AFT Awards: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

This is the eleventh category of the 3rd Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television this past season. This year, semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work being done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.
Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: John Amos, Matthew Modine, Lou Diamond Philips, Jerry Seinfeld, Dean Winters

Emmy nominees: Alan Alda, Beau Bridges, Jon Hamm, Steve Martin, Justin Timberlake

Semi-finalists: None – not enough contenders.

Finalists: Callum Keith Rennie (Californication) infused this season with a lasting presence and enduring legacy. Callum Blue (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) showed Belle how her job could really affect her loved ones’ lives. Jay Karnes (Burn Notice) made a great nemesis for Michael – and his token smirking just added to his charisma. Ed Begley Jr. (Party Down) reminisced about good old times and proved a surprisingly well-equipped match for the craziness of Jane Lynch. Glynn Turman (Scrubs) taught J.D. and Turk about the meaning of life, and his stubborn attitude guided the whole episode.

The nominees:

Demian Bichir (Weeds) first appeared as a mysterious face at the end of a tunnel, and quickly became an influential force in the regular plot of the series, mixing sincere affection for Nancy with ruthless, corrupt business conduct. Steve Martin, Jon Hamm, Peter Dinklage, and Alan Alda (30 Rock) were memorable guests on NBC’s quirky comedy, all subdued in their various ways yet very funny. Martin’s fraud cover-up was amusing, Hamm’s obliviousness to his own beauty was entertaining, Dinklage’s anger at Liz for confusing him with a small child was hilarious, and Alda’s excitement at meeting his son, so different from him, was touching.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series