2015 Emmy Predictions: Best Drama Series

2015 Nomination Predictions
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Empire
Game of Thrones
House of Cards
Mad Men
Orange is the New Black

Other Contenders - The Americans, Homeland, The Good Wife, The Affair, Masters of Sex, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, How to Get Away With Murder, The Walking Dead, Scandal, The Knick, The Newsroom, Ray Donovan, Outlander, Bloodline, The Blacklist, Madam Secretary, Parenthood, Mr. Selfridge, Orphan Black, Boardwalk Empire, Vikings, Penny Dreadful, Broadchurch, The Fall, Bates Motel, Grey's Anatomy, Black Sails, Power, Gotham, The Flash, Marvel's Daredevil, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel's Agent Carter, The Leftovers, Rectify, 12 Monkeys, Halt and Catch Fire, Manhattan, Arrow, Blue Bloods, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, C.S.I: Cyber, Bones, Castle, The Bridge, Criminal Minds, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Law & Order: SVU, Elementary, Extant, Dallas, The Following, Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, Hell on Wheels, The Killing, Longmire, Major Crimes, The Mentalist, Nashville, The Mysteries of Laura, Person on Interest, The Royals, Scorpion, Sleepy Hollow, True Blood, TURN: Washington's Spies, Under the Dome

Commentary - So there are a few contenders here I think will easily return: House of Cards, Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey and Mad Men seem like safe bets. I also think that Orange is the New Black will make the crossover from Comedy to Drama seamlessly. It is too popular among these voters not to. So that is five slots ready to go. I also think that Emmy voters will go for Empire this year. I don't think it can win, but it is simply too big and too popular for them to ignore. Plus it reaches a diverse audience, and is beloved by critics and fans. That leaves one slot. The Americans won the CCTA, and I would love to see it finally get some Emmy recognition, but these voters almost completely ignored the first two remarkable seasons. Homeland had a resurgent forth season, and it once won this award. It could make a come back. The Good Wife should be among the ranks, but it looks like, despite the actors branch, voters have moved on. The Affair won the Globe, Masters of Sex is a brilliant, How to Get Away With Murder is a hit, and veteran shows like Boardwalk Empire, Justified, The Newsroom, Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, Parenthood, Orphan Black, and Vikings should not be discounted.  Finally, I tihnk that newcomers Outlander and Bloodline are on the edge of making it in as well. But I think that the Breaking Bad love is still strong. With a good showing at the CCTAs, and a lot of nostalgia makes me think that the seventh slot will instead go to AMC's newest hit Better Call Saul. As always, we'll have to wait and see...