The Emmy Awards begin shortly, keep refreshing and checking this site for new stories. The winners should be “Breaking Bad” for Best Drama and Bryan Cranston for Best Actor in a Drama. Kerry Washington should pull off Best Actress in A Drama for “Scandal.” I’m crossing my fingers.

My pick for Best Actress in a Comedy is Julia Louis Dreyfus in “Veep.” Best Actor in a Comedy? Louis C.K. in “Louie.” Best Comedy? Please god it’s not “Modern Family.” I so wish “Veep” or “Episodes” would win. But “MF” or “30 Rock” seem likely. What can you do? “Big Bang Theory”? At that point, why not?

I just hope there is some provision for Bob Newhart to speak and accept the Emmy he won last week. He’s the only person anyone needs to hear from, without being played off.

Of course, the big upset would be if “House of Cards” or “Arrested Development” scored for Netflix. That would be major. It could happen–anything could happen–and then all bets are off.

“Mad Men” was screwed this year, and “Downton Abbey” is just too good to compete with these other shows. Let the games begin!

I’ll try and do some Tweeting too– @showbiz411

Outstanding Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory
Girls
Louie
Modern Family
30 Rock
Veep

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louis C.K., Louie
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Jane Lynch, Glee
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Driver, Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Tony Hale, Veep

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory
Nathan Lane, Modern Family
Bobby Cannavale, Nurse Jackie
Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live
Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live
Will Forte, 30 Rock

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Molly Shannon, Enlightened
Dot-Marie Jones, Glee
Melissa Leo, Louie
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Episodes
Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon, Louie
Greg Daniels, The Office
Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock, 30 Rock
Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, 30 Rock

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Lena Dunham, Girls
Paris Barclay, Glee
Louis C.K., Louie
Gail Macuso, Modern Family
Beth McCarthy-Miller, 30 Rock

Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Claire Danes, Homeland
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Connie Britton, Nashville
Kerry Washington, Scandal

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Hugh Bonneville, Downtown Abbey
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Emilia Clarke, Game of Throne
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Morena Baccarin, Homeland
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Jim Carter, Downtown Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Nathan Lane, The Good Wife
Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
Rupert Friend, Homeland
Robert Morse, Mad Men
Harry Hamlin, Mad Men
Dan Bucatinsky, Scandal

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Margo Martindale, The Americans
Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife
Linda Cardellini, Mad Men
Jane Fonda, The Newsroom
Joan Cusack, Shameless

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
George Mastras, Breaking Bad
Thomas Schnauz, Breaking Bad
Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones
Henry Bromell, Homeland

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire
Michelle MacLaren, Breaking Bad
Jeremy Webb, Downton Abbey
Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland
David Fincher, House of Cards

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
American Horror Story: Asylum
Behind The Candelabra
The Bible
Phil Spector
Political Animals
Top of the Lake

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum
Laura Linney, The Big C: Hereafter
Helen Mirren, Phil Spector
Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals
Elisabeth Moss, Top Of The Lake

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Michael Douglas, Behind The Candelabra
Matt Damon, Behind The Candelabra
Toby Jones, The Girl
Benedict Cumberbatch, Parade’s End
Al Pacino, Phil Spector

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Asylum
Imelda Staunton, The Girl
Ellen Burstyn, Political Animals
Charlotte Rampling, Restless
Alfre Woodard, Steel Magnolias

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
James Cromwell, American Horror Story: Asylum
Zachary Quinto, American Horror Story: Asylum
Scott Bakula, Behind The Candelabra
John Benjamin Hickey, The Big C: Hereafter
Peter Mullan, Top of the Lake

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Richard LaGravenese, Behind The Candelabra
Abi Morgan, The Hour
Tom Stoppard, Parade’s End
David Mamet, Phil Spector
Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, Top of the Lake

Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Steven Soderbergh, Behind The Candelbra
Julian Jarrold, The Girl
David Mamet, Phil Spector
Allison Anders, Ring of Fire
Jane Campion and Garth Davis, Top of the Lake

Outstanding Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Variety Special
The Kennedy Center Honors
Louis C.K.: Oh My God
Mel Brooks Strikes Back! With Mel Brooks and Alan Yentob
Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update
12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Portlandia
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Louis C.K.: Oh My God
Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs<
Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update
66th Annual Tony Awards

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
James Hoskinson, The Colbert Report
Chuck O’Neil, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Andy Fisher, Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jerry Foley, Late Show With David Letterman
Jonathan Krisel, Portlandia
Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special 
Louis J. Horvitz, The Kennedy Center Honors
Bucky Bunts, London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
Louis C.K., Louis C.K.: Oh My God
Don Mischer, The Oscars
Michael Dempsey, 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief

Outstanding Reality – Competition Program
The Amazing Race
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
So You Think You Can Dance
Top Chef
The Voice

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality – Competition Program
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Betty White, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
Anthony Bourdain, The Taste

Part– not all– of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s 2012 finances have been published. I say part because the HFPA pulled a neat trick. They’ve separated their charitable donations into a different 501 c 3 that is not registered with GuideStar and hasn’t been published. That’s another story.

From what has just been published we can glean a couple of interesting notes: Dr. Aida Takla O’Reilly, president in 2011-2012, gave her job title a 38% raise. She made $84,612. The prior president, Phil Berk, had a salary of $61,000. Not bad. Dr. O’Reilly had only made $3,445 in 2010 when she overlapped with Berk as president.  According to the Form 990, O’Reilly worked 30 hours a  week. The four other officers, listed at 20 hours a week, made an average of $40,000 in 2011-12.

Altogether, the HFPA officers picked up about $50,000 in total increases in 2011 over 2010.

More importantly: HFPA spent a whopping $12.3 million in legal fees for their ongoing conflicts with Dick Clark Productions and NBC. That’s $2 million more than NBC paid them to license the Golden Globe name. You see, NBC is in ironically funding the HFPA’s legal fight to escape from them and from Dick Clark Productions. Without the annual NBC license fee, HPFA would have no money. They only took in $1,739 in membership fees in 2011-12.

HFPA did manage to spend $1 million in travel in 2011-12. That’s interesting since the studios pay their freight just about everywhere, from Cannes to Venice, to Telluride, Sundance, and so on.

What about the $1,570,000 HFPA announced in summer 2012 as charitable donations? For the first time the group has split into two 501 c3’s. The donations are not listed  on the Form 990 which was filed in May under Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Instead, they claim to have donated the total amount to an entity called Hollywood Foreign Press Association Charitable Trust. But GuideStar has no separate listing for that entity. If there is a filing, it hasn’t turned up yet.

Lisa Marie Presley is a name you hear in Memphis quite a lot. Tonight (Saturday) she’s performing at an outdoor venue right at the same the massive Blues Ball is taking place across town. Her show’s ticket price was cut from $500 to $300– and the reason given wasn’t that sales were slow but because LMP “wanted more people to be able to afford it.” Whatever.

More imporantly, the event tonight is significant because it’s not for anything to do with Scientology. “She’s out,” a local music insider  confirmed to last night. The concert at the Levitt Shell is free because it’s the place where Elvis Presley got his start in the 1950s. But afterward comes the Presley fundraiser at Graceland with a tour, a Q&A, and a photo session. That’s what the $300 buys. “A percentage” of the money goes to WorldVision, dubbed LMP’s official charity partner of this tour.

And no, WorldVision has nothing to do with Scientology, Barbara Walters’s new approved cult. They bill themselves as “an Evangelical Christian Humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.”

Okay, I love old people. But maybe it’s time for Barbara Walters to wrap it up. Why wait til next May? She defended Scientology’s educational system on The View today. Sherri Shepherd jumps right in, and Barbara continues. Why? Radaronline.com, which picked this up originally, surmises Barbara is trying to get some kind of interview with Tom Cruise. If she really sticks to this, Walters is having her own Nixonian meltdown. When Shepherd says “Didn’t we have someone on who said she [had a bad time with with Scientology] Walters responds, “I’m not talking about that aspect of Scientology.” No, she’s only interested in the aspect that deals with celebrity interviews. Radar got Jenna Mascavige Hill to criticize Walter’s stand. www.radaronline.com. Frankly, I’m horrified. But this Walters showing her truest self. Watch the clip. Shepherd is very deft when dealing with this ancient mariner.

We are here in Memphis, Tennessee and have hit the ground running. The occasion is the 20th annual Blues Ball, thrown by Memphis’s doyenne of doyennes Pat Kerr Tigrett to raise money for local charities. This year, R&B legend Sam Moore is the honoree for Lifetime Achievement, and he will be performing on Saturday night in front of 2,500 formally attired Memphians.

Tigrett’s annual event is a magnet for all of Memphis’s famed musicians, and this year is no exception. Expected tomorrow night are the creme de la creme of Stax-Hi Records-Sun Records including Jerry Lee Lewis, Al Green, Ann Peebles, Carla Thomas, Marvell Thomas and so on.

When I was here filming “Only the Strong Survive” in the summer of 1999, the lot where Stax Records once stood was an empty field of weeds. The neighborhood had gone to hell in a handbasket. It was pretty bleak.

But a couple of years later thanks to brothers Andy and Staley Cates, Stax was re-born. They raised the money to build a museum and charter school and music academy on the property. A whole campus has risen around it since then, and Stax is now a focal point for the community. It’s quite an achievement.

This morning Sam and his wife Joyce were invited over for a private tour. The museum replicates the facade of Stax and the Satellite Record shop in the front. Inside, there are dozens exhibits detailing the history of soul music. They’ve also reproduced the original studio where Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, the Staples Singers and so many other Stax acts recorded their landmark hits. When we walked into the big room, a whole gang of us, Sam immediately gravitated to the spot where he sang with Dave Prater. He pointed to a spot just behind him.

“You had to be careful and not back up while you were singing.” he said. “There was a curtain here”– he motioned to the spot. “If you backed up you heard a lot of bottles fall and clink together. Those were Otis’s whiskey bottles. We knew he’d been in here the night before!”

What we also got was something very special: a show put on by the music students at Stax. They performed a medley of Stax hits, from “Soul Man” to “Knock on Wood” and a few others. These were fourteen to eighteen year olds. They were just outstanding, and a concrete example of the possibilities of renewal and growth where once everything seemed lost and abandoned.

Meantime, all anyone seems to do in this town is eat or talk about eating. It is still the barbecue capital of the south. After all the ribs and bread puddings I hope I will fit into my tuxedo on Emmy night!