Television veterans and newcomers will battle for glory Sunday at the Emmy Awards, which could see history made by a black actress -- and possible honors for a number of fan favorites.

The two main questions ahead of the Emmys, television's equivalent of the Oscars, in Los Angeles, are: will Jon Hamm of "Mad Men" finally win on his eighth try, and can "Game of Thrones" finally win the coveted best drama series prize.

Industry watchers predict Hamm -- whose portrayal of the dashing but troubled Don Draper has defined AMC's classic show about the advertising industry in 1960s New York -- will take home the trophy for best actor in a drama.

"I think this is the year for Jon Hamm," said Debra Birnbaum, executive editor of television at Variety.

"Certainly he is the sentimental favorite going into Emmy night," she told AFP.

The influential series -- which launched a 1960s fashion revival and made stars of its lead actors -- ended earlier this year after seven seasons and eight years on the air. It could take home a fifth best drama series award on Sunday.

But it is facing stiff competition from "Better Call Saul," "Downton Abbey," "Homeland," "House of Cards," "Orange is the New Black" and especially "Game of Thrones," which earned an impressive 24 nominations.

Tom O'Neil, a showbiz journalist who founded Hollywood awards prediction site Gold Derby, said although most experts are betting on "Mad Men," he was placing his money on HBO's blood-spattered, sex-filled fantasy drama.

"I think it's going to be a 'Game of Thrones' year," he told AFP. The show, on its fifth nomination for best drama, has yet to win top honors. It has already won eight Emmys in technical categories, handed out before the main ceremony.

- 'Overdue milestone'? -

Sunday's star-studded ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles could see history made if an African-American woman wins the prize for best lead actress in a drama -- which would be a first.

Two of the six nominees are black: Viola Davis for ABC's "How to Get Away with Murder" and Taraji P. Henson for Fox's music melodrama "Empire." They will compete against former winner Claire Danes from "Homeland," among others.

"This is the last major category at the Emmys never won by an African-American," O'Neil said, predicting: "We will see an overdue milestone happen in that category."

This could also be the first year a streaming series is recognized at the Emmys if Amazon's "Transparent", about a transgender woman and her family, breaks through for best comedy.

Both the star of the series, Jeffrey Tambor, and the show as a whole won Golden Globe awards earlier this year.

Netflix is in the running in the same category for "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt". In the drama category, "House of Cards" and "Orange Is The New Black" are in contention, but none of them are heavily fancied to win.

Some are also tipping HBO's "Veep" -- a political satire about a female vice president (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who surprisingly becomes head of state -- to ride the buzz of the 2016 White House race and dethrone ABC's "Modern Family."

"Modern Family" has won the prize for best comedy series five years in a row, and a sixth win on Sunday would set a record.

"'Veep' has been a tremendous hit for HBO and considering that we are going into an election season, everyone is talking about political issues right now," Birnbaum said.

Hosting the 67th Emmys on Sunday will be Andy Samberg, the star of Fox's sitcom "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and a past cast member of the US comedy show "Saturday Night Live."

Last year, "Breaking Bad," about a chemistry teacher turned drug lord, won the lion's share of awards.
Source: AFP