2013 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Actress in a Comedy Series

2013 Nomination Predictions
1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus "Veep"
2. Tina Fey "30 Rock"
3. Lena Dunham "Girls"
4. Amy Poehler "Parks & Recreation"
5. Zooey Deschanel "New Girl"
6. Edie Falco "Nurse Jackie"

Other Contenders - Melissa McCarthy "Mike & Molly", Laura Dern "Enlightened", Mindy Kaling "The Mindy Project", Martha Plimpton "Raising Hope", Portia de Rossi "Arrested Development", Sutton Foster "Bunheads"

Commentary - Last year, this category was so stacked that there ended up being seven nominees. Could the same seven ladies repeat? The safest bet is to say no, but that means that one of these very popular actresses will be left off. Part of me wanted to leave off Edie Falco, because, despite a small resurgence last year, I think that Nurse Jackie is not as hot on the Emmy radar, but she is Edie Falco, so that's not a safe bet. Zooey Deschanel was not as quirky this season on New Girl, but that might actually help her, not hurt her. Lena Dunham's Girls had a lot of mixed attention this year, and did not do well on the critics circuit. But she is undeniably a talent, and I expect her and the show, to ride their buzz for at least one more Emmy season. So I have decided to leave off Melissa McCarthy. I am not confident in this, because she remains popular, had another great performance on SNL this season, and has had two hit movies, one currently doing very well at the box office, The Heat. Even as I am typing this, I am second-guessing her exclusion, but who goes off instead? I will say that I think that Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss are pretty safe, and I honetly think that one of them will take home the gold. Other contenders include Laura Dern, who was surprisingly left off last year, and newcomer to this race Mindy Kaling. I honestly think that Kaling is the dark horse her. She follows along the lines of someone like Lena Dunham, as she is heavily involved in her project, and it really has become a vehicle for her quirky blend of humor. Honestly, my jaw would not drop if she were suddenly included. Also watch our for Portia de Rossi. If Arrested Development comes back with a fury, she could be swept up in the momentum.