Sunday night, everyone will know who won the 57th annual Emmy Awards. But a pair of TV watchers already know or claim they do. Here are predictions for who should get the trophies, who shouldn't, and who will.
DRAMA SERIES:
LYNN ELBER
Should win: "Deadwood." Tragedy with Shakespearean sweep and a six-shooter.
Shouldn't win: "The West Wing." Reinvigorated, but had its day in the Emmy sun.
Will win: "Lost." The series that saved non-cable TV!
FRAZIER MOORE
Should win: "Deadwood." A foul-mouthed, fascinating snapshot of America.
Shouldn't win: "The West Wing." A lame duck.
Will win: "Lost." From week one, it was crazy, chilling and unmissable.
COMEDY SERIES:
ELBER
Should win: "Arrested Development." A joyously manic exercise doomed to cult status.
Shouldn't win: "Will & Grace." Say good night, Gracie. The thrill is gone.
Will win: "Desperate Housewives." The other series that saved non-cable TV!
MOORE
Should win: "Arrested Development." Easily the funniest of the pack.
Shouldn't win: "Everybody Loves Raymond." The show is gone. Now let it go.
Will win: "Desperate Housewives." Too bad it's not a comedy.
VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES:
ELBER
Should win: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." The truth hurts but boy, is it funny.
Shouldn't win: "Late Show with David Letterman." Are we just tired, or is it Dave?
Will win: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Simply irresistible.
MOORE
Should win: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." The primary source for election-year coverage.
Shouldn't win: "Da Ali G Show." A one-joke wonder, and the joke is stale.
Will win: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." No one else comes close.
ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES:
ELBER
Should win: Hugh Laurie, "House." Flawlessly flawed, he elevates a standard medical drama.
Shouldn't win: James Spader, "Boston Legal." This season, smarmy doesn't compare.
Will win: Hugh Laurie, "House." Bertie Wooster, a mouse's dad, this _ what can't he play?
MOORE
Should win: Hugh Laurie, "House." Treated us to a fresh, cranky character when we needed it most.
Shouldn't win: Hank Azaria, "Huff." The series' mediocrity devalues all the performances.
Will win: Hugh Laurie, "House." Who can say no to a doctor with a sneer?
ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES:
ELBER
Should win: Glenn Close, "The Shield." Great actress and, the trump card, a movie star.
Shouldn't win: Patricia Arquette, "Medium." Good actress, standard drama, not a ghost of a chance.
Will win: Glenn Close, "The Shield." Deny an Academy Award winner? No way.
MOORE
Should win: Glenn Close, "The Shield." A great actress putting everything into her role.
Shouldn't win: Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." A serviceable player, but how did she get nominated?
Will win: Glenn Close, "The Shield." Not just the best; in a class by herself.
ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES:
ELBER
Should win: Zach Braff, "Scrubs." Plays the bumbling naif with a wily touch.
Shouldn't win: Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond." He's gotten enough love.
Will win: Tony Shalhoub, "Monk." Changed up his funny sad-sack routine, a winning ploy.
MOORE
Should win: Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development." Gets laughs playing sane in the company of masterful crazies.
Shouldn't win: Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond." He's gotten enough Emmys.
Will win: Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond." Who, Ray?
ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES:
ELBER
Should win: Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond." Best portrayal of a sitcom wife who can dish it out since Audrey Meadows' Alice.
Shouldn't win: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives." So she can demonstrate she's a class act despite bad publicity.
Will win: Teri Hatcher, "Desperate Housewives." We can take a hint from the Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe Awards.
MOORE
Should win: Teri Hatcher, "Desperate Housewives." This isn't a comedy, but she's got real comedic chops.
Shouldn't win: Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond." She's gotten enough Emmys, too.
Will win: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives." Gets credit as a housewife, extra points as a "widow."
