2015 Emmy Predictions: Drama Series

UPDATED 6/15/15

For Best Drama Series, we're definitely going to see the perennial nominees like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Downton Abbey, and House of Cards. However, the rest of the category is going to look pretty different from the past.

One of the major effects of the new rule changes is going to be the introduction of Orange is the New Black to the category. At this point, they are a virtual lock and are taking up the newly added seventh slot.

With Breaking Bad out of the way and True Detective being moved to Limited, we have room for at least two different nominees. Empire was the biggest hit of the season and garnered strong critical acclaim as well as commercial. It also has the fact that it's a broadcast series (the majority of the Academy work in broadcast) and it's likely to nab additional major nominations. Better Call Saul has garnered extremely positive reviews and strong ratings and looks to make a strong showing like its parent series.

The last spot is really going to be a mystery in the series races, since we've never had a year with this many nominees.The winner of the Globe often makes an appearance here, so The Affair has a chance to make an. Another new show may be the direct successor to Bad at the Emmys. Based on nominations last year, I'd say The Good Wife has a chance. However, many pundits predicted the series to make a return last year and it failed to do so.

Depending how the Emmys react to Bloodline and Homeland, we could see one of these shows make an appearance.

AS FOR THE WINNER, I think it's going to be between three returning nominees since Breaking Bad is gone and there's really no new show that feels like a first season winner. Game of Thrones has been a strong performer so far at the Emmys and the a strong second half of the season coupled with strong buzz can propel it to a win. If you asked me in March which show would win best drama series I'd say House of Cards with no hesitation. However, there's really no buzz for it anymore and the season was the worst received so far. The last possibility is 4-time winner Mad Men. I know it hasn't won a single award in the past two years, but there's no denying the huge buzz around the show in Hollywood following the finale. It could follow The Sopranos, Everybody Loves Raymond, Sex and the City, and Breaking Bad as some of the shows in past years that have won for their final season.

Check out our complete list of 2015 Emmy Predictions HERE!

1. Game of Thrones
2. Mad Men
3. House of Cards
4. Orange is the New Black
5. Downton Abbey
6. Empire
7. The Affair