Emmy Race: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

This is the eighth in a daily series of Emmy predictions, focusing on a specific category and outlining the most likely 10 or 15 contenders, with an analysis of their chances and the episodes chosen as submissions for consideration. Predictions will be revisited in July as the Emmy nomination announcement approaches.

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Last year's nominees:
CHRISTIAN CLEMENSON, BOSTON LEGAL (winner)
MICHAEL J. FOX, BOSTON LEGAL
JAMES WOODS, ER
KYLE CHANDLER, GREY'S ANATOMY
HENRY IAN CUSICK, LOST

Note: This is another crowded field with almost infinite possibilities and a staggering 24 contenders from the "Law & Order" franchise, of which I have only predicted one, so be prepared for some surprises here.

This year's top contenders:
CHRISTIAN CLEMENSON AS JERRY ESPENSON, BOSTON LEGAL (1 nomination/1 win)
I see no reason why last year's winner should be any less of a player, and he is the only nominee from last year eligible this year (Cusick is considered supporting actor). Not that it matters in this category, but look at Cloris Leachman, who received six consecutive nominations for her guest role on "Malcolm in the Middle".

TOM SELLECK AS IVAN TIGGS, BOSTON LEGAL
Selleck was a huge favorite back when "Magnum, P.I." was on, and garnered a nod in the comedy guest actor category a few years back for "Friends". He seems like an actor ready to mock himself, and "Boston Legal" could be the perfect outlet.

LIEV SCHREIBER AS MICHAEL KEPPLER, CSI
Schreiber is one of my favorite actors, even though he is still waiting for that breakthrough role ("Manchurian Candidate" did not come close enough). I tuned in to "CSI" for the four weeks he guest-starred, and he was great, and should merit a shot despite the odds of a "CSI" actor getting a nod in this category being against him.

JOHN MAHONEY AS BENNETT CRAY, ER
Mahoney is a great comic and dramatic actor who was an occasional nominee for "Frasier". Guest stars on "ER" often have a great shot, even since the popularity of "ER" declined a couple of years ago.

STANLEY TUCCI AS KEVIN MORETTI, ER
I think this is Tucci's year to shine, even after his terrible show "3 LBS" was taken off the air after only three episodes, as he can get nominated for guest acting for both drama and comedyy ("Monk"). I have heard he was great on "ER".

FOREST WHITAKER AS CURTIS AMES, ER
Though I am pissed that Whitaker was snubbed last year in the supporting actor category for his awesome performance on "The Shield" and that he is not even submitting himself for "The Shield" this year, I can live with some other form of recognition. I am sure he was great on "ER", and his popularity is on the rise after his deserved Oscar win for "The Last King of Scotland".

JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN AS DENNY DUQUETTE, GREY'S ANATOMY
Emmy voters liked the bomb squad guy last year, and even from the limited amount of "Grey's Anatomy" episodes I have seen, I can tell that Morgan has become an immortal character. I think his guest appearance was during the Meredith drowning episode I heard terrible things about, so that cannot be good. Additionally, he is competing with his other guest performance on "Supernatural".

MALCOLM MCDOWELL AS LINDERMAN, HEROES
The moment I saw that McDowell was playing major manipulator Linderman, I could not imagine anyone else in the role. He is a respected actor who could earn a shot if "Heroes" becomes an Emmy show.

BOBBY CANNAVALE AS J.P. LANGE, LAW & ORDER
He won the Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his hilarious role on "Will & Grace" two years ago, and showed his dramatic acting chops in "The Station Agent". A nod in one guest category often translates to the other, and at least one "Law & Order" guest star usually makes it in.

SYDNEY POLLACK AS WARREN FELDMAN, THE SOPRANOS
He is not a terribly good actor, though he usually appears in a number of films he does not direct. This is the best part I have seen him in, and "Sopranos" nostalgia could help him out, though only two guest stars on "The Sopranos" have ever managed a nod, though they both deserved them (John Heard as Detective Vin Makazian and Annabella Sciorra as Gloria Trillo).

ED ASNER AS WILSON WHITE, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
It is easily possible that "Studio 60" will be completely shut out by Emmy voters, rendering my next four predictions moot. But if it is, 15-time nominee Asner is a good bet, plus he has a great role.

JOHN GOODMAN AS JUDGE ROBERT BEBE, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
They loved Goodman back when he was on "Roseanne" and he is a Sorkin favorite. I did not think he was that great but people seem to have loved him in the 2-parter "Nevada Day".

JUDD HIRSCH AS WES MENDELL, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
It was a LONG time ago, but the character of Wes Mendell was the one who got everything started and necessitated the bringing in of Matt (Matthew Perry) and Danny (Bradley Whitford) to work on the show. Hirsch was great, and if time is not unkind to him, should find himself rewarded with a nomination for his hard work.

ELI WALLACH AS ELI WEINRAUB, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
Okay, first things first, this guy is pushing 90 and is still an awesome actor. Plus I would be supremely excited beceause I actually ran into Mr. Wallach in a movie theatre bathroom right before we both went in (not together) to see "For Your Consideration" in New York City back in November. He has just had his great appearance on "Studio 60" and I was thrilled to recognize him. I am pretty sure that he is the only potential nominee I can say that I have actually physically seen.

GREGORY ITZIN AS CHARLES LOGAN, 24 (1 nomination in Supporting Actor category)
Itzin has a brief role on this season of "24" after last year's major breakthrough (the first "24" actor, along with Jean Smart as his wife, to receive a nomination other than Kiefer Sutherland). Truth be told, he is not that great, and determining "guest" roles on "24" is tough.

RICKY SCHROEDER AS MIKE DOYLE, 24
The mere fact that he is credited as "Ricky" makes his appearance seem all the more laughable and thus I doubt his chances are very high. Those disappointed with this season of "24" but still looking to reward the show may see newcomer Schroeder as the perfect compromise.

Current predictions:
CHRISTIAN CLEMENSON, BOSTON LEGAL
LIEV SCHREIBER, CSI
STANLEY TUCCI, ER
FOREST WHITAKER, ER
ELI WALLACH, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP

Tomorrow: Category to be announced.