After a whirlwind season full of surprising contestants, and even more surprising favorites and shocking eliminations, Dancing With the Stars has finally reached the most suspenseful point of its season; the round that will determine who will complete for the mirror ball in next week's two part finale.  Tonight, four couples will compete for the right to move on to that finale, and the performances and scores could even predict who is most likely to win Dancing With the Stars' coveted disco ball next week, but for the time being lets take a moment to predict who will, or will not, move on to the finale.

Couple #1 - J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff

Every year Dancing With the Stars pundits talk about how success on the show is divided between celebrity appeal and actual dancing ability, with the dancing become more and more weighted towards the end of each season.  In J.R. Martinez you have an individual whose life transcends celebrity, perhaps more than any other competitor to ever walk across the Dancing With the Stars Ballroom. As Martinez's mentor and partner, Smirnoff is one of the most recognizable pros on the show and is well loved by the fans.  Putting their celebrity, J.R. can actually dance very well and his positive attitude towards competition is infectious and inspirational.  Martinez will most definitely make it to the finals of Dancing With the Stars, and is one to watch to the end.

Couple #2 - Ricki Lake and Derek Hough

Ricki Lake's extensive background as a performer in various venues has given her an edge all season long.  Her dancing has come a long way, but her presentation has been top notch from the very beginning of this year's Dancing With the Stars' competition.  She is nuanced, focused, and exudes ambition.  Much in the same way that Jerry Springer captured hearts during his run, Ricki knows how to work a crowd through her years of on-the-floor talk show hosting. Derek Hough is intimidating to say the least, but despite his dancing prowess even he has to work to keep up with Lake's full spectrum performances.  I put Lake as a potential underdog because much of her celebrity does emanate from daytime cable and cult films, but she has a good chance of being in the final three next week.

Couple #3 - Hope Solo and Maksim Chemerkovskiy

If this duo walked in off the street to join Dancing With the Stars as complete unknowns, they'd probably still be at this stage of the game.  Hope Solo is beautiful, elegant, athletic, and a disciplined dancer who is practically indistinguishable in skill from her 'pro' partner, Chemerkovskiy - who is, with no doubt, one of the the best recognized and most well loved pros from the male stable of Dancing With the Stars' pros.  This captivating team is the force to reckon with this season and will be tough to beat come next week. They will, pun intended, skate through this week's round.

Couple #4 - Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke

Cheryl Burke kicked off her Dancing With the Stars career with two back to back wins and has since then competed in the finale twice.  It's been four seasons since she's made it to the final round, and she's hungry for it, you can tell.  Being teamed with the 'why is he famous again?' celebutante Rob Kardashian portended a rough road for Burke, and the road to tonight's competition has been a rough one.  Despite the ridicule that comes with being famous for being "the brother of that girl in the sex tape who was married for 72 days..." Kardashian has put an earnest effort into bettering his skills.  Perhaps it's driven by an unconscious need to legitimize his 'celebrity' status.  Whether his real sweat and tears outweigh the fact that there isn't much really keeping him in the 'stars' column doesn't really matter at this point, as we stated earlier dancing ability is now tipping the scales of celebrity and Kardashian will need to pull off an absolute stunner to stay in the Dancing With the Stars game.  Prediction:  it's back to reality TV after tonight,  Rob Kardashian is going down.

Dancing With the Stars - Who Will Be The Finalists (Prediction)

What do you get when you cross about a dozen drag queens, awesomely bad puns, sequins, shade, more sequins, product placement extravaganzas, and a whole lot of pink? If you said “a good time”, you’d technically be correct, but the answer I’m looking for is “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, the most fun hour of television week in and week out.

The hit Logo reality show is something like American Idol meets Project Runway meets America’s Next Top Model by way of a bad ecstasy trip. The queens have to have charisma (as well as uniqueness, nerve, and talent) and know how to work a stage, but they’re responsible for providing/making their own costumes and being able to accomplish all of what makes a drag queen true royalty. In addition to the considerable skill set that one must have to make it far in the competition (in a nutshell, sew, strut, and sell), all challenges based on Ru’s career highlights, you have to be able to hang with the big girls in terms of dishing out catty one liners (if you let it break you, you're done) and overshadowing that chick while lip syncing for your life.

The prize? $75,000, a lifetime supply of Kryolan makeup, and a spot on the Absolut Drag Tour.

Now in its third season, the show has ramped up the number of contestants (13), celebrity guest judges (Vanessa Williams, Chloe Sevigny, and Lily Tomlin, among others, have already stopped by), and ridiculous challenges (exercise videos, red carpet scandals, campy sci fi movie trailers) to the point where 42 minutes with Ru and the ladies is a big ball of positivity at the end of a long Monday night. Joined on the judging panel by Project Runway alum Santino Rice and multi-talented Michelle Visage, Ru is a warm, gracious host who can spit out Paris is Burning references and her signature “don’t f-ck it up” warning with as much aplomb as tender words of praise to the more fragile queens. While Drag Race is the ultimate reality three ring circus, there's enough emotional stories there to keep you personally invested in what happens; it's not like other reality shows where it's used as a crutch to keep someone on a show, though. Many queens have had a moment, shrugged it off, and went about their business, keen on proving whoever did them wrong with their strength of character and resolve.

In celebration of just how good the show actually is, I thought I’d run down the contestants in terms of who I like and who I think will make it to the final three, eventually winning the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar.

As per usual with any reality show, who I like isn’t necessarily who I think will make it into the top three. Right now,Raja, Manila, and Shangela are the top three contestants and two of those I agree with. Raja, also known as Sutan the make-up artist from America’s Next Top Model, is the oldest and by far the most professional queen there, consistently giving the judges this kind of couture sophistication that Drag Race doesn’t normally see. He’s got a runway walk for the ages and has been a frontrunner since day one, but his personality is a little much and sometimes it’s hard to root for the one who knows they’re the best and passes judgment on everyone else out there (could this be a Raven edit?). As much as I respect Raja’s work, I’m also not sure if he’s as much of a drag queen as he is a fantastic model; I’d like to see him lip sync for his life once to find out how much performance talent is in that gazelle-like body, but for now, he’s definitely the one to beat.

Manila, boyfriend of last year’s Sahara Davenport, faces the opposite problem where she’s a dynamite performer (her runway is graceful and her acting has been magnetic) but a little spotty in terms of fashion. Her fashion “offenses” are relatively minor and she still dwarves some of the other queens in that area, but I’m just afraid that she’ll pull a Jujubee/Pandora where the performances consistently crackle (the stereotypically Asian accent gives me mixed feelings -- I hope she goes back to it sparingly) but the style is meh. All I know is that I would liked to have seen her performance as Tweaker the Space Monkey a little more, so Logo, get on that.

Shangela was the first queen eliminated last season, but after co-starring in an episode of Terriers and getting a year of experience under her belt, she reauditioned and made it back into the house. Halleloo! She’s kind of in the same boat as Manila where her fashion has been okay at best (so. many. nip slips.), but she’s won two challenges for how charismatic and fiery her performances have been. I personally don’t even really see Shangela in the traditional sense of a Drag Queen who performs in nightclubs and tours; I think she could easily be an entertainment reporter (her gossip segment on the QNN News was charming) or actress because when she’s on, she’s so likable. Ru obviously likes her enough to keep her around, so I think she’ll get far. I just hope she doesn’t get in her own way.

RuPaul's Drag Race: Preening, Posing, and Prognosticating

30 Rock rules the Emmy Nomination Roost this year with an astounding 22 nominations.  I won't be able to look at a winged woman holding a giant atom without thinking of Tina Fey.  On the drama side of things, Mad Men made it's mark with a whooping 16 noms, bringing its total to a ridiculous 32 nominations since it entered contention.  To give you an idea of how awesome the Emmy folks think Mad Men is, it is the only show nominated for Outstanding Writing besides LOST, which snared a single nomination in the category.  Now, for the major  2009 Emmy Nominations, and our reaction.

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

Entourage • Tree Trippers • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in

association with HBO Entertainment

Julian Farino, Director

Flight Of The Conchords • The Tough Brets • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in

association with HBO Entertainment

James Bobin, Director

The Office • Stress Relief • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios

Jeff Blitz, Director

30 Rock • Apollo, Apollo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association

with Universal Media Studios

Millicent Shelton, Director

30 Rock • Reunion • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with

Universal Media Studios

Beth McCarthy, Director

30 Rock • Generalissimo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association

with Universal Media Studios

Todd Holland, Director

Let's just make a rule here.  Any show that dominates a category like this is probably going to win - even if they lose. Seriously.  It would almost seem like a consolation prize.  "Sorry we only liked one of your episodes, Entourage, here's a nice gold statue to make up for it." 30 Rock seems like a lock here [ed's not: Thank you captain obvious], but Flight of the Conchords could pull an upset. Stop laughing, I meant that.

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series

Battlestar Galactica • Daybreak (Part 2) • Syfy • R&D TV in association with Universal

Cable Productions

Michael Rymer, Director

Boston Legal • Made In China/Last Call • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in

association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Bill D'Elia, Director

Damages • Trust Me • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Todd A. Kessler, Director

ER • And In The End • NBC • Constant c Productions, Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Rod Holcomb, Director

Mad Men • The Jet Set • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Phil Abraham, Director

As smug as it makes me feel to see Battlestar Galactica in a major category like this, I have to say... bad choice!  "Here's your motivation... you have none, God did it all. Just walk around and look really serious." Kudos to the Emmy publicists for getting the SyFy thing right, though.  Damages should, by all things holy and coveted in the film-making curriculum, win this category.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner

Bros. Television

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper

Flight Of The Conchords • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment

Jemaine Clement as Jemaine

Monk • USA • Universal Cable Productions in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios

Steve Carell as Michael Scott

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal

Media Studios

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper

Wow, this almost looks like a "got nominated a bazillion times before" club meeting.  I gotta say, I hope Tony Shaloub, Jemaine Clement, or Jim Parsons win just to wash away the 'Cliche' after taste.  Seriously, everybody here is brilliant - but there are definitely some unsung talents that acted their hearts out that could have outclassed this category.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television

Bryan Cranston as Walter White

Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions,

The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan

House • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z

Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions

Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House

In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment

Gabriel Byrne as Paul

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Jon Hamm as Don Draper

The Mentalist • CBS • Warner Bros. Television

Simon Baker as Patrick Jane

Color me six shades of conflicted. Every last actor here rocked my world last season.  I'm a little surprised to see Simon Baker, but hey - the guy has chops.  I wouldn't lay money on any of these contenders though, anyone of them could clinch this.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari's Logo Here in association with

Warner Bros. Television

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine

Samantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios

Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly

The Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central • Central Productions/Eleven Eleven

O'Clock Productions/Oil Factory Inc.

Sarah Silverman as Sarah Silverman

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal

Media Studios

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

United States Of Tara • Showtime • Showtime presents in association with DreamWorks Television

Toni Collette as Tara Gregson

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and

Tilted Productions, Inc.

Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

All I have to say is keep your eyes on Collette, girls.  Collette has her work cut out for her with Tara Gregson, and she nails the multiple personality thing with ease.  I loathed the concept initially, because Eddie Murphy has made that whole one-actor-many-characters thing so passe.  Then I watched it and realized it was as much about the multiverse of personality as it was the very strange and meaningful worldview that developed in the family and community around here.  That is where the magic happens.  Collette deserves to be dominating this category, one nomination for each of her characters.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios

Sally Field as Nora Walker

The Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros.

Television

Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal

Media Studios

Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

Saving Grace • TNT • Fox Television

Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko

I have no horse in this race.  I feel a little bit robbed that Mary-Louise Parker is in Comedy and not Drama, but that is the price of Dramedy.  Oh, and Katherine Heigl - that humility looks GREAT on you.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with

HBO Entertainment

Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama

How I Met Your Mother • CBS • 20^th Century Fox Television

Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with

Universal Media Studios

Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal

Media Studios

Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal

Media Studios

Jack McBrayer as Kenneth Parcell

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

Who was the wise-guy who nominated the host? Seriously though, Cryer has been reduced to schtick as most of the others have - it wouldn't be a surprise to see the ever fresh Neil Patrick Harris snare this. He is the only one that seems to move with an undeniable inner energy to do something new.  The others are more sustaining a pre-established brilliance.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Boston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth

Century Fox Television

William Shatner as Denny Crane

Boston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth

Century Fox Television

Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson

Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

William Hurt as Daniel Purcell

Lost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios

Michael Emerson as Ben Linus

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

John Slattery as Roger Sterling

Pardon me, Emmy voters... it is time to get your head out of your asses.  Michael Emerson has crafted a bench-mark performance as Ben Linus. "Ben Linus" now appears on the sinister/ambiguous/geeky-yet-dangerous/scary yard stick.  I honestly can't figure out why you people have not galvanized his brilliance with an Emmy - and no, the other ones don't count any more.  Frankly, the time to do the right thing has passed, at this point giving Emerson the Emmy would be more of an act of contrition.  As a matter of fact, upgrade it to outstanding lead, just because.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in

association with Warner Bros. Television

Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video

Amy Poehler as Various Characters

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video

Kristin Wiig as Various Characters

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal

Media Studios

Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios

Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and

Tilted Productions, Inc.

Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes

Some actresses work their butts off to project an identity, some just radiate.  Vanessa Williams radiates.  On that note, Elizabeth Perkins works it on so many levels - too bad she'll ultimately lose to either Amy Poehler or Jane Krakowski.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television

Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons

Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios

Sandra Oh as Dr. Christina Yang

Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios

Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey

In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment

Dianne Wiest as Gina

In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in

association with HBO Entertainment

Hope Davis as Mia

24 • FOX • Imagine Television and 20^th Century Fox Television in association with

Teakwood Lane Productions

Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor

I honestly expected more from Cherry Jones.  Not to be too much of a Wednesday's child about it, but woe is us - she gave us a pretty wimpy woman president, but ultimately that is how she was written.  Given the political happenings of recent memory, though, it would be interesting to see if the significance of her character carries any weight.

The Emmy Statue

2009 Emmy Nominations Released