Predicting Emmy Award Glory

(CBS)  In our "Road to the Emmys" series, "Entertainment Weekly" magazine columnist Michael Ausiello shared on "The Early Show" Friday his predictions for who will win and who should win at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards that will air Sunday night at 8 p.m./7 Central on CBS.

All the 2009 Nominees


BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sally Field - "Brothers & Sisters"
Glenn Close - "Damages"
Mariska Hargitay - "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
Holly Hunter - "Saving Grace"
Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer"
Elisabeth Moss - "Mad Men"

Who Will Win: Ausiello said, "Glenn Close will win for a second year in a row. 'Damages' had sort of an off year, but Glenn was fantastic, and it's such a big kind of flashy meaty role. Emmy voters love that."

Who Should Win: " I'd love to see Elisabeth Moss win. 'Mad Men' is a very sort of quiet, subtle show, and sometimes those performances don't get a lot of attention. But Elisabeth Moss was fantastic last season. She gave up a baby on the show, and then she had to be around the baby. It was just a really sort of gut-wrenching, but very restrained performance."

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bryan Cranston - "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall - "Dexter"
Hugh Laurie - "House"
Gabriel Byrne- "In Treatment"
Jon Hamm - "Mad Men"
Simon Baker - "The Mentalist"

Who Will Win: "Hugh Laurie. Believe it or not, Hugh has never won an Emmy. People think he has. He's picked up a bunch of Golden Globes, but he's never won for this. And he is that show. And it's shocking to me, I really feel like this year voters will give him his due."

Who Should Win: "Bryan Cranston. He won last year for 'Breaking Bad.' (That) surprised a lot of people. But season two was even better than season one. He will be tough to beat."

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin "30 Rock"
Tony Shalhoub "Monk"
Jim Parsons "The Big Bang Theory"
Steve Carell "The Office"
Charlie Sheen "Two And A Half Men"
Jemaine Clement "Flight Of The Conchords"

Who Will/Should Win: "Jim Parsons for 'Big Bang Theory.' And it's a little wishful thinking on my part because I love that character. ... I'm so excited that had he actually got nominated. A lot of times newcomers don't get nominated and young people don't break through, but he's a sentimental favorite, and I really think voters will give to him."

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey - "30 Rock"
Christina Applegate- "Samantha Who?"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "The New Adventures Of Old Christine"
Sarah Silverman - "The Sarah Silverman Program"
Mary-Louise Parker - "Weeds"
Toni Collette - "United States Of Tara"

Who Will/Should Win: "Tina Fey. People have a love affair with '30 Rock,' and it shows no sign of abating. Tina already picked up an Emmy for her impersonation of Sarah Palin, and I just would not bet against Tina Fey right now."

OUTSTANDING REALITY - COMPETITION PROGRAM
"The Amazing Race"
"American Idol"
"Dancing With The Stars"
"Project Runway"
"Top Chef"

Who Will Win: "Do you think I'm going to vote against or bet against amazing race? I mean, it's like every year this is going to be weird if they don't win and then they win."

Who Should Win: "It's insane. I feel bad for the 'American Idol' folks. They're like it's our turn."

For more of Ausiello's predictions, click on the video below.


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Monday morning "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez will join Mary Hart on the set of "Entertainment Tonight" for complete Emmy coverage.

[jgg00009]

and everything else on television will beat the emmy ratings.