With only a week until the Emmy Awards are handed out, critics slowly start to predict who’s going to take home this year’s trophies. According to this article, we now know which episode of “United States of Tara” was submitted for voter’s considerations –  “Tornado” – in which all of Tara’s alters come to life. More predictions below.

Deadline

Why She Got Nominated: Collette won here last year. If the TV Academy votes separately for each of her personalities, that’s a lot of votes. Why She Has To Win: All of them are on display in the episode submitted for consideration that finds her riding out a tornado in a basement. That’s catnip for Academy judges. Moreover, the fact she won last year for a Showtime series helps dispel the assumption that you need to be on HBO to win. This Hollywood insider is seen as the frontrunner to make it two in a row since she’s hugely respected by her peers. Why She Can’t Possibly Win: The best argument against giving it to Collette again is the strength of the work by her Showtime stablemate Edie Falco on Nurse Jackie – showing how far cable has come in these kudofests that the co-favorites both work for a non-HBO pay channel. Moreover, the purposefully showy nature of the role could be a turn-off this 2nd year out.

The Los Angeles Times, Gold Derby

I think that this category is really a showdown between the two Showtime powerhouses — Edie Falco and Toni Collette, both of whom bring a bit more gravitas and “acting” to their roles in comparison with the other four women. Collette won last year, and many might think that her win was a one-time deal, but going by her chosen episode, “Torando,” I think she has a great chance of repeating. Admittedly, her performance is not an overtly “funny” one (and the same thing can be said for Falco), but when she transforms into the new alter ego “Shoshanna,” I was absolutely dazzled by her characterization, accent and the dry humor that that particular character adds to the show. Trust me. Don’t count her out just because the show itself is not the funniest thing on TV.

The Today Show

Collette seems a natural for a second win, but she has two strikes against her: Only one other cable actress has ever won the category (Sarah Jessica Parker, “Sex and the City,” in 2004) and there hasn’t been a repeat winner since 2001 when Patricia Heaton won for “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

Congratulations to Toni for receiving an Emmy Award nomination as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the second season of “United States of Tara”. She shares this category with Lea Michelle (Glee), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures Of Old Christine), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Amy Poehler (Parks And Recreation) and Tina Fey (30 Rock). The show has received a second nomination in the Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series category. This is Toni’s third Emmy nomination – she was previously nominated in 2007 as Best Supporting Actress in a Television Movie for “Tsunami: The Aftermath” and won last year’s Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for “Tara”‘s first season. The awards will be handed out during a live ceremony to be broadcast on August 29, 2010.

Unfortunately, Toni lost the Screen Actors Guild Award as Female Actress in a Comedy Series to Tina Fey. Pictures from the red carpet have been added to the gallery.

Congratulations to Toni for winning the Golden Globe as Best Actress in a Comedy Series for “United States of Tara”! Pictures from the red carpet, press room and after parties have been added to the gallery with more to come!

Golfing great Greg Norman will be honoured alongside Australian actors Simon Baker and Toni Collette at next week’s G’Day USA Australia Week black tie ball in Hollywood. The star-studded ball is the highlight of the two-week festival which will see events held in in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Diego and Palm Springs to promote all things Australian. The ball will be held on January 16.

Toni has received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in the category Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. She shares this category with Christine Applegate (Samantha Who?), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock) and Julia Louis Dreyfuss (The New Adventures of Old Christine). This is Toni’s third nomination, she has received previous mentions as an ensemble member of “The Hours” and won the Screen Actors Guild Award in 2007 as part of the ensemble of “Little Miss Sunshine”. Congratulations!