OK, time to look at this weekend's Emmy nominees and make some predictions before Sunday's ABC telecast. We'll start with best actor and actress in a comedy...
Best actor in a comedy nominees:
Tony Shalhoub in USA's "Monk"
Nice job Mr. Monk, but you've already won for this show what, three times? I think Emmy will pass you by this time.
Steve Carell in NBC's "The Office" (right)
The craziest dude - well, except for Rainn Wilson - on a crazy and beloved show, Carell also finds the heart inside the demented Michael Scott. Plus, Emmy tends to catch up to TV a year or two late. Carell has to be considered the favorite in this category by a slight margin.
Lee Pace in ABC's "Pushing Daisies"
A nice performance on a nice show, but not a lot of laughs. The nomination is the honor here, I think, especially since the show wasn't nominated.
Alec Baldwin in "30 Rock"
Maybe the funniest performance of the year. The controversial Baldwin has to be no more than a nose behind Carell in this category.
Charlie Sheen in CBS' "Two And A Half Men"
It's hard to win acting awards when everyone thinks you're playing yourself. This was last year's best comedy winner, and the academy took a bunch of grief for lauding such a traditional show. But I don't think the screw-the-critics vote is as strong as it used to be. Not a favorite, but I wouldn't be 100 percent surprised if he won.
(Ricky Gervais won last year for "Extras.")
Best actress in a comedy nominees:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
A lot of people like this show better than me. But still, I don't think so. There are two stronger candidates, at least the way Emmy normally votes.
Christina Applegate" in ABC's "Samantha Who?"
Adorable star of one of last season's few new hits despite the writer's strike. Oh, yeah, and bravely battling breast cancer. Got to be a favorite of traditional voters.
Tina Fey in "30 Rock" (right)
Emmy votes were cast before she did her dead-on Sarah Palin bit on "Saturday Night Live." But if there's a favorite of the media elite in this category, it's Fey. And also she's both creator and star of this very funny show. If I have to pick one favorite, it's her.
America Ferrera in ABC's "Ugly Betty"
She won last year, and most people agree that the second season of the show was a disappointment. Can't see her winning.
Mary-Louise Parker in Showtime's "Weeds"
Nominated despite the fact that most of America has never seen her show. I'd vote for her over all of them, if this was truly just an acting award. But it's not going to happen.
(Ferrera won last year.)
Tomorrow: Drama acting nominees.
