Who Will Win 2012 Emmy Awards?

Sept. 21, 2012— -- intro: "NCIS" may be the most popular show on television, but you wouldn't know it by tuning in to Sunday's Emmy Awards telecast.

That's because cable shows continue to reign among Emmy voters -- and they dominate this year's list of nominees.

While mainstream audiences have complained that the awards telecast has been a snooze in recent years, fans of shows like "Mad Men," "Homeland" and "Breaking Bad" may find a few surprises this Sunday.

Full List of Nominees

"There may be some upsets this year," Yahoo! TV managing editor Chrissy Le Nguyen told ABCNews.com.

Host Jimmy Kimmel also could inject some fun into the proceedings.

"I think it will be exciting," Le Nguyen said. "All of his specials after the Emmys and Oscars have gone viral. I think it will be a good show to watch."

Click through to see our favorites to take home trophies when the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards airs Sunday.

quicklist: 1title: Best Drama Series: 'Breaking Bad'text: Nominees are: "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," "Homeland," "Mad Men"

For the past four seasons, "Mad Men" has taken home the top prize. Not necessarily so this year, Le Nguyen said. She predicted an upset by the other AMC drama nominated, "Breaking Bad." "This season alone was pitch-perfect. And when Emmy ballots were out, 'Breaking Bad' was still airing new episodes, making it fresh on Emmy voters' mind," Le Nguyen said.media: 16311661

quicklist: 2title: Lead Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranstontext: Nominees are: Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"; Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"; Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"; Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Le Nguyen also predicted "smooth sailing" for "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston to win his fourth Emmy, tying him with "NYPD Blue" star Dennis Franz. "Everyone in this category is great," Le Nguyen said. "But it's hard to imagine a scenario where Cranston doesn't win."media: 15341551

quicklist: 3title: Lead Actress, Drama: Claire Danestext: Nominees are: Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"; Glenn Close, "Damages"; Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"; Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"

"I don't know if I'm voting with my head or my heart," Le Nguyen said. "But I think Claire Danes will take home the award for lead actress." Danes is also on a lot of critics' favorites lists for delivering one of the best performances of her career in "Homeland."media: 17283356

quicklist: 4title: Supporting Actor, Drama: Giancarlo Espositotext: Nominees are: Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"; Brendan Coyle, "Downton Abbey"; Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"; Giancarlo Esposito, "Breaking Bad"; Jared Harris, "Mad Men"; Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

"Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage is once again nominated for the award he took home last year. Though this year is a toss-up, Le Nguyen gave the edge to Giancarlo Esposito for "Breaking Bad." "I think it's a 'Breaking Bad' year," she said. "And Giancarlo was so great as a villain. He had one of the scenes which we'll always remember."media: 17283633

quicklist: 5title: Supporting Actress, Drama: Maggie Smithtext: Nominees are: 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"

"This is Maggie Smith's category to win. 'Downton Abbey' will reign in this category, specifically," Le Nguyen said about the popular PBS show and its star. "This is one of those shows the cool crowd watches and was last year's Emmy favorite. Plus, people love Maggie Smith and her character."media: 17283684

quicklist: 6title: Best Comedy Series: 'Modern Family'text: Nominees are: "30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Girls," "Modern Family," "Veep"

Le Nguyen predicted no upset here. Expect a three-peat by ABC's "Modern Family."media: 15341605

quicklist: 7title: Lead Actor, Comedy: Louis C.K.text: Nominees are: Louis C.K., "Louie"; Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"; Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"; Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Jim Parsons, who has won two years in a row, could be toppled this year by comedian Louis C.K., who is long overdue for some recognition. "'Louie' has been on many critics' lists for one of the best comedies and the series got overlooked in the best comedy series category this year. I think this is where 'Louie' will win. It's Louis' year to win," Le Nguyen said.media: 17283651

quicklist: 8 title: Lead Actress, Comedy: Julia Louis-Dreyfustext: Nominees are: Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"; Lena Dunham, "Girls"; Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"; Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"; Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly"; Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Emmy voters have never forgotten their love for "Seinfeld" veteran Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Le Nguyen believes she will win this year for her new HBO series, "Veep." "Maybe not a lot of people have watched it, but the critics have been all over it," Le Nguyen said.

But this is the third nomination for Amy Poehler in "Parks and Recreation," so this could be her year to take home the gold. With seven fabulous women, many who have won before, this category is going to be close.media: 17283281

quicklist: 9 title: Supporting Actor, Comedy: Ed O'Neilltext: Nominees are: Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"; Max Greenfield, "New Girl"; Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"; Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"; Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

With four nominations, it's fair to say that "Modern Family" has taken over this category and that one of its stars will take home the award. Ty Burrell won last year and Eric Stonestreet the year before that. Le Nguyen thinks it's Ed O'Neill's turn. "He's the veteran of the bunch," she said of the former star of "Married with Children." media: 17283507

quicklist: 10 title: Supporting Actress, Comedy: Sofia Vergaratext: Nominees are: 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"

Le Nguyen is rooting for a long shot, Merritt Wever from "Nurse Jackie," but thinks Sofia Vergara will win as O'Neill's wife on "Modern Family." "The academy loves 'Modern Family' and they love Sofia Vergara. Audiences love her too," Le Nguyen said. Then again, Le Nguyen pointed out that a lot of folks love Mayim Bialik for her role in "The Big Bang Theory" and she could pull an upset.media: 17283601

quicklist: 10 title: Best Miniseries or Movie: 'Game Change'text: Nominees are: "American Horror Story," "Game Change," "Hatfields & McCoys," "Hemingway & Gellhorn," "Luther," "Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia"

"Hatfields & McCoys" had huge ratings and big-name stars like Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton, but Le Nguyen thinks "Game Change" will take home the award -- "especially with the election going on." She also predicted that the HBO film's star, Julianne Moore, who played Sarah Palin, would win for best actress in a miniseries or movie, while Benedict Cumberbatch would take home the prize for "Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia."media: 17283552