Executive producer Don Mischer, who has won 13 Emmys himself, tried to make the Emmy show a little more fun to watch, proposing this summer to pre-tape, and thus speed up, award presentations in eight relatively obscure categories.

But huge Hollywood egos got ruffled and the plans were dropped. Now, instead of getting a little entertainment, the audience can watch all the artists preen and vamp on tonight's show, which starts at 8 on CBS3.

That audience should provide ratings even tinier than last year's record lows, as the Emmys fall further behind the Oscars and Grammys in public significance.

To make the show even more jammed, Emmy expanded the field of nominees in top categories from five to six, and that became seven for best comedy and best drama when there were ties in both categories.

You may be unfamiliar with a lot of these shows and these people. That's because the best TV is on cable these days, and you have to make a little effort to keep up.

Jonathan Storm's Emmy picks:

Show, Drama

Big Love (HBO)
Dexter (Showtime)
Mad Men (AMC)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Lost (ABC)
House (Fox)
Damages (FX)

Demonstrating the downside of entertainment awards, every single one of these dramas would fit easily into a list of the top 100 (or even top 50) of all time, and it's no cop-out to say they all should win. Big Love and Dexter had their best seasons ever, but Mad Men has the most Hollywood buzz and will win again.

Show, Comedy

Entourage (HBO)
30 Rock (NBC)
The Office (NBC)
Weeds (Showtime)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Family Guy (Fox)
Flight of the Conchords (HBO)

Ultra-obscure Conchords is one of the funniest shows in TV history. Not even nominated, The Big Bang Theory is the funniest sitcom on big-network TV, but among this bunch it's hard to imagine 30 Rock (see best comic actress) not grabbing its third straight Emmy.

Actor, Drama

Hugh Laurie (House, Fox)
Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment, HBO)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Showtime)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, AMC)
Simon Baker (The Mentalist, CBS)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men, AMC)

Throw out Simon Baker, who smiles nice, and you've got a true all-star lineup. But Cranston, a delightful surprise winner last year, puts every bit of his body and his energy on the line. He will repeat, but it's probably time that Emmy gave the big one to Laurie, who broadened his cranky character significantly last season.

Actress, Drama

Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC)
Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters, ABC)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer, TNT)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, AMC)
Glenn Close (Damages, FX)
Holly Hunter (Saving Grace, TNT)

Moss may not belong in this category, just as Rose Byrne doesn't belong in the supporting actress group, yet both young actresses were scintillating last season, and Moss was better than any of her veteran competition. That said, who can beat Glenn Close?

Actor, Comedy

Steve Carrell (The Office, NBC)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk, USA)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, NBC)
Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, HBO)
Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men, CBS)

Don't get me started about Clement (just go out and get the DVDs), a musician and humorist who has about as much chance of winning the Emmy as a New Zealander has of making it big in New York City. Jim Parsons has created a wonderfully lovable hateful character, but Alec Baldwin will ride in on the big wave (see best comic actress).

Actress, Comedy

Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, Comedy Central)
Toni Collette (The United States of Tara, Showtime)
Mary Louise Parker (Weeds, Showtime)
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?, ABC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine, CBS)
Tina Fey (30 Rock, NBC)

Collette, as a character with multiple personalities; Parker, as a complex suburban mother caught up in the drug trade; and consummate clown Louis-Dreyfus, directly in the line of Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett, are all worthy. But Fey's glowing moment goes on and on. She won the Emmy last weekend as best guest actress in a comedy, at the so-called creative arts awards, for her Saturday Night Live Sarah Palin send-up, and she and her show and castmates should sweep up a few more prizes tonight.

Supporting Actor, Drama

William Shatner (Boston Legal, ABC)
Christian Clemenson (Boston Legal)
Michael Emerson (Lost, ABC)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, AMC)
John Slattery (Mad Men, AMC)
William Hurt (Damages, FX)

Emerson was better than ever as the enigmatic Ben Linus, and Paul, as his character got hooked on heroin, grew into a worthy foil for Cranston's desperate drug-dealing family man. But, come on, it's William Hurt. His now-you-know-him, now-you-don't performance was superb and will win this Emmy.

Supporting Actress, Drama

Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy, ABC)
Dianne Wiest (In Treatment, HBO)
Rose Byrne (Damages, FX)
Hope Davis (In Treatment)
Cherry Jones (24, Fox)
Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy)

Are we still giving acting noms to Grey's Anatomy? That's Emmy for you. Cherry Jones' President Taylor was the best broadcast performance last season. As much the star in Damages as Close, Byrne gave an even better performance than her veteran partner and deserves this prize, at least. But, come on, it's Dianne Wiest. So what if Hope Davis outshone her on her own show?

Supporting Actor, Comedy

Kevin Dillon (Entourage, HBO)
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men, CBS)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, CBS)
Tracy Morgan (30 Rock, NBC)
Jack McBrayer (30 Rock)
Rainn Wilson (The Office)

This is one place where 30 Rock will miss, even if McBrayer is so delightful as that canny, not-so-naïve little page. Harris, the Mother star (whom does he support?) is mis-categorized here, but that never bothers Emmy. He's also the host of tonight's show, and, though he had his own series 20 years ago and a zillion roles in between, is now emerging as a Really Big Star. He should and will win.

Supporting Actress, Comedy

Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies, ABC)
Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds, Showtime)
Jane Krakowski (30 Rock, ABC)
Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty, ABC)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

Wouldn't it be lovely to see the dear, departed Daisies win a prize, for the darling, deserving Chenoweth? And Wiig, who has been good since she stepped onto the SNL set, had a breakout year. Poehler, with her Palin rap and new show last year, will give the 30 Rock juggernaut a run for its money, but this year, Krakowski will get noticed, even if Jenna never does. 

Television

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards
8 tonight on CBS3

Contact television critic Jonathan Storm at 215-854-5618 or jstorm@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at http://go.philly.com/jonathanstorm.