2011 Emmy Awards Predictions and Picks

It's time to make my 2011 Emmy Awards predictions and picks. As usual, it's going to be tough to make strong predictions based on the 2011 Emmy Awards nominees--but it's worth a shot. The bottom line is that what we think should win often doesn't-and what is popular isn't always the defining measurement of the criteria utilized to provide the actual awards. In other words, we probably won't know who will win until the awards are actually presented for the most part. Until then, we'll speculate about how our favorite shows will do this weekend.

So with that in mind, I'll give it my annual stab at who I think will and should win each individual Emmy Award for 2011.

Yahoo Entertainment has a great poll with who fans believe will win each individual award here. The poll also has an expert pick provided(by an expert, and obviously not me). So if you want to see the particular nominees for 2011, check that out here.

Let's start with my Emmy Awards predictions and picks for the Outstanding Drama Series. As of Friday, fans have pinpointed "The Good Wife" as a slight favorite over "Dexter." My sentimental pick would be "Friday Night Lights" but I can't imagine the show will gather the Emmy this season-although it was easily one of the best dramas in recent memory on network television. I'm going away from the fans pick with this award and saying that "Dexter" will emerge with the hardware-although I'd love to see FNL walk away with the trophy. "Mad Men" or "The Good Wife" wouldn't be a shock here. The field seems to be relatively wide open.

Next up-the Outstanding Comedy Series. Fans certainly want Modern Family to take home this prize and I can't disagree. I believe the show is Emmy worthy and my predictions and picks have this ABC favorite walking away with the award.

The next award is the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Fans have Hugh Laurie of House earning the award. My predictions and picks say this isn't a bad choice at all-but I'll opt for Kyle Chandler in his final season of "Friday Night Lights."

My 2011 Emmy Award predictions and picks continue with the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in Drama Series. I'd have to agree with the fans pick so far on this one-Julianna Marguiles from "The Good Wife" is good as gold to exit with this Emmy. If there is an upset, I believe Kathy Bates in "Harry's Law" was terrific enough to warrant the win.

The next Emmy Award category is Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The fans have selected Steve Carrell in his final season on "The Office." I'd say this is a safe bet but I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Alec Baldwin or Jim Parsons steals this one away.

The next award is for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The fans have really showed strong support for Melissa McCarthy of "Mike and Molly." My predictions and picks are leaning toward Martha Plimpton of "Raising Hope." I also feel as if Laura Linney could be a surprise choice. But there was something really truthful about Plimpton and her potrayal of the "Raising Hope" character that deserves celebration-whether this is the forum or not-who really knows?

Next up, the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Even though fans believe Peter Dinklage of "Game of Thrones" will win this Emmy, I think Alan Cumming of "The Good Wife" has a reasonable shot.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series is always a tough one to predict. I am thinking outside of the box for this one and I predict Kelly Macdonald from "Boardwalk Empire" has the credentials to escape with this Emmy. If not, I think Christina Hendricks of "Mad Men" would be a justified winner.

Our first no brainer is Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Comedy Series. I am not sure how you could live with yourself if you had an opportunity to cast a vote and you didn't write down the name of Ed O'Neill. According to Yahoo! Users-he is a 97% favorite to win this award. With due respect to the other nominees, my predictions and picks have this former "Married With Children" dad turned "Modern Family" grandpa as an easy winner in a category that is often hard to predict. I think Eric Stonestreet is also deserving-but will most likely be overshadowed by his father-in-law figure on "Modern Family."

How about the Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series? It's no secret that Jane Lynch of "Glee" is the favorite to take this award and she just might. Betty White on "Hot in Cleveland" is the sentimental choice. But my predictions and picks have either Julie Bowen or Sofia Vergara, both of "Modern Family", possibly stealing the show with this Emmy. Bowen, who has been a scene stealer on other shows like "Ed" and "Boston Legal", is quite possibly the nuts and bolts behind the comedic nature of "Modern Family." Vergara is also a hilarious scene stealer who will probably see more time and lines written in the future because of her natural ability to make us laugh. It will be hard to knock off Lynch in this category-but she would have a great and probably priceless reaction if she does lose the award to one of her deserving female counterparts.

My other 2011 Emmy Awards predictions and picks go like this.

Outstanding Drama Series...I'll take "Dexter" with a possible side of "The Good Wife" although I'd much rather have "Friday Night Lights"

Outstanding Comedy Series..You would be hard pressed to find anything funnier or more real than "Modern Family" on TV. I look for this show to absolutely slam dunk the 2011 Emmy Awards on Sunday. I question why "The Middle" wasn't in the mix of nominees though.

Outstanding Reality Competition Series...Look for "The Amazing Race" to somehow emerge with a win over "Dancing with the Stars"

Outstanding Host for a Reality Competition Series...Jeff Probst will probably win but I truly believe Ryan Seacrest of "American Idol" is overdue.

Other winners from my predictions and picks for Sunday night? I think Gwynneth Paltrow will win for her guest appearance on "Glee". Nathan Lane of "Modern Family" could upstage Justin Timberlake(Saturday Night Live) for a male guest appearance. Michael J. Fox could turn heads and be the story of the night thanks to his brilliant guest appearance on "The Good Wife." I think Loretta Devine of "Grey's Anatomy" could win the female counterpart of that Emmy Award. Jon Stewart will most likely win in the Oustanding Music, Variety of Comedy Special category. I also believe "The Kennedys" could upstage "Mildred Pierce" for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. "Wizards of Waverly Place" could be a surprising notch above "iCarly" for the Outstanding Children's Series. "Deadliest Catch" will probably take the Outstanding Reality Program.

That's it for my 2011 Emmy Award predictions and picks. One of the more interesting things about the Emmys is that you never truly know what will transpire until the actual awards are passed out. We should expect the same this weekend-there are no surprises-just different winners than we expected, right?
The show airs on Fox on Sunday, September 18 at 7pm CST.