• by Ed Martin , June 28, 2013

Following last week’s Fearless Emmy Advice for dramatic series, here are my thoughts about which shows and actors should be nominated this year in the comedy series categories, as well as my picks for the winners. These suggestions may come too late for some, because voting members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences must get their nomination ballots in by midnight tonight. For those ATAS members who wait until the last minute, perhaps this column will help. For the rest of us, it’s a reminder of the very strong comedy programming during the last television season -- and of how high the bar has been set for the many new sitcoms that are scheduled to premiere in the fall.

Outstanding Comedy Series: CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory,” TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland,” FX’s “Louie,” ABC’s “The Middle” and “Modern Family,” Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.”

Also worth considering: Showtime’s “Episodes,” HBO’s “Girls” and “Veep,” NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” Fox’s “Raising Hope.”

This category is particularly tough to call, because “Modern Family,” which has taken home the top honor during each of the last three years, had a bit of an off season. (So why would I nominate it, you ask? The answer is, because even when it is slightly diminished, “Modern Family” is still funnier than almost every other sitcom on television. So, for that matter, is “Hot in Cleveland,” a reliably funny series that for some bizarre reason critics rarely champion come Emmy time.) Meanwhile, “The Big Bang Theory” only gets better with age and just finished its funniest season yet. My personal pick would be “The Middle,” the best sitcom about an ordinary family living in these economically challenging times. Like “All in the Family” and “Roseanne” before it, “The Middle” isn’t afraid to reflect life as most people live it. And it does so with a cool wit and a warm heart.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Louis C.K., FX’s “Louie”; Garrett Dillahunt, Fox’s “Raising Hope”; Neal Flynn, ABC’s “The Middle”; Johnny Galecki, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory”; Jake Johnson, Fox’s “New Girl”; Jim Parsons, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory.”

Also worth considering: Alec Baldwin, NBC’s “30 Rock”; Jason Bateman, Netflix’s “Arrested Development”; Don Cheadle, Showtime’s “House of Lies”; Matt LeBlanc, Showtime’s “Episodes.”

Two-time winner Jim Parsons would appear to once again be the front-runner here -- not that there’s anything wrong with that. But wouldn’t it be grand if one of TV’s funniest dads -- Garrett Dillahunt or Neal Flynn -- took home the Emmy? How about Parsons’ oft-overlooked and invaluable co-star, Johnny Galecki?

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Laura Dern, HBO’s “Enlightened”; Zooey Deschanel, Fox’s “New Girl”; Edie Falco, Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie”; Patricia Heaton, ABC’s “The Middle”; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, HBO’s “Veep”; Amy Poehler, NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”

Also worth considering: Lena Dunham, HBO’s “Girls”; Tina Fey, NBC’s “30 Rock”; Martha Plimpton, Fox’s “Raising Hope.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is likely a lock once again for her showcase comedic role (the third of her amazing career) in “Veep.” But a first for Zooey Deschanel or a second for Edie Falco (for her role in “Nurse Jackie,” that is) would be most welcome. Sadly, some long-overdue recognition for Patricia Heaton or Amy Poehler is probably too much to hope for.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Ty Burrell, ABC’s “Modern Family”; Adam Driver, HBO’s “Girls”; Max Greenfield, Fox’s “New Girl”; Alex Karpovsky, HBO’s “Girls”; Charlie McDermott, ABC’s “The Middle”; Ed O’Neill, ABC’s “Modern Family.”

Also worth considering: Peter Facinelli, Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie”; Simon Helberg, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory”; Chris Pratt, NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”

If it were up to me, the award in this category would go to Charlie McDermott, who is unfailingly funny as dim teenager Axl on “The Middle” but surprisingly touching when he has to be. My second choice would be Alex Karpovsky, who stole “Girls” right out from under his female co-stars with a soulful performance that was almost documentary-like in its realism.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Ellen Barkin, NBC’s “The New Normal”; Mayim Bialik, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory”; Julie Bowen, ABC’s “Modern Family”; Sarah Hyland, ABC’s “Modern Family”; Wendie Malick, TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland”; Eden Sher, ABC’s “The Middle.”

Also worth considering: Kaley Cuoco, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory”; Diane Ladd, HBO’s “Enlightened”; Melissa Rauch, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory”; Jessica Walter, Netflix’s “Arrested Development”; Betty White, TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland.”

If Charlie McDermott deserves an Emmy nod for “The Middle,” so does Eden Sher, who plays his perpetually put-upon but relentlessly cheerful sister Sue. And speaking of award-worthy performances by young people, Sarah Hyland frequently stood out among her very talented older co-stars on “Modern Family.” Still, Emmy rarely rewards kids (or young adults who portray them), so Ellen Barkin and Julie Bowen would appear to be the big stars to beat here.