Clockwise from top left: Edward James Olmos, Hugh Laurie, Bryan Cranston,
Michael C. Hall, Kyle Chandler
Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights
Previous Nominations: 2006 (guest actor on Grey's Anatomy [ed: you're dead to us, Kyle])
Friend of the blog Kyle Chandler has been toiling unappreciated for three seasons now on NBC/DirecTV/whoever the hell is airing it now's Friday Night Lights. This show deserves special mention as one of the few shows on TV that both men and women can watch with equal measures of self-respect since it contains not only football but heart-wrenching teenage drama. There has never been any doubt through the shows run that its Chandler who holds the whole thing together. For that, he deserves the nom, but also for being criminally overlooked on Early Edition (you're welcome, Mike).
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House in House
Previous Nominations: 2005, 2007, 2008 (all for House)
Laurie beats out Kiefer Sutherland as the obligatory FOX headliner to get a nod (because you know one of them will), mostly because he can actually act. House may get a bit repetitive at times, but of the current crop of medical dramas on television, it is without a doubt the best (that's not the highest bar to clear, however). One might think that Laurie's edgy and cantankerous portrayal of Dr. House would have worn thin after so many seasons.. And well, it has a bit, but he's still great, and still a better choice than Kiefer.
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in Dexter
Previous Nominations: 2002 (Six Feet Under), 2008 (Dexter)
This nomination might be a bit unfair since I've currently been watching a ton of Dexter and Hall's performance is fresh in my mind. Then again, he was nominated last year, so it's not like it's unprecedented. Needless to say, it's a tall order for any actor to make the audience root for a cold, emotionless serial killer, but Hall pulls it off beautifully. When he's not murdering people in cold blood, he manages to be both endearing and likable, and that's a testament to Hall's acting chops. Definitely one of the best five actors on TV right now.
Edward James Olmos as Bill Adama in Battlestar Galactica
Previous Nominations: 1985, 1986 (supporting actor for Miami Vice, won 1985), 1995 (nominated best guest actor for The Burning Season)
The member of this group least likely to be nominated for the actual Emmys, simply because the voters seem to hate science fiction. It's their loss, since there is perhaps no actor working in TV today better than Olmos. Battlestar has now finished a four season run of what was some of the best television ever made, and Olmos was the central figure. Bill Adama was not only the heart of the series, but also its soul, and the fine ensemble cast probably couldn't have worked as well with any other actor at the helm. Needless to say, he deserves recognition.
Bryan Cranston as Walt White in Breaking Bad
Previous Nominations: 2002, 2003, 2006 (nominated best supporting actor, comedy for Malcolm in the Middle), 2008 (won for Breaking Bad)
Full disclosure: I don't actually watch this show. Never seen a single episode, although it is in the queue for the Summer of Couch. But I like Bryan Cranston, and he won last year, so that's good enough for me to nominate him. Read: Couldn't think of a fifth actor from a show I watch.
The Pick: This is probably not going to surprise anybody who knows me, but at the same time I don't think the pick is biased in the least. Battlestar Galactica was the best show on television during its run, and Edward James Olmos was the best actor on that show. Consequently, he is the logical pick. And I'm a huge nerd. So there.
Michael C. Hall, Kyle Chandler
Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights
Previous Nominations: 2006 (guest actor on Grey's Anatomy [ed: you're dead to us, Kyle])
Friend of the blog Kyle Chandler has been toiling unappreciated for three seasons now on NBC/DirecTV/whoever the hell is airing it now's Friday Night Lights. This show deserves special mention as one of the few shows on TV that both men and women can watch with equal measures of self-respect since it contains not only football but heart-wrenching teenage drama. There has never been any doubt through the shows run that its Chandler who holds the whole thing together. For that, he deserves the nom, but also for being criminally overlooked on Early Edition (you're welcome, Mike).
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House in House
Previous Nominations: 2005, 2007, 2008 (all for House)
Laurie beats out Kiefer Sutherland as the obligatory FOX headliner to get a nod (because you know one of them will), mostly because he can actually act. House may get a bit repetitive at times, but of the current crop of medical dramas on television, it is without a doubt the best (that's not the highest bar to clear, however). One might think that Laurie's edgy and cantankerous portrayal of Dr. House would have worn thin after so many seasons.. And well, it has a bit, but he's still great, and still a better choice than Kiefer.
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in Dexter
Previous Nominations: 2002 (Six Feet Under), 2008 (Dexter)
This nomination might be a bit unfair since I've currently been watching a ton of Dexter and Hall's performance is fresh in my mind. Then again, he was nominated last year, so it's not like it's unprecedented. Needless to say, it's a tall order for any actor to make the audience root for a cold, emotionless serial killer, but Hall pulls it off beautifully. When he's not murdering people in cold blood, he manages to be both endearing and likable, and that's a testament to Hall's acting chops. Definitely one of the best five actors on TV right now.
Edward James Olmos as Bill Adama in Battlestar Galactica
Previous Nominations: 1985, 1986 (supporting actor for Miami Vice, won 1985), 1995 (nominated best guest actor for The Burning Season)
The member of this group least likely to be nominated for the actual Emmys, simply because the voters seem to hate science fiction. It's their loss, since there is perhaps no actor working in TV today better than Olmos. Battlestar has now finished a four season run of what was some of the best television ever made, and Olmos was the central figure. Bill Adama was not only the heart of the series, but also its soul, and the fine ensemble cast probably couldn't have worked as well with any other actor at the helm. Needless to say, he deserves recognition.
Bryan Cranston as Walt White in Breaking Bad
Previous Nominations: 2002, 2003, 2006 (nominated best supporting actor, comedy for Malcolm in the Middle), 2008 (won for Breaking Bad)
Full disclosure: I don't actually watch this show. Never seen a single episode, although it is in the queue for the Summer of Couch. But I like Bryan Cranston, and he won last year, so that's good enough for me to nominate him. Read: Couldn't think of a fifth actor from a show I watch.
The Pick: This is probably not going to surprise anybody who knows me, but at the same time I don't think the pick is biased in the least. Battlestar Galactica was the best show on television during its run, and Edward James Olmos was the best actor on that show. Consequently, he is the logical pick. And I'm a huge nerd. So there.
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