Nominees are pictured and listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of spoilers for listed episodes.
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Modern Family (Up All Night)
Around the time this show premiered, Burrell was the standout male cast member. I’d still put him as my favorite, but given the fact that two other men from the show got nominated, he faces some tough competition. His initial submission of the iPad episode angered some who found product placement infuriating and unnecessary. In quite a game changer, however, he is now going for the episode where he ends up in the hospital and talks about his robot companion, which is hilarious. Additionally, the show is popular enough that voters have likely seen more than one episode, so Burrell may fare extremely well.
Chris Colfer as Kurt Hommel, Glee (Laryngitis)
The nerd-turned-singer-turned-cheerleader on FOX’s musical sensation was able to score a nod at the young age of twenty – no small feat. He plays a character beloved by many of the show’s fans, and his episode submission works very much in his favor, where he tries to pretend he’s straight. I’m just not sure how he’ll fare against the other comedians in this category. He’s certainly showy though, so that helps.
Jon Cryer as Charlie Harper, Two and a Half Men (Captain Terry's Spray-On Hair)
Last year’s winner is barely in his submitted episode, but his two big scenes are the most engaging parts of the half-hour. Acting opposite the no-longer-nominated Charlie Sheen does help to make you look good, of course. Cryer’s win last year was likely symptomatic of Jeremy Piven’s absence, and with four new players in the ring this year, I can’t imagine that Cryer will be able to beat them all out, even if he does don a yarmulke and counsel Charlie about dating while on his way to meet a girl he met on JDate.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett, Modern Family (Family Portrait)
It would be a shock if Ferguson, the “Modern Family” cast member no one predicted to get nominated, actually won. He is great on the show, but he pales in comparison to his better half, Stonestreet. His season finale submission finds him fending off a pigeon in a funny but ultimately not so memorable scene. For some, it’s an honor just to nominated.
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother (Guys vs. Suits)
After hosting the Emmys last year, Harris is back with his fourth consecutive nomination for HIMYM, though his show isn’t up for the top prize this year. He’s absolutely overdue and certainly beloved by most these days, so a win seems inevitable at some point. Yet he’s also up for his “Glee” guest spot and may earn that as a consolation prize if one of the “Modern Family” men takes this trophy. His obsession with suits is entertaining in his chosen episode, but the humor may fall flat with non-viewers.
Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker, Modern Family (Fizbo)
At some point in the ABC sitcom’s first season, Stonestreet eclipsed Burrell as the wackiest member of the Pritchett-Dunphy clan. The turning point may in fact have been this episode where Cam dresses up as a clown, providing the perfect outlet for his token exuberance. It’s hard to predict how costars will fare against each other, but Stonestreet is both showy and extremely endearing, which should work very well for him.
Who should win (based on entire season): Burrell (my ballot)
Who should win (based on individual episodes) : Stonestreet
Who will win: A toss-up, but I’d say Stonestreet.
Next up: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
8 comments:
This is the only character where I've seen all six nominees on a regular basis, and even though there are a few people I would've loved to see her, I think every nominee here is fantastic. Yes, even Jon Cryer. Say what you will about the show, he's the one thing about it that has remained consistent throughout. I remember you once saying he deserved an Emmy for the first season Abe. What's the difference if he's getting the recognition now?
Still, I agree this should go to someone from Modern Family. I loved Ty Burrell in Game Changer and thought he had a great chance with it, but now that he submitted Up All Night (which has no controversy apparently) I think he has a better chance and would love to see him win, but I would also love to see Stonestreet win. I think he's deserved at least a nomination ever since he brought in Lily to the music of The Lion King in the Pilot.
Neil Patrick Harrisalso submitted a fantastic episode, since he gets a dance number and he nails it. I've also been re'watching Glee, and yes, Chris Colfer has always been a standout, especially when Mike O'Malley is around (they play beautifully off of each other). Honestly, I wouldn't be upset if anyone in this category won.
Hmm it has been a long time since I last commented :D
So hello, I'm back ;)
Well... Like Richter Scale, I've seen all of the nominees from this category and like him I wouldn't mind anyone winning, except maybe for Cryer who has already won (and doesn't need another one; the series' ratings are a reward in itself).
I am tempting to say one of the Modern Family nominees has this locked up but if we think about it, won't Burrell and Stonestreet split votes and make room for another contestant?
I'm beginning to think so. And between Colfer (who is superb in his episode) and Patrick Harris (who is overdue)... I think NPH has a good chance of winning 2 Emmys this year.
Although I think the winner will be Eric Stonestreet. And even if I'm ok with that, I also wanted NPH to win because, honestly, is the Academy going to leave a phenomenon like BARNEY frickin' STINSON unrewarded? One of the most fascinating characters in television? Let's face it, his show does not have that many seasons in it and the writing has been way downhill... So considering that Colfer and the MF guys can still win in the future, I say: give NPH his Emmy for BARNEY STINSON.
P.S. - I don't know why 'Ari Gold' is considered to be more legendary than 'Barney Stinson'. I can't understand why the need to give the former 3 Emmys and 0 to the latter.
Richter, I think that Cryer was doing good work in the show's early seasons but, as the quality of the show decreased, so did the quality of his performance. I'm usually very much against belated recognition, and I make exceptions only in special cases, and Cryer is not one of them.
It's really hard to predict who will win this race, but the good thing is that pretty much all of the nominees are deserving. And Jorge, I am one of those people who think that Jeremy Piven is fantastic and still deserves to be winning awards, even if Emmy voters have moved past him.
Abe, I am a fan of Piven too. I'm just saying: why does he have to have THREE Emmys and Neil Patrick Harris none?
And although I think Piven is typically strong each season of 'Entourage', NPH killed in season 2 and 3 of 'How I Met Your Mother' and he lost. Again and again. And then last year, when he really had a shot at winning, he submitted a terrible episode. The guy can't catch a break.
Abe, I have to disagree with you about delayed recognition. Seriously, I feel that without it there are certain performances that would never win because the timing just isn't right. That's how some amazing performers are nominated year in and year out and never win. Just ask Anthony Edwards and Noah Wyle in ER, or Martin Sheen in The West Wing. All amazing in every season they were nominated, yet never won. Or Peter Boyle in Everybody Loves Raymond (whom I always thought was the best one in that show) or even Hugh Laurie who apparently may never win for House (unless something happens this year). I feel that if an actor could not win in his/her prime, there should be a chance for them to win past their prime if the competition is weak enough, or if they've been nominated way too many times without winning. And, for me, Jon Cryer fit that bill, because he kept getting nominated without winning (because Jeremy Piven needed three, seriously, that's too many when others haven't won). I'm a spread the wealth type of guy as you can see.
I'm still rooting for the Modern Family men, since I think NPH will probably win for his guest turn on Glee, which I really enjoyed. If not, I hope these men don't get nominated every year the show is on and never win.
Agreed, Richter Scale.
I always thought that, for example, Mariska Hargitay would not be nominated again once she won but yet there she is again.
And poor Kyra Sedgwick is excellent in her show and never won (and looks like she never will).
Richter, as Breaking Bad will not be eligible next year, I think Hall, Hamm and Laurie will have a definite chance at a win in 2011. But yes Laurie will probably never win, and Hall as well. In 2011, Jon Hamm will probably be the winner.
But yes the Emmy history is filled with these cases that make me somewhat angry because there are so many amazing performers ignored and also so many amazing multiple time nominees that were never acknowledged because others keep winning.
If I ruled the Emmys, that thing that O'Quinn refered to when he quit the race last year should be mandatory: people who won already aren't allowed a second chance.
Another example: can someone honestly tell me that 'Everybody Loves Raymond' and 'Frasier' were ALWAYS superior to "Friends"? And Courteney Cox and "The Shield" and "The Wire" are not Emmy-worthy? Really? In a half-decade of amazing work and rave reviews? In beloved, critically-acclaimed shows?
And Tony Shalhoub and Alec Baldwin need to grab every freakin' Emmy in their category (and before them, John Lithgow and Kelsey Grammer)? Can't Steve Carell catch a break?
For example, if I had my way with the Emmys, this decade in this category would be:
2001 - Downey. Jr
2002 - MacNicol
2003 - Boyle
2004 - Tambor
2005 - Piven
2006 - Arnett
2007 - Wilson
2008 - Patrick Harris
2009 - Cryer
2010 - Stonestreet
Sometimes the Academy makes me mad.
Sorry, rant over. :P
Good rant Jorge. My feelings exactly. I don't know if bowing out after you won would exactly be fair to someone who has already won but did brilliant work in a given year, but I do think voters need to keep in mind that there are actors who have been nominated way too many times and never won. I still would have given both Alec Baldwin and Tony Shalhoub an Emmy, but just one.
I actually think Michael C. Hall might win this year, since he won the SAG and the Golden Globe, and yes, the fact that Breaking Bad is ineligibla next year gives me hope for Hamm, who is thus far amazing in this fourth season of Mad Men. I just wish people like Anthony Edwards weren't Emmy-less (or Peter Boyle, who died Emmy-less). The Academy is cruel that way.
Post a Comment