Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
William Hurt (Damages)
John Lithgow (Dexter)
Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

A number of important things to note about this category. First of all, last year was the first time since 2004 that all five nominees were from comedy or drama series only rather than mini-series or TV movies. The fact that it was an exception makes it hard to predict this category and whether standalone fare will be included along with weekly shows. Next, both Hurt and Lithgow are out since they did not appear on either of their shows in 2010. Emerson was the first “Lost” inclusion at the Globes since 2006, which is very atypical for this awards body, and I think the show will be entirely ignored in its final year. Harris should be safe, while Piven is increasingly less likely to return as a nominee as his show goes on, despite having been nominated for all six seasons and continuing to be recognized after he already won his trophy three years ago. As far as mini-series and TV movie contenders go, watch out for John Goodman (You Don’t Know Jack) and Emmy winner David Strathairn (Temple Grandin). Watch out also for another John Goodman (Treme) role, and I imagine that HBO’s newest show, “Boardwalk Empire,” won’t be able to single out a performer for nomination in this category. The same may hold true for “Modern Family,” though Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet all received Emmy nominations. I’d like to hope that Martin Short (Damages) can fill the spot left vacant by Hurt, but my bet for the fifth slot: Oliver Platt (The Big C), who got nominated back in 2004 for his last Showtime series, “Huff.”

Current predictions:
John Goodman (You Don’t Know Jack)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Oliver Platt (The Big C)
David Strathairn (Temple Grandin)