Who deserves the Best Drama Emmy?

The Emmy ballots went up on line on Monday. (They close the 28th.) The toughest category should be Best Drama. It’s tough because (a) there are so many excellent shows to choose from, and (b) very few people have seen any of them.

Unless you have cable or satellite and Netflix you’re missing out on some amazing programs. Other than THE GOOD WIFE on CBS I can’t think of a single network drama that can seriously compete with other outlets.

HOUSE OF CARDS was a fantastic series. Kevin "Bobby Darin" Spacey and Robin "what was she thinking married to Sean Penn?" Wright both deserve nominations. Everyone was great except for the annoying girl who played Zoey. But it’s a Netflix show. We academy members received screeners so more of us got a chance to see it but in the real world – how many people subscribe to Netflix and of those how many bothered to watch thirteen one-hour episodes? A few million perhaps? Not chump change. But in its day, E.R. attracted thirty million every week. The point is, if HOUSE OF CARDS is nominated, viewers all over the country are going to say, “What the hell is that?” The Emmys might as well be the Tonys.

Look at the possible candidates this year. Besides HOUSE OF CARDS and THE GOOD WIFE, you have THE WALKING DEAD, BREAKING BAD, THE KILLING, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, DEXTER, BATES MOTEL, DAMAGES, GAME OF THRONES, DOWNTON ABBEY, HOMELAND, JUSTIFIED, THE AMERICANS, TRUE BLOOD, THE NEWSROOM, SONS OF ANARCHY, and probably six others.

And then there's MAD MEN, but honestly, this year I personally think there are five series better. But I’m sure it will get nominated so some deserving entry will get snubbed.

Still, what a list! Meanwhile, there are sixty-eight entries on the comedy side and I’m not sure there are five legitimate nominees. And by the way, the comedy ballot is really screwy. COMMUNITY is left off while MARON and REAL HOUSEWIVES OF HOLLYWOOD are on it. Those are scripted sitcoms? And why does 2 BROKE GIRLS even bother?

Good luck to all the shows. In the drama category I’m voting for all underdogs. BREAKING BAD doesn’t need my help. But JUSTIFIED does. And SUITS. And HOUSE OF CARDS. Who knows? An underdog may sneak in. SONS OF ANARCHY or BATES MOTEL?  Some show that Martin Scorsese didn't executive produce.   In that case, it truly is an honor just to be nominated.