Even though Ryan Seacrest is hosting and "Friday Night Lights" failed to garner any nominations, there will be two die-hards still watching the Emmys Sunday night - assistant scene editors Cassie Belek and Analise Lipari. Here are their picks for who will take home the Emmy in the categories they give a hoot about. Their only expertise comes from watching hours and hours of television instead of writing papers or throwing a Frisbee on the quad. Copy their picks for your ballot at your own risk.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesJeremy Piven, "Entourage"Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"Rainn Wilson, "The Office"Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Cassie's Pick: Rainn Wilson and Neil Patrick Harris are equally deserving of the Emmy, but the win will go to Wilson. His character, Dwight Schrute, is one of the most popular characters on television today, and we can only hope that Wilson will take note of his character's speech-making skills for his own acceptance speech.Analise's Pick: While "Entourage" may be "so hot right now," I'll put my money on Wilson. After three seasons as the Assistant (to the) Regional Manager, Dwight, Schrute deserves his due. My dark horse pick, though, is Jeremy Piven. I wouldn't want to get on Ari Gold's bad side if he loses.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesJaime Pressly, "My Name is Earl"Jenna Fischer, "The Office"Conchata Ferrell, "Two and a Half Men"Holland Taylor, "Two and a Half Men"Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds"
Cassie's Pick: Sorry Jenna Fischer, but Wilhelmina Slater is nastier and more glam than even Karen Walker. Vanessa Williams has brought us the most laughs and the best quips of any character on television this season. Analise's Pick: After a weaker season of "Earl," the once-formidable Pressly is less of a threat, and "Weeds" may be too obscure to get Perkins a nod. This time around, I'll go with Wilhelmina "Did he just point at me when he said 'Kwanzaa?'" Slater, too.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesAlec Baldwin, "30 Rock"Ricky Gervais, "Extras"Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"Steve Carell, "The Office"Charlie Sheen, "Two and Half Men"
Cassie's Pick: My sentimental favorite is Ricky Gervais, whose character, David Brent, still outshines Steve Carell's Michael Scott. But this season belonged to Alec Baldwin. I only ask that Tony Shalhoub not win again or else I just might set my TV on fire.Analise's Pick: "Monk" holds a place in this heart, but after several previous wins, I think Shalhoub is finally out. After a solid season of "The Office," my guess is that Steve Carell will take home Emmy gold.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesTina Fey, "30 Rock"Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Cassie's Pick: America Ferrera won the Golden Globe and she just might walk away with the Emmy as well. Of course, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is always a strong nominee so it really comes down to whether or not Emmy wants a new winner. It's a toss-up.Analise's Pick: Seeing as she defeated several of the "Desperate Housewives" at the Golden Globes way back when, I could see the Emmys picking Mary-Louise Parker of the critically-adored "Weeds." My sentimental favorite? America Ferrera, heroine to girls everywhere.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesKiefer Sutherland, "24"Boston Legal, "James Spader"Hugh Laurie, "House"Denis Leary, "Rescue Me"James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos"
Cassie's Pick: Is there really any question here? After being snubbed in the Emmy nominations last year and not winning since 2003, James Galdolfini will take home the win for playing Tony Soprano, the ruthless mobster that we all love.Analise's: Unless they want to sleep with the fishes, the suits upstairs had better pick the ever-impressive Gandolfini. This season was series creator David Chase's swan song, and leaving Tony Soprano in the lurch just wouldn't be right.
Outstanding Actress in a Drama SeriesPatricia Arquette, "Medium"Minnie Driver, "The Riches"Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters"Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
Cassie's Pick: Everyone but Kyra Sedgwick and Minnie Driver has won in this category before. Sally Field is getting good buzz and is an acting powerhouse, but after nabbing the Globe, Sedgwick will finally get recognized for her brilliant work on "The Closer."Analise's Pick: If the voters side with that sentimental drab-fest known as "Brothers and Sisters" and pick Sally Field (despite her being a superbly talented actress), I'm sending someone a Howler. Tony and Carmella will stick it out for one final awards ceremony, and Edie Falco will win Emmy gold.
Outstanding Drama Series"Boston Legal""Grey's Anatomy""Heroes""House""The Sopranos"
Cassie's Pick: Its series finale was one of the most controversial finales in television history, but when has "The Sopranos" ever shied away from controversy? The final episodes were as close to perfection as you can get, and David Chase solidified a win for his series as soon as the screen cut to black.Analise's Pick: "Grey's" got too depressing, "Boston Legal" is the dramatic equivalent of "According to Jim," and "Heroes" is just too new to make it to the top. I'm going to side with Cassie and pick "The Sopranos" for this year's top dramatic series.
Outstanding Comedy Series"30 Rock""Entourage""The Office""Two and a Half Men""Ugly Betty"
Cassie's Pick: By the time it worked out all its kinks, "30 Rock" became the funniest and best show of the year. Unlike "The Office," it avoids all those soap opera moments and sticks strictly to the comedy. Throw in Alec Baldwin and Kenneth the Page and you've got comedy gold.Analise's Pick: It's refreshing to see that the majority of the comedy nominees have only been around for three years or less - despite my love for "Frasier," seeing veterans step down and newbies step up is downright fantastic. In the spirit of the new, I'll go out on a ridiculously long limb and pick Globe-winning "Betty" for the top spot.
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program"American Idol""Dancing with the Stars""Project Runway""The Amazing Race""Top Chef"
Cassie's Pick: My heart goes out to Tim Gunn and "Project Runway," but this category is and always will be dominated by "The Amazing Race." "American Idol" has no chance after its lackluster season filled with Sanjaya overkill.Analise's Pick: Bravo has consistently shelled out high-quality reality shows in which the main object never involves eating bugs or traversing the globe for cash. In other words, "Make it work, people!" With the class and style of "Project Runway," Bravo can't go wrong.
Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music ProgramEllen Degeneres, "79th Annual Academy Awards"David Letterman, "Late Show with David Letterman"Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report"Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show with John Stewart"Tony Bennett, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic"
Cassie's Pick: First Manilow, now Bennett. Stephen Colbert will never escape those jazzy singers who try to one-up him in their classy concert specials, but I say this is Colbert's year anyway.Analise's Pick: Decisions, decisions. With Colbert and Stewart both vying for the top spot, Comedy Central fans are tuning into the Emmys for probably the first time. Score! I'll also go with Colbert, because that's the WØrd.
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series"Late Night with Conan O'Brien""Late Show with David Letterman""Real Time with Bill Maher""The Colbert Report""The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
Cassie's Pick: As a member of Colbert Nation, I may be biased as a member of Colbert Nation, but I think it's time for the Emmys to recognize that Colbert and his show have exceeded "The Daily Show" in quality and humor.Analise's Pick: Despite my deep love for the fantastically-coiffed Conan O'Brien, I'll go with Cassie's pick of "The Colbert Report." Few shows are as funny, fresh, and ridiculous as this modern classic, and it's high time that the Emmys took notice.
