Last year’s nominees:
ALEC BALDWIN as JACK DONAGHY, 30 ROCK (2 nominations/1 win)
There’s really no debating Baldwin’s definitive placement here, since “30 Rock” continues to be received even more critically well than ever before, and Baldwin is a big part of the reason for its success. His role hasn’t been as prominent this year, but he has a handful of terrific episodes, and he’s pretty much a default nominee at this point anyway.
STEVE CARRELL as MICHAEL SCOTT, THE OFFICE (3 nominations)
Carrell has yet to win an Emmy for his portrayal of the world’s most awkward boss, but he’s a shoo-in to be nominated. This year, he may even have a shot at the gold – he broke from Dunder-Mifflin and started his own paper company, which gave him plenty of comedic and dramatic material to use. Some believe “The Office” is headed south, but the male comedy categories just aren’t crowded enough for there even to be a possibility of Carrell or his show getting snubbed.
LEE PACE as NED, PUSHING DAISIES (1 nomination)
Pace managed to score a nomination for his role as a reanimating piemaker on ABC’s fantasy series while the show itself got left off the corresponding series list in favor of “Entourage” and “Two and a Half Men.” Since then, “Pushing Daisies” has been cancelled and the show once again finds itself with a minimal number of eligible episodes for Emmy consideration. This category is extremely empty, and I imagine Pace will return, but buzz is nonexistent for this dearly departed show.
TONY SHALHOUB as ADRIAN MONK, MONK (6 nominations, 3 wins)
Shalhoub continues to solve cases as the obsessive-compulsive detective title character on USA’s hit show. His work is as fine as ever, but there are those who were tired of his performance at the very beginning of the series, and they’re likely more than furious at this point. Nonetheless, there’s no reason to oust Shalhoub unless there’s a major unexpected overhaul of this category. This coming season will be the last for “Monk,” and Shalhoub will likely have the honor of being nominated consistently throughout his show’s entire run.
CHARLIE SHEEN as CHARLIE HARPER, TWO AND A HALF MEN (3 nominations)
Often referred to as the worst actor on television, Sheen has somehow managed to get nominated for television’s biggest award not one but three times. At this point, there’s nothing stopping him for coming back this year, especially because there’s one extra slot and “Two and a Half Men” continues to dominate as the most popular comedy on broadcast television. Barring any unseen fortunate interventions, Sheen should expect his name to be called for a highly illogical fourth time.
Shockingly omitted from last year:
DAVID DUCHOVNY as HANK MOODY, CALIFORNICATION
Duchovny, a two-time nominee in the drama actor category for “The X-Files,” was inexplicably left off last year’s list in favor of Charlie Sheen and Lee Pace. He’ll likely follow in the tradition of two other Showtime stars who were snubbed for the first seasons of their shows and welcomed in the next: Mary-Louise Parker for “Weeds” and Michael C. Hall for “Dexter.” Duchovny’s performance is still as good as it ever was; it’s just difficult to classify it. Then again, “comedies” like “Pushing Daisies” and “Desperate Housewives” have achieved success with their stars, so why not include Duchovny?
Familiar faces:
ZACH BRAFF as DR. JOHN DORIAN, SCRUBS (1 nomination)
Braff was nominated only once in the history of NBC’s medical comedy, for the show’s fourth season, when it also received a nomination for Best Comedy Series. The following year, the show received only the series nomination (no other recognition at all), and has been absent from Emmy’s radar since then, except for its musical episode. The show was going to end, and never quite did, and it looks like now it never well. Nonetheless, this is likely Braff’s last full season, and he’s a perfect filler nominee in order to make up six contenders.
BRAD GARRETT as EDDIE STARK, ‘TIL DEATH
Back in the day, Garrett won three Emmys for his comedic work on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and managed two additional nominations. His new show is nowhere near the quality of “Raymond,” but Garrett was revealed as one of the top ten finalists last year in this very empty category. Garrett really shouldn’t be a contender, both deservedly and realistically, but he’s a familiar name that voters might feel comfortable checking off in the absence of other contenders.
Wild cards:
JAY HARRINGTON as TED, BETTER OFF TED
ABC’s latest comedy is a hit with critics, and will be back for a second season after a summer run of leftover fresh episodes. The already-aired seven episodes make Harrington eligible, though I have a hard time believing he’s a serious contender. Emmy voters rarely have faith in midseason shows, and it even took “The Office” until its first full season to get recognized. “Better Off Ted” is a surprisingly fresh, quality show that may prevail at the Emmys – but likely in the form of a nomination for Portia de Rossi or the show itself, not Harrington.
ZACHARY LEVI as CHUCK BARTOWSKI, CHUCK
Maybe this is just me being willfully hopeful, but I think Levi has a shot. He’s the star of NBC’s action-comedy show that has a devoted fan following that, with the help of TV critics and subway, got it renewed for a third season. Levi is immensely likeable and does a great job of portraying both the comedic and the dramatic aspects of geek hero Chuck. It’s a show that’s more up the Golden Globes’ alley, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get some recognition here, and I hope that it might.
JIM PARSONS as SHELDON COOPER, THE BIG BANG THEORY
Parsons has been trumpeted as the best thing to happen to comedy in a long time, and “The Big Bang Theory” remains a critical and ratings success in CBS’ Monday night comedy lineup. Parsons has thus far not gained any awards traction, but given that it’s a smarter show that viewers of “Two and a Half Men” are probably watching, it’s a good bet that Parsons will have at least some support, but I doubt it will be quite enough.
JAMES RODAY as SHAWN SPENCER, PSYCH
Perhaps his role is just too goofy, but the star of the sister show to USA’s “Monk” hasn’t managed to get Emmy voters laughing just yet. The show is a lighter, less mature and serious version of “Monk,” but that doesn’t mean Roday doesn’t give it his all and work hard for a deserved nomination. Roday probably has some support, but if he hasn’t made it in for the first two years of the show, nothing has changed and nothing likely will.
The roundup:
It looks like the nominees may just be last year’s list plus Duchovny, though I’m worried about his chances and I also doubt that support for “Pushing Daisies” will be overwhelming this year. There a number of other contenders as equally unlikely as the above back six, like the “Flight of the Conchords” guys, Danny McBride (Eastbound and Down), Jason Lee (My Name is Earl), Parsons’ “Big Bang” costar Johnny Galecki, Jay Mohr (Gary Unmarried), and Kyle Bornheimer (Worst Week), but I just can’t imagine any of those people getting nominated. Then again, Kevin James did manage a shocking nomination for “The King of Queens.” If only “Burn Notice” were submitted as a comedy, Jeffrey Donovan could easily clean up here.
Current predictions:
ALEC BALDWIN, 30 ROCK
STEVE CARRELL, THE OFFICE
DAVID DUCHOVNY, CALIFORNICATION
LEE PACE, PUSHING DAISIES
TONY SHALHOUB, MONK
CHARLIE SHEEN, TWO AND A HALF MEN
Who could win? Alec Baldwin
Next up: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
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