When it comes to making tough Emmy Awards predictions, no one comes out swinging harder than our gurus Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria (AwardsHeaven.net), who join me in this video dishing the rivals for best comedy series: "Entourage," "Family Guy," "How I Met Your Mother," "Flight of the Conchords," "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Weeds."

Also check out Rob's and Boomer's in-depth noodling of these categories: best comedy series, lead comedy actor, lead comedy actress, supporting comedy actor, supporting comedy actress, guest comedy actor, guest comedy actress, comedy writing, comedy directing, best lead drama actor, best lead actor in movie/mini and lead actress in a movie/mini. Read more in our forums.

Awards-savvy Showtime is the first network to launch its Emmy campaign this year by continuing the digital innovation it introduced last year. Again TV academy members may watch episodes of Showtime's Emmy contenders on line.

Showtime claims that last year's Internet campaign "resulted in academy members tuning in at a rate of approximately four full episodes per member," according to Richard Licata, executive VP of corporate communications. Result of the awards push: 21 Emmy bids, including an historic bid for "Dexter," which joined "Damages" and "Mad Men" as the first non-HBO cable series to be nominated for best drama or comedy series.

On Feb. 28, a new version of the site was unveiled for this year's derby and last week the network shipped out its campaign box directly to voters' homes and offices. Inside each box is a passcode that grants voters access to the "online screening room" (which promises broadcast quality viewing) plus there are four DVDs that include three sample episodes of "Californication" (201, 204, 210), "United States of Tara" (101, 102, 103) and "Weeds" (401, 402, 413). Also inside: two sample episodes of "Brotherhood" (304, 308), "Dexter" (305, 310) "The L Word" (601, 606), "Penn & Teller: Bull…!" (603, 604) "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" (201, 202), "This American Life" (205, 206) and "The Tudors" (301, 302) and one sample episode of "Tracey Ullman's State of the Union" (201).

In April, Showtime will heighten its digital innovation by making its episodes accessible to Emmy voters via iPhones and iPodTouch devices.

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Photo: Showtime

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As last year's champ Jaime Pressly ("My Name Is Earl") did not make the Top 10, the race for funniest featured woman is wide open. Our Emmy gurus Robert "Rob L" Licuria and Chris "Boomer" Beachum agree on three of the five nominees –- Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty") and Jenna Fischer ("The Office"), who both picked up nods last year, as well as newcomer Kristen Chenoweth ("Pushing Daisies").

To fill out the final five, Rob opts for two-time nominee Holland Taylor of "Two and a Half Men" and Tony award winner Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock"). Boomer believes two-time guest comedy actress winner Jean Smart will score her first comedy series nom for "Samantha Who?" and Amy Poehler will land her first nod after seven seasons on "Saturday Night Live."

Our Emmy gurus agree that two-time nominees Conchata Ferrell ("Two and a Half Men") and Elizabeth Perkins ("Weeds") will finish out of the running as will Judith Light of "Ugly Betty," who picked up a guest nod for that show last year.

To find the final five nominees, Boomer and Rob follow the actual voting process. First, they predict the order of the semifinalists as determined by the popular vote by the TV academy's actors' branch.

Here's how Rob thinks the popular vote tallied — 1.) Vanessa Williams 2.) Holland Taylor 3.) Jenna Fischer 4.) Jane Krakowski 5.) Elizabeth Perkins 6.) Conchata Ferrell 7.) Kristin Chenoweth 8.) Judith Light 9.) Jean Smart 10.) Amy Poehler

How Boomer ranks the popular vote outcome — 1.) Vanessa Williams 2.) Jenna Fischer 3.) Kristin Chenoweth 4.) Elizabeth Perkins 5.) Holland Taylor 6.) Jean Smart 7.) Amy Poehler 8.) Conchata Ferrell 9.) Judith Light 10.) Jane Krakowski

Then they predict how the panel judges scored the sample episode entries.

Here's how Rob ranks the judges' views of the episodes — 1.) Vanessa Williams 2.) Holland Taylor 3.) Amy Poehler 4.) Kristin Chenoweth 5.) Jean Smart 6.) Judith Light 7.) Jenna Fischer 8.) Jane Krakowski 9.) Elizabeth Perkins 10.) Conchata Ferrell

How Boomer thinks the judges ranked episode entries — 1.) Jean Smart 2.) Vanessa Williams 3.) Amy Poehler 4.) Kristin Chenoweth 5.) Jane Krakowski 6.) Jenna Fischer 7.) Holland Taylor 8.) Judith Light 9.) Elizabeth Perkins 10.) Conchata Ferrell

They combine these two results on a 50-50 basis, just like the accountants do, to determine the final ranking of the nominees. The lower the score the higher the chance of being nominated.

BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS: ROB'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty" ("Bananas for Betty") — 3 points
2.) Holland Taylor, "Two and a Half Men" ("Media Room Slash Dungeon") — 4 points
3.) Jenna Fischer, "The Office" ("Fun Run") — 10 points
4.) Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies" ("Girth") — 11 points
5.) Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock" ("The Collection") — 12 points
6.) Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live" ("Tina Fey") — 13 points
7.) Judith Light, "Ugly Betty" ("I See Me, ICU") — 14 points
7.) Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds" ("Risk") — 14 points
7.) Jean Smart, "Samantha Who?" ("The Girlfriend") — 14 points
10.) Conchata Ferrell, "Two & a Half Men" ("Fish in a Drawer") — 16 points

Rob's commentary: This is one of very few categories this year where a very good argument could easily be made that any one of the 10 contenders in the list will be nominated. Perkins and Ferrell are past nominees on a number of occasions, and so have proved to be very popular with voters. Smart is an Emmy favorite and veteran, and Light is almost a TV legend, and was nominated last year in the Guest category. I suspect Poehler sneaked in to the top 10 popular list, but her episode really showcases a great range of her comic abilities and puts her in a very good position to make history as the first "SNL" cast member to be nominated in this category. I would not discount or underrate Krakowski or Taylor, both of whom have great episodes. Fischer will do well on the popular ballot, and Williams and Chenoweth should have nothing to worry about either.

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Our Emmy gurus Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria predict that four of last year's five finalists for best comedy actress will return to the race when nominations are announced on Thursday morning: winner America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty") and 2006 champ Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("The New Adventures of Old Christine") as well as Tina Fey ("30 Rock") and Mary-Louise Parker ("Weeds"). Bumped from their lists is 2005 winner Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives") in favor of Christina Applegate of freshman hit "Samantha Who?"

They do not see a nod for the other newcomer, Anna Friel of "Pushing Daisies," nor nominations for either of the other "Desperate Housewives" –- one-time nominee Marcia Cross and never-nominated Eva Longoria Parker -- who landed in the list of Top 10 semifinalists. (Somewhere snubbed Teri Hatcher must be smiling at this prospect!) And sassy Sarah Silverman ("The Sarah Silverman Program") will have to be content with her jaw-dropping inclusion in this initial round of voting. The reason for that, I think, is the monotone, clueless style of her comic performances — they're fun to watch, but not emotionally flashy enough for Emmy voters.

To find the final five nominees, Rob and Boomer follow the actual voting process. First, they predict the order of the semifinalists as determined by the popular vote by the TV academy's actors' branch.

Here's how Boomer thinks the popular vote tallied — 1.) Tina Fey 2.) America Ferrera 3.) Mary-Louise Parker 4.) Christina Applegate 5.) 6.) Felicity Huffman 7.) Marcia Cross 8.) Anna Friel 9.) Eva Longoria Parker 10.) Sarah Silverman

How Rob ranks the popular vote outcome — 1.) Tina Fey 2.) Julia Louis-Dreyfus 3.) America Ferrera 4.) Mary-Louise Parker 5.) Anna Friel 6.) Felicity Huffman 7.) Marcia Cross 8.) Eva Longoria Parker 9.) Christina Applegate 10.) Sarah Silverman

Then they predict how the panel judges scored the sample episode entries.

Here's how Boomer ranks the judges' views of the episodes — 1.) Julia Louis-Dreyfus 2.) Tina Fey 3.) Christina Applegate 4.) America Ferrera 5.) Marcia Cross 6.) Felicity Huffman 7.) Mary-Louise Parker 8.) Anna Friel 9.) Eva Longoria Parker 10.) Sarah Silverman

How Rob thinks the judges ranked episode entries — 1.) Julia Louis-Dreyfus 2.) Tina Fey 3.) Christina Applegate 4.) America Ferrera 5.) Mary-Louise Parker 6.) Felicity Huffman 7.) Marcia Cross 8.) Eva Longoria Parker 9.) Anna Friel 10.) Sarah Silverman

They combine these two results on a 50-50 basis, just like the accountants do, to determine the final ranking of the nominees. The lower the score the higher the chance of being nominated.

BEST COMEDY ACTRESS: BOOMER'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) Tina Fey, "30 Rock" ("Sandwich Day") — 3 points
2.) America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" ("Odor in the Court") — 6 points
2.) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine" ("One & a Half Men") — 6 points
4.) Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" ("The Restraining Order") — 7 points
5.) Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds" ("Bill Sussman") — 10 points
6.) Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives" ("Now You Know") — 12 points
7.) Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives" ("Now I Know, Don't Be Scared") — 15 points
7.) Eva Longoria Parker, "Desperate Housewives" ("In Buddy's Eyes") — 15 points
9.) Anna Friel, "Pushing Daisies" ("Bitter Sweets") — 16 points
10.) Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program" ("Bored of the Rings") — 20 points

BEST COMEDY ACTRESS: ROB'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) Tina Fey, "30 Rock" ("Sandwich Day") — 3 points
1.) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine" ("One & a Half Men") — 3 points
3.) America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" ("Odor in the Court") — 7 points
4.) Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds" ("Bill Sussman") — 9 points
5.) Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" ("The Restraining Order") — 12 points
6.) Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives" ("Now I Know, Don't Be Scared") — 12 points
7.) Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives" ("Now You Know") — 14 points
7.) Anna Friel, "Pushing Daisies" ("Bitter Sweets") — 14 points
9.) Eva Longoria Parker, "Desperate Housewives" ("In Buddy's Eyes") — 16 points
10.) Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program" ("Bored of the Rings") — 20 points

Rob's commentary: Tina Fey will benefit greatly from a strong popular vote and from choosing very wisely with her episode, which will have likely garnered quite a few laughs form the panel voters. Similarly, I think Emmy fave Louis-Dreyfus is in much the same position. Ferrera and Parker will score high enough votes to make it through, and then it is a question of exactly how popular "Samantha Who?" actually is –- at this stage, my gut feeling is that Applegate is in, and if there’s a tie, then Huffman is close behind. It is a shame that Silverman’s popular vote would have been on the lower end, which will not help her in making that historic bid in this category.

(Photo: ATAS)

Unlike their discord over drama series, our top-notch Emmy gurus — Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria — agree on the comedy series that will be in the running when nominations are announced on Thursday morning. As per the boys, the final five should be: last year's winner "30 Rock;" 2006 champ "The Office;" perennial nominee "Curb Your Enthusiasm;" top-rated "Two and a Half Men;" and newcomer "Pushing Daisies."

To determine the nominees, Rob and Boomer follow the actual voting process. First, they predict the order of the top 10 semifinalists as determined by the popular vote of the entire TV academy.

How Rob ranks the popular vote outcome — 1.) "30 Rock" 2.) "The Office" 3.) "Two and a Half Men" 4.) "Curb Your Enthusiasm" 5.) "Pushing Daisies" 6.) "Entourage" 7.) "Ugly Betty" 8.) "Weeds" 9.) "Flight of the Conchords 10.) "Family Guy"

Here's how Boomer thinks the popular vote tallied — 1.) "The Office" 2.) "30 Rock" 3.) "Curb Your Enthusiasm"4.) "Ugly Betty" 5.) "Entourage" 6.) "Pushing Daisies" 7.) "Two and a Half Men" 8.) "Weeds" 9.) "Flight of the Conchords" 10.) "Family Guy"

Then, they calculate how the panel judges scored the sample episode entries.

How Rob thinks the judges ranked episode entries — 1.) "30 Rock" 2.) "Pushing Daisies" 3.) "Two and a Half Men" 4.) "The Office" 5.) "Curb Your Enthusiasm"6.) "Family Guy" 7.) "Entourage" 8.) "Flight of the Conchords 9.) "Weeds" 10.) "Ugly Betty"

Here's how Boomer ranks the judges' views of the episodes — 1.) "Pushing Daisies" 2.) "Two and a Half Men" 3.) "30 Rock"4.) "The Office" 5.) "Family Guy"6.) "Curb Your Enthusiasm" 7.) "Entourage" 8.) "Ugly Betty" 9.) "Weeds" 10.) "Flight of the Conchords"

Combining these results on a 50-50 basis, just like the academy accountants do, they determine the final ranking of the nominees. The lower the final number, the higher the ranking.

BEST COMEDY SERIES: BOOMER'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) "The Office" ("Local Ad") — 5 points
1.) "30 Rock" ("Cooter") — 5 points
3.) "Pushing Daisies" ("Pie-Lette") — 7 points
4.) "Curb Your Enthusiasm" ("The Bat Mitzvah") — 9 points
4.) "Two and a Half Men" ("Rough Night in Hump Junction") — 9 points
6.) "Entourage" ("The Day ...") — 12 points
6.) "Ugly Betty" ("Something Wicked This Way Comes") — 12 points
8.) "Family Guy" ("Padre de Famila") — 15 points
9.) "Weeds" ("Go") — 17 points
10.) "Flight of the Conchords" ("Sally Returns") — 19 points

BEST COMEDY SERIES: ROB'S PREDIX
(Top five = nominees)
1.) "30 Rock" ("Cooter") — 3 points
2.) "The Office" ("Local Ad") — 6 points
2.) "Pushing Daisies" ("Pie-lette") — 6 points
2.) "Two and a Half Men" ("Rough Night in Hump Junction") — 6 points
5.) "Curb Your Enthusiasm" ("The Bat Mitzvah") — 9 points
6.) "Entourage" ("The Day ...") — 13 points
7.) "Family Guy" ("Padre de Famila") — 16 points
8.) "Flight of the Conchords" ("Sally Returns") — 17 points
8.) "Ugly Betty" ("Something Wicked This Way Comes") — 17 points
8.) "Weeds" ("Go") — 17 points

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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!

Lots of Oscar-friendly flicks are being added to the roster at the Toronto Film Festival, including "Happy-Go-Lucky," "Waltz With Bashir, " "The Duchess" — READ MORE

"Pixar's latest gift to movie lovers should be a candidate for the most prestigious award, best picture, when Oscar time rolls around," insists Wall Street Journal critic Joe Morgenstern of "Wall-E" (CLICK HERE). But Jeff Wells of Hollywood-Elsewhere.com fights to "keep the Berlin Wall up" between animated and live-action fare. Why? "Biological actuality is too precious and beautiful to sully its textures with hard-drive simulations and vice versa. Sometimes segregation is a good thing." (Ah, if only Jesse Helms had lived long enough to hear Jeff!)

Get ready for Emmy noms by ordering DVDs of these shows so you may view the same sample episodes being judged by voters. Discs of these series are available — click on links: "Mad Men," "Damages," "In Treatment," "Dexter," "Weeds," "Pushing Daisies," "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

I didn't see this week's installment of "At the Movies," but Sasha Stone did and reports at AwardsDaily.com that Richard Roeper claims it'll be an "upset" if Heath Ledger isn't nominated for an Oscar for "The Dark Knight." READ MORE.

There were lots of glitches this year in the video player embedded at the TV academy's website so Emmy voters could view sample episodes of award contenders, reports Broadcasting & Cable. It launched too late in Emmy season and its "playback was a bit jittery," concedes academy awards chief John Leverence. READ MORE

While no male stars of "Saturday Night Live" made the Emmy list for supporting comedy actor now that the cast has moved over from the category for variety performers, one female costar made the supporting actress lineup: Amy Poehler.

BIGGEST SNUB: Where is last year's Emmy winner Jaime Pressly ("My Name Is Earl")?

TOP 10 FINALISTS: SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTRESS
Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies" ("Girth")
Conchata Ferrell, "Two and a Half Men" ("Fish in a Drawer")
Jenna Fischer, "The Office" ("Fun Run")
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock" ("The Collection")
Judith Light, "Ugly Betty" ("I See Me, ICU")
Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds" ("Risk")
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live" ("Tina Fey")
Jean Smart, "Samantha Who? ("The Girlfriend")
Holland Taylor, "Two and a Half Men" ("Media Room Slash Dungeon")
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty" ("Bananas for Betty")

OTHER SURPRISING OMISSIONS: Dana Delany and Nicollette Sheridan ("Desperate Housewives"), Cheryl Hines ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Wanda Sykes ("New Adventures of Old Christine"), Sarah Chalke ("Scrubs"), Swoosie Kurtz ("Pushing Daisies"), Becki Newton and Ashley Jensen ("Ugly Betty"). Newton, Jensen and Pressley were on the Top 10 list last year.

(Photos: ATAS / NBC)

No joke: Sarah Silverman is on the Emmy list of Top 10 semifinalists for best comedy actress. Thus "The Sarah Silverman Program" might score a breakthrough bid for Comedy Central after judges review sample episodes and accountants calculate votes. In past years HBO and Showtime were the only cable channels whose stars were nominated in this category.

Biggest omission from this top 10 list: What do Emmy voters have against Teri Hatcher? While all three of her "Desperate Housewives" costars — Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman and even the vampy Eva Longoria Parker — made the cut, Hatcher got snubbed. Also missing from the list of funny ladies: past winner Patricia Heaton ("Back to You") and, on a lighter note, Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana").

Today members of the TV acting's acting branch who serve as judges of the Emmy performance categories began receiving sample series episodes with their ballots. Judges are permitted to view them leisurely at home, but must sign an affidavit attesting that they watched all DVDs. They rank the entries 10 (best score) to 1. Accountants combine their scores with results of the original popular vote on a 50-50 basis, then determine the nominees, which will be unveiled July 17.

While the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences released the top 10 lists of contenders for best comedy and drama series last week, it announced that it will not disclose the acting lists. However, Gold Derby is now starting to get word and will publish results over the next few days, just as we have over the previous two years when the academy refused to release any info. We hope that our disclosures will hike pressure on academy to disclose all semifinalist info — as the Oscars and Daytime Emmys do as a matter of open policy.

BEST COMEDY ACTRESS
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" ("The Restraining Order")
Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives" ("Now You Know")
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" ("Odor in the Court")
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" ("Sandwich Day")
Anna Friel, "Pushing Daisies" ("Bitter Sweets")
Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives" ("Now I Know, Don't Be Scared")
Eva Longoria Parker, "Desperate Housewives" ("In Buddy's Eyes")
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "New Adventures of Old Christine" ("One and a Half Men")
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds" ("Bill Sussman")
Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program" ("Bored of the Rings")

(Comedy Central / ABC)