Emmy Nominations 2014

Breaking Bad and True Detective are going head to head this year in this category alongside shows like Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Mad Men, and Homeland.

This year the nominees are the hugely popular CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, the surprise hit Silicon Valley, FX's Louie, ABC's Modern Family, Netflix's Orange is the New Black, and HBO's Veep.

This year is a jam packed year for dramatic acting from leading men. All of the talented nominees demonstrate something original from their peers but it's Bryan Cranston who really stands out as the unforgettable Walter White on AMC's Breaking Bad. The other gifted nominees are, Kevin Spacey for House of Cards, Matthew McChonaughey for True Detective, Woody Harrelson for True Detective, Jon Hamm for Mad Men, and Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom. One shocking snub was James Spader for The Blacklist.

Surely the powerhouse here is the electrifying Claire Danes for her terrific role in Homeland, however there's also , Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey, Kerry Washington for Scandal, Julias Margulias for The Good Wife, Lizzy Caplan in Masters of Sex, and Robin Wright for House of Cards.  Notable snubs were Tatiana Maslany for her role in Orphan Black and Elizabeth Moss for Mad Men.

The nominees are Peter Dinklege for Game of Thrones, Josh Charles for The Good Wife, Mandy Patinkin for Homeland, Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad, Jim Carter for Downton Abbey, and Jon Voight for Ray Donovan. Dean Norris was snubbed for his great role as Hank on AMC's Breaking Bad.

Maggie Smith is a strong contender for her role in Downton Abbey however the other nominees are excellent too which include Anna Gunn for Breaking Bad, Lena Headey for Game of Thrones, Christine Baranski for The Good Wife, Christina Hendricks for Mad Men, and Joanne Froggatt for Downton Abbey.

The nominees are the great Louis C.K. in Louie, Don Cheadle in House of Lies, Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory, William H. Macy in Shameless, Ricky Gervais in Derek, and Matt LeBlanc for Episodes.

Nominees included Julia Louis Dreyfus's hilarious role in Veep , the always wonderful Lena Dunham in Girls, Melissa McCarthy in Mike and Molly, Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie, the very funny Amy Poehler for Parks and Recreation, and Taylor Schilling for Orange Is the New Black.

The nominees are Fred Arminsen for Portlandia, Ty Burrell for Modern Family, Adam Driver for Girls, Tony Hale in Veep,Jesse Tyler Ferguson for Modern Family, and Andre Braugher for Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

The nominees are Mayim Bialik in The Big Bang Theory, Julie Bowen in Modern Family, Allison Janney in Mom, Anna Chlumsky for Veep, Kate Mulgrew for Orange Is the New Black, and Kate McKinnon for Saturday Night Live.

The great HBO movie The Normal Heart received the most nominations in the Best TV Movie categories and Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts also received nominations for their powerful performances. The film deals with the AIDS crisis in the 1980's and was directed by Ryan Murphy who's best known for his television work that includes Glee and American Horror Story. Other nominees include The Trip to Bountiful, Killing Kennedy, Sherlock: His Last Vow, and Muhammand Ali. Nominees for Best Miniseries include Treme, Luther, Fargo, American Horror Story: Coven, Bonnie and Clyde, and The White Queen.

The obvious favorite in this category is Mark Ruffalo for his heartbreaking performance in The Normal Heart however his competition is Idris Elba for Luther, Benedict Cumberbatch for Sherlock: The Last Vow, Martin Freeman for Fargo, Chiwetel Ejiofor for Dancing on the Edge and Billy Bob Thornton for the FX miniseries Fargo. Frank Langella was snubbed for his strong performance in Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight.

The nominees are Cicely Tyson for The Trip To Bountiful, Jessica Lange in American Horror Story: Coven, Helena Bonham Carter in Burton and Taylor, Minnie Driver in Return to Zero, Kristen Wiig for The Spoils of Babylon, and Sarah Paulson for American Horror Story: Coven. Lange is the one that stands out to me however any nominee could take the prize.

The superb nominees are Matt Bomer in The Normal Heart, Martin Freeman for Sherlock: The Last Vow, Colin Hanks for Fargo, Alfred Molina in The Normal Heart, Joe Mantello and Jim Parsons were both nominated for their roles in The Normal Heart.

Julia Roberts in The Normal Heart certainly delivers and is a clear favorite to win but the other nominees are strong too which are Frances Conroy for American Horror Story: Coven, Ellen Burstyn for Flowers in the Attic, Kathy Bates in American Horror Story: Coven, Angela Bassett for American Horror Story: Coven, and Allison Tolman in Fargo.