Emmy Predictions: Get Our Picks for Comedy Actor and Actress!

Amy Poehler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Bateman and Louis C.K. are vying for trophies on Sunday, so who will win?

By Kristin Dos Santos Sep 16, 2013 8:00 PMTags
Amy Poehler, Julia Louis-DreyfusLarry Busacca/Getty Images for Time, Inc

Fun fact: We might be more upset about a certain Emmy loss on Sunday night than even the snubbed actress herself. And you know what? We're not ashamed!

All this week, we're running down the biggest categories for this Sunday's Emmy Awards, and we're starting off with Lead Actor and Actress in a Comedy.

Read on for who we think will and should win in these races, and then make your own picks below!

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe, Enlightened (HBO)
Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath, Girls (HBO)
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, 30 Rock (NBC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, Veep (HBO)
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Should Win: For our money, Amy Poehler is consistently brilliant as Leslie Knope on Parks, and has never once been awarded a trophy for her work in front of the camera. That's the stuff that makes cute little puppies cry, people! Poehler is long overdue for making her character, and the show she also produces, so great. It's extremely unlikely, but we'd love to see her finally get her due props.

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus. After watching the episodes that Poehler and Julia Louis-Dreyfus submitted to Emmy voters, we have to admit Louis-Dreyfus has the clear advantage. Though Poehler's performance pulls at the heartstrings (if you tell us there is a better TV couple than Parks' Ben and Leslie, we will strap you to a chair Clockwork Orange-style with the wedding episode in front of you), Louis-Dreyfus gets more out-loud laughs, and reminds us what a TV comedy powerhouse she truly is. We also have this super-weird sneaking suspicion that the Emmy voters love Julia, since she has won three times before, so we're just going to go stuff our face with Leslie Knope's all-time favorite food, waffles, to honor her great work this past season and call it a day.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock (NBC)
Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth, Arrested Development (Netflix)
Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan, House of Lies (Showtime)
Louis C.K. as Louie, Louie (FX)
Matt LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc, Episodes (Showtime)
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Should Win and Will Win: Louis C.K.'s amazingly funny FX series, Louie, finally picked up a nomination for Best Comedy Series this year (thanks for being a million years late to the party, Emmy voters!), so it should and probably will be Louis' turn to take home a win. Especially since the Academy bumped the long-awaited return of Arrested Development out of the category in favor of Louie. Louis C.K.'s hilariously understated but cringeworthy brand of humor makes him one of TV's funniest-ever leading men, and since he lost last year to Jon Cryer, well, let's just say it is time.

Dark Horses: Alec Baldwin could get a sentimental nod for 30 Rock's final season (and hey, who are we to say he doesn't deserve it?). Also, Jason Bateman proved once again that he is the glue that keeps Arrested Development together, and his performance in the latest batch of Netflix episodes really should not be overlooked. Hey, gentlemen, how about we do a time-share arrangement with that trophy?

Who do you think will win Lead Actor and Lead Actress? Make your own picks in the comments!

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