Since the Emmys have ditched the judging panels to determine nominees, letting the lineups be chosen strictly by an outright popular balloting of the TV academy's acting branch, that means the outcome should be more predictable than usual. Expect last year's champ Glenn Close (" Damages ") and 2007 winner, 2008 nominee and double Oscar victor Sally Field ("Brothers & Sisters") to return. Ditto perennial nominees Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: SVU") and Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer"). Voters usually drive a stake through the Emmy hopes of the stars of vampire shows (poor " Buffy the Vampire Slayer " star Sarah Michelle Gellar was never nommed despite shrieks of outrage from every TV critic), but Anna Paquin (" True Blood ") has two pluses: being on HBO and owning an Oscar (" The Piano "). Past Oscar champ for the same film,... [read full story]
