In the categories for Action or Drama programs, 1 thing is certain. This isn't being dominated by Castle anymore. After sweepting the show, actor & actress category 2 years straight, all of those winners are seemingly after thoughts in round 1 this year.

Actior or Drama Program round 1 vote winner was Hawaii Five-O with 7,162 votes. More than the rest of the top 10 combined. In 2nd, well behind was the recently ended "Burn Notice" which itself had more than double the votes of 3rd place "Criminal Minds"

Rounding out the top 5 was "Hell On Wheels" & "Elementary"

Other semi-finalists include 2010 winner "Dexter", "Arrow", "Greys Anatomy", "Pretty Little Liars", 2 time winner ‘Castle", Rizzoli & Isles", "Revenge", "White Collar", "The Mentalist", "Touch", "Homeland", "Person Of Interest", "Chicago Fire", "Rookie Blue", "The Killing", "The Newsroom", "Breaking Bad", "Downton Abbey" & "Suits".

With the exception of "Leverage" (not eligible) all of last years finalists made this years semi-finals.

In the Action or drama Actor category it looks like heroes & villains are the flavour of the day this year. Mads Mikkelsen of "Hannibal" lead votes in  round 1 with 4249. Alex O’Loughlin "Hawaii Five-O" was 2nd, Hugh Dancy "Hannibal" rounded out the top 3.

Jonny Lee Miller "Elementary" & a pair of "Arrow" cast, Stephen Amell & John Barrowman round out the challengers with over 1000 votes.

Other semi-finalists include Matthew Gray Gubler, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore "Criminal Minds", Bruce Campbell, Jeffrey Donovan "Burn Notice", Ryan Hurst "King & Maxwell", Scott Caan "Hawaii Five-O", Colton Haynes, Paul Blackthorne "Arrow", 2 time winner Nathan Fillion "Castle", Simon Baker "The Mentalist", Thomas Sadoski, Jeff Daniels "The Newsroom", Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson "Person Of Interest", Charlie Hunnam "Sons Of Anarchy", James Spader "The Blacklist", Bryan Cranston "Breaking Bad", Joel Kinnaman "The Killing".

 All of last years finalists made this years semi-finals.

On the Actress side. Emily Bett Rickards "Arrow" took round 1 with 2036 votes, Emily Deschanel "Bones" was 2, and far back was Vanessa Marano "Switched At Birth" in 3rd.

Rounding out the top 5, 2 time winner Stana Katic "Castle" & Lucy Liu of "Elementary"

The rest of the semi-finalists are, Katie Cassidy, Celina Jade "Arrow", Taraji P. Henson, Amy Acker "Person Of Interest", Vera Farmiga "Bates Motel" Claire Danes "Homeland", Jennifer Carpenter "Dexter", Sarah Rafferty "Suits", Kacey Rohl "Hannibal", Michelle Borth, Grace Park ( via write in votes) "Hawaii Five-O", Olivia Munn "The Newsroom", Rebecca Romijn "King & Maxwell", Megan Boone "The Blacklist", Mireille Enos "The Killing", Ellen Pompeo "Greys Anatomy", Kerry Washington "Scandal".

4 of the 5 finalists last year made it this year. Runner up Pompeo, only making it by 1 spot. Michelle Dockery "Downton Abbey" finished well back & out of the semi-finals.

In the Best New Program category.

The 1st round vote getter was Hannibal (NBC) with 1598 votes. Sleepy Hollow (FOX) was 2nd several hundred votes back, Super Fun Night (ABC) after a strong write in campaign to get on the ballot early, came in 3rd.

Rounding out the top 5 Masters Of Sex (HBO) also had a write in campaign early on that got it on the ballot & the recently debuted Almost Human  (FOX).

Rounding out the other semi-finalists. Agents Of SHIELD, Orphan Black, The Blacklist, The Tomorrow People, Motive, Dracula, The Goldbergs, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Back In The Game, The Originals, Davinci’s Demons, King & Maxwell, Bates Motel, The Bridge, Under The Dome.

In the Comedy categories.

Best Comedy Program had an unexpected 1st round leader. "Wilfred" on the FX channel had 1561 votes to lead all 1st round votes. The defending 3 time winner "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS) was a distant 2nd at 1067. With its final season around the corner USA network comedy "Psych" rounded out the top 3.

Parks & Recreation (NBC) & How I Met Your Mother (CBS) round out the top 5.

Other semi-finalists "Glee", "New Girl" & "Raising Hope" (FOX), "2 Broke Girls" (CBS), "Community", "30 Rock" (NBC) "Modern Family" (ABC), "Veep", "Girls" (HBO) & "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX).

In the Comedy Actor Category. 

Last year Timothy Omundson of "Psych" came out of round 1 with a large lead, and has dne it again. 1317 votes cast put him well ahead of the rest. Last years winner Jim Parsons "The Big Bang Theory" came in 2nd, with the 2011 winner Neil Patrick Harris "How I Met Your Mother" 3rd.

Omundson wont be alone from "Psych" as his castmates James Roday & Dule Hill came in 4th & 5th in the 1st round voting.

Other semi-finalists include the late Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer "Glee", Jason Segel "How I Met Your Mother",  Simon Helberg, Johnny Galecki "The Big Bang Theory", Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Joel McHale, Jim Rash "Community", Jake  Johnson "New Girl", Jason Bateman "Arrested Development", Robin Williams "The Crazy Ones", Chris Pratt "Parks & Recreation", Terry Crews & Andy Samberg "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" & Michael J. Fox "Michael J. Fox Show".

All of last years finalist made the semi-finals.

The Comedy Actress category. 

The 2011 winner in this category came out ahead narrowly in round 1. Kaley Cuoco "The Big Bang Theory" had 107 votes, just 3 ahead of Kat Dennings "2 Broke Girls" & 11 ahead of last years winner Mayim Bialik "The Big Bang Theory" & 3rd place last year Zooey Deschanel "New Girl". With back-to-back titles going to The Big Bang Theory girls, will they make it a 3peat. 

The other semi-finalists include Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders "How I Met Your Mother", Melissa Rauch "The Big Bang Theory", Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Jenna Ushkowitz "Glee", Maggie Lawson "Psych", Beth Behrs "2 Broke Girls", Anna Faris "Mom", Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs "Community", Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", Sofia Vergara "Modern Family", Brenda Song "Dads" & Amy Poehler "Parks & Recreation"

Like their male counterparts, all of last years finalists made the semi-finals.

In the Favorite Show & Character categories.

Favorite Show does not look like a cakewalk for last years winner "Supernatural". In fact they came in 2nd in round 1, by a lot, to "Lost Girl" & their 3402 votes. Rounding out the top 3 was  another CW show "The Vampire Diaries".

The rest of the top 5 was filled out by 2 ABC shows "Once Upon A Time" & "Castle"

The other semi-finalists are "Hell On Wheels", "The big Bang Theory", "Arrow", The Walking Dead", "Hannibal", "The Originals", "Pretty Little Liars", "Fringe", "Psych", "How I Met Your Mother', "game Of Thrones", "Glee", "Orphan Black", "Hawaii Five- O", "Sleepy Hollow", "Warehouse 13", "Dexter", "Agents Of SHIELD", "Elementary", "The Killing", "Person Of Interest", "Rizzoli & Isles", "Teen Wolf", "Doctor Who", "Continuum" & "The Blacklist"

All 10 of last years finalists made the semi-finals this year.

The Favorite Character category, possibly the most popular of the categories year after year had a staggering 104 nominees on the ballot by the time it closed after countless write in campaigns pushed previously un-nominated favorites onto the ballot.

The 3 time winner of this category, Dean Winchester "Supernatural" might be in a real dog fight this year if his 9th place 1st round showing is a sign. Damon Salvatore "The Vampire Diaries" was leader of round 1 with a total of 22,826 votes, edging out "Lost Girl" Dr. Lauren Lewis by only a few hundred votes. Rounding out the top 3 was another Lost Girl, Bo.

The top 5 were rounded out by Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold "Once Upon A Time" & Castiel "Supernatural"

Other semi-finalists include Kiera Cameron, Matthew Kellogg "Continuum", Stefan Salvatore, Elena gilbert "The Vampire Diaries", Kenzi "Lost Girl" Dean & Sam Winchester, Crowley "Supernatural", Belle, Neal/Baelfire, Evil Queen/Regina, Emma Swan, Captain Hook "Once Upon A Time", Felicity Smoak, Oliver Queen/The Hood, Roy Harper "Arrow", Carlton Lassiter, Shawn Spencer, Burton Guster "Psych", Stiles "teen Wolf", Thor Gundersen/The Swede "Hell On Wheels", Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister "Game Of Thrones", Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Amy Farrah Fowler "The Big Bang Theory", Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Will Graham "Hannibal" Abbie Mills, Ichabod Crane "Sleepy Hollow", Barney Stinson, Lily Aldrin "How I Met Your Mother", Richard Castle, Kate Beckett "Castle", Sherlock Holmes "Elementary", Olivia Dunham, Peter Bishop, Dr. Walter Bishop "Fringe", Steve McGarrett "Hawaii Five-O", Dr. Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia "Criminal Minds", Kurt Hummel, Sue Sylvester, Rachel Berry "Glee", Hannah Marin, Emily Fields "Pretty Little Liars"

With the exception of Parker from "Leverage", who is not eligible for this years awards, all of last years finalists made the semi-finals.

For the 3rd year running, the Best Non-Human Character Or Prop category looks like it will belong to The 1967 Impala from "Supernatural".

With 1039 votes, The Impala had more than the next 3 combined. 2nd was another "Supernatural" item, the Men Of Letters Bunker. 3rd was "Once Upon A Time" item, Rumplestiltskins Dagger.

Rounding out the semi-finalists The Blueberry from "Psych", The Pale Horse "Hell On Wheels", Bear "Person Of Interest", The Machine "Person Of Interest", Annies Boobs "Community" & The Jolly Roger "Once Upon A Time".

Last 2 years runner up Gene from "Fringe" managed no votes, perhaps the 2 seconds of screen time this year made the fans forget?

For the 2nd year in a row, the Best Director category is being lead by a "Supernatural" director. This time however, its not the 1 of the shows lead actors.

Philip Sgriccia (Sacrifice) from "Supernatural" was the leader in round 1 with 733 votes. Shawn Piller (Fallour) from "Haven" snagged 2nd spot ahead of 3 more SPN choices. Jeannot Szwarc (LARP And The Real Girl) grabbed the final spot in the top 3.

Guy Norman Bee, with 2 in the top 5, "Tai Driver" 4th & "Devil May Care" in 5th.

The rest of the semi-finalists are David Barrett (Sacrifice) "Arrow", Brad Falchuk (The Quarterback) "Glee", Nicole Cassale (Six Minutes) "The Killing", David Crabtree (Right Turn Or Left For Dead) "Psych", Mel Damski (No Country For Two Old Men) "Psych", Joel Wyman (An Enemy Of Fate) "Fringe", Pamela Fryman (Something New) "How I Met Your Mother", Adam Davidson (The Game) "Hell On Wheels", Lena Dunham (On All Fours) "Girls", Paris Barclay (Diva) "Glee", Ron Underwood (Things We Said Today" "Greys Anatomy".  Neil LaBute "(get Behind The Mule, Searchers) "Hell On Wheels", David Fincher (Episode 1) "House Of Cards", & John Fawcett (Endless Forms Most Beautiful) "Orphan Black".

The Best Couple category looks like it will be a two horse race this year.

Dr Lauren Lewis & Bo "Lost Girl" lead 1st round voting with 15,349 votes. Second was Damon Salvatore & Elena Gilbert "The Vampire Diaries" with 13,387 votes. After Lauren & Bo, the 2011 winners, lost last year to Richard Castle & Kate Beckett from "Castle" (4th in the 1st round this year) it looks like they are serious about trying to regain their title. The other member of the top 4 was 3rd place from "Once Upon A Time" Mr Gold & Belle.

The other semi-finalists include Prince Charming & Snow White "Once Upon A Time", Thea Queen & Roy Harper "Arrow", Emily Fields & Paige McCullers "Pretty Little Liars", Shawn Spencer & Juliet O'Hara "Psych", Peter Bishop & Olivia Dunham "Fringe", Amy Farrah Fowler & Dr. Sheldon Cooper "The Big Bang Theory", Steve McGarrett & Catherine Rollins "Hawaii Five-O", Lily Aldrin & Marshall Eriksen "How I Met Your Mother", Dexter Morgan & Hannah McKay "Dexter", Robin Scherbatsky & Barney Stinson "How I Met Your Mother", Penny & Dr. Leonard Hofstadter "The Big Bang theory", Kurt Hummel & Blaine Anderson "Glee" Britta Perry & Troy Barnes "Community", Oliver Queen & Laurel Lance "Arrow", Jim & Pam Halpert "The Office" & Nicholas Brody & Carrie Matheson "Homeland"

 All of last years finalists made this years semi-finals.

In the Recurring Actor category. It again looks like another year of Supernatural domination.

After winning last year with Jim Beaver & the year before with Mark Sheppard in this category under its old title of "Supporting Actor", Supernatural again goes into round 2 with the vote leader. Osric Chau had 1833 votes, only 43 ahead of runner up Christopher Heyerdahl "Hell On Wheels" however. Well back in 3rd "Orphan Black" actor David Richmond-Peck

After a strong write in campaign to get him on the ballot, "Once Upon A Time In Wonderland" actor Peter Gadiot snagged 4th, Michael Cerveris from "Fringe" rounded out the top 5.

Other semi-finalists include john Noble, Joshua Jackson & Michael Kopsa "Fringe", Raphael Sbarge "Once Upon A Time", Nikolaj Coster-Waldau & Richard Madden "Game Of Thrones", Wayne Brady "How I Met Your Mother", Michael Socha "Once Upon A Time In Wonderland", Mark Pellegrino & Robbie Amell "The Tomorrow People" , John Pyper-Ferguson "Burn Notice", Adam Copeland "Haven", James Marsters "Warehouse 13", Sage Brocklebank "Psych", Enrico Colantoni "Person Of Interest", Ian Tracey & Hugh Dillon "Continuum", Ben Cotton, Ryan Robbins "The Killing" & Matt Frewer "Orphan Black"

On the Actress side the winners of both titles "Supernatural" with Rachel Miner & Julia Maxwell, do have some top 6 contenders, but if the 1st round of voting is any indication, it looks like we might have some other show on top this year.

Gillian Anderson "Hannibal"  had 2431 votes in round 1, more than the rest of the top 10 list. The 2010 Best Actress winner Anna Torv "Fringe" was 2nd in the recurring category since her show didnt air enough episodes in 2013 for her to be in the main category. Crystal Lowe "Primeval New World" snagged 3rd.

There was a trio of "Supernatural" girls from 4th thru 6th. Felicia Day (a Guest Star finalist last year), Alaina Huffman & Amanda Tapping (2011 Sci-Fi actress finalist on Sanctuary) took those spots.

Rounding out the semi-finalists Emma Lahana "Haven", Caity Lotz, Summer Glau & Bex Taylor-Klaus "Arrow", Lisa Edelstein "Castle", Jamie Chung & Sarah Bolger "Once Upon A Time", Sara Canning "Primeval New World", Natalie Dormer "Elementary", Yvonne Strahovski "Dexter", Jessy Schram "Falling Skies", Cristin Milioti "How I Met Your Mother", Magda Apanowicz "Continuum", Jane Fonda "The Newsroom"

Round 2 voting will begin December 1, 2013 on some categories.

The newest categories in the Best Of TV Awards polls were for youth actors (under the age of 20 at the start of 2013)

In the youth actress category there was not a lot of suprises in the top 3 as the Stark daughters from "Game Of Thrones" sandwiched the daughter of the lead character on "Castle". Maisie Williams with 381 votes took the top spot in round 1, her potrayal of the tougher than her age Arya Stark won out over Molly C. Quinn and her potrayal of Richard Castle's daughter Alexis. Sophie Turner, the other "Stark Daughter" on Game Of Thrones rounded out a relatively predictable top 3.

The popularity of "The Walking Dead" & "Arrow" were not overlooked by the voters. Brighton Sharbino (sister of Saxon Sharbino from "Touch" another  nominee) from The Walking Dead & Bex Taylor-Klaus (who also was nominated  for her breakout role on "The Killing") on Arrow rounded out the top 5.

Other semi-finalists included Ariana Grande who got in with both her roles on "Victorious" & "Sam & Cat", Debby Ryan "jessie", Taissa Farmiga (younger sister of Emmy Nominated actress Vera Farmiga) "American Horror Story",  Saxon Sharbino "Touch", Freya Tingley "Hemlock Grove", AnnaSophia Robb "The Carrie Diaries", Bex Taylor-Klaus "The Killing", Gage Golightly "Teen Wolf" &  Elizabeth Gillies "Victorious"

On the male side. A lot of the top vote getters got there thru either themselves, or die-hard fans tweeting to their fans to vote.

Robbie Kay as fairy tale character Peter Pan on "Once Upon A Time" took top spot with 1707 votes. Sean Giambrone nabbed 2nd for his portrayal of "The Goldbergs" lead character Adam Goldberg. 3rd went to another OUAT cast member as Jared Gilmore, aka - Henry Spencer, took the spot by merely 13 votes.

Shane Harper from "Good Luck Charlie" was narrowly beaten out for 3rd. With nearly twice as many votes as 5th place contender Chandler Riggs from "The Walking Dead".

Other semi-finalists included Tayden Marks "Hell On Wheels", Nick Robinson "Melissa & Joey", Jake T. Austin "The Fosters:, Maxim Knight "Falling  Skies", Demetrius Joyette "Degrassi The Next generation", Leon Thomas III "Victorious", Rowan Longworth "Fringe" & "The Killing", Nolan Gould "Modern Family" & Connor Jessup "Falling Skies".

In the Best Talk Show Host category, there was little suprise in the leader.

Last years runa way winner, Ellen Degeneres again had a sizable lead in round 1 with 1337 votes, more than trip 2nd place conteder Stephen Colbert from "The Colbert Report". Jon Stewart from "The Daily Show" rounds out the top 3.

Other semi-finalists include Jimmy Fallon, James Lipton, Conan O'Brien, Chelsea Handler & Jimmy Kimmel.

Despite a strong write in campaign & 91 ballot votes after being added Craig Ferguson was 19 votes short of making it to the next round.

The sexiest actor & actress categories, the only categories where movie stars are eligible are often hotly contested, this year seems no different after round 1.


On the actress side.

Last years runner up came out swinging in round 1, as Zoie Palmer from "Lost Girl" took the top spot in the opening round with 8,592 votes, almost 2000 votes ahead of 2nd, her co-star Anna Silk.  "Catching fire" hottie Jennifer Lawrence rounded out the top 4 well back.

Others tto break the 1000 vote barrier, Ksenia Solo, Katie Cassidy & Anna Torv.

The rest of the semi-finalists are Lana Parrilla, Alaina Huffman, Jennifer Morrison, Kat Dennings, Olivia Wilde, Kaley Cuoco, Stana Katic (last years winner), Emily Bett Rickards, Erica Durance (2011 winner), Ashley Benson, Sarah Bolger, Yvonne Strahovski, Shay Mitchell, Alison Brie, Nina Dobrev (via write in votes) Sarah Michelle gellar, Olivia Munn, Molly Quinn, Anna Faris & Melissa Rauch.

The only top 10 finalist from last year (and the year before) to not make it this year was Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Also should be noted, many write in nominees with 1, 2 or 3 votes maybe were missed, due to the MASSIVE amount of people who clearly are idiots & write in voted people already on the ballot, or men, thus making it almost impossible to correctly count all the votes. I tallied all the ones who clearly had larger totals, but those with less than 4, its possible I might have missed a few of you, sorry, it was just impossible to get thru ALL the votes, as there was 1336 write in votes & more than 1/2 of them were ineligible or already on the ballot. I will have more on this issue, and fall out from it when I do a blog on the entire first round later.

On the mens side. Well. Something is clearly evident this year, the most decorated person in our 3 years of awards might be in for a fight this year for his categories. Two time sexiest actor winner Jensen Ackles finished a sobering 5th in round 1, and 2 competitors had more than double his vote total.

Misha Collins, Jensens co-star on "Supernatural" lead the way narrowly, with a total of 20,928 votes, edging out "The Vampire Diaries" star Paul Wesley and his 20,353 votes. Currently uneployed Gale Harold rounds out the top 3 with 14,829 votes.

There was a 4th person with over 10,000 votes this round, Ian Somerhalder. Jensen Ackles was 5th, ahead of his other co-star Jared Padalecki. 

The rest of the semi-finalists are Kris Holden-Ried, Christopher Heyerdahl, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin O'Donoghue, Tom welling, Johnny Depp, Chris Hemsworth, Shemar Moore, Tom Riley, Dylan O'Brien, Hugh Dancy, Martin Freeman, Chris Pine, Tom Mison, Chris Evans, Mads Mikkelsen (via write in votes) Stephen Amell, Thomas Gibson & Nathan Fillion.

Two of last years top 10 did not make it to the semi-finals, Joshua Jackson, a 2X top 10 finalist, and Henry Cavill.