Emmy nominations are coming soon! Before we find out who gets a nomination (and who gets robbed) on Thu., June 8, the editors of TV Squad wanted to sound off on our picks for this year's categories.

This past season gave us such a bounty of worthy shows and stars, and though none of us are members of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, we can still file our own dream ballots. My colleagues Maggie Furlong (aka The Show Girl), Joel Keller and Andy Scott joined me in deciding who was most deserving this year.

BEST DRAMA

Kelly: It would be a shame if the beautifully written, acted, directed and produced 'Friday Night Lights' never got an Emmy nomination. This is your second to last chance, Academy!

Maggie: This feels like a year for honoring shows that have ended, even if only because it's the last chance to do so. In the case of 'Lost,' though, it should be honored because it was just so damn good.

Joel: A tough category this year, because of all the terrific dramas. It must be tough if '24' doesn't make it in its final year on the air. If the Academy decides to honor it with a nod, it'll be at the expense of one of the smaller cable shows on the list (likely 'Treme').

Andy: It was a really great year for Drama, from the debut of 'The Good Wife' to the end of 'Lost.' Between those two, 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad,' how do you pick a winner? I still can't decide.

BEST COMEDY

Kelly: New comedies ruled this season; 'Glee' and 'Modern Family' have to be the lockiest of locks for nominations.

Maggie: I know 'Better Off Ted' has about as much chance for a posthumous nod as it does for resurrection, but hey -- it is a dream ballot. Of the real contenders, 'Modern Family' had the most consistently awesome, 100% hilarious, wow-it's-everyone's-favorite-show-now season. And it's new!

Joel: Had to put 'Glee' in there; there was just no way around it. 'Community' gets in for 'Modern Warfare' alone. Perennials 'The Office,' '30 Rock,' and 'Two and a Half Men' all had off seasons, but I can still see one of them making the list, probably at the expense of the newly-cancelled 'Party Down.'

Andy: 'Modern Family' will probably win the Emmy, but my favorite comedy of the season was the supremely underrated 'Parks and Recreation,' which deserves to take the crown from the struggling '30 Rock.'

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA

Kelly: Matthew Fox killed in the finale (in addition to getting killed). And I gotta throw Jack Bauer a bone -- after years of saving the country, he deserves one!

Maggie: My love for 'Lost' trumps all. Plus, my love-hate rollercoaster relationship with Dr. Jack Shephard tells me that Matthew Fox is truly deserving -- it took some really great acting to stir that kind of emotion in my hardened critical heart!

Joel: I would have put Aaron Paul here, but he submitted under the supporting category. Odd that in a year of outstanding dramas, only a few male performances stand out. Most surprising is Ray Romano in 'Men of a Certain Age.' Who knew he could act like that?

Andy: Matthew Fox was the sole reason I submitted my picks. He deserves recognition for what may be one of the most underrated TV performances ever, and this is unfortunately his last chance. As for my winner, though, it's a tough call between Bryan Cranston and Jon Hamm, but I've got to go with Hamm. Don Draper cried, for pete's sake!

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA

Kelly: The outstanding Connie Britton may be a dark horse to get nominated, but she's just too good to leave off the list. It is a dream ballot after all. And Katey Sagal had such good material, she was bumped up from supporting.

Maggie: Is January Jones really acting? Couldn't Glenn Close do any role in her sleep at this point? Are biker chicks too scary for Emmy voters? These are the questions I have, and surprisingly they leave me with no gut feeling here.

Joel: This one was tough, because of all the fantastic dramatic performances on the women's side of the ledger. Anna Gunn was the most underrated piece of 'Breaking Bad's' breakout season. Mariska Hargitay gets a nod because ... well, because she's Mariska Hargitay, that's why.

Andy: Margulies deserves to win for what was the best performance of the entire season. Everyone else paled in comparison, though kudos to Anna Gunn for really upping her game this season.

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY

Kelly: It's hard to leave off Baldwin and Carell, despite the the weak seasons their shows had. But let's cross our fingers that Joel McHale and Zachary Levi are newcomers to the category.

Maggie: All of these men make me laugh on a weekly basis (except Morrison ... I actually just shuddered typing his name, but I'm being realistic here people), but I might actually shed a tear if Zach Levi gets some love for 'Chuck.'

Joel: Pretty easy category to handicap, if you discount Charlie Sheen, who always gets nominated but might not this year due to his legal issues. Alec Baldwin gets in despite '30 Rock's' mediocre season, because ... well, because he's Alec Baldwin, that's why.

Andy: This is kind of a weak field. It's time to pass the torch from Baldwin to someone else, and any of the men listed would be a worthy successor.

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY

Kelly: It's a little weird to talk about the young Lea Michele in this category with such seasoned vets, but the 'Glee' juggernaut should carry her into a nom.

Maggie: OK, even I'm laughing at my multiple 'Better Off Ted' pleas now, but if you were one of the 12 watching with me, you'll get it. Toni Collette could easily win again, but I'd love to see newbie Brooke Elliott at least get a nod for her fabulous work on 'Diva.'

Joel: Yes, I criticized Courteney Cox's performance early in 'Cougar Town's' season. But I give her a nod simply for enthusiastically going along with the show's move to a more ensemble structure. Patricia Heaton's year in 'The Middle' showed that Debra Barone is long behind her.

Andy: All six women here gave amazing performances, but if it were up to me, the Emmy would go to Courteney Cox, for her hilarious 'Single Ladies' montage alone.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA

Kelly: This category makes my head hurt; there are just so many choices and too few spaces -- half the cast of 'Lost' could make a case for a nomination. The three I ended up choosing will have heavy competition from Bryan Batt, who was the talk of the 'Mad Men' season.

Maggie: Shocker! The 'Lost' boys dominate my list -- including never-been-nominated Holloway, who deserves a nod for the Sawyer and Kate dock scene alone. Has there ever been a three-way tie?

Joel: An AMC-fest, where 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad' dominate. But Goodman also deserves a nod for his rabble-rousing character in 'Treme,' as does Braugher, who does a great job playing the downtrodden forty-something Owen in 'Men of a Certain Age.'

Andy: I don't see how anyone could watch 'Breaking Bad' and not vote for Aaron Paul, though Dean Norris was also terrific in an intense storyline. And is there anyone on TV sexier than Josh Charles? I don't think so.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA

Kelly: Even amongst a very full, very good cast, Khandi Alexander stood out with a forceful performance. And Panjabi was the revelation of the season. Still, it's hard to bet against Chandra Wilson, who had some incredible material on 'Grey's.'

Maggie: These ladies are badass, each in their own way. And, luckily, even with the 'Mad Men' and 'Grey's' presence, per usual, there's still room for some newbies and a surprise or two.

Joel: Archie Panjabi broke out this year on 'The Good Wife.' And Chandra Wilson always does a great job as Bailey on 'Grey's Anatomy.' Betsy Brandt was another underrated member of the 'Breaking Bad' ensemble, but she showed her character Marie was more than just comic relief.

Andy: 'Treme' may not be 'The Wire,' but it featured a number of great performances in its debut season, including ones from Alexander and Dickens. As for who deserves to win, I think it's a tough call between Hendricks and Panjabi, but my gut says Panjabi for her scene-stealing performance on 'The Good Wife.'

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY

Kelly: Hey people! Remember that little ol' show, 'Ugly Betty'? It ended this year, sure, but it went out with a bang. And Michael Urie's portrayal of Marc was hilarious (as usual), touching and layered.

Maggie: This was hands down the toughest category for me -- how do you choose just six? The two constants on my list as I added and subtracted were the 'Modern Family' men. Both Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet are unlimited kinds of awesome and deserve all the buzz and public praise (hopefully) coming their way.

Joel: Half the reason why I tuned into 'Glee' week after week was Chris Colfer's fun and emotional performances as Kurt. Surprised Ty Burrell is in the supporting category, as he's often in the spotlight on 'Modern Family,' but that's where he submitted himself. Offerman should be nominated for his mustache alone, much less his great performance as Ron F---in' Swanson.

Andy: The 'Modern Family' men are all deserving in their own rights, as are the men from 'Parks.' Again, how do you choose?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY

Kelly: As much as I love the other ladies in this category, I must agree with my colleagues below: Jane Lynch = unstoppable.

Maggie: Each of these frontrunners has mastered the art of playing it straight. I'd say it's anyone's to win, but the odds-on favorite is Jane Lynch, the comedic genius who brings Sue Sylvester's one-liners and cut-downs to life.

Joel: Who's going to deny Jane Lynch this year? It's a strong field in general, and in any other year, the other five nominees would have a real shot. but there's no stopping the Lynch Express right now.

Andy: Dianna Agron was my favorite part about 'Glee,' but you've got to go with Jane Lynch here. That's how Sue would C it, anyway.



File your own dream ballot in the comments below!