Early Emmy Predictions Not Good For Sci-Fi

The Los Angeles Times' The Envelope Web site has released its predictions on who could be up for the coveted television statue and who won't when nominees are announced July 17, and it's not looking very good for science-fiction ... as usual.

McDonnell is listed among 13 actresses considered to be a "favorite" by the paper to be nominated in the Drama Series Actress category, a list that also includes Evangeline Lilly from "Lost" but also has some big-time names like Chloe Sevigny from HBO's "Big Love," Glenn Close from "Damages," Kyra Sedgwick from "The Closer" and Sally Field from "Brothers & Sisters."

McDonnell made the list because of her prior Oscar nomination that Times writers say could give her a boost. But she's not alone in that department. Close, Minnie Driver, Field, Holly Hunter and Sevigny also have Oscar nominations or wins that also put them into the top 13 list.

The writers making Emmy predictions don't really want to leave Lena Headey out from Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," especially in light of past wins by Gillian Anderson of "The X-Files" and four nominations from Jennifer Garner for "Alias." However, all anyone has to do is point to the year-after-year snub of Sarah Michelle Gellar from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to show that getting a nod there from a genre show is never a lock.

Edward James Olmos has an Oscar nomination as well, but that doesn't even seem to have that "Battlestar Galactica" actor on the radar at all for Drama Series Actor. He's considered a long shot for that category's nomination on a list that includes former "Angel" star David Boreanaz for his role in Fox's "Bones." Only Matthew Fox from "Lost" is considered to even be in contention, among actors that include three-time winner James Spader of "Boston Legal," Hugh Laurie of "House M.D.," and Patrick Dempsey of "Grey's Anatomy."

"With past champs James Gandolfini and Keifer Sutherland out of the race, there's hope for snubbees" like Fox, according to the Times. "Except if they end up competing against Spader, who hasn't lost the three times he's been nominated."

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