Monday, August 1, 2011

AFT Awards: Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series

This is the first category of the 5th 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 Lead Actor in a Drama Series


Last year’s nominees: Bryan Cranston, Michael C. Hall, Jon Hamm, Peter Krause, Timothy Olyphant

Emmy nominees: Steve Buscemi, Kyle Chandler, Michael C. Hall, Jon Hamm, Hugh Laurie, Timothy Olyphant

Semi-finalists: Jason Clarke (The Chicago Code), Jeremy Irons (The Borgias), Boris Kodjoe (Undercovers), Denis Leary (Rescue Me), Matt Passmore (The Glades)

Finalists: Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment) proved just as selfish and stubborn as his patients when speaking to his own therapist. Peter Krause (Parenthood) played both a father and an unhappy, frustrated employee desperate to change things around him. Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) was the strong-willed, lone voice of reason in a violent universe. Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) was stirring as a man with nothing to lose and everything to get back. Mark Valley (Human Target) was delightfully fearless and completely entertaining.

The nominees:

Michael C. Hall (Dexter) found a kindred spirit for whom he could actually have some compassion. Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) was oily, sleazy, and loveable in the same way that Tony Soprano was. Timothy Olyphant (Justified) oozed naturalism and style as he navigated his ways through the criminals of Kentucky. Holt McCallany (Lights Out) turned in a heartfelt and believable portrayal of a fighter on his last legs.

The winner:

Jon Hamm (Mad Men) added to the complexity of an already complex character as he reinvented himself and let precious few others see into his psyche.

Next up: Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series

2 comments:

Richter Scale said...

Good choices. I am so hoping for a Jon Hamm win this year, especially with that submission. I mean, Steve Buscemi is really good in Boardwalk Empire, but he'll have another chance (plus, I wasn't too impressed with him in his submitted episode). I wouldn't be upset with Michael C. Hall winning, since heis submitted episode was my favorite from this past season, and it shows a different side of Dexter.

Also Abe, I wanted to tell you, I just started watching Justified. I'm five episodes into season 1. I'm loving it so far, especially Timothy Olyphant's performance (I see why you continually praise him). Also, Walter Goggins is a scene-stealer (even though I've only seen him in the first two episodes, I'm sure more awesomeness is yet to come).

Movies with Abe said...

I'm glad you're enjoying Justified. It's a show that starts out great and gets even better, and Olyphant and Goggins are both terrific.

As far as the Emmy race goes, I'm currently watching the twentysomething total episodes in all categories that I haven't seen, and I have yet to screen the episodes submitted by Chandler and Laurie. I'll plan to revisit the installments chosen by Buscemi, Hall, and Hamm, but I suspect it's a race between Buscemi and Hamm, since newbies can often win this race. Hamm had the bad luck of his show starting the same season as Cranston's, but what I'd say is that if Kyra Sedgwick could beat Julianna Margulies, Hamm can probably beat Buscemi. We'll see - either would be a good choice, as would Hall!