2016 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

2016 Nomination Predictions
Uzo Aduba "Orange is the New Black"
Christine Baranski "The Good Wife"
Emilia Clarke "Game of Thrones"
Joanne Froggatt "Downton Abbey"
Lena Headey "Game of Thrones"
Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"

Other Contenders - Margo Martindale "The Good Wife", Jessica Lange "Horace and Pete", Edie Falco "Horace and Pete", Constance Zimmer "UnReal", Alison Wright "The Americans", Rhea Seehorn "Better Call Saul", Miranda Otto "Homeland", Maura Tierney "The Affair", Sissy Spacek "Bloodline", Linda Cardelini "Bloodline", Regina King "The Leftovers", Ann Dowd "The Leftovers", Amy Brenneman "The Leftovers", Maggie Siff "Billions", Malin Akerman "Billions", Kathryn Winnick "Vikings", Elizabeth McGovern "Downton Abbey", Penelope Wilton "Downton Abbey", Laura Carmichael "Downton Abbey", Sophie McShera "Downton Abbey", Phyllis Logan "Downton Abbey", Lesley Nicol "Downton Abbey", Lily James "Downton Abbey", Maisie Williams "Game of Thrones", Melissa McBride "The Walking Dead", Lauren Cohan "The Walking Dead", Kate Mulgrew "Orange is the New Black", Danielle Brooks "Orange is the New Black", Laverne Cox "Orange is the New Black", Laura Prepon "Orange is the New Black", Charly Chaikin "Mr. Robot", Portia Doubleday "Mr. Robot", Neve Campbell "House of Cards", Calista Flockhart "Supergirl"

Commentary - Do the Emmys shake up this category, or do they leave it largely intact? That is the question, and I have learned long ago to expect the expected, knowing there will be at least one or two surprises. So that means that there is one slot, and I actually predict that the nostalgic love for Maggie Smith will put her back in, after she was strangely left off last year. But she is vulnerable, as is Emilia Clarke, as she just hasn't had as much to do as her fellow nominee Lena Heady (who could win this year). Margo Martindale is now an Emmy favorite and could easily get in, as could Emmy-winning legends Edie Falco and Jessica Lange (but have they really watched Horace and Pete? If they have, then there are a lot of surprises ahead. Constance Zimmer won the Critics Choice, and should be in, but Lifetime has no real track record. Alison Wright is getting a lot of critical notice, but that has never really translated for The Americans. Miranda Otto was mesmerizing and Maura Tierney is Globe winner for this role. Then there is the rest of the cast of Downton, Orange, Game of Thrones, who could add to their other nominees. Then there are the supporting cast of Billions, The Walking Dead, Mr. Robot, The Leftovers, and Bloodline, many of whom have name recognition, but might not be able to break out in such a crowded field.