Gold Derby: Emmy series contenders

Blame it on the fact that we’re living in the golden age of cable drama. Even with six nominees instead of the usual five, the Emmys still don’t have enough slots to recognize all of the worthy contenders for best drama series. At least the broadcast channels are responding to the cable ascendancy by launching such worthy rivals as “The Good Wife” and “Parenthood,” improving TV for everyone.

DRAMA SERIES

Front-runners

“Big Love,” HBO

“Breaking Bad,” AMC

“Damages,” FX

“Dexter,” Showtime

“The Good Wife,” CBS

“House,” Fox

“Lost,” ABC

“Mad Men,” AMC

“Sons of Anarchy,” FX

“Treme,” HBO

Spotlight: Sure, “Lost” may have lost its way after winning best drama series for its first season in 2005, but many fans believe it ended well. Now can it reclaim this category? Two-time winner “Mad Men” is undefeated here. “Dexter,” “Big Love,” “Breaking Bad” and “Damages” are overdue and there are some scrappy rookies rapping at the door.

Possible

“Burn Notice,” USA

“The Closer,” TNT

“Criminal Minds,” CBS

“Friday Night Lights,” NBC

“Justified,” FX

“Men of a Certain Age,” TNT

“The Mentalist,” CBS

“Parenthood,” NBC

“Rescue Me,” FX

“True Blood,” HBO

“The Tudors,” Showtime

“24,” Fox

“White Collar,” USA

Long shots

“Brothers & Sisters,” ABC

“CSI,” CBS

“FlashForward,” ABC

“Fringe,” Fox

“Heroes,” NBC

“In Plain Sight,” USA

“Law & Order: SVU,” NBC

“NCIS,” CBS

“Southland,” NBC