Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees are pictured and listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Beau Bridges as Nick Brody, Brothers and Sisters (Brody)
This is Bridges’ fourth guest acting nomination in five years. He’s been switching back between the drama and comedy categories each time, and has three trophies for TV movie work from the 1990s. This episode revolves around Brody’s presence, and Bridges is perfectly charming, and far more sane and relaxed than most of the characters. I’m not sure that it’s enough to win, but Emmy voters certainly seem to like him.

Jeremy Davies as Dickie Bennett, Justified (Reckoning)
Davies managed a surprising nomination for a recurring role as one of the disturbed and despicable sons of the show’s number one villain this season. It’s a fantastic performance, and Davies deserves recognition after going unrewarded for his eccentric work on “Lost.” His submitted episode finds him right in Raylan’s crosshairs, and it’s a good showcase, but I don’t think that Davies can defeat the competition if voters haven’t seen his entire body of work on the show.

Bruce Dern as Frank Harlow, Big Love (D.I.V.O.R.C.E.)
Dern is the one nominee in any of the major categories whose episode and performance I have not seen. I chose not to screen it since I may one day go back and watch the whole show from the beginning. Dern, an Oscar nominee for 1978’s “Coming Home,” was a finalist in the supporting category several years ago for this role. I doubt that Dern will win since his show has yet to win an Emmy and he serves as its only nomination this year. Can anyone else offer commentary on his performance?

Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning, The Good Wife (Real Deal)
This is Fox’s third nomination in this category in six years, and he won last time in 2009 for “Rescue Me.” Fox, a five-time Emmy champ, portrays a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease who uses his illness to manipulate the jury. His submitted episode marks his second appearance on the show, and I suspect that he’ll be able to pick up another Emmy for his spectacular performance.

Paul McCrane as Josh Peyton, Harry’s Law (With Friends Like These)
McCrane’s nomination surprised me, since his recurring character is Kathy Bates’ opposing counsel and doesn’t often have much of a role. Yet in his submitted episode, McCrane’s character gets furious when the jury doesn’t side with him and even goes so far as to strip down in protest. It’s an unexpectedly showy performance that might even be able to give Fox’s prosecutor a run for his money.

Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper, Mad Men (Blowing Smoke)
This is Morse’s third nomination for this part in four years. He won his only Emmy in 1993 for “American Playhouse.” In his submitted episode, he departs with a huff from his firm when Don decides to change its public mission, and it’s a great showcase of who the character is that could help him win as his show finally gets some acting accolades for the first time this year.

Who should win (based on entire season): Fox
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Fox or Morse
Who will win: I think it’s going to be Fox.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series