Who deserves an Emmy, and why?

Rosenthal: I hope "Arrested Development" wins because I like that show. And that's the future, hopefully. People say that the sitcom is dead. Well, not while "Arrested Development" is on. That's a good show. It's always funny. I always laugh at that show. What a terrific cast.

Kroll: I think "24" is one of the best shows of the last 10 years and can't win too many awards. Sure, you can pick it apart if you have nothing better to do, but on a purely visceral level it "feels" like real time, and I think the ways the writers construct the stories to weave in and out of one another is just spectacular.

"Penn & Teller: Bullshit" is terrific because it makes people reexamine dogma and think for themselves. I love the notion that the show is perceived as being liberal and yet most of the issues they attack are politically to the left. Let's face it, both sides of the political spectrum could do well to make their stands on issues more fact-based. Also, the "Punk'd" element of the show can be mean but is really funny and makes people realize they should not believe everything they read or hear.

Finally, of course, I'm partial to "The Amazing Race," simply because it's the most difficult show, from a production standpoint, ever conceived of, and yet manages to be consistently compelling ... and I say that as a viewer of Season 5, which I did not participate in.

Miss Alli: The most underappreciated people working in television are in postproduction for good reality shows. They're the biggest difference between terrific, engaging shows and crummy ones, and they're generally anonymous even when their shows are gigantic hits ("The Apprentice," for instance). Furthermore, they tolerate insufferable snobbery about reality television in general, often from people who don't watch it and haven't a clue what they're talking about. I'd love to see "The Amazing Race" editors take an Emmy, because those people do sharp, witty, excellent work.

Cowen: Even though it's self-serving, I truly believe Sharon Gless [Debbie Novotny on "Queer as Folk"] deserves to be recognized. Not only because she's a great actress, but because she's brave. There's not much of that around.

Rice: Larry David ["Curb Your Enthusiasm"]. He's hilarious, unique and speaks honestly to the ugly realities of human interrelationships.

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