Regarding the prime-time Emmy Awards, which begin at 7 p.m. Sunday on NBC (Channel 41), just one question: If America's most talked-about, most written-about TV show isn't going to be there, what's there to talk about or write about? As you may have heard, "The Sopranos," which last weekend emerged from hibernation and let out a roar, is ineligible for Emmy consideration this year because it didn't air a single episode during the 2001-02 season. HBO shrewdly inserted another high-quality drama in its place - "Six Feet Under," which actually picked up 23 nominations, one more than "The Sopranos" did a year ago. Still, holding the Emmys without "The Sopranos" feels a little like holding a World Series without the Yankees: Maybe they won't win, but it's weird not to have them there at all. Then again, not writing an obligatory pre-Emmys prediction column would be like not holding the World Series, right? Well, let's not get carried away with our analogies. On, then, to the chase. Here are the likely winners and the ones I'd like to win: Best Drama: "The West Wing" won this category its first two seasons and enjoyed a critical buzz every bit as favorable as the show it bested, "The Sopranos." That buzz has vanished. Martin Sheen, who plays the president of the United States on "The West Wing," now seems strangely superfluous in a way that he didn't before Sept. 11, 2001. With the real West Wing occupant now sounding confident and assertive, "The West Wing" has been exposed for the moralizing Hollywood liberal wish fulfillment that it was all along. With "The West Wing" fading and "The Sopranos" sitting on the sidelines, the momentum has shifted, almost by default, to my preferred show in this category, "Six Feet Under." It's considered the favorite to win Best Drama. Best Comedy: "Friends" has never won this award, and this would be a good year to start. But HBO stands in the way - not the tired defending champ "Sex and the City" but Larry David's insiderish comedy, "Curb Your Enthusiasm." (No need to even to bring up "Everybody Loves Raymond," which would win every year if I were handing out Emmys.) Tom O'Neil, the awards prognosticator for GoldDerby.com, says "Curb Your Enthusiasm" could become the third HBO series to win a Best Comedy prize ("Tracey Takes On" was the other) because David plays a character that many judges can relate to: a white, 50-something show-biz millionaire. "The Emmy voters are real elitist snobs," O'Neil said. "That's how 'Sex and the City' won last year. That's how 'Frasier' won five years in a row." Best Actor, Drama: I loved Kiefer Sutherland's grim-faced action hero, Jack Bauer, from Fox's "24." But there's little doubt that this category belongs to Peter Krause, who plays Nate on "Six Feet Under." O'Neil knows what episodes were submitted to the Emmy judges, and he says that Krause was helped not only by his own strong entry but also by that of his co-star and fellow Best Actor nominee Michael C. Hall. The episode Hall submitted happens to include another sterling performance by Krause, which all but ensures that he will defend HBO's honor in this category until James Gandolfini (aka Tony Soprano) returns next year. Best Actress, Drama: Sorry to let down all you Allison Janney fans, but "West Wing's" press secretary picked a bad time to upgrade from the Best Supporting Actress category. O'Neil says those 50-something male voters are smitten by Jennifer Garner, the feisty star of ABC's "Alias." I'd give the award to Rachel Griffiths of "Six Feet Under" for her dazzling and emotionally draining arias. Best Actor, Comedy: Bernie Mac should win this award for adapting his adults-only stand-up act into a network show that family members can watch together. Alas, insiders say that he is running a close second behind Matt LeBlanc, who is not even the best actor on "Friends." Best Actress, Comedy: "Everybody Loves Raymond's" Patricia Heaton has reached out and grabbed this prize two years running by making shrewd choices in the episodes she submitted for judging. Unfortunately, she didn't give birth in any episodes this year. Jennifer Aniston did, which gives "The Good Girl" the edge. Best TV Movie: Alfred Finney's portrayal of an interregnum Winston Churchill in HBO's "The Gathering Storm" was one of the highlights of the television season. Finney's absorbing performance felt like an intimate documentary of the Last Lion himself. Emmy voters have rallied behind quality teleflicks before, and this should be no exception. Best Miniseries: HBO's "Band of Brothers," deservedly, is the prohibitive favorite. The network is flying 35 of the Easy Company veterans involved in its production - including Paul "Cliff" Rogers of Overland Park - out to Los Angeles for what promises to be a celebratory post-Emmy party at Spago. - To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond" is up for Best Comedy for the Emmy Awards, which will be Sunday. The five lead actors in the show have also been nominated for Emmys. Nominees include (from left) Brad Garrett for Best Supporting Actor, Ray Romano for Best Actor, Doris Roberts for Best Supporting Actress and Patricia Heaton for Best Actress. Also nominated is Peter Boyle for Best Supporting Actor, who is not pictured. @ART CREDIT:CBS @ART CAPTION:Nominees from left: Jennifer Garner, Peter Krause and Bernie Mac @ART:Photos (2, color and b/w)