2009 Emmys Winner Predictions

In a year of nomination snubs and surprises ('Flight of the Conchords'? No Jeremy Piven? '30 Rock'-o-rama!), will the Emmys follow through on the tease of mixing things up? We certainly hope so, which is why our predictions are bolder than ever this year. Check out our best guesses -- and those we secretly have our fingers crossed for -- and, as always, feel free to "borrow" these opinions for your own awards-show office pool. -- By Maggie Furlong


BEST DRAMA SERIES
Who Will Win: 'Mad Men'
Dark Horse: 'Lost'
After an amazing penultimate season, 'Lost' (which last won this category back in 2005) could sneak its second top prize, but chances are that honor will be reserved for its final season -- if at all. For now, I'll take 'Mad Men' for the win, please.


BEST COMEDY SERIES
Who Will Win: '30 Rock'
Dark Horse: 'Flight of the Conchords'
The Emmys don't often honor quirky and unique, so surprise nominees 'Family Guy' and 'Flight of the Conchords' should just practice saying "It's nice to be nominated." The hilarious '30 Rock' feels like a shoo-in here.


BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Who Will Win: Hugh Laurie, 'House'
Dark Horse: Simon Baker, 'The Mentalist'
Star of the lone breakout hit of last season, 'The Mentalist''s leading man Simon Baker charmed his way to his first Emmy nod, but can a sexy smile win over a scowl? Nominated for a fourth year -- with no wins! -- we think it's finally Hugh Laurie's year.


BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Who Will Win: Glenn Close, 'Damages'
Dark Horse: Elisabeth Moss, 'Mad Men'
Continuing to be the strongest, most award-winning pool of nominees in any one category, it's really anyone's Emmy, but we're rooting for first-time nominee Elisabeth Moss for her understated portrayal of glass-ceiling breaker Peggy Olson.


Best ACTRESS, COMEDY
Who Will Win: Tina Fey, '30 Rock'
Dark Horse: Toni Collette, 'United States of Tara'
Considering my devotion to the increasingly laugh-out-loud funny '30 Rock' (and its mastermind Liz Lemon ... I mean, Tina Fey), this feels a little blasphemous, but Toni Collette deserves not one but multiple awards for her latest endeavor.


BEST ACTOR, COMEDY
Who Will Win: Jim Parsons, 'The Big Bang Theory'
Dark Horse: Jemaine Clement, 'Flight of the Conchords'
OK, OK ... so both of these picks feel more like hypotheticals, but in a perfect world, the 'Monk's and 'Two and a Half Men's of the world could take a backseat for a year to let the newbies have a place at the grown-ups' table.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA
Who Will Win: Michael Emerson, 'Lost'
Dark Horse: John Slattery, 'Mad Men'
Could Ben Linus get any creepier? Or more mysterious? It's all thanks to Emerson's myriad talents. Our hopeful runner-up: Sterling Cooper's resident stallion Slattery. Fingers crossed that those 'Boston Legal' guys cancel each other out ...


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA
Who Will Win: Chandra Wilson, 'Grey's Anatomy'
Dark Horse: Hope Davis, 'In Treatment'
... And fingers crossed that 'Grey's' ladies Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh don't cancel each other out! Even with the show's ups and downs, Wilson deserves a win for her fourth straight nomination (she also has another one this year for her TV movie 'Accidental Friendship').


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY
Who Will Win: Neil Patrick Harris, 'How I Met Your Mother'
Dark Horse: Jack McBrayer, '30 Rock'
With 3-peat winner Jeremy Piven out of the running entirely, we can finally roll out the red carpet for this year's host, funnyman Neil Patrick Harris. Then, after he's won for the next three years, maybe voters can honor Kenneth the Page.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY
Who Will Win: Amy Poehler, 'Saturday Night Live'
Dark Horse: Jane Krakowski, '30 Rock'
We'd love Kristin Chenoweth to take this last 'Pushing Daisies' honor, but alas, it feels a little too posthumous for the canceled show. Amy Poehler's post-'SNL' success gives her the edge, unless Emmy voters choose to make it an all-'30 Rock' evening.


BEST REALITY HOST
Who Will Win: Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With the Stars'
Dark Horse: Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio, 'Top Chef'
If last year's Emmys hosting debacle proved anything, it's that the only personality who can rise above, even when out of his or her element, is quick-witted Tom Bergeron. Of course, seeing the smoking new nominated 'Top Chef' duo win would make our day.


BEST REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
Who Will Win: 'The Amazing Race'
Dark Horse: 'Top Chef'
The only other reality competition to inspire screaming at the TV (and, admittedly, a little drooling), 'Top Chef' is our front-runner to take down 'Amazing Race' once and for all, to end that seven-year streak.


BEST VARIETY - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Who Will Win: 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart'
Dark Horse: 'Saturday Night Live'
Sure, Jon Stewart's swept this category the past six years, but with only one win for its nine nominations here -- and that was way back in 1993! -- 'SNL' should be on top for Tina Fey's Sarah Palin, Amy Poehler's final hoorah, Kristen Wiig's breakout year and Justin Timberlake's, well, everything else.