2012 Emmy Predictions: Actress in a Comedy Series

Will Win - Julia Louis-Dreyfuss "Veep"
Should Win - Dreyfuss or Amy Poehler "Parks & Recreation"
Could Win - Poehler or Zooey Deschanel "New Girl"

Commentary - This race was so competitive getting into it, that they had to extend the number of nominees to seven. Names like Laura Linney, Laura Dern, Martha Plimpton, and countless others didn't make the cut. And, no real surprise here, the fight for the Emmy statue is just as competitive. Melissa McCarthy was a surprise winner last year, and has a very physically funny episode this time around. Edie Falco's episode is probably the best acted, unfortunately it may not be funny enough. Tina Fey always submits well, and Liz Lemon is still one of my favorite television characters, even after all these years. And Lena Dunham is the hot new talent, who, on her four individual nods alone got Girls into the competitive Comedy Series race. But I think that in the end it comes down to three. Amy Poehler deserves an Emmy sometime for all of her great work, and another great episode submission keeps her in this race. And in terms of pure physical comedy and adorkable goodness, Zooey Deschanel's episode is dynamite, and because of a goof, voters get a second chance to look at her, which could sway some on the fence members her way. But instead, I am going with a great performance from Emmy favorite Julia-Louis Dreyfuss. She won once for each of her last two series, she is playing a political figure in an election year, and her episode is out of this world funny. I think that it is close, but that she will triumph again.