Emmy predictions: Time for ‘Mad Men’ to win an acting honor?

The Envelope’s Gold Standard columnist Glenn Whipp is sweeping through Emmy categories this week, predicting the winners in the top categories. Having already looked at the series, lead actor and lead actress races, he turns his attention to the supporting players, forecasting a first-ever win for a member of the “Mad Men” ensemble.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA

The nominees:

Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”

Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”

Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad”

Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”

Archie Panjabi, “The Good Wife”

Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”

And the winner is ... Hendricks. “Mad Men” has never won an acting Emmy, but Hendricks owns a showcase episode this year with “The Other Woman,” in which Joan pondered prostituting herself for financial security.

Unless ... Smith gets an early start on an awards-season run that could include an Oscar nomination or two for “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and her lead turn in Dustin Hoffman’s lovely, upcoming December release “Quartet.” This could be the category that the much-loved “Downton” carries.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY

The nominees:

Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory”

Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”

Kathryn Joosten, “Desperate Housewives”

Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”

Merritt Wever, “Nurse Jackie”

Kristen Wiig, “Saturday Night Live”

And the winner is ... Wiig. Sentiment figures to come into play here. Four-time nominee Wiig just wrapped her tenure on “Saturday Night Live.” Lung cancer claimed Joosten in June. The “Modern Family” women rank as strong contenders too, but we’re guessing voters will reward Wiig, agreeing with the sentiments of her submitted “SNL” episode’s host, Mick Jagger. The lady’s a rainbow, indeed.

Unless ... They give the Emmy to Joosten, a two-time winner (as guest actress) as a way of honoring both her and the departing “Housewives.”

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