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Emmy Spotlight: Is Glee Good Enough for the Top Comedy Prize?

    • We've sized up the Emmy chances for comic actors, actresses, and the supporting rascals too. It's already time to wrap up our Emmy predictions in the comedy categories with a no-holds-barred rundown of the Best Comedy Series nominees. Will 30 Rock win for a fourth time? Or is the year for New Directions?

    Notable Snubs: Community, Parks and Recreation, Weeds, United States of Tara

    Glee

    For It: The resplendence of a hundred August moons! The optimism of a frontier morn! A feeling you can't fight! The kind of fanbase that looks like the end of Gandhi!

    Against It: Barely passable writing! Jane Lynch is too good for this! It's all hurtful to me! It doesn't matter because...Glee! Don't stop bereaving.

    Odds: 2:1

    30 Rock

    For It: After disbelieving the non-hype, you realize 30 Rock's fourth season is still hilarious. From the Dealbreakers talk show to the James Franco body pillow to Will Forte's Jenna Maroney impersonation, this show still brings insurmountably smart kook.

    Against It: Win streaks have to fade sometime, and 30 Rock's three-year Emmy run will likely end in the wake of such singsong! competition.

    Odds: 5:1

    Modern Family

    For It: Modern Family marries TV Land charm with sophisticated writing. No one cast member in this varied ensemble steals the show, making the "family" aspect all the more convincing and adorable. Plus, hey: A gay couple in primetime! That's fun.

    Against It: Modern Family is a breakout hit, but it's not quite an iTunes terminator yet. Glee's all-encompassing domination will be more impressive to voters.

    Odds: 5:1

    Curb Your Enthusiasm

    For It: Curb's never won the big award, and it's seventh season was a triumph. The Seinfeld entanglements brought out the best in the equally under-rewarded Cheryl Hines.

    Against It: Glee and Modern Family have a stranglehold on the public. It's chances look better next year.

    Odds: 20:1

    The Office

    For It: The sharpness of the writing for Jim and Pam's wedding redeemed the soft slump the series hit last year, and with Steve Carell on the way out, voters could reserve some secret ballots of commemoration.

    Against It: Not only did 30 Rock outclass The Office for its fourth season in a row, but the irreverence of Modern Family and Curb Your Enthusiasm feel far less contrived at this point.

    Odds: 20:1

    Nurse Jackie

    For It: Edie Falco is a good bet for Best Actress in a Comedy -- and if she's such a shoo-in, perhaps her series will garner subsequent voter pull.

    Against It: There's no way this show can pull off a Best Actress win and a Best Comedy win. It may be a cable comedy with spunk, but it's not an absolute watershed the way the other nominees are or have been.

    Odds: 40:1