It's the most wonderful time of the year: awards season. Yes, Christmas may have come and gone, and with it yuletide cheer, but for cinema and television buffs, celebrations have only just begun. 

Award shows have all the essential ingredients of a Christmas dinner — the lights, the music, the ghastly outfits.  The only difference between your holiday feast and this year's Golden Globe Awards is that the scornful commentary on 2011's peaks and valleys will be coming from comedian Ricky Gervais instead of your Aunt Marge.

Before you pop the bubbly and hang the streamers for the show on Sunday (5 p.m. PST), take a look at Neon Tommy's prediction for this year's winners in television. 

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

Nominees:  "American Horror Story," FX; "Boardwalk Empire," HBO; "Boss," Starz; "Game of Thrones," HBO; "Homeland," Showtime

It's predominantly a pack of new meat, with "Boardwalk Empire" being the only returning series nominated in the category. HBO's critically acclaimed period piece took home the prize last year, but precedent says the HFPA favors fresh flavors. "American Horror Story" has a devoted cult following and is filling the network's sex and gore void left behind by "Nip/Tuck." But ghostly coitus does not a winner make.

A complex and twisted drama-thriller with the perfect combination of psychological torments and of-the-moment political intrigue, Showtime's "Homeland" is likely to nab the association's attention. 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

Nominees: Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"; Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"; Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"; Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias"; Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Despite sweeping the Emmys for three straight years, Bryan Cranston has never taken home a globe; this is his year. There's stiff competition from the likes of Steve Buscemi (last year's winner) and Damian Lewis. Lewis has captivated audiences with his tactful performance as a war hero gone terrorist suffering from Stockholm Syndrome after eight years as a POW in Iraq. But Lewis' time will come; after years of snubbing the fan favorite, the HFPA is going to go for the obvious pick in Cranston.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

Nominees: Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Mireille Enos, "The Killing"; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"; Madeleine Stowe, "Revenge"; Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness"

Julianna Margulies has previously reigned victorious in this category, and it isn't likely she'll enjoy a repeat win. Madeleine Stowe has earned a wealth of critical accolades since "Revenge" premiered this fall, but the HFPA isn't about to give out statues to ABC's latest guilty pleasure drama that feeds off of audiences from "Housewives" and "Grey's." 

Like her costar Lewis, Claire Danes' roller coaster performance on "Homeland" stops audiences in their tracks, and is sure to do the same with members of the HFPA.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Nominees: "Enlightened," HBO, "Episodes" Showtime; "Glee," Fox; "Modern Family," ABC; "New Girl," Fox

"Glee" is boasting a two for two record in this category (so much for the association not dishing out awards to guilty pleasure shows). And while the show has made headlines with controversial plots (namely acknowledging that both straight and gay high school students do in fact have sex), it's also not of the caliber we saw in season one. 

"Modern Family" is undeniably overdue for a globe; the show is consistently phenomenal. Equal parts heart-warming and side-stitching, this relatable and raucously entertaining show will no doubt take home a victory on Sunday.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Nominees: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; David Duchovny, "Californication"; Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"; Thomas Jane, "Hung"; Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

Both David Duchovny and Alec Baldwin are veterans here (and in Baldwin's case, a decorated sergeant--he's taken home the globe three times for his roaringly funny role on "30 Rock"). Never earning much more than a Teen Choice Award for his turns on "Friends" or "Joey," Matt LeBlanc is finally giving a performance worth applauding. He has charmed audiences as a fictional version of himself on "Episodes," and probably had the same effect on the HFPA.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Nominees: Laura Dern, "Enlightened"; Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"; Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; Laura Linney, "The Big C"; Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

While it's been a tough year at NBC, "Parks and Recreation" is on a roll. The show has been killer from the beginning and is only getting better. That's thanks in great part to Amy Poehler, who leads the mockumentary's outrageously funny ensemble as the adored Leslie Knope. The show deserved a nomination on its own, but if the association won't give them that, one can only hope they'll at least praise Poehler's hysterical performance.

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