Golden Globe Predictions 2010 – Television

I won’t be going as deep into Television nominees as I did in film. I’ve seen about 99% of the film, and probably less than half of the TV nominees. So, I’ll just stick with my predictions based on buzz.

Best Television Series – Drama

Big Love (HBO)

House (FOX)

Dexter (Showtime)

Mad Men (AMC)

True Blood (HBO)

Who will win? Mad Men (AMC)

Notes: Mad Men is an award show favorite, which makes it a very likely choice to pick for the win. Although both House and Dexter had their best seasons yet. True Blood has a huge fan base, but I’m not sure the critical fanbase is quite there yet. Big Love is probably the best chance here for an upset since awards shows like these usually dote on HBO.

Best Television Series – Drama

Glenn Close – Damages (FX)

January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)

Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife (CBS)

Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Who will win? Glenn Close – Damages (FX)

Notes: Julianna Margulies is back and better than ever after her hiatus from TV, but this probably isn’t the year she takes it. Wait for her to reappear in this category over the years if her show continues. Kyra Sedgwick and hubby Kevin Bacon are both up for awards tonight, but I doubt either will be walking home with a Globe. Anna Paquin is probably a popular choice with fans of the show, but her performance still doesn’t reach the heights of Glenn Close. January Jones has a chance for the upset.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama

Simon Baker – The Mentalist (CBS)

Michael C. Hall – Dexter (Showtime)

Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)

Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)

Bill Paxton – Big Love (HBO)

Who will win? Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)

Notes: Simon Baker is probably the biggest longshot in the category, but bigger upsets have occurred. Hugh Laurie has a chance to be nominated because his character, House, has experienced a lot of growth this year. Michael C. Hall is always brilliant in his Showtime series Dexter. Bill Paxton has been getting increasingly better with his show Big Love which seems to get more love every year from the awards shows which makes it most likely that Paxton can get the upset.

Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical

30 Rock (NBC)

Entourage (HBO)

Glee (FOX)

Modern Family (ABC)

The Office (NBC)

Who will win? The Office (NBC)

Note: Entourage is probably the weakest out these shows, especially after the last couple of seasons. Glee and Modern Family are both great newcomers. Glee is probably the most original show that premiered this year, and Modern Family is the best new show.  30 Rock has been favored heavily years before, but I feel that this is the Office’s year.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical

Toni Collette – United States of Tara (Showtime)

Courtney Cox – Cougar Town (ABC)

Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie (Showtime)

Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)

Lea Michele – Glee (FOX)

Who will win? Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)

Note: Yet another category with two newcomers. I still don’t see any of the newcomers winning in this category. Toni Collette and Edie Falco both have the power of a show that isn’t censored for network TV. Which leaves the clear front runner in the category Tina Fey.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)

Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)

David Duchovny – Californication (Showtime)

Thomas Jane – Hung (Showtime)

Matthew Morrison – Glee (FOX)

Who will win? Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)

This is most likely just a race between NBC Thursday night buddies Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin.  I’ll be surprised if anyone beats one of these guys.

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

Georgia O’Keefe (Lifetime)

Grey Gardens (HBO)

Into the Storm (HBO)

Little Dorrit (PBS)

Taking Chance (HBO)

Who will win? Grey Gardens (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Joan Allen – Georgia O’Keefe (Lifetime)

Drew Barrymore – Grey Gardens (HBO)

Jessica Lange – Grey Gardens (HBO)

Anna Paquin – The Courageous Heart of Irena (CBS)

Sigourney Weaver – Prayers for Bobby (Lifetime)

Who will win? Jessica Lange – Grey Gardens (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Kevin Bacon – Taking Chance (PBS)

Kenneth Branagh – Wallander: One Step Behind (PBS)

Chiwetel Ejiofor – Endgame (PBS)

Brendan Gleeson – Into the Storm (HBO)

Jeremy Irons – Georgia O’Keefe (Lifetime)

Who will win? Brendan Gleeson – Into the Storm (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jane Adams – Hung (Showtime)

Rose Byrne – Damages (FX)

Jane Lynch – Glee (FOX)

Janet McTeer – Into the Storm (HBO)

Chloë Sevigny – Big Love (HBO)

Who will win? Jane Lynch – Glee (FOX)

Notes: This is the one category I feel like there is a clear winner. Jane Lynch is consistently the funniest person on her show, and she plays her character with just the right kind of nastinest. Although, as much as I feel she should be the winner, I’m still not sure that it will happen. If Lynch doesn’t grab it Jane Adams would be the next best choice.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Micheal Emerson – Lost (ABC)

Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

William Hurt – Damages (FX)

John Lithgow – Dexter (Showtime)

Jeremy Piven – Entourage (HBO)

Who will win? Michael Emerson – Lost (ABC)

Notes: This is the hardest category of the night, because it contains the most amount of talent. There isn’t a single actor in this category that doesn’t deserve an award for their performance. Piven is great as Ari Gold, but has become more of a caricature in the past few years, but for some reason he still gets lots of awards. Neil Patrick Harris had one of the strongest career resurgences, and is now his very own pop culture phenomenon. John Lithgow is another person who seems intent on a career resurgence with his great role on Dexter this season. Damages continues to show how good its cast is with people like William Hurt. Although, Michael Emerson deserves this award for crafting one of the best TV villains of all time.