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At the end of this week, Emmy voters will be sent their ballots to select this year's nominees. While old standards like William Shatner in Boston Legal and Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men are sure to be nominated, there are a ton of under-appreciated potential candidates out there who desperately need a vote.

These shows may not be as popular as CSI, but they are true gems that deserve serious consideration. In a perfect world, here are my strongest underdog candidates who, with a little bit of luck, will finally break through.

Comedy Series: Party Down
This Starz original series from the people behind Veronica Mars provided some of the biggest laughs of the season thanks to a smart and hilarious cast and brilliant writing as a group of aspiring Hollywood hopefuls struggle as caterers.

Comedy Lead Actor: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Last year Parsons gave one of the most original and hilarious performances as the overly logical nerd Sheldon. Season two proved he wasn't a flash in the pan, and Emmy voters would be idiots to ignore this great performance again.

Comedy Lead Actress: JoAnna Garcia, Privileged
The CW never gets any love, and if actresses like Lauren Graham and Kristen Bell couldn't break through, there's little hope for Garcia. But if you want the most charming and adorable comedic performance, Garcia is your delightful woman.

Comedy Supporting Actor: Ken Jenkins, Scrubs
This might seem like an odd choice, but after retirement, Jenkins' Bob Kelso became a wild and wonderful character, hanging out at the hospital enjoying his free muffins for life and dispensing some of the wisest words and best one-liners of the season. Jenkins taught viewers that sometimes an old dog can learn new tricks, and he deserves some love.

Comedy Supporting Actress: Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
All the love goes to Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, but in season three the writers finally figured out what to do with Krakowski's character by turning her into the ultimate narcissist. Her ongoing gag as the star of an unauthorized Janis Joplin biopic provided some of the best moments from the season.

Drama Series: The Shield
In its final season, The Shield surpassed all others by delivering a satisfying, haunting, and heartbreaking conclusion to one of TV's truly great dramas. Last year the Emmys finally started nominating smaller cable networks in the main categories, so now it's time to honor the actual best drama series of the year.

Drama Lead Actor: Any Man on Cable
This is the one category the Emmys usually get right, honoring Michael Chiklis for The Shield and Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad while also nominating actors like Denis Leary in Rescue Me, Michael C. Hall in Dexter, Jon Hamm in Mad Men, and Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment. And in a perfect world, those would the six nominees again this year.

Drama Lead Actress: Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica
Come on, Emmys -- it's time to wake up and stop ignoring true sci-fi. McDonnell has deserved an Emmy nomination every year BSG has been on the air, but with its final season, this is the last chance for the Emmys to rectify this error and pay attention to President Laura Roslin's last hurrah.

Drama Supporting Actor: The Mad Scientists
Two of this year's best dramatic performances were from men playing the standard role of a mad scientist in new and exciting ways. On Lost, Jeremy Davies tried desperately to hold on to his sanity as the nervous Daniel Faraday while Fringe's John Noble came out of a mental institution nuttier than a fruitcake. Both men were brilliant and a joy to watch, and both deserve to be nominated.

Drama Supporting Actress: Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Yes, Peg Bundy was the best dramatic supporting actress of the year. As the manipulative woman at the center of a biker gang, Sagal delivered a white trash Lady Macbeth that was as complex as it was devilishly exciting.

Make your picks for who will go home on your favorite reality shows and compete against other fans with BuddyTV's Fantasy TV.

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