Who Will Get an Emmy Nod?

July 17, 2013— -- intro: There's a new kid on the block this Emmy Awards season: Netflix.

Look for the Internet streaming service to be a serious contender in both the drama and comedy categories when the 2013 Emmy Award nominations are announced Thursday morning. If its original drama "House of Cards" and comedy "Arrested Development" pick up noms, it would be a first for programs not specifically produced for television.

The would-be contenders would enter a race already dominated by cable channels like HBO, making an already competitive field even more so. That's because Hollywood now recognizes that television is the best game in town, Stacey Wilson, The Hollywood Reporter's senior editor in charge of Emmy coverage, told ABCNews.com

"Half of the likely nominees started in film and a lot are theater people," Wilson said. "TV is not seen as fringe anymore. You'd be lucky to get on a show now. Actors know that scoring a role on a prestige TV show will do more for their career than starring as the lead in a crappy movie."

That leaves Emmy voters with plenty of great shows to choose from. Wilson helps us sort through the likely contenders for Thursday's nominations. Click through to see our predictions.

quicklist:title: Best Drama Seriestext: Predicted Nominees: "Breaking Bad," "Homeland," "Mad Men," "Game of Thrones," "The Newsroom" and "House of Cards"

Wilson believes this year's competition for the best drama series is the tightest yet. "If you win this year, it's going to be a real feather," she said.

She said "Breaking Bad" has a good chance of winning its first best drama series Emmy now that the final season has just begun airing. As for newbie, "House of Cards," Wilson said Netflix has been campaigning hard for a nom but it could be pushed off by the FX Cold War drama "The Americans."

This year's drama category could repeat last year's without a network nominee and even "Downton Abbey," whose third season got mixed reviews, could be left off the roster.media: 19691477

quicklist:title: Lead Actress, Dramatext: Predicted Nominees Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"; Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"; Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"; Kerry Washington, "Scandal"; Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

"The big story will be if Kerry Washington breaks through," Wilson said. Similarly, Connie Britton from "Nashville" and Monica Potter from "Parenthood" have a chance at scoring a nod.

Claire Danes, who won this category last year, is a lock at getting a nomination. Robin Wright, who has returned to the small screen, after several decades in film, could round out the list.media: 19691785

quicklist:title: Lead Actor, Dramatext: Predicted Nominees: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"; Damian Lewis, "Homeland"; Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"; Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"; Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"

Bryan Cranston has taken home the Emmy three times before and Wilson said, he's only gotten better. Last year's winner, Damian Lewis, and perpetual nominee Jon Hamm, who has never won, are other locks for this category.

Wilson expects Kevin Spacey and Jeff Daniels to score noms, even if their series don't.media: 19691639

quicklist:title: Best Comedy Seriestext: Predicted Nominees: "Modern Family," "30 Rock," "Arrested Development," "Veep," "Girls" "New Girl"

"Arrested Development" isn't new to the Emmys. The show took home the award for best comedy series in 2004 when it aired on Fox. Now that it's on Netflix, Wilson expects the show to get a nod. "30 Rock," which wrapped its final season last year, should also earn some Emmy love, as will three-time winner "Modern Family," though it has lost some of its heat.

Wilson believes HBO's "Veep" has the best traction for taking home the award.media: 19691378

quicklist: 19691833title: Lead Actress, Comedytext: Predicted Nominees: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"; Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"; Lena Dunham, "Girls"; Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"; Laura Dern, "Enlightened"

"If I was betting, I would say Julia Louis-Dreyfus," Wilson said. "She represents the ultimate contender." Louis-Dreyfus has received a record 13 Emmy nominations for her comedy work and won three Emmys.

Wilson would also like to see Laura Dern get some love for her short-lived HBO series, "Enlightened." media: 19691833

quicklist:title: Lead Actor, Comedytext: Predicted Nominees: Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"; Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"; Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"; Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"; Louis C.K., "Louie"

Wilson thinks Jason Bateman will land a nom even if "Arrested Development" doesn't. But it's anyone's guess who will take home the top prize. Matt LeBlanc, who won a Golden Globe previously for "Episodes," is even better this season, Wilson said. Jim Parsons, a previous Emmy winner, remains a favorite on television's highest rated show and recently took home the Critics Choice Award.media: 19691689

quicklist:title: Best TV Movie/Miniseriestext: "Behind the Candelabra," "American Horror Story: Asylum," "Political Animals," "Phil Spector"

The Liberace biopic, "Behind the Candelabra," is a "no-brainer" for a nomination, Wilson said, along with its stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. Other possibilities include USA's "Political Animals" with Sigourney Weaver and HBO's "Phil Spector," starring Al Pacino.media: 19691530