2014 Emmy Contenders - Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

2014 Contenders
Anna Gunn "Breaking Bad"
Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"
Emilia Clarke "Game of Thrones"
Michelle Monaghan "True Detective"
Christina Hendricks "Mad Men"
Christine Baranski "The Good Wife"
Archie Panjabi "The Good Wife"
Morena Baccarin "Homeland"
Joanne Froggatt "Downton Abbey"
Elizabeth McGovern "Downton Abbey"
Monica Potter "Parenthood"
Mae Whitman "Parenthood"
Lauren Graham "Parenthood"
Bonnie Bedalia "Parenthood"
Erika Christensen "Parenthood"
Betsy Brandt "Breaking Bad"
Laura Fraser "Breaking Bad"
Lena Heady "Game of Thrones"
Maisie Williams "Game of Thrones"
Sophie Turner "Game of Thrones"
Bellamy Young "Scandal"
Jennifer Carpenter "Dexter"
Alison Pill "The Newsroom"
Emily Mortimer "The Newsroom"
Olivia Munn "The Newsroom"
Hayden Panettiere "Nashville"
January Jones "Mad Men"
Kiernan Shipka "Mad Men"
Jessica Pare "Mad Men"
Melissa McBride "The Walking Dead"
Caitlin Fitzgerald "Masters of Sex"
Gretchen Mol "Boardwalk Empire"
Kelly MacDonald "Boardwalk Empire"

Commentary - While other categories are looking at some turnover, there is a good chance that this category is filled out with past contenders. Christina Hendricks has managed to never win this award, but my guess is that she will continue to be nominated by an Academy that clearly loves her character. Anna Gunn beat out the great Dame last year, and deservedly won her first Emmy Award. The big question on most people's minds is whether, despite months since its finale, Breaking Bad is still as potent of a contender as it was when it took the top prize last year. I think that in terms of another nomination Gunn is a lock no matter what. One of the best surprises of last year's nominations was the inclusion of Emilia Clarke for her simply bad-ass role in Game of Thrones. The series only continues to get better and more popular. Now that she has broken the barrier, expect her to be a perennial in this category. The Good Wife has had a renewed energy this season, so expect favorite Christine Baranski to once again get into the top six. But I wonder if there is enough heat to bring back in Archie Panjabi this year. She did win for this role, so it is not out of the realm of possibility. Finally, there is Maggie Smith. I think that pretty much sums up that. The one nominee from last year that is in trouble is Morena Baccarin. Homeland in general is in trouble as the ratings and love for the show tumbled this season. We all know that the Television Academy is slow to respond to such changes, and if Homeland is still high on their list then Baccarin is a strong contender. If they do respond to the dip in quality then she is big trouble. So the question is then, who gets that sixth slot if Baccarin is out? Joanna Froggatt had a baity story line on the fourth season of Downton, and Elizabeth McGovern is a big name, so both are certainly on the radar. The girls from Mad Men, Game of Thrones, and Breaking Bad hope to join the fight alongside their co-stars Gunn, Clarke and Hendricks. Hayden Panettiere looks to turn her second Golden Globe nomination into an Emmy nomination, Melissa McBride had a standout season on The Walking Dead, and my personal favorite Bellamy Young from the delicious Scandal could persuade a few voters to put her name on the ballot. The cast I am most interested in though is Parenthood. After Monica Potter was outrageously snubbed last year, I had lost all hope for the show. But they had a full season this year, were just recently renewed for a final season, and you can never discount surprises at the Emmys. Maybe this is the year they finally do the right thing and honor not just Potter, but any or all of these incredible actresses.