AFT Awards: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

This is the eighteenth category of the 1st Annual AFT Television Awards to be announced. My ensemble awards (a category not rewarded by the Emmy Awards) represent the best cast working together. Shows with smaller casts are left off the list simply due to the fact that there is not as much potential to create a stellar ensemble with only a few cast members. I also include a number of recurring players in my nominee lists. The long-running cast of "The Sopranos" is my definitive runner-up here. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by series.

Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

BROTHERHOOD
Karl Bury
Len Cariou
Kevin Chapman
Jason Clarke
Ethan Embry
Fiona Erickson
Fionnula Flanagan
Annabeth Gish
Jason Isaacs
Stivi Paskoski
Frank Ridley
Matt Servitto
Billy Smith

THE CLOSER
James Avery
G.W. Bailey
Michael Paul Chan
Bob Clendenin
Raymond Cruz
Tony Denison
Robert Gossett
Phillip Keene
Gina Ravera
Corey Reynolds
Kyra Sedgwick
J.K. Simmons
Jon Tenney

RESCUE ME
Lenny Clarke
Olivia Crocicchia
Natalie Distler
Charles Durning
Denis Leary
Michael Lombardi
James McCaffrey
Jack McGee
Tatum O'Neal
Tricia Paoluccio
Steven Pasquale
Andrea Roth
Susan Sarandon
Sherri Saum
John Scurti
Daniel Sunjata
Callie Thorne
Marisa Tomei
Paige Turco
Dean Winters

THE SHIELD
Michael Chiklis
Catherine Dent
Paula Garces
Walt Goggins
Michele Hicks
Michael Jace
Jay Karnes
David Marciano
Benito Martinez
Alex O'Loughlin
Franka Potente
CCH Pounder
Cathy Cahlin Ryan
David Rees Snell

STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
Ed Asner
Timothy Busfield
Camille Chen
Nate Corrdry
Lucy Davis
Ayda Field
Evan Handler
Simon Helberg
D.L. Hughley
Sarah Paulson
Amanda Peet
Matthew Perry
Columbus Short
Josh Stamberg
Nate Torrence
Steven Weber
Merrit Wever
Bradley Whitford

And the winner is...
THE CLOSER

Next: To be announced