OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
This category is a very tough one to predict this year. Real Time submitted one of it's best episodes yet that was full of comedy and an insanely interesting discussion from all the guests involved. SNL contends with it's now infamous Betty White hosted romp that is still fresh in people's minds all these months later. But the episode speaks more to White as a performer rather than SNL's genius as a show. The Daily Show has won this award for the past seven years and could very well walk away with it again. But with it's show being done all the way in Iraq, I'm going with The Colbert Report even over Conan O'Brien's classy farewell to NBC.
WILL WIN: The Colbert Report
SHOULD WIN: Real Time with Bill Maher
OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL
With the outpouring of support that the Hope for Haiti Now special helped to deliver, not to mention executive producer George Clooney receiving the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award this year as well, the fundraising special will definitely take this trophy.
WILL WIN: Hope for Haiti Now
SHOULD WIN: Hope for Haiti Now
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
With nothing particularly special about the episodes of Late Show, Tonight Show and Daily Show (though the latter's episode is the one where they stick it to Bernard Goldberg using the "Go-F***-Yourself Choir") this race boils down to Saturday Night Live and Colbert. Again, I'm giving the edge to Colbert considering that the episode was filmed on location in Iraq.
WILL WIN: The Colbert Report, "#5076 (in Iraq)", Jim Hoskinson
SHOULD WIN: The Colbert Report, "#5076 (in Iraq)", Jim Hoskinson
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL
The standard rule of this category is that if the opening ceremony of an Olympic Games is nominated it will win and Bucky Gunts has already won several of these trophies for directing just that. Even though the torch lighting was screwed up (being the fault of the event planners, not the actual television crew), Gunts will win again this year.
WILL WIN: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony, Bucky Gunts
SHOULD WIN: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony, Bucky Gunts
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
By submitting the episode where Stewart goes on a 13 minute rant satirizing Glenn Beck complete with a chalkboard and everything, The Daily Show cemented it's chances of taking home yet another Emmy. And honestly, with an episode with this level of brilliance, it would be a crime not to reward it. Real Time's smart episode with it's particularly biting commentary might upset.
WILL WIN: The team from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, "#15040"
SHOULD WIN: The team from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, "#15040"
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL
The stylized tribute of the Kennedy Center Honors will walk away with this one.
WILL WIN: The Kennedy Center Honors, George Stevens, Michael Stevens, Sara Lukinson and Lewis Friedman
SHOULD WIN: Bill Maher: ...But I'm Not Wrong, Bill Maher
OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race has dominated this category since it first appeared seven years ago. But with a weak episode, I'm betting on Idol to finally break the show's winning streak.
WILL WIN: American Idol
SHOULD WIN: Project Runway
OUTSTANDING HOST OF A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
I would normally have no idea who to pick in this race but after reading the summaries of the submitted episodes, it becomes obvious that Probst will win this category for the third time in a row. The man obviously knows how to appeal to the Emmy voters.
WILL WIN: Jeff Probst, Survivor
SHOULD WIN: No preference