With odds of 4/11, “Mad Men” is favored to win a fourth consecutive Emmy as Best Drama Series. In exclusive Gold Derby statistics, the period piece is the pick of eight out of 10 experts, 10 of 12 editors, and 56% of our users (365 votes). If it prevails on Sunday, “Mad Men” will be tied with “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” and “The West Wing” for the most victories in this top category.
“Mad Men” had one of its best seasons yet with the focus on the start of a revamped advertising agency and less on the failed marriage of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Betty (January Jones). However, for the first time, “Mad Men” is not airing new episodes during the Emmy voting period. And it is coming off just a single win (Hairstyling) at last Saturday’s Creative Arts awards.
“Boardwalk Empire” scored a record seven technical Emmys last Saturday (Art Direction, Casting, Cinematography, Editing, Makeup, Sound Editing, and Visual Effects). It also won the top prize from at both the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. This crime drama is in second place at 9/2 odds and it tipped to win by experts Tim Appelo (The Hollywood Reporter) and Frazier Moore (Associated Press), editors David Schnelwar and Paul Sheehan, and 20% of our users.
The other four nominees are long shots. Even though “The Good Wife” has five acting bids on Sunday (Julianna Margulies, Josh Charles, Alan Cumming, Christine Baranski, and Archie Panjabi), the legal drama only has just 33/1 odds to win Best Drama Series. The fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” competes for its first season while “Friday Night Lights” has one last chance for its farewell year; both are at 50/1. And “Dexter,” which had a so-so season compared to previous years, is at 100/1.
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