Best Actor - Drama
Gabriel Bryne - In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 4")
I really like what I've seen of In Treatment. Gabriel Bryne is always quite good. In fact, of all the actors on this list that I've seen a lot of, I think he might be my favorite.
Kyle Chandler - Friday Night Lights ("Last Day of Summer")
I've never watched but I've heard great things. From now on, this scenario will be referred to as NWHGT, because there are a bunch of 'em.
Bryan Cranson - Breaking Bad ("Pilot")
NWHGT.
Patrick Dempsey - Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom")
He's better than he often gets credit for (like, he's not just "acting with his hair"), but a win, and maybe even a nomination would be overkill.
Michael C. Hall - Dexter ("There's Something about Harry")
NWHGT. And I liked him in the couple of episodes of Six Feet Under that I saw, but really, both TV shows creep me out, a lot, and I'm not struck by any sort of desire to ever watch Dexter.
Jon Hamm - Mad Men ("The Wheel")
What I saw of Mad Men is really great. I'm actually going to try to watch this season, no, for reals guys. All the acting's very good, and though I watch far too little TV to make personal awards, I think it's between him and Bryne for me.
Eddie Izzard - The Riches ("Last Temptation of Wayne")
NWHGT.
Hugh Lawrie - House ("House's Head")
I despise this show and think this performance is remarkably overrated. If he never wins an Emmy, I won't be sad about it.
Denis Leary - Rescue Me ("Babyface")
NWHGT.
James Spader - Boston Legal ("The Court Supreme")
Like I said when I first reviewed the series, this is still on? Coulda fooled me. Does anyone watch this? What channel is it on?
Best Actress - Drama
Patricia Arquette - Medium ("Aftertaste")
Never seen, never heard much.
Glenn Close - Damages ("Pilot")
She's like 80% of the reason to watch this show. Please, please, please give her the Emmy.
Minnie Driver - The Riches ("Dead Calm")
NWHGT.
Sally Field - Brothers and Sisters ("History Repeating")
I find Sally Field incredibly abrasive and obnoxious (she was awesome in Norma Rae, though). She might be great, but I'm not watching her show.
Marisa Hargitay - Law and Order: SVU ("Undercover")
Yes, she's very good. Not quite Emmy-worthy, but I wouldn't be annoyed with a nomination.
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace ("Tacos, Tulips, Duck, and Spices")
This show looks incredibly awful and I don't watch it, but Holly Hunter is an absolute goddess.
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men ("The Hobo Code")
She was excellent indeed, but... I'm pretty surprised to not see January Jones anywhere on these lists.
Mary McDonnell - Battlestar Galactica ("Faith")
NWHGT. God, BSG fans tick me off (we get it. It's the best show on TV. No one watches. The Emmys don't appreciate it. It's amazing. We get it.)
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer ("Manhunt")
NWHGT.
Jeanne Tripplehorn - Big Love ("Take Me As I Am")
I've watched a few episodes and though she was great, I gotta say it, as much as it pains me... Chloe Sevigny was much, much better.
Best Supporting Actor - Drama
Naveen Andrews - Lost ("The Economist")
NWHOKT. (which, of course, stands for "never watched, heard OK things")
Bruce Dern - Big Love ("Good Guys and Bad Guys")
Eh. From what I saw, he's not really deserving to be here.
Christian Clemenson - Boston Legal ("Roe vs. Wade: The Musical")
Never watched, never even heard of this guy.
Ted Danson - Damages ("Jesus, Mary, and Joe Crocker")
He's spectacular (though not as good as Glenn).
Michael Emerson - Lost ("The Shape of Things to Come")
NWHGT.
Zelkjo Ivanek - Damages ("I Hate These People")
I like him here too. He's a really underrated actor in general.
TR Knight - Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom")
Eh. There are worse choices, though, I guess.
William Shatner - Boston Legal ("Mad About You")
He'll probably win... oh, the Shat.
John Slattery - Mad Men ("Long Weekend")
Like I said, the cast of Mad Men is all really tip-top.
Blair Underwood - In Treatment ("Gina: Week 6")
He's truly excellent. Love him here. Would love to see him win.
Jake Weber - Medium ("Wicked Game Part 1")
Never watched, heard nothing.
Best Supporting Actress - Drama
Jane Alexander - Tell Me You Love Me ("Episode 10")
Never watched, heard nothing.
Candice Bergen - Boston Legal ("The Mighty Rogues")
Doesn't she win every year...?
Rose Bryne - Damages ("Because I Know Patty")
For one thing, she's lead, and for another, she's blank and overrated. I think the nomination's a lock, unfortunately.
Jill Clayburgh - Dirty Sexy Money ("The Watch")
NWHGT. I heard the show sucks, though.
Sharon Gless - Burn Notice ("Identity")
This is always being advertised. I've never watched it, nor do I know anyone that does.
Rachel Griffiths - Brothers and Sisters ("Domestic Issues")
Again, my dislike of Sally Field makes me not watch this show, but in theory I loooove me some Rachel Griffiths.
Christina Hendricks - Mad Men ("Babylon")
Yep. Any member of that cast is absolutely worthy of a nomination. I'm still appalled January Jones isn't here, though.
S. Epatha Merkerson - Law and Order ("Bottomless")
I haven't watched the original Law and Order in a long, long time, so I can't really comment. She's very talented, though.
Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy ("The Becoming")
She's fantastic and I hope she gets nominated.
Dianne Wiest - In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week ?")
She's always great, really.
Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy ("Lay Your Hands on Me")
She's always been the best actor/actress on that show... sorry Katie Heigl. But, if Heigl could win last year, I hope Wilson does this year.
Best Actor - Comedy (three are missing)
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
I love him to death, duh. If Steve Carell can't win, hopefully he can... and I think he will anyway.
Steve Carell - The Office ("Goodbye, Toby")
Um, obviously. Few things will make me happier than the day when he finally wins that Emmy. I'm so glad he changed his episode; this one is a far better choice.
Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Bat Mitzvah")
I haven't seen enough of the show to really say if he's deserving or not. I don't hate him, but I don't think he's in Carell or Baldwin's league.
David Duchovny - Californication ("The Last Waltz")
NWHGT.
Lee Pace - Pushing Daisies ("Pie-Lette")
He's quite good, and really cute. That said, the supporting people are the real stars of this show.
Tony Shalhoub - Monk ("Mr. Monk and the Naked Man")
I'm so tired of him. He never deserved to win over far better candidates.
Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men ("Is There a Ms. Waffles?")
Like all of Two and a Half Men, I despise him. Ugh.
Best Actress - Comedy
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who? ("The Restraining Order")
Never watched, but I think she's so effing adorable. I'd love to see her win.
Marcia Cross - Desperate Housewives ("Now You Know")
Desperate Housewives sucks, but she's absolutely outstanding. My other favorite in this category.
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty ("Odor in the Court")
I adore her, and she's a big part of why her show is still watchable, despite having, as I've said before, an awful sophomore slump. But I can't pretend she's half as good as Marcia Cross or Mary-Louise Parker.
Tina Fey - 30 Rock ("Sandwich Day")
She's very, very funny, but it's far from the most nuanced or varied portrayal. She's absolutely deserving of the nomination, and absolutely not deserving of the win.
Anna Friel - Pushing Daisies ("Bitter Sweets")
Yeah. She's adorable. Hopefully, she can get a nomination.
Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives ("Now I Know, Don't Be Scared")
She was fantastic in the earlier seasons, but then her performance got a little too dramatic and not so much comedic. I've definitely always preferred Marcia Cross to her.
Eva Longoria Parker - Desperate Housewives ("In Buddy's Eyes")
Yeah, I liked her. I gotta say, the main four in Desperate Housewives do a fantastic job, even if the show is terrible. And not so much a comedy.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine ("One and a Half Men")
NWHGT.
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
I love her. S3 of Weeds sucked, but she's awesome.
Sarah Silverman - The Sarah Silverman Program ("Bored of the Rings")
I've never watched this show, but much like Sally Field, I can't stand her and so I'm not going to watch it.
Best Supporting Actor - Comedy
Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men ("Meander to Your Dander")
He's the best thing on this show. That's not saying much, but he is. Still, he doesn't deserve a nomination over so many deserving candidates.
Kevin Dillon - Entourage ("The Dream Team")
I think he's awesome, but again, there are more deserving candidates on this list. Sorry, Kevin.
Justin Kirk - Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
Much like Mary-Louise, he remained awesome even while the show wasn't so much.
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother ("The Goat")
I watch this show for him and I haven't given it up yet. He's so effing awesome. If Krasinski or Wilson can't win, I'm cheering for him hardcore.
John Krasinski - The Office ("Branch Wars")
Oh, so obviously. Please please please please pleeeeaaaase give him a nomination!! While I don't understand the original Office outpouring of "Branch Wars" love (series? Carell?!), it makes total sense here. I seriously doubt he'll win - even the nomination is doubtful, because in the category that's normally "wacky sidekick" he plays a totally normal guy with, gasp, nuance - but he certainly deserves to.
Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock ("Episode 210")
He's outstanding and pretty darn adorable.
Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock ("Secrets and Lies")
He... plays himself. Sorry, guys. I really hope 30 Rock doesn't get both nominations here, because Morgan isn't terribly deserving. Wouldn't complain about McBrayer though (as long as he's not over Krasinski :P).
Jeremy Piven - Entourage ("The Day Fuckers")
I. Love. Him. He's the continued reason I watch Entourage. That said, three Emmys in a row, when the competition is so strong (Krasinski, Wilson, Harris, even Kirk and Dillon), is overkill. But I still wouldn't mind it, actually.
Fred Willard - Back to You ("Cradle to Grave")
Never watched, heard nothing.
Rainn Wilson - The Office ("Money")
Can we please just give him a fucking Emmy already? PLEASE?????
Best Supporting Actress - Comedy
Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies ("Girth")
I find her incredibly annoying, and I used to love her. Oh well. She is pretty darn adorable in this.
Conchita Ferrell - Two and a Half Men ("Fish in a Drawer")
Meh. So many better choices.
Jenna Fischer - The Office ("Fun Run")
I love her to death and she was absolutely robbed last year, but if the voters had actually watched the tapes instead of just voting for a name, Angela or Melora would be in her place (or rather, along with her in this category). That said, I'm still hoping she gets the actual nomination, and I'd be totally thrilled with a win.
Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock ("The Collection")
I adore her here. I wouldn't mind a nomination. She's certainly better than the Two and a Half Men ladies.
Judith Light - Ugly Betty ("I See Me, ICU")
She's pretty good, but Vanessa Williams is spectacular.
Elizabeth Perkins - Weeds ("Risk")
Yeah, she's awesome. It's funny, the three awesome performances from Weeds are actually recognized at the Emmys, and the rest of the performances on this show are... not. so. awesome.
Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live ("Tina Fey")
Okay, now I know they're just doing it by voting for "names." Because if they weren't, Kristin Wiig, who's far, far better, would be here. Though I'm not all that crazy about her, either, certainly not as much as many magazines are (cough, cough, I think she blew Entertainment Weekly too, cough). Bill Heder is probably the best member of the Saturday Night Live cast right now.
Jean Smart - Samantha Who? ("The Girlfriend")
Never watched, heard nothing.
Holland Taylor - Two and a Half Men ("Media Room Slash Dungeon")
Ugh. She's awful too. This show is awful. Why can't the Emmys just get over it?
Vanessa Williams - Ugly Betty ("Bananas for Betty")
As I said before, she's absolutely spectacular and divariffic. I'd love to see her get the nomination.
WHEWWWWW.
