AFT Awards: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

This is the fifth category of the 1st Annual AFT Television Awards to be announced. Guest category nominees must not be regular members of the cast and must be billed as guest stars. Their appearances need not be limited to any number of episodes. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order.

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

DIXIE CARTER AS GLORIA HODGE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
As the manipulative, pretty much evil mother of the mysterious Orson Hodge, Carter adds an immutable spark to her character, who if played incorrectly, could come off as purely a corny villain. Her interactions with her on-screen daughter-in-law, Alma (Valerie Mahaffey, the runner-up for a nomination in this category) and Orson (Kyle Maclachlan) are particularly sweet to watch.

LAURIE METCALF AS CAROLYN BIGSBY, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
If there is one guest star this season who truly steals an episode, it is Metcalf as the jealous, raving mad housewife who takes hostages at a supermarket. Her transition from hilarious crazy woman to truthfully scary hostage-taker did not skip a beat, and Metcalf pulled it off tremendously.

RASHIDA JONES AS KAREN, THE OFFICE
I personally think Jones should have been a full-fledged member of the cast this season, appearing in I believe every episode. But since Emmy ballots place her here, and I do not feel strongly either way, I will recognize her in this category. Jones adds a nice romantic spark, and an unexpected quiet rivalry with Pam which is nice, especially for a show where some of the best actors are often understated.

STEPHANIE MARCH AS GRETCHEN, 30 ROCK
March appears in only one episode, as opposed to all the other nominees in this category, but she nonetheless makes her mark. As the blind date of an unsuspecting Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in the episode of the same name, she is memorable in only a scene or two, subtly begging Liz to ponder for a moment her sexuality.

ISABELLA ROSSELLINI AS BIANCA DONAGHY, 30 ROCK
Playing the wife of the eccentric Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) is no small feat. But playing the raving ex-wife of Jack Donaghy is an even bigger task. Rossellini brings a great passion slash fury to the role, and it is her quiet interactions with Liz, which eventually turn into flat-out fights, that are the most fun to watch.

And the winner is...
LAURIE METCALF, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

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