Alyson Hannigan

COMEDY LEAD ACTRESS

Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives": Pregnancy and delivery of her twins kept Cross’ presence on the show limited, but few actresses play a problem-plagued preppy better.

Teri Hatcher, "Desperate Housewives": Hatcher was the kudos darling of the show during season one, and there are those who probably still feel that as her character goes, so goes the series. Her naivete and klutziness might get repetitive at times but, remember, this is "Housewives," not "The Sopranos."

Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives": Huffman always manages to do the near-impossible: create a goodhearted character with human flaws who actually feels real, allowing viewers to alternately love or hate her from scene to scene.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine": The "Seinfeld" curse officially eliminated, Louis-Dreyfus’ sad-sack Christine mothers her son so much you want to give him an oxygen mask to let him breathe.

Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds": With seven Globe noms (and one win) over the past couple of years for the show, voters are smoking what "Weeds" is dealing. Parker seems on the verge of stepping up here.

Leah Remini, "King of Queens": Though awards never came her way during the skein’s astonishing nine-year run, don’t cry for the very wealthy Remini. With the series over now, maybe voters will send her off with a nom.

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jenna Fischer, "The Office": Fischer shines in putting her character Pam’s internal battle over her tortured love life on display each week. On a rare half-hour with multiple comedy actress contenders, Fischer leads the way.

Alyson Hannigan, "How I Met Your Mother": Never nominated for an Emmy despite her respected work on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Mother," Hannigan keeps the comic wheels turning on the relationship-driven CBS sitcom.

Melora Hardin, "The Office": Hardin’s scenes as the beleaguered superior (and lover) of Steve Carell’s Michael Scott have been so winning, her only problem has been not being in every episode.

Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds": Mary-Louise Parker may be the star, but Perkins, at least up to now, is the breakout thesp awards-wise. With two Globe noms and one Emmy nom, voters are impressed with Perkins’ turn as the unstable suburban mom.

Jamie Pressly, "My Name Is Earl": Nominated last year, Pressly hasn’t lost any of her "oh, snap" as Joy. Though the show itself seems to have lost a little of its freshman luster, Pressly has crackled on.