Iconic actress battles 'Modern' femmes

Julie Bowen"Modern Family" ABCWhy she might win: If you want to call an ultra-anal obsessive mom the "rock" of the show, so be it. Bowen's Mama bear doting on her kids is wonderfully affecting, and her balance of slapstick blended with sincerity is a critical element in making the show a huge hit.Maybe not: She doesn't offer the va-va-voom factor of co-star Sofia Vergara, not always grabbing viewers' attention right away. Being the straight person is sometimes a difficult way to line up Emmy statuettes on your mantel. Jane Krakowski"30 Rock" NBCWhy she might win: Krakowski is willing to go farther for the sake of the character than most others. Last season she dressed as African-American football player Lynn Swann and donned a beard in the season finale. Her flamboyance should count for something.Maybe not: Though the show employs a terrific supporting cast, rightly or wrongly Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin have long been recognized as the faces most associated with the show in a kudos context. Difficult to say if that would change as the series moves along year after year. Jane Lynch"Glee" FoxWhy she might win: She's the defending champ in the category, instrumental in turning "Glee" into a worldwide cultural sensation. Her storylines, though often wildly over the top, provide the laugh-out-loud moments of a show that frequently drifts into high drama.Maybe not: Like many series that start out incredibly well, "Glee" has suffered some critical and audience backlash, and the Academy may be in agreement with those beliefs. Sofia Vergara"Modern Family" ABCWhy she might win: Her comic timing is pinpoint, delivering her lines with the accuracy a Vaudevillian pro. While many wondered whether she and on-screen hubby Ed O'Neill would have chemistry, their potion has been pitch perfect, and a wonderful May-September romance to witness.Maybe not: Some voters may be reluctant to give Vergara the comedy credit she deserves. Betty White"Hot in Cleveland" TV LandWhy she might win: Well, because she's Betty White, and that may be all she needs. No woman has been more warmly embraced the past few years than White, who has the energy of a teenager that belies her 89-year-old body. She's earned every one of her laughs over a brilliant career.Maybe not: No disrespect to "Hot in Cleveland," but it's not exactly cutting-edge comedy. If this were 1984, White and the show would be at or near the top among TV's comedy hierarchy, but it all feels a little dated now.Kristen Wiig"Saturday Night Live" NBCWhy she might win: Wiig's contributions to "SNL" are a welcome combo of recurring favorite characters, and new ones -- both of which may be around for quite awhile. And if Emmy wants to have some movie cred, it'll be hard to ignore Wiig's surprise box office hit "Bridesmaids," which increased her visibility on the big and smallscreen.Maybe not: "SNL" didn't seem to maintain the comedy momentum it had gained in years past. Every season can't top the previous one, but it would be hard to make the case that this would be the appropriate time to honor the iconic skein's cast members.ROAD TO THE EMMYS: SUPPORTING ACTRESS & ACTOR: TV's team playersSupporting Actor - Drama | Supporting Actress - Drama | Supporting Actor - Comedy | Supporting Actress - Comedy Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com