Emmy predix: Who will win best lead and supporting actress in a comedy

Image Credit: Justin Lubin/NBC; Bob D’Amico/ABC How competitive are the Emmy races for lead and supporting comedy actress? Any of the following 10 women could grab a fistful of gold on Aug. 29 and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least. Of course, that’s not to say that there aren’t two very clear favorites…

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Toni Collette (United States of Tara)

Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)

Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

Lea Michele (Glee)

Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

The Frontrunner: Falco. Emmy loves honoring successful second acts, and the Sopranos vet has enjoyed a doozy of one with Nurse Jackie. Going against her: Voters may feel she belongs in the drama series category.

The Dark Horse: Poehler. The SNL vet somehow manages to make Leslie Knope seem like both a complete ditz and the smartest person in the room.

Most Egregious Snub: Cougar Town‘s Courteney Cox. I’m not sure what Emmy’s beef is with Cox—she was the only Friend who failed to secure a nod during the show’s run—but they really need to get over it.

Other Notable Omissions: Better Off Ted‘s Portia de Rossi, Drop Dead Diva‘s Brooke Elliott, and The Big Bang Theory‘s Kaley Cuoco

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)

Jane Lynch (Glee)

Holland Taylor, (Two and a Half Men)

Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

The Frontrunner: Lynch. She’s as hilarious onscreen as she is beloved off. Going against her: She was also the favorite to win the Golden Globe—and she lost.

The Dark Horses: Vergara and Bowen. Don’t count either one out—particularly if Family sweeps the night.

Most Egregious Snub: Cougar Town‘s Busy Philipps. Lynch may want to give Philipps a shout-out in her acceptance speech. Had Philipps been nominated, I’m fairly certain she would have won.

Other Notable Omissions: Community‘s Alison Brie and Yvette Nicole Brown, and The Office‘s Jenna Fischer.

More Emmy Analysis:

Ausiello predicts best lead and supporting actor in a comedy

Ausiello predicts best lead and supporting actor in a drama

Ausiello predicts best lead and supporting actress in a drama

Ken Tucker predicts best lead and supporting actress in a comedy

Lynette Rice breaks down the episode submissions