BY DAVID KRONKE >TV CRITIC

A number of the the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' semifinalists in its acting categories are being revealed (mostly from what insiders are saying).

Here's what we know about the upcoming Emmy nominations and a few comments. We'll start with the drama categories today, well, because you know, it's more dramatic. (Wednesday is comedy.)

Remember, these are not predictions, because who can predict what a group that has never even nominated "The Wire" for best drama is going to cook up? These are just personal faves.

Feel free to champion your own favorites. We'll probably all be wrong anyway because that's just how the academy rolls:

Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment" (HBO)

Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights" (NBC)

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" (AMC)

Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)

Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" (Showtime)

Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" (AMC)

Eddie Izzard, "The Riches" (FX)

Hugh Laurie, "House" (Fox)

Denis Leary, "Rescue Me" (FX)

James Spader, "Boston Legal" (ABC)

Whittling this one down to five is tough. But I'll go with Cranston, Hall, Hamm, Izzard and Laurie (with Leary dangling by a thread). Your thoughts?

Patricia Arquette, "Medium" (NBC)

Glenn Close, "Damages" (FX)

Minnie Driver, "The Riches" (FX)

Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters" (ABC)

Mariska Hargitay, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC)

Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace" (TNT)

Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" (AMC)

Mary McDonnell, "Battlestar Galactica" (Sci Fi Channel)

Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" (TNT)

Jeanne Tripplehorn, "Big Love" (HBO)

Again, tough choices, but I'd like to see Close, Driver, Hunter, Moss and Sedgwick nominated. Your thoughts?

Jane Alexander, "Tell Me You Love Me" (HBO)

Candice Bergen, "Boston Legal" (ABC)

Rose Byrne, "Damages" (FX)

Jill Clayburgh, "Dirty Sexy Money" (ABC)

Sharon Gless, "Burn Notice" (USA)

Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers and Sisters" (ABC)

Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" (AMC)

S. Epatha Merkerson, "Law and Order" (NBC)

Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)

Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment" (HBO)

Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)

Bergen, Clayburgh and Gless all turn in essentially comedic performances, so I'll go with Alexander, Griffiths, Hendricks, Merkerson and Wiest, though Mia Wasikowska as the playful but seriously troubled teen Sophie was remarkable on "In Treatment," better even than Wiest, and probably deserved not just a nomination but to win. But there you go. And you?

Naveen Andrews, "Lost" (ABC)

Bruce Dern, "Big Love" (HBO)

Christian Clemenson, "Boston Legal" (ABC)

Ted Danson, "Damages" (FX)

Michael Emerson, "Lost" (ABC)

Zeljko Ivanek, "Damages" (FX)

T.R. Knight, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)

William Shatner, "Boston Legal" (ABC)

John Slattery, "Mad Men" (AMC)

Blair Underwood, "In Treatment" (HBO)

Jake Weber, "Medium" (NBC)

Me: Andrews, Danson, Emerson, Slattery and Underwood. You: (well, fill in the blank).

Best actor, drama Best actress, drama Best supporting actress, drama Best supporting actor, drama

David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke@dailynews.com

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