--- description: Who will win, who should win, and everything else you need to know about Monday's show title: Emmys 2014: Predictions, Who Will Win & What Time to Watch image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d1d9eb42e3b93f5/69868def3bc999056b1a34e7/bf86eaaf-769a-1fd5-91ba-f8b904f0563b_amc-breaking_bad-5_1825.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Emmys 2014: What to Expect When Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm and _True Detective_ Compete by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 22, 2014 5:02 PM CUT  Frank Ockenfels—AMC by [Melissa Locker](/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 22, 2014 5:02 PM CUT The 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards air this Monday (not a typo!) Aug. 25th at 8pm E.T./5pm P.T., giving [_Bachelor in Paradise_](http://time.com/3139606/recap-bachelor-in-paradise-watch-over-the-rainbow-and-like-a-hurricane/ "undefined")some stiff competition for Nielsen ratings. Hosted by [Seth Meyers](http://time.com/77038/seth-meyers-host-emmy-awards/ "undefined") of NBC’s _Late Night_, the show will honor the best that the television industry has to offer, which is a lot these days — if you’re not on boring old network television, that is. Between HBO’s _True_ _Detective_, _Veep_ and _Game of Thrones_, [Netflix](http://time.com/2972865/orange-is-the-new-black-emmys-guests/ "undefined")‘s[ _Orange is the New Black_](http://time.com/3130967/orange-is-the-new-black-emmys/ "undefined") and _House of Cards_ and FX’s _Louie_ and _Fargo,_ cable and Netflix are likely to take the big prizes — especially HBO, as the network received a jaw-dropping 99 nominations. The 2014 Emmys also mark the swan song of AMC’s _Breaking Bad_ — and it’s likely that voters will want to mark the occasion by giving all the prizes to the one of the most critically acclaimed shows in recent memory (next to [_Barely Legal Pawn_](http://time.com/3145569/bryan-cranston-aaron-paul-reunion/ "undefined"), obviously). In case you missed it when it was first announced, find [a full list of nominees here](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/emmy-nominations-complete-list-717664 "undefined"). Here are some predictions for the 2014 Emmys: **Best Comedy Series** It’s hard to underestimate the strength and appeal of both _The Big Bang Theory_ and _Modern Family_ _,_ but if they end up splitting the vote, it may give _Veep_ a shot at the laurels — which is just the sort of campaign strategy Selina Meyer would like. _Orange Is the New Black_ is the new kid on the block, but if voters are headed outside the primetime box, they should head straight to _Louie_ — the show had a brilliant, dark and difficult season that pushed the boundaries of comedy. **Will Win**: _Modern Family_ **Should Win**: _Louie_ **Best Actress in a Comedy Series** Taylor Schilling has incredible range as an actress, but the fact that _Orange is the New Black_ isn’t a laugh-out-loud comedy may work against her in this category. Julia Louis-Dreyfus consistently delivers on _Veep,_ which is why she has won the last two years. While any politician knows that incumbents tend to win, this time we’re rooting for the underdog politician: Leslie Knope. Amy Poehler’s work on _Parks & Recreation_ is genuinely hysterical and seemingly under-appreciated, and while she may be the dark horse candidate, she deserves the win. **Will Wi**n: Julia Louis-Dreyfus **Should Win**: Amy Poehler **Best Actor in a Comedy Series** With three trophies in this category, it’s clear that Emmy voters love _The Big Bang Theory_‘s Jim Parsons. This year, though, he has some stiff competition in Louis C.K. who delivered an intense, if not exactly laugh-out-loud performance — as well as William H. Macy for his multiple death scenes in _Shameless._ **Will Win**: Jim Parsons **Should Win**: Louis C.K. **Supporting Actor, Comedy Series** While it’s hard to consider _Girls_ a comedy, it’s nominated in the category, and Adam Driver did an excellent and nuanced job last season. Assuming the nominations of both Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ty Burrell for _Modern Family_ cancel each other out, expect Tony Hale to take home the title. It would be a well-deserved win, too — his work on _Veep_ is understated, while also inducing actual LOLs. Though the same could be said of Andre Braugher’s work on _Brooklyn Nine-Nine_, Hale has the residual excitement over the return of _Arrested Development_ in his favor. **Will Win**: Tony Hale **Should Win**: Adam Driver **Supporting Actress, Comedy Series** Out of the nearly-40 year history of _Saturday Night Live,_ only two other actresses have been nominated for Emmys (Kristen Wiig and Amy Poehler) while that bodes well for Kate McKinnon’s future, she probably won’t be able to wrest the title from Allison Janney for _Mom_. That said, it would be nice to see Kate Mulgrew rewarded for her work on _Orange Is the New Black, especially_ as she was overlooked for years for her appearances on _Star Trek: Voyager_. **Will Win**: Allison Janney **Should Win:** Allison Janney **Best Drama Series** _True Detective_ generated a lot of buzz in its debut season, but this was _Breaking Bad_‘s swan song; it deserves a win and earned it fairly with its carefully constructed, fan-pleasing ending. As fans of _Lost_, _How I Met Your Mother_ and [_True Blood_](http://time.com/3131209/recap-true-blood-watch-love-is-to-die/ "undefined")know, that isn’t easy to pull off. **Will Win**: _Breaking Bad_ **Should Win**: _Breaking Bad_ **Best Actress in a Drama Series** Julianna Margulies did incredible work on _The Good Wife_ this year, on a season filled with mourning, misery and accounting woes. Fingers crossed that voters recognize it. (Crossing different fingers that Lizzy Caplan will eventually take home an award for her fine work in _Masters of Sex._) Still, Claire Danes is the woman to beat this year — and every year that _Homeland_ is nominated. **Will Win**: Claire Danes **Should Win**: Tatiana Maslany for _Orphan Black_ — but because she wasn’t nominated, Julianna Margulies **Best Actor in a Drama Series** While Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey both did phenomenal work in _True Detective_ and Kevin Spacey wowed as a driven politico in _House of Cards_, this award belongs to Bryan Cranston. Sorry, Jon Hamm, but this is why AMC split the final season of _Mad Men_ in two. **Will Win**: Bryan Cranston **Should Win**: Bryan Cranston **Supporting Actor, Drama Series** This is Aaron Paul’s last chance to win for his excellent work in _Breaking Bad_, so it’s likely that Emmy voters will reward his hard work (again). That said, Peter Dinklage took the role of Tyrion Lannister and infused it with humor, pathos and poignancy. In a show as jam-packed with talent as _Game of Thrones,_ Dinklage still manages to make Tyrion the star. If there’s a dark horse in the race, it’s Josh Charles for his heartbreaking, vengeful work during his final season of _The Good Wife._ **Will Win**: Aaron Paul **Should Win**: Peter Dinklage **Supporting Actress, Drama Series** Lena Headey rules as Cersei Lannister in _Game of Thrones_ and while the last season of _Downton Abbey_ wasn’t great, Joanne Froggatt delivered a memorable performance in a forgettable season. However, it’s Anna Gunn’s turn to take home the trophy for her role as Skyler White in _Breaking Bad_. To allay any doubts, go watch the scene where Gunn stabs her husband to save the children and then collapses on the ground as Walt walks out the door with the baby. **Will Win**: Anna Gunn **Should Win**: Joanne Froggatt **Best Miniseries or Movie** Ryan Murphy’s HBO film _The Normal Heart_ wasn’t nominated, theoretically to clear the way for an _American Horror Story: Coven_ win. But that show has some serious competition from HBO’s _Treme,_ as well as FX’s _Fargo_. The television adaptation of the Coen brothers movie was unexpectedly thrilling, tense, gory and fun — but it will most likely have to take a bow in the wake of _Treme_‘s final season. **Will Win**: _Treme_ **Should Win**: _Fargo_ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3159564/emmys-2014-predictions/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3159564/emmys-2014-predictions/"},"headline":"Emmys 2014: What to Expect When Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm and True Detective Compete","datePublished":"2014-08-22T17:02:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T07:51:41.476Z","description":"Who will win, who should win, and everything else you need to know about Monday's show","url":"https://time.com/3159564/emmys-2014-predictions/","keywords":["Television","breaking bad","True Detective","Matthew McConaughey","Jon Hamm","Bryan Cranston"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d1d9eb42e3b93f5/69868def3bc999056b1a34e7/bf86eaaf-769a-1fd5-91ba-f8b904f0563b_amc-breaking_bad-5_1825.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7d1d9eb42e3b93f5/69868def3bc999056b1a34e7/bf86eaaf-769a-1fd5-91ba-f8b904f0563b_amc-breaking_bad-5_1825.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"bf86eaaf-769a-1fd5-91ba-f8b904f0563b_AMC-Breaking_Bad-5_1825","caption":"Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and Walter White (Bryan Cranston) - Breaking Bad _Season 5 - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/AMC","creditText":"Frank Ockenfels—AMC","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3159564/emmys-2014-predictions/","name":"Emmys 2014: What to Expect When Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm and True Detective Compete"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Barely Legal Pawn, feat. 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