Spotlight on Emmy drama nominees

This past year was the very first that cable shows outnumbered broadcast series within the Emmy drama category, a trend which was hard using the 2011 nominations, which saw a quartet of shows originating from Cinemax, Showtime and AMC.A set of the cable challengers are conversant names -- AMC's zeitgeisty "Mad Males," searching for its 4th award consecutively, and Showtime's four-time nominee "Dexter," searching for its first win.Another two indicate HBO's strong year for newcomer records. The pay-cable powerhouse's new hits "Boardwalk Empire" and "Bet on Thrones" displayed once more the shrewd merging of genre and character study which has seen the cabler go ahead and take western ("Deadwood"), vampires of the underworld ("True Bloodstream") and mobsters ("The Sopranos") towards the nominee circle before.Elsewhere, the ongoing success of CBS's Julianna Marguiles starrer "The Great Wife" like a network law procedural with cable-like nuances and serialized sophistication gained it a repeat appearance within this category. Lastly, the very first appearance of beloved underdog "Friday Evening Lights" -- because of its final season, which went on DirecTV before repeating on NBC -- indicates Academy recognition of sorts for the whole significantly acclaimed run of the low-key, slice-of-existence drama about senior high school football in rural Texas."Boardwalk Empire"Cinemax Highlight: Inside a season full of blistering mob violence, the first courtship moments of Atlantic City bigwig Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) and Irish widow Margaret Schroeder (Kelly MacDonald) indicated a fragile touch using the show's portrayal of psychologically isolated people.Why it could win: Using its wealthy period detail, gangster trappings and stellar creative pedigree (Terence Winters and Martin Scorsese), "Empire" obtained on many fronts like a bold slice of criminal Americana within the wake of HBO's groundbreaking "Sopranos" run.Not: Against lots of competition, voters may find the possible lack of a central galvanizing character -- along with a first season using its share of structural and pace-related hiccups -- sufficient cause to attend on the top-prize kudos until further seasons reveal themselves."Dexter"Showtime Highlight: Inside a hotel-room scene laced with criminal forethought and strange empathy, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) helps gang-rape victim Lumen (Julia Stiles) both get ready for a vengeance killing and all of a sudden get over a psychological breakdown.Why it could win: A broadly famous 4th season, which won John Lithgow a guest actor Emmy -- turned into an psychologically retrenching fifth that saw Dexter have a protective role, and demonstrated this unusual premise still had lots of odd curves worth exploring.Not: In the finish during the day, will still be a bloodstream-drenched series in regards to a serial killer -- a tough route to hoe with Emmy voters -- and after three strong seasons having a nomination with no award, voters might feel at ease disregarding it once again.InchFri Evening Lights"DirecTV Highlight: A tense parole board hearing for Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) makes an extremely high price ticket moving testimonial from Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) as well as an awkward yet suddenly stirring plea from new Buddy Garrity (Kaira Leland).Why it could win: Viewer and critical praise based on how this under-appreciated series wrapped its always-battling run was noisy and obvious, and Emmy voters may finally be coming around to why this Peabody-winning show had this type of loyal following.Not: Sometimes an initial nomination for any final months are not enough past too far for any series that rarely taken greater than a fringe viewership. Emmy voters might consider its nomination a prize by itself."Bet on Thrones"Cinemax Highlight: Inside a season chockablock with plot twists, the disturbing fate of castle-climbing kid Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) after seeing a secret rendezvous between Full Cersei (Lena Headey) and her twin brother Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) was -- for audiences not really acquainted with the books -- a genuine surprise.Why it could win: Like "Lost" in the Emmy-winning inaugural season, an illusion-tinged premise struck a chord with audiences like a gripping ensemble drama with complexly woven story lines. Additionally, it resonated like a sweeping, old-school epic about energy struggles one of the wealthy and also the survival instincts of outsiders.Not: As common as the series is, the dungeons-and-dragons shadings may keep more realism-minded Academy voters away for the time being, even though sex and violence never stopped Cinemax from multiple "Sopranos" wins, the greater graphic character of individuals elements here might be an honours barrier."The Great Wife"CBS Highlight: It is a tossup between divorce-minded Alicia (Julianna Marguiles) icily facing her mother-in-law (Mary Janet Piel) about restricting her use of the grandchildren, or Alicia putting Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) about the place concerning the latter's affair with Peter, interspersed with a chilly, direct "How was my hubby?InchWhy it could win: Its status because the most refreshingly adult series among primetime network shows was just burnished following a watercooler-worthy second season. The show's acclaimed mixture of politics, personal lives, intrigue and legal drama is exclusive in television.Not: Despite over-arching story lines as nuanced as anything on cable, its procedural structure may still be described as a hindrance to Emmy voters who haven't given this type of show the very best award in additional than ten years.InchAngry Males"AMC Highlight: Saying goodbye to cancer-ridden Anna (Melinda Page Hamilton), Don Draper (Jon Hamm) -- or Dick Whitman, as Anna knows him, just before altering his identity -- must arrived at grips having a loved a person's imminent dying which symbolically reflects a past he is able to never recapture.Why it could win: Three wins within this category already is certainly not to sneeze at, and also the series' 4th season demonstrated further creative vigor using its character development, changes of scenery and questionable twists.Not: All streaks finish sometime. The infusion of recent bloodstream within the category this season, as well as the first appearance of the acclaimed show in the last season along with a broadcast show considered increasing could spell a big change. Besides, recent news that the deal continues to be struck for more seasons might spur the Academy to provide the show a kudos break.A Evening within the Authors Room:Route To THE EMMYS: DRAMAThink outdoors the dollars Drama producers cite surprising influencesThe nominees Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com