Greg’s Emmy Predictions…

It’s fun to try and make an educated guess so we’ll see how I fare! Will start to live-blog from backstage in a few hours…

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaemmy.jpgDrama Series:
My pick: “Grey’s Anatomy”
Will win: “Sopranos”
It’s the last season of the mob drama. Still, “Heroes” could cause an upset.

Lead Actor, Drama Series:
My pick: Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”
Will win: James Gandolfini (“The Sopranos”)
Gandolfini has won three times already and I see a fourth Emmy as a send-off. But Hugh Laurie could just as easily win for “House” while former winners James Spader and Kiefer Sutherland will miss out this time. Personally, I think Leary is absolutely superb in “Rescue.”

Lead Actress, Drama Series:
My pick: Sally Field (“Brothers & Sisters”)
Will win: Kyra Sedgwick (“The Closer”)
If either of these women won, I’ll be very happy. Sedgwick carries her show while Field is the glue that holds her together. Very different performances but both stellar. Edie Falco could be part of an Emmy sweep for “Sopranos” but she already has three Emmys for her role and the competition is very strong.

Supporting Actor, Drama Series:
My pick: T.R. Knight (“Grey’s Anatomy”)
Will win: Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos”)
It’ll be part of a “Sopranos” semi-sweep. If William Shatner wins again, i might have to vomit backstage but if Knight wins, I’ll do a little jig.

Supporting Actress, Drama Series:
My pick: Rachel Griffiths (“Brothers & Sisters”)
Will win: Rachel Griffiths (“Brothers & Sisters”)
She is the class of the field and had some wonderfully emotional scenes. Three “Grey’s Anatomy” stars should cancel each other out with Chandra Wilson having the best chance of breaking out. I don’t see Aida Turturro as part of the “Sopranos” semi-sweep.

Comedy Series:
My pick: “Ugly Betty”
Will win: “Ugly Betty”
It’s a high-quality category with “Entourage,” “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “Two and a Half Men” as competition. But “Betty” stood above the rest in its debut season.

Lead Actor, Comedy Series:
My Pick: Charlie Sheen
Will win: Alec Baldwin
I think Sheen is overlooked because his role is so low-key. But, he is terrific on “Two and a Half Men” and deserving of an Emmy win. Baldwin won the Golden Globe and the SAG Award so the only question is if voters will be turned off by the well-publicized troubles in his private life. If that’s the case, Steve Carell will win.

Lead Actress, Comedy Series:
My pick: America Ferrera
Will win: America Ferrera
Easiest category to call.

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series:
My picki: Neil Patrick Harris
Will win: Neil Patrick Harris
I just feel like it’s his year in every way and he is clearly the best thing about “How I Met Your Mother.”

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series:
My pick: Conchata Ferrell
Will win: Jaime Pressly
Personally, I can’t watch “My Name is Earl” mainly because of Jason Lee’s mustache (silly, I know). But Pressly seems to be the one to beat even though Vanessa Williams is the most deserving for “Ugly Betty.” But my sentimental pick is Conchata Ferrell who is an absolute riot on “Two and a Half Men” and elevates any TV show or movie that she’s in.

Miniseries or movie:
My pick: “Broken Trail”
Will win: “Broken Trail”
This seems like a sure-thing.

Lead Actress, Miniseries or Movie:
My pick: Helen Mirren
Will win: Helen Mirren
Mirren is still the queen of voters hearts and should take home the Emmy in this category for the second year in a row. The fact that Debra Messing is even nominated for the fluff “The Starter Wife” shows that Mirren’s only real competition will be two-time Emmy winner Gena Rowlands.

Lead Actor, Miniseries or Movie:
My pick: Robert Duvall
Will win” Robert Duvall
Tough competition but my gut tells me the Oscar winner will prevail for “Broken Trail” over fellow nominees Jim Broadbent, William H. Macy, Matthew Perry and Tom Selleck.

Reality-Competition Category:
My pick: Amazing Race
Will win: Amazing Race
This show is the most ambitious of all the nominees including ratings giants “American Idol” and “Dancing With the Stars.” It’s so superbly edited and brilliantly paced that each week, you really feel you have gone on an adventure. It should win yet another Emmy in this category.

Variety, Music or Comedy Series:
My pick: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”
Will win: “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”
Sorry Letterman, Conan and even Bill Maher, Stewart had another kick-ass year.

Performance – Variety of Music Program:
My pick: Jon Stewart
Will win: Jon Stewart
See above.

Stars party at pre-Emmy party for acting nominees…

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When youre nominated for an Emmy these days, life is just one big party.
Among the soirees going on around town Friday night [there are more tonight] was the Television Academys tribute to acting nominees at Wolfgang Puck at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.
It drew nominees Leslie Caron, Lorraine Bracco, Mariska Hargitay, Masi Oka, Neil Patrick Harris, Denis Leary, Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson, Judith Light, Conchata Ferrell, Holland Taylor, Kate Burton and Tim Daly, among others.
Oka drove up to the valet in old Honda, sputtering with 140,000 miles on it. The Heroes star, nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a drama, wonders if its finally time for some new wheels now that the NBC hit is heading into season 2.
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All of the success is still a bit surreal for the young actor to have landed a key role on such a big show.
To be a working actor is already a dream and to be on a great show is like winning the lottery. But to be on a phenomenon and to be here \[as an Emmy nominee\], its like How lucky are we? Its absolutely surreal.
I had profiled Hargitay last year for a cover story I wrote for Orange Coast Magazine and of the 50 or so covers I have done for them over the years, no one was more gracious than Mariska.
Since we did a telephone interview (she was in NYC), this was our first meeting in person.
I loved that article! Mariska said as she greeted me. Thank you. I appreciate it.
Although she is once again nominated for her role in Law & Order: SVU, I wondered if having won last year takes some of the pressure off.
It is much easier, she admits. This is a stress-free year. I came in, had fun playing with \[son\] August. Its just a cakewalk now \[laughs\].
i-236c3a0efdea3ed401baaa3ecc631ee0-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaemmyparty.jpgShes also learned that when it comes to picking what to wear, make confort your first priority: Only wear things that you are really comfortable in. It changes your whole confidence. Dont wear really uncomfortable shoes. That will never work for you.
Bracco, nominated once again for The Sopranos hads the opposite tip: Wear shoes that hurt!
The actress received her fourth nod for her role as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on the series, but her first since 2001.
Its a very nice way to end it really, she says. Im very honored and touched. Like I said, its always nice to be asked to the prom instead of having to ask somebody to go dutch.
What will she do post-Sopranos?
Ive been so far very lucky. I went on a whole bunch of appointments today with people who wanted to meet me for things so I no idea! Whats hard now is to get a good script, a good role. Thats what its all about. I dont care if its film or TV, or cable. Look, Im 53 and Im glad the phones still ringing.

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Britney fever? We’re cured.

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OK, if you haven’t yet seen Britney in her best black underwear (and I guess we should give her points for covering her bum) as she opened last night’s Video Music Awards, it’s up for viewing on MTV’s site. She sang “Gimme More,” which begs the question, “More what?” More money? I think she’s set. More attention? Oh please. Been there, overdone that.
Britney was dressed for a bump and grind act, but she delivered her performance with all the gusto of a poorly faked orgasm. She had more energy on her millionth performance of “Oops! I Did It Again.”
Can we in the media come to some sort of agreement on this? Britney apparently doesn’t want to be a music star anymore, or she would have performed as if her career were on the line, because it is. And even her most ardent fans (and who are they these days?) must have felt let down. So let’s just let Britney ride off into the sunset toward whatever trailer park she chooses to settle in.
As VMA host Sarah Silverman so glibly pointed out, “She’s 25 and she’s already accomplished everything she’s going to accomplish in her life.”