Emmy Awards Predictions Part I: Comedies

Let's hope no one invited Kanye to the Emmy Awards... although I would like to see him wrestle the microphone away from Alec Baldwin and scream, "Charlie Sheen had the best comedy OF THE YEAR!"

Most likely, the Emmy Awards this Sunday -- set your DVRs, people -- will be about as interesting as Jay Leno's new show (zing!) and less controversial than, say, kittens. But you never know. Every year, someone walks away with an award you know they don't deserve. Plus, there's always the stupid comment or inappropriate boob grab on the Red Carpet from the lovely folks at E! we can count on for entertainment.

Anyway, your resident curmudgeon and awards show expert Malavika Jagannathan will prepare you this week for what to expect Sunday night and who you should be cheering for in some of the major categories (and, no, it's not Charlie Sheen).

Today, it's the comedies. Let's laugh, people!

BEST COMEDY SERIES: "Entourage," "Family Guy," "Flight of the Conchords," "How I Met Your Mother," "The Office," "30 Rock," "Weeds"

Who Will Probably Win: With 22 nominations and lots of love for this NBC show, "30 Rock" is a shoo-in.

Who Should Win: "30 Rock" has been consistently hitting its mark this season without sacrificing quality. It deserves a win.

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

Who Will Probably Win: Alec Baldwin's work on "30 Rock" is an easy favorite among Academy voters.

Who Should Win: No disrespect to Bret, but Jemaine Clement and his sideburns ruled this season of "Flight of the Conchords." It's nice the show got a nod, but it'd be sweeter if Jemaine got a much-deserved win.

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

Who Will Probably Win: Unless the Academy is feeling sorry for Christina Applegate, whose show was canceled and who underwent treatment for breast cancer, Tina Fey will probably get another Emmy for her work on "30 Rock."

Who Should Win: As much as I love Tina Fey, the few episodes of "Weeds" I saw last season were enough to convince me that Mary-Louise Parker is long overdue an Emmy for her work on that show.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES: Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men," Kevin Dillon, "Entourage," Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother," Jack McBrayer, "30 Rock," Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock," Rainn Wilson, "The Office"

Who Will Probably Win: Is it weird to award the host of the show? Probably, but when have the Emmy Awards cared about that? Neil Patrick Harris is a standout comedian -- did you see "Dr. Horrible?" -- and will probably get his due this year for his ridiculous but quotable Barney on "How I Met Your Mother."

Who Should Win: How has Rainn Wilson never won an award for playing the lovable but demented Dwight Schrute on "The Office?" Please, someone, correct this oversight!

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES: Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies," Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock," Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds," Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live," Kristin Wiig, "Saturday Night Live," Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"

Who Will Probably Win: From her tortured Hillary Clinton impersonation to her Sarah Palin rap on Weekend Update, Amy Poehler's work on her final season of "Saturday Night Live" was arguably brilliant. Plus, she was pregnant for most of it! It's a long shot for a variety show to walk away with this prize, but I think there's enough love there for Poehler to make it happen.

Who Should Win: You really can't beat Poehler, who held together "SNL" even while overall ratings for the show continued to slip.

That's all folks. Tomorrow, I'll tackle the dramas, and I'll leave the really delicious reality/variety stuff for Friday. By the way, on Monday, Channel Surfing bloggers will be hosting a LIVE chat to discuss the Emmy Awards, so check back with us for more details.

The Primetime Emmy Awards air on CBS on Sunday at 7 p.m.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com