" 5.) "Damages" 6.) "Grey's Anatomy" 7.) "Dexter" 8.) "Friday Night Lights" 9.) "The Tudors" 10.) "The Wire"

Boomer's best guess: 1.) "Damages" 2.) "House" 3.) "Mad Men" 4.) "Grey's Anatomy" 5.) "Lost" 6.) "Boston Legal" 7.) "Dexter" 8.) "The Wire" 9.) "Friday Night Lights" 10.) "The Tudors"

My opinion: I think Rob's overestimating "House" and "Boston Legal" and underestimating "Grey's Anatomy." Boomer has "Damages" and "House" ranked way too high. Yes, they're in the high five, but not on top like that!

For scorekeeping purposes, remember those numbers above — they correspond exactly to the real Emmy voting method that gives top choices only one point, bottom choices 10 points. Now in order to determine Rob's and Boomer's nominee predix, combine the above numbers with their rankings that predict how judges scored sample episode submissions.

Rob thinks that this is how Emmy judges ranked the entries: 1.) "Mad Men" 2.) "Damages" 3.) "Boston Legal" 4.) "House" 5.) "Lost" 6.) "The Wire" 7.) "Grey's Anatomy" 8.) "Friday Night Lights" 9.) "Dexter" 10.) "The Tudors"

Boomer predicts this rundown: 1.) "Mad Men" 2.) "Damages" 3.) "Boston Legal" 4.) "The Wire" 5.) "House" 6.) "Grey's Anatomy" 7.) "Lost" 8.) "Friday Night Lights" 9. "Dexter" 10.) "The Tudors"

My opinion: Didn't we hear that "The Wire" bombed in the panel screenings? It certainly scored below "Lost," which Boomer ranks too low. I suspect he's going through denial that "The Constant" was a wise episode choice. (Boomer disagreed early on.) As far as I can tell, these five series had strong episode entries, however you rank them: "Mad Men," "Damages," "House," "Boston Legal" and "Lost." "Grey's Anatomy" eppy was so-so, probably falling around six on most ballots.

Notice how high we all rank "Boston Legal," which probably came in low in the popular vote. However, that's offset nicely by its episode selection, which is a blockbuster featuring James Spader yelling at the U.S. Supreme Court, telling members what corrupt idiots they are. (Can liberal Hollywood voters resist?). "The Tudors" submitted a courtroom drama too, but one pooh-poohed by voters: Sir Thomas More facing execution. Showtime gambled upon it striking voters like "A Man for All Seasons," which once swept the Oscars and Tony Awards. But final verdict: b-o-r-i-n-g.

On the two lists below, the points represent the combined rankings that Rob and Boomer gave these shows. For example, Boomer gave "Damages" a No. 1 on the popular vote and No. 2 on the list of judges' scores. Combining the numbers, total score is three. Remember: lowest score equals best score.

BEST DRAMA SERIES: ROB'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) "Mad Men" ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes) — 3 points
2.) "House" ("Frozen") — 5 points
3.) "Boston Legal" ("The Court Supreme") — 6 points
4.) "Damages" ("Pilot") — 7 points
5.) "Lost" ("The Constant") — 9 points
6.) "Grey's Anatomy" ("Freedom") —13 points
7.) "Dexter" ("The Dark Defender") — 16 points
7.) "Friday Night Lights" ("Leave No One Behind") — 16 points
7.) "The Wire" ("-30-") — 16 points
10.) "The Tudors" ("Episode 205") — 19 points

BEST DRAMA SERIES: BOOMER'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) "Damages" ("Pilot") — 3 points
2.) "Mad Men" ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes) — 4 points
3.) "House" ("Frozen") — 7 points
4.) "Boston Legal" ("The Court Supreme") — 9 points
5.) "Grey's Anatomy" ("Freedom") — 10 points
6.) "Lost" ("The Constant") — 12 points
6.) "The Wire" ("-30-") — 12 points
8.) "Dexter" ("The Dark Defender") — 16 points
9.) "Friday Night Lights" ("Leave No One Behind") — 17 points
10.) "The Tudors" ("Episode 205") — 20 points

Yep, again there are 11 entries instead of 10 — just like in the race for best supporting drama actor. (CLICK HERE) We must assume that the popular vote was so close between the 10th and 11th vote-getters that the accountants OKd them both to be considered as one of the five nominees to be unveiled on July 17.

Out of Emmy bounds: Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights"), who dropped down to the supporting race after making the top 10 runoff for best lead drama actress last year. This doesn't mean that the low-rated critical hit has fallen out of favor with Emmy voters — "Friday Night Lights" made the top 10 runoff for best drama series. It's an obvious anti-Connie thing.

Another surprising omission: January Jones, who portrays Jon Hamm's emotionally plagued wife on "Mad Men." Her role is so prominent that many Emmy observers were surprised she opted to compete in the supporting race, not lead like costar Elizabeth Moss. Instead, voters (academy membership is overwhelmingly male) chose to snuggle up to costar Christina Hendricks, who portrays the — ahem — sexually frisky office manager. 

Also missing in Emmy action: Lisa Edelstein ("House") and Patricia Wettig ("Brothers and Sisters"). Plus several more "Grey's Anatomy" gals were eligible, but aren't here: Chyler Leigh, Sara Ramirez, Brooke Smith. Four "Lost" stars are lost: Yunjin Kim, Rebecca Mader, Elizabeth Mitchell and Emelie de Ravin.

Note that Candice Bergen — who made this list — is back in Emmy competition. Last year she took her name out of this race, just as she had bowed out of the battle for best lead comedy actress during the waning days of "Murphy Brown" after winning five times. However, Bergen did submit her name for consideration in this supporting-drama lineup two years ago when she reaped her last Emmy nomination for "Boston Legal."

Cited with each name on this list is the title of the episode entered to Emmy judges as a sample of their best work from the past TV season. Judges will rank their choices 11 (best score) to 1, then accountants will combine those numbers with results of the original popular vote on a 50/50 basis to determine the final five nominees.

BEST SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTRESS
Jane Alexander, "Tell Me You Love Me" (Episode 10)
Candice Bergen, "Boston Legal" ("The Mighty Rogues")
Rose Byrne, "Damages" ("Because I Know Patty")
Jill Clayburgh, "Dirty Sexy Money" ("The Watch")
Sharon Gless, "Burn Notice" ("Identity")
Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers and Sisters" ("Domestic Issues")
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" ("Babylon")
S. Epatha Merkerson, "Law and Order" ("Bottomless")
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy" ("The Becoming")
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment" ("Paul and Gina: Week ?")
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" ("Lay Your Hands on Me")

Photos: AMC, NBC

So what do media gurus think of the contents of the Emmy top 10 lists of semifinalists for best comedy and drama series? Here's a sampling below. Let's lead off with the esteemed Matt Roush!

TVGUIDE.COM (Matt Roush) — "Emmy Gets Our Hopes Up: The lists are heavy on hip cable fare: four in comedy, and fully half of the 10 drama contenders. Critics' darlings that have survived so far include 'Friday Night Lights,' 'The Wire,' 'Dexter,' 'Mad Men,' Damages,' 'Pushing Daisies' and (with a tip of the cap to my TCA brethren) 'Flight of the Conchords.'

"Among the headlines here: 'The Wire,' so long neglected, is HBO's only drama contender ....  'Family Guy' breaks the animation jinx to be considered for best comedy — but really, is drama contender 'Boston Legal' any less of a cartoon? — while also double-dipping by submitting its hour-long 'Star Wars' parody in the animated category. First-year series are bringing fresh blood into the process: 'Daisies,' 'Conchords,' 'Damages' and 'Mad Men.'

"So while this isn't a perfect list, it's one that manages to get our hopes up that the blue-ribbon judges will be as impressed as I was by the stunning pilots of 'Daisies,' 'Damages' and 'Mad Men,' the dazzling 'Constant' episode of 'Lost' and the heartbreaking 'Leave No One Behind' episode of 'Friday Night Lights.' The drama category will probably be a real squeaker, given that shows with uneven seasons but strong Emmy track records submitted Emmy-bait stunts, like 'Boston Legal's' Supreme Court spoof and 'House's' Antarctic Super Bowl-night episode."

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER (Ray Richmond) — "It's not quite the cable trouncing predicted earlier, but it's also an excellent showing — particularly if you're a comedy on HBO."

NEW YORK POST — "For shows like 'Friday Night Lights,' their inclusion is a major step from critical darling to Emmy darling, which could boost ratings and allow fans (like me!) to continue enjoying the show for seasons to come. After all, back-to-back Emmy wins kept 'Arrested Development' on the air much longer than its pithy ratings should have allowed."

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Our trusty forums moderator Chris "Boomer" Beachum got some dish on Saturday's Emmys judging panel at the TV academy today too and gives this report in our forums. (CLICK HERE!) Based upon what he heard from secret Emmy judge No. 2, Boomer believes the five nominees will be "Boston Legal," "Damages," "Grey's Anatomy," "House" and "Mad Men." "I think 'Grey's Anatomy' is on the bubble, though," he adds, "and could be replaced by 'Lost' or 'The Wire' (in that order). There is no realistic chance for 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Dexter' or 'The Tudors.'"

Boomer's prediction agrees with four of those from our secret Emmys judge No. 1: "Boston Legal," "Damages," "House" and "Mad Men." Judge 2 discounts the hopes of "The Wire" and gives much higher marks to "Lost." CLICK HERE to see our first judge's predix. If both sets of predix prove true about two shows — "Damages" and "Mad Men" — they will become the first non-HBO cable series ever nominated for best drama series. (No non-HBO cable series has ever been nominated for best comedy series either, by the by.)

Words below are Boomer's based upon our second report:

1. Today's 10 episodes were viewed alphabetically starting with "Boston Legal" and ending with "The Wire." Tomorrow's (Sunday's) drama panel will have these reversed. The lunch break was after "Friday Night Lights" and before "Grey's Anatomy."

2. This panel had about 30 people (few of them under age 50). One voter said that may make the appeal of "Mad Men" even greater because many of them were actually working in the 1960s. By the way, that voter had "Mad Men's" episode ranked fourth overall.

3. "Grey's Anatomy" only had Part 1 of "Freedom" as the show's entry. There was some audible grumbling in the room that these voters were left hanging on what happened in the last half. I heard that one voter had it ninth on their ballot.

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