So there is no time like the present to look back on the best series and performances of the last year and offer serious advice on who belongs where.

Here's a rundown of the series and actors that I believe are the most deserving in the drama and comedy categories. While many readers will undoubtedly feel that I have left a few of their favorites off this list, surely we can all agree that the people and the programs mentioned below warrant special attention.

The point is to remind voting members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences of the outstanding work included here, since they have an annoying habit of bypassing some of the medium's best. I tried to limit my final choices to six per category, but as always, I found it impossible to do so when considering the extraordinary supporting work on so many shows.

Feel free to add your own suggestions to each group (and please remember that perennial Emmy favorite Breaking Bad is not in the running this year since it did not air during the eligibility period).

Outstanding Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Justified (FX)
The Killing (AMC)
Mad Men (AMC)

Outstanding Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Community (NBC)
The Middle (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Raising Hope (Fox)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Kyle Chandler - Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
Michael C. Hall - Dexter (Showtime)
Jon Hamm - Mad Men (AMC)
Timothy Olyphant - Justified (FX)
Matt Smith - Doctor Who (BBC America)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carell - The Office (NBC)
Matt LeBlanc - Episodes (Showtime)
Joel McHale - Community (NBC)
Matthew Morrison - Glee (Fox)
Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Connie Britton - Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
Mireille Enos - The Killing (AMC)
Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife (CBS)
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men (AMC)
Katey Sagal - Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer (TNT)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Toni Collette - United States of Tara (Showtime)
Courteney Cox - Cougar Town (ABC)
Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Patricia Heaton - The Middle (ABC)
Martha Plimpton - Raising Hope (Fox)
Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Alan Cumming - The Good Wife (CBS)
Peter Dinklage - Game of Thrones (HBO)
Walton Goggins - Justified (FX)
Michael B. Jordan - Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC)
John Noble - Fringe (Fox)
Brent Sexton - The Killing (AMC)
Michael Shannon - Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
John Slattery - Mad Men (AMC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell - Modern Family (ABC)
Chris Colfer - Glee (Fox)
Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Peter Facinelli - Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Modern Family (ABC)
Stephen Mangan - Episodes (Showtime)
Ed O'Neill - Modern Family (ABC)
Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Gabrielle Anwar - Burn Notice (USA Network)
Michelle Forbes - The Killing (AMC)
Sharon Gless - Burn Notice (USA Network)
Christina Hendricks - Mad Men (AMC)
Laurie Holden - The Walking Dead (AMC)
Margo Martindale - Justified (FX)
Archie Panjabi - The Good Wife (CBS)
Kiernan Shipka - Mad Men (AMC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Eve Best - Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Julie Bowen - Modern Family (ABC)
Tamsin Greig - Episodes (Showtime)
Jane Lynch - Glee (Fox)
Heather Morris - Glee (Fox)
Kathleen Rose Perkins - Episodes (Showtime)
Sofia Vergara - Modern Family (ABC)
Betty White - Hot in Cleveland (TV Land)