Emmy 2013 Predictions: 'Veep' Actress Could Win Over SNL Alum [Poll]

This television season featured a host of stellar comedy series, from dark comedies to the obtusely hilarious. There were shows that fell into the category of comedy-drama, such as the woefully funny HBO series "Enlightened," and the deadpan hilarity of NBC hits "30 Rock" and "Parks and Recreation." Such groundbreaking comedies would not be what they are without the star power of a number of superb leading ladies. The 2013 Emmy Awards are honoring a number of consummate actresses who attain the elusive mixture of comedic timing and outstanding believability. Below are the nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress In a Comedy Series, along with out prediction as to who will take home the prize.

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon ("30 Rock"): Tina Fey ranks among the top female comediennes on the current comedy scene. The Saturday Night Live alum is the Executive Producer, head writer and star of "30 Rock," a three-time Emmy Award winning series on NBC. Fey's Liz Lemon is a comedy writer of a fictional sketch-comedy show, which is based on Fey's real-life experiences as a head writer for SNL. Fey plays Lemon as smart, sarcastic but never caustic, and a bit nerdy. Fey created a likable character and an equally likable--and hilarious-- series. Some have pegged her as the top contender.

Lauren Dern as Amy Jellicoe ("Enlightened"): Dern stars as Amy Jellicoe, a former executive who is demoted to a lesser position after having a nervous breakdown in front of her coworkers. She is sent to a holistic rehab center in Hawaii to emotionally reboot, and returns with an ostensible mission to live and preach serenity and wholeness. Dern's role in the HBO series is irritating and parodic, yet is played with an underlying compassion and melancholy that brings the show to a different level.

Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath ("Girls"): Twenty-seven-year-old Lena Dunham, the creator and star of HBO's "Girls," plays Hannah Horvath, a self-destructive girl trying to navigate through her twenties amidst existential crises, a perpetual lack of funds and a healthy dose of drama. Lena's Hannah is sometimes likable, but most often she is infuriatingly self-centered, not to mention increasingly self-destructive. Lena is superb at playing such a complicated character, and is wonderful at reflecting the common plights faced by many millennial twenty-somethings.

Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton ("Nurse Jackie"): Edie Falco has the most Emmy wins out of any actress in this category: three for her role in "The Sopranos" and one in 2010 for "Nurse Jackie." Falco is nominated once again for her funny yet darkly affecting portrayal of Jackie, a New York City nurse who is battling an enduring addiction to painkillers. Falco plays the role with scathing realism mixed with a splash of comedy, making Jackie's self-destructivness pitiable yet amusingly facetious.

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope ("Parks and Recreation"): Tina Fey's fellow SNL alum and apparent real-life best friend, Amy Poehler, was nominated three times for her role as the Type A Parks Director of the small town of Pawnee. Poehler's Leslie Knope is high strung and ambitious, but Poehler emphasizes her caring nature and fierce loyalty, traits that made her character a fan favorite.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer ("Veep"): The two-time Emmy Award winner plays Selina Meyer, the Vice President of the United States who suffers from an inferiority complex due to being second in command. Louis-Dreyfus' character is foul-mouthed and sarcastic, and has a strained relationship with the President. Yet, despite all the chaotic political maneuverings, she still manages to fight for the greater good. Louis-Dreyfus has also been rumored to be the voters' favorite.

Prediction: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the favorite to take the statue due to her superbly hilarious performance as Vice President Selina Meyer. Her lines are delivered with exquisite comedic timing. She can portray a range of emotions within a matter of minutes, making each facial expression and sardonic line believable and hysterical. Louis-Dreyfus' comedic talent is truly a tour de force that transforms every character she plays into a classic role.