2014 Emmy Predictions: Guest Actress in a Drama Series

If you asked me two months ago who would win Guest Actress in a Drama Series, I would have put all my money on (Masters of Sex) for her masterful portrayal of a sexually frustrated housewife. However, after watching the tapes, it looks like there is another contender trying to stab her in the back (I very carefully chose this wording).

This is a category where the loudest performance often wins. From Ann Margaret for Law & Order: SVU to Sally Field for ER, it seems like if you play a heightened character, then you are due. This year, almost every single performance is extremely understated, except Kate Burton (Scandal).

SPOILER ALERT FOR SCANDAL! In her episode submission, entitled “A Door Marked Exit,” she murders her gay cheating husband in the first scene by stabbing him repeatedly in the back. If that doesn't get a voters attention, then I don't know what will. Then, throughout the episode she cries and screams her way through a cover-up for said gruesome murder. END SPOILER.

It's just the type of performance that wins this category. Another consideration is that Janney is also nominated in the Supporting Comedy Actress category for Mom (see our predictions here). The judging panels will be different, however if voters think there's enough Janney to go around, they may be inclined to mark the clear alternative.

Although Janney gets to cry in her episode, Burton's submission is all out madness. I still have Janney out front. Despite everything I said so far, she still has momentum on her side. However, don't be surprised to see Scandal take yet another acting category.
[maxbutton id=”3″]

1. , Masters of Sex (“Brand New World”)
2. Kate Burton, Scandal (“A Door Marked Exit”)
3. , The Newsroom (“Red Team III”)
4. Kate Mara, House of Cards (“Chapter 14”)
5. Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones (“The Lion and the Rose”)
6. Margo Martindale, The Americans (“Behind the Red Door”)

Karl Delossantos

Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.

Leave a Comment
Published by
Karl Delossantos

Recent Posts

Romantic sci-fi thriller ‘The Gorge’ hits its mark | movie reivew

Two snipers tasked with guarding the mysterious of an inexplicable gorge find themselves following in… Read More

2 months ago

A Love Note to Fire of Love

Fire of Love is not just a documentary. It's a love story. Love Notes is… Read More

2 months ago

‘Love Hurts’ is mostly hurt | movie review

Love Hurts follows assassin-turned-realtor is pulled back into his old world of crime when his… Read More

2 months ago

‘Wicked’ defies expectations, a fearless movie-musical | movie review

Wicked, the long-awaited adaptation of the smash Broadway musical, finally flies its way into theaters… Read More

4 months ago

<em>No Other Land</em> is the most important documentary of our time | movie review

No Other Land follows a Palestinian activist as he documents the destruction of his community… Read More

6 months ago

‘Queer’ is messy, mad and marvelous | review and analysis

Based on William S. Burroughs novel of the same name, Queer follows an American expat's… Read More

7 months ago