Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison in The Big C

Laura Linney has won three Emmys, twice for lead roles in miniseries/movies and once as outstanding guest actress. Now she's up for best lead in a comedy for the first time.The LA Times points out "the three-time past champ has never lost." and Goldderby puts her in the lead with a 55% chance of winning based on experts', editors' and users' votes. 

Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton in Nurse Jackie

Edie Falco has been nominated for lead actress in a drama for her role on Sopranos six times and won three times.  Access Hollywood notes that "Edie Falco has performed the near impossible: She has made a clean break with the show that made her a star yet could have pegged her for a lifetime as mobster wife Carmela Soprano." Her transformation has been so successful that last year she wont he Emmy for her role on Nurse Jackie, making her the first actress to achieve the lead actress award for both drama and comedy.

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation

Amy Poehler is the popular favorite for this category, despite what Goldderby may say.Comments sections are overwhelmed with praise for Poehler and her show, Parks and Recreation. Poehler has never won an Emmy but has been nominated four times, twice for supporting actress on SNL and twice now for Parks and Rec. She lost to Edie Falco last year.

Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn in Mike & Molly

Melissa McCarthy is having a good year. Critics liked her performance in Kristen Wiig's film Bridesmaids. This is a first-time nomination for McCarthy. The LA Times suspects her blockbuster role played a part in her nomination: "She wouldn't be the first star to upset at the Emmys with the help of a hit movie; Katherine Heigl won best supporting drama actress for "Grey's Anatomy" in 2007, the same year she starred in Judd Apatow'sKnocked Up."

Martha Plimpton as Virginia Chance in Raising Hope

Martha Plimpton just finished the first season of Raising Hope, and she's pleased with her second Emmy nomination because it means people are watching and talking about the show. Plimpton was nominated in 2002 for a guest turn on Law and Order: SVU, and she's worked in theater and earned three Tony nominations. 

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock

Tina Fey, the perennial favorite, has been nominated for eight Emmys, all for her work on SNL or 30 Rock. She's only won two, in 2008 and 2009, for portraying Liz Lemon on 30 Rock and Governer Sarah Palin on SNL. Five nominations for Liz Lemon, and only one win. I'm surprised 30 Rock fans haven't staged a protest yet.