Image Credit: Justin Stephens/Fox; Bob D'Amico/ABC; Eike Schroter/CBS; NBC; Jaimie Trueblood/HBOTraditionally the toughest categories to narrow down due to the sheer number of potential nominees, this year’s supporting actor and actress in a drama races were made easier for a couple of reasons: Big Love‘s big letdown of a season opened up a bunch of slots, as did the absence of In Treatment. Also, several standout performers (Lily Tomlin for Damages, Walton Goggins for Justified, John Lithgow for Dexter) decided to enter the guest race instead. Having said that, I was still faced with some agonizing dilemmas as I narrowed the field down to a top 12. Emmy voters, you know the drill. Copy and paste my picks when ballots arrive next week. And check back tomorrow for my lead actor/actress picks.
Best Supporting Actress (Drama)
Khandi Alexander (Treme): Her work as a bar owner in post-Katrina New Orleans only makes us ask again, “CSI: Miami…why?”
Lisa Edelstein (House): Cuddy’s special day-in-the-life episode was a banner day indeed. And don’t even get me started on her beautifully restrained performance in the finale. On second thought, get me started.
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men): Should be confident on Emmy night, having shown us the vulnerability behind Joan’s swagger. She can also wield a vase like nobody’s business.
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife): As Julianna Margulies’ sexually ambiguous sidekick, she suggests that behind every great woman is, frankly, another one.
Mae Whitman (Parenthood): Half of the most down-to-earth mother-daughter team since…well, you know.
Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood): When her Jessica’s good, she’s great. When she’s bad, she’s brilliant.
Best Supporting Actor (Drama)
Nestor Carbonell (Lost): Arguably the high point of the final season was “Ab Aeterno” and Carbonell’s career-defining work in it.
Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights): When Matt (spoiler alert!) lost his dad, his portrayer proved he was much more than just another pretty face.
John Noble (Fringe): Just when we thought his work as a mad scientist couldn’t get any better, the “Peter” episode aired.
Terry O’Quinn (Lost): His Man in Black/Smoke Monster was the first villain on the show to surpass creepy and get downright scary.
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad): One word for you: “Fly.” If you don’t know what that means, how awful for you.
Martin Short (Damages): Short’s subtle work as the lawyer trying to protect the sins of his “father” was no laughing matter.
Agree/disagree with my picks? Consider the comments section below your own personal Dream Emmy Ballot.
Coming up tomorrow: Lead Actor and Actress (comedy) and Lead Actor and Actress (drama)
My Dream Emmy Nominations part 1: Best Supporting Actor and Actress (comedy)
gregory itzin is better than all of them. he is a genius in that role and deserves it.
Agreed. but would he be supporting actor or guest actor? I guess he was in like 6 episodes, but he was credited as “special guest star.”
A Donkottz, I was shouting “Get Richard off the ISLAND!” Haha! I think there should be a show about his arrival into 21st century america.
Richard’s already acquainted with the 21st century, considering he’s been off island numerous times. I think his last trip was when he recruited Juliet in 2001.
@donkottz: he and Miles are going to be sassy flight attendants on Lapidus Air
Supporting Actor race will be a head-on collision between John Noble (Fringe) and Terry O’Quinn (Lost). Hands down!
Chito, I would definitely add Aaron Paul to those two. The three of them had me mesmerized this year. Well, I guess not so much Terry O’Quinn, but that’s because he has been so good as Locke through six seasons, I kind of take him for granted. I have only been watching Fringe for one season and Breaking Bad for two, so those are fresher for me.
why does jennifer carpenter consistently get passed over for her work in Dexter? i’m watching bits i missed from season one and i’m just floored by her. and that scene this past season with trinity’s daughter was perfect.
sean your so right about jennifer carpenter needing to be nominated!! i have thought that since season one!! i also think that tara’s mom, lettie mae (adina porter), from true blood should be nominated as well!
I think both Gregory Itzin and Cherry Jones did great work in “24.” The tricky thing is which category: Guest Actor/Guest Actress or Supporting?
And Chloe she ended the show “SHUT IT DOWN” Mary Lynn delivered so good the last half of the season torn between her friend and her job
It’s a shame that Itzin won’t have a legitimate shot at an Emmy this year. He’ll probably be in the Guest Actor category, alongside the winner-to-be John Lithgow (who should really be in Supporting).
Totally agree with Lithgow – if you are in every episode for a season, you qualify for supporting consideration – end of discussion…
Haha Ausiello. I wonder if Lisa Edelstein would have made your cut if she hadn’t called you out in public for not including her in last years. she’s incredible and deserving, more so last year than this year in my opinion. I was bummed when she got passed over. Hopefully this is her year.
Agreed. Also, Michael Emerson and Josh Holloway.
I’m for John Noble and Archie!
Definitely Noble and Archie! They’re both brilliant…Noble can do about anything as Walter Bishop and and Archie Panjabi makes the Good Wife a 100% better than it would be without her!
Archie was already great in her small part in Bend it like Beckham many years ago. And besides Juianna and the story the show tells she’s the other reason I watch The Good Wife.
I personally think Peter Krause deserves a supporting nod as well for his work on Parenthood. The way he plays the scenes involving his son are really great.
Definatley Noble! He’s brilliant.
WTF!!! Where’s Michael Emerson as the brilliant Ben Linus?!!!
While I love Michael Emerson I would truly love it if Nestor Carbonell won. He was heartbreaking in Ab Aterno.
Bake, you only need to be good in one episode. When they submit someone for a category, they provide one episode and they’re judged on that. Basically, if Nestor won, he’d technically win for Ab Aterno or Terry O’Quinn for The Substitute (assuming those would be the episodes ABC submitted). I think they could technically submit more than one episode per character, though.
terry should sumbit the season premier. the look on his face while getting off the plane was heartbreaking and it just took that look.
Yeah, I’d pick Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson and leave out Nestor.
Emerson was brilliant as usual, but this was not a heavily Ben-ified year. He had about as much to do as Miles or Lapidus. I agree that Nestor should get a nod. I whole-heartedly see your Holloway suggestion, and I’d like to raise you a Jorge Garcia.
Mary, I agree wit you about Mathew Fox. I think nods should go to him and Terry O’Quinn. Their scenes together were amazing. Their heartbreaking sideways scenes, and their tension filled Island scenes.
Emerson’s scene with Ilana in “Dr. Linus” more than qualifies him. Terry O’ Quinn and Matt Fox should get lead nominations, with Emerson and Carbonell as Supporting. Although, I’d vote for Vincent the dog over all of them
jodipo, I’m with you all the way – Fox and O’Quinn FTN!
I know that this isn’t the lead actor predictions but since this thread went in that direction, Matthew Fox was great this year but doesn’t have a shot against other presumed Lead Actor nominees (Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Hugh Laurie, Michael C. Hall…)
As for Supporting, I’m bummed about this season of Big Love. The actresses are so good, but didn’t really get any Emmy-worthy material.
Vincent was the only thing that made the ending tolerable…
Josh Holloway and Nestor both deserve nods for their acting this year. Josh’s scenes post Juliet’s death were heartbreaking & superbly portrayed.
i 100% agree with mary about matthew fox. he was OUTSTANDING this year and is so underrated. i would like to see terry o’quinn nominated for supporting only so that fox can be nominated as the lead and both can take home the emmys they richly deserve. i’d put fox against any of those leading men any day. i think emmerson deserves the nod too but locke and jack have to win.
Matthew fox was not my favorite character BUT he was phenomenal in the finale…I will never forget his death…
JENNY. You should have your own show or something. I googled “matthew fox is a terrible actor” and only 6 hits came up. Maybe we should start our own club or something. He’s a perfect example of how looks gets you everywhere in hollywood, how adolescent our culture still is. (In short, I heartily agree).
Agreed. “Career-defining” or not for Nestor Carbonel, Emerson was still the better actor. His work in the Ben/Ilana scene alone, not to mention the great stuff at the beginning and in the “sideways” place with Alex.
Lisa Edelstein FTW! Overlooked for too long. Best thing next to Hugh Laurie on HOUSE, the world’s most watched TV show still (81 million viewers). Seriously, Aussie, why isn’t she up for leading actress instead of Best supporting actress? She is the female lead on that show even if it is an ensemble.
I don’t really get the Lisa Edelstein obsession. I mean, she’s ok, but not up for an Emmy nom. There are much better actresses out there.
I’m for Josh Holloway getting a nomination over Carbonell, O’Quinn, and Emerson. He proved his acting chops to me last year in “LaFleur” and has improved upon them ever since. He’s continually taken part in some,… no, MOST of the best scenes the show has given us, all the way up to “The End” with the Juliet-reunion. Shirtless or no, he cowboyed up and brought his A-game.
Gotta agree that Nestor was outstanding in Ab Aeterno, but I’m still a Michael Emerson fan and always will be. His final scene between Ben Linus and John Locke alone was extremely moving.
However, if anyone deserves it this year from LOST, it is Terry O’Quinn, hands down. Can any other actor play a character that is creepy, frightening, disturbing yet comforting at the same time?
Matthew Fox was ok during this season. His final few episodes (and especially his final scene) were amazing, but nobody held LOST together like O’Quinn and Emerson. One of them better be nominated (and win!) again this year.
Agreed Sarah!!!
I totally agree with Sara. If I was forced to only choose one supporting actor this year to get a nomination (or even one actor from the entire cast), I’d say Henry Ian Cusick. He was amazing and he got a very interesting role. However, luckily, we don’t have to only choose one. I’d also like to add that, like others here, I thought Matthew Fox did a great job this season. At the beginning of the show, I thought he was one of the weaker actors, but in this last season, he proved his talent. Josh Holloway would deserve a nom as well, though I honestly thought he most impressive last season, so it would be a bit of a make-up nod.
The entire cast is phenomenal. If Lost doesn’t get at least a SAG nom for ensemble cast, I’m going to explode in outrage.
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I actually thought Josh Holloway was incredible this season. His heartbreak was palpable.
JOHN NOBLE FTW!!!!!!!!
I second that. JOHN NOBLE in Fringe. Goes from hilarious to heartbreaking in a sentence. No one better this season. Don’t even fill in any other name, do not pass GO, just give the man an Emmy.
Fact.
Third.
If John Noble doesn’t get the Emmy he will have been robbed. There isn’t a character that goes from unbalanced to child-like emotions to genius and angry like Walter. A lot of people talk about “Peter” but what got me was his breakdown in the grocery store after Peter left.
JOHN NOBLE FTW!!!!!!!!
I second that. JOHN NOBLE in Fringe. Goes from hilarious to heartbreaking in a sentence. No one better this season. Don’t even fill in any other name, do not pass GO, just give the man an Emmy.
Fact.
Third.
If John Noble doesn’t get the Emmy he will have been robbed. There isn’t a character that goes from unbalanced to child-like emotions to genius and angry like Walter. A lot of people talk about “Peter” but what got me was his breakdown in the grocery store after Peter left.
Isn’t John Noble a lead actor? And not a supporting actor?
Probably a supporting. Almost everyone is a supporting with only the biggest names, even if they’re not the stars being considered the lead. Only Anna Torv and Joshua Jackson would have put themselves in ‘lead’, I’m pretty sure.
I think all three main actors in Fringe are awesome!
Agreed dicazi – love all three!
Walter/John ftw!
(though I don’t get how Jesse Spencer doesn’t get a nod when Lisa does, especially after his work with the dibala arc. Also where’s Ryan kwanten and nelsan ellis? They kicked serious butt, way moreso than deb woll! As such I find your list fairly crappy)
John Noble is so perfect in his portrayal of Walter! He better at least get nominated!
Isn’t John Noble a lead actor? And not a supporting actor?
Probably a supporting. Almost everyone is a supporting with only the biggest names, even if they’re not the stars being considered the lead. Only Anna Torv and Joshua Jackson would have put themselves in ‘lead’, I’m pretty sure.
Like anyone watches the show for Torv – Walter FTW!
Agreed dicazi – love all three!
Walter/John ftw!
(though I don’t get how Jesse Spencer doesn’t get a nod when Lisa does, especially after his work with the dibala arc. Also where’s Ryan kwanten and nelsan ellis? They kicked serious butt, way moreso than deb woll! As such I find your list fairly crappy)
Regarding Clint Eastwood’s Letter From Iwo Jima, it is a view of the Japanese side of thigns, & is filmed in that language. If I recall it was filmed there too, with a Japanese cast. Makes sense to call it a foreign language movie, though perhaps for foreign language Oscar contention it may not make it since it is an American-financed movie.Golden Globes are an even bigger scam than Oscars. Bunch of sozzled never-wases handing out awards. My dog & I can work out something better…
HOW can you leave Michael Emerson out for LOST?! I hope Hendricks gets a nod for Mad Men, even if she was rather absent for a big part of the season.
There were too many great supporting actors this year on Lost. If I had to pick one, it would be Nestor Carbonell.
HOW can you leave Michael Emerson out for LOST?! I hope Hendricks gets a nod for Mad Men, even if she was rather absent for a big part of the season.
I think Aaron Paul is the perfect pick for Best Supporting Actor. His job this year has been nothing short of extraordinary.
i have to agree.
if he doesn’t win this year i’ll be shocked.
Breaking Bad is underappreciated and fantastic.
No argument on Aaron Paul, but how about Anna Gunn’s incredible work as Skyler, Walter White’s conflicted wife on Breaking Bad?
Dean Norris as Hank was also awfully good this year. The whole cast has stepped it up this season
YES! Aaron Paul deserves the Emmy this year and I’d love to see Anna Gunn get a nomination. Why is she always overlooked?
Man, everyone on Breaking Bad is so good. Yes on Aaron Paul, yes on Anna Gunn, yes on Dean Norris, yes on Giancarlo Esposito, and let’s not forget RJ Mitte as Walt Jr. I am already heartbroken for the day he finds out what his father really does! And Bob Odenkirk is so perfectly sleazy and funny as Saul. I love how they can all shine as actors because the writing is so good.
Lisa Edelstein?! Are you kidding me?! NEVER!
It can’t be possible for you and I to share the same name if you think Lisa Edelstein wasn’t amazing in that episode!
What she said.
Exactly. Lisa E all the way–she’s fantastic!!
Agree. Lisa E. was stunning in 5 to 9 and all the critics agree.
I agree, I don’t believe she belongs on this list. One great episode does not an Emmy winner make. You could argue that she’s great in all of them, but I would disagree.
The sad thing is: Lisa doesn’t have enough timescreen, but that doesn’t mean she’s not an Emmy worthy.
She’s good in every single episode, but normally, she has only few minutes in each episode. And 5 to 9 is there to show us how amazing she is.
I think she deserves to win. That is why she is called ‘supporting.’
She is totally Emmy worthy. The woman is an incredible actress. She shines with sometimes just a few seconds of screen time.
smart.
agree.
Well Liz at 1:20 pm, the critics don’t seem to agree with you. Lisa Edelstein is brilliant in every scene and deserves an Emmy nomination.
Lisa Edelstein deserves to win. She did great this season!
yeah, and 5 to 9 was such a horrible ep.
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urm…..sandra oh chandra wilson for supporting female and patrick dempsey fo supporting male most defo!! they should be on your list!!!
Definitely Sandra Oh & Chandra Wilson their performances on the season finale were brilliant
Sandra Oh was brilliant on the finale.
Sandra and Chandra for the finale only, but both have had an amazingly stellar season, so much better than the ones youve mentioned!
And Eric Dane and Justin Chambers, brilliant performances all season!
I hope EMMY stop ignoring Grey’s and the brilliant acting on it, especially after this season!
Thank you! Just because Grey’s in general has gone downhill a bit, doesn’t mean that Chandra Wilson’s acting is! She was brilliant in the finale. I agree on Justin Chambers as well. And Matthew Fox deserves a nom, here or in the lead. Finally–where would Jane Lynch fit in?? Comedy or drama?
I haven’t read part I of your dream emmy noms yet so maybe he is on that list but where’s Michael Emerson? His portrayal of Ben Linus is beyond good acting.
Lisa Edelstein was fantasic in Cuddy’s day in the life episode and it is by far my favorite episode of House! Although, I do love Deborah Ann Woll as Jessica in True Blood. I would be happy if either of them won for this category.
Where is the soon to be 2 time winner cherry jones? Biased much??