EmmysKeyArt__130627151427The 2013 Emmy nominations came and went this morning like a breeze this morning. If you were expecting something more crazy or unusual, then I suppose you don’t know the Academy. I won’t lie, there were a few surprises. But nothing like a Happy Endings nomination or Tatiana Maslany getting a nod.

Nope. These were pretty safe nominations, with a few good little shocks thrown in for good measure. Let’s take it category by category and dissect our thoughts, shall we?

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Least Surprising: The trio — Cranston, Lewis, and Hamm.
Most Shocking: A part of me is actually a bit shocked that Daniels secured a nomination given the response to The Newsroom last year, but I’m truly shocked at Spacey — not because he’s undeserving, only because I didn’t know if Netflix could pull it off. And they did!
Rooting For: You know, Bryan Cranston is always nominated for a reason. He continued to knock it out of the park. But I wouldn’t be mad if Damian Lewis or Kevin Spacey grabbed the statue in the end.
Biggest Snub: Matthew Rhys, The Americans and Hugh Dancy, Hannibal.
Who’s Going to Win: Damian Lewis

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Connie Britton, Nashville
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Least Surprising: Elisabeth Moss and Claire Danes
Most Shocking: Connie Britton. I know that Britton is an amazing talent, but once again, I thought that the mood surrounding the show would do her no good here. I stopped watching Nashville, but everyone kept commenting that the show wasn’t giving her powerful material. Doesn’t matter when you’re Connie Britton! Also shocking: NO NOMINATION FOR GLENN CLOSE! I know people think she’s grandfathered in, but she was sensational this final season of Damages.
Rooting For: Claire Danes was obviously phenomenal as always. Vera Farmiga was absolutely mesmerizing as Norma Bates. So I won’t be mad if it went to either ladies. But I think I might have to give it to Kerry Washington. That lip quiver is everything.
Biggest Snub: So many. Keri Russel for The Americans, Glenn Close for Damages, and TATIANA MASLANY for Orphan Black!
Who’s Going to Win: This is kind of a packed and a bit surprising category. But if we’re playing it safe, this is Claire Danes’ category still, regardless of the issues Homeland faced in season two. If the Academy wants to be just slightly risky, Kerry Washington.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinkalge, Game of Thrones
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland

Least Surprising: Aaron Paul.
Most Shocking: Jonathan Banks! So glad he got recognized before he couldn’t anymore.
Rooting For: For me, this is a tough category between Aaron Paul, Jonathan Banks and Mandy Patinkin.
Biggest Snub: Noah Emmerich for The Americans or anyone from Scandal.
Who’s Going to Win: Once again, this might become Aaron Paul’s category as much as lead actor was Cranston’s. But I think the Academy could sway towards Patinkin.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Morena Baccarin, Homeland
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

Least Surprising: Maggie Smith.
Most Shocking: Emilia Clarke. I remember a lot of people clamoring that she be nominated last season but didn’t think it would ever come, and now here we are.
Rooting For: Anna Gunn was absolutely amazing in the first half of Breaking Bad’s final season. And that scene where she told Walt that she’s waiting for the cancer to comeback: just wonderful. She is a delightful, effortless talent. The same can be said about Baccarin: when she gave that speech, it felt like a real person in real life. But I have to give this to Gunn.
Biggest Snub: Monica Potter, Parenthood or Abigail Spencer, Rectify.
Who’s Going to Win: Maggie Smith because she’s Maggie Smith.

Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

Least Surprising: All of them.
Most Shocking: House of Cards
Rooting For: Breaking Bad, come on! It’s been forever nominated, but never a winner! Those producers/writers deserve it.
Biggest Snub: The Americans
Who’s Going to Win: People have said that the last season of Mad Men was a bit shaky, and it already lost its reign in this category last season to Homeland, which was also a bit shaky. I think that this could be the year where someone else is finally a winner … but it’ll probably be a very safe choice, regardless.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Louis C.K., Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Least Surprising: Alec Baldwin and Jim Parsons
Most Shocking: Jason Bateman, but not really.
Rooting For: Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K. and Matt LeBlanc (I don’t care, I think he is absolutely amazing in Episodes!)
Biggest Snub: Jake Johnson, New Girl
Who’s Going to Win: Alec Baldwin

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Least Surprising: Everyone but Laura Dern.
Most Shocking: Laura Dern! Everyone’s been clamoring for it but no one thought she’d actually secure it!
Rooting For: Amy Poehler. This lady has been nominated too many times and has been a part of the funniest skits every Emmy show, but still zilch.
Biggest Snub: I think the Academy covered it. Perhaps Zooey Deschanel or Portia de Rossi.
Who’s Going to Win: This is actually a tough one. Tina Fey’s performance this season was still hilarious and weirdly touching as usual, but I think the Academy may have moved on. Lena Dunham has gotten praise for her cringe-worthy performances (and, like, in a good way), so if they’re feeling risky… and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is Julia Louis-Dreyfus and she’s been brilliant this season. I think I’ll have to go with Louis-Dreyfus, just for the groping episode.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Driver, Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ed O’Neil, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Tony Hale, Veep

Least Surprising: Anyone from Modern Family.
Most Shocking: Adam Driver and Tony Hale!
Rooting For: Driver or Bill Hader. Driver was actually one of the most immersed-in-his-role talents during season one of Girls and nothing changed this season. Bill Hader, on the other hand, comes from an entirely different school of comedy, one where he makes me laugh until my sides hurt. It’s such a difficult choice, with such contrasting actors.
Biggest Snub: Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation
Who’s Going to Win: Someone from Modern Family.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Jane Lynch, Glee
Sofîa Vergara, Modern Family
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Least Surprising: Mostly all of them.
Most Shocking: Krakowski and Chlumsky. I didn’t know if the category would fit enough nominations for Jane Krakowski to be nominated this year, but I’m glad it did. Once again, supporting players get nominated for Veep, which I’m excited about.
Rooting For: Jane Krakowski. It’s the final season, and she still deserves an award for her portrayal of Jenna. She just never misses a beat.
Biggest Snub: Jessica Walter, Arrested Development
Who’s Going to Win: Julie Bowen

Comedy Series
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Girls
Louie
Modern Family
Veep

Least Surprising: Nothing.
Most Shocking: Nothing.
Rooting For: 30 Rock. I know it’s won so many times, but its final season was basically immaculate. Against the others, it probably deserves it the most in my opinion.
Biggest Snub: Parks and Recreation
Who’s Going to Win: Modern Family. Nothing makes me thinks this will change, but if it does, the Academy will be looking in either 30 Rock, Girls, or Veep‘s direction.

And that’s that! You can find the complete list of nominees on the Emmy website by clicking here. What do you think of the nominees? Excited for a few choice, or was it all kind of stale for you?

I think the Academy made a couple of surprising nominations, but still not so shocking where it’s not completely safe. I’m thinking the likes of Kerry Washington and Vera Farmiga here, both amazing talents but not so insane where I think, “Wow. Never would have guessed that.”

I also think there are some significant snubs — New Girl‘s Jake Johnson comes to mind. It just seems like such a shame to dismiss some great talent every year. But then again, we say this every year.