2013 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

2013 Nomination Predictions
1. Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"
2. Anna Gunn "Breaking Bad"
3. Christina Hendricks "Mad Men"
4. Christine Baranski "The Good Wife"
5. Monica Potter "Parenthood"
6. Elizabeth McGovern "Downton Abbey"

Other Contenders - Morena Baccarin "Homeland", Archie Panjabi "The Good Wife", Joanna Froggatt "Downton Abbey", Kate Mara "House of Cards", Emilia Clarke "Game of Thrones", Alison Pill "The Newsroom", Hayden Panettiere "Nashville"

Commentary - Every year there is some turnover in each category, although this category may have less than others. I think that four of last year's nominees will return, and the other two could easily get back in as well. You could bet a lot of money that Maggie Smith gets back in, and no matter what episode submissions the nominees submit, that she will be one of the ones to beat. I also think that as Breaking Bad enters its final two seasons, that its actors will be getting a lot of support. After Anna Gunn finally made it in last year, I think she will easily get back in. Christina Hendricks, like the rest of her Mad Men cast, has never been able to win an Emmy, but she has been a constant nominee, and I don't think that is suddenly going to change. Finally, while Emmy voters have shamelessly moved on from The Good Wife in several categories, I think that Emmy favorite Christine Baranski will be a popular name to check on a ballot. On the contrary, her co-star Archie Panjabi, who has won an Emmy for The Good Wife will miss the cut, not because she wasn't great as always, but because her storyline earlier this season with her husband was not well-liked. Last year, Joanna Froggatt got in for Downton Abbey as the wonderful Anna had a great storyline regarding her love Bates. But this season, I felt that the it was Elizabeth McGovern that got the juicy storylines, particularly (spoiler alert!) with the death of her daughter. McGovern was nominated for Lead Actress in the Movie/Miniseries category, but missed the cut last year in the crowed Drama field, where her co-star Michelle Dockery got in instead. This year, the move down to supporting could be her ticket back into the race. Finally, Parenthood has never gained much traction at the Emmys, earning its first nomination last year for Jason Ritter. But NBC has been putting a lot of power and money behind the campaign for Monica Potter for her incredible cancer storyline this season. She has done well at the two major critics awards, and usually, when a studio puts this type of energy into an individual campaign, it pays off. Other contenders to watch for are Morena Baccarin, Kate Mara, Hayden Panettiere, and Emilia Clarke.