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| Don't look so sad Luke, you'd get my Emmy vote. |
Before i get to my thoughts on our first category, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, it bears mentioning yet again that Emmy voters are people who work, or worked, in the industry (actors, directors, writers, etc.) hence many of them don't have the time to watch a broad variety of shows. I, on the other hand, have plenty of time! So much time that I managed to watch 42 shows last year & I added another 6 in 2013 (seriously). Thus their choices may get tons of publicity I'd argue mine may well be more valid. Of course really I think TV critics should be in charge, since it's their job to judge television, so here's a professional's opinion.*
*I freely admit that I'm ripping off Alan Sepinwall's Emmy gimmick. As for any similarities between our picks I would merely say we both watch a lot of TV & have good taste.
It's important to also not that like actual Emmy voters I'm restricted by whether or not an actor submitted themselves & where they chose to do so, so while I may think someone's a lead character if they submit in supporting I'm bound to honor that (I'm also not nominating anyone from shows I didn't watch at least a few episodes of, sorry The Big Bang Theory*). Click here for the actual Emmy ballot. Last year Emmy voters & I didn't agree on one nominee, come July 18th I encourage you to come back here & decide who did a better job.
*I'm not sorry.
My Nominees: This, along with Supporting Actor in a Drama, tends to be the toughest category to narrow down & this year was no exception. You could nominate my second, or even third, group of six & I wouldn't complain. It's that deep a category. Of course 3 or 4 of the nominations will inexplicably go to the Modern Family guys when only one of them (Ty Burrell) has been doing Emmy worthy work the last two seasons (& Nolan Gould is far better than the other adults). Granted last year I similarly filled half of my nominations in this category with guys from Community, but Glover, Pudi, & Rash were amazing so I offer no apologies. Anyway the Emmys are going to mangle this category so here are the guys legitimately deserving of recognition.
Adam Driver (Adam Sackler, Girls)-Last year Driver nearly made my list with his odd & often off putting work as Hannah Horvath's demented, artist, boyfriend. In one of the bigger shocks of that season Adam became one of the more sympathetic characters on the show & that continued this year even as Adam began the year injured, needy, &, not surprisingly, stalkerish. It was in the latter half of the season where Driver truly shown as he got to play Adam striving for a more normal life and relationship, then the disappointment when that failed (in pretty horrifying fashion), & finally his heroic run through the streets of New York to be reunited with Hannah. It's a brilliant performance & one I can't imagine anyone else giving.
Possible Submission Episode: "On All Fours"
Chances of a Nomination: 2%
Max Greenfield (Schmidt, New Girl)-Greenfield's Schmidt was the breakout character of New Girl's first season, he did get an Emmy nomination after all, & while he was sometimes overshadowed by the Jess & Nick happenings in season 2 the work he did was just as impressive. Greenfield gets ridiculous mileage out of the way Schmidt pronounces some words, & line readings in general, & his overzealous enthusiasm for the most douchey things is always welcome. This year though he also got to play some real emotions as Schmidt dealt with his loss of Cece & his reentering a relationship with his college girlfriend Elizabeth. A fine year for Greenfield & Schmidt.
Possible Submission Episode: "Tinfinity"
Chances of a Nomination: 60%
John Krasinski (Jim Halpert, The Office)-The past three years Krainski has been stuck in my honorable mention list, which is a shame because he surely would've made my top six the previous four years, but he's made it back on this year! As I mentioned yesterday when discussing Jenna Fischer, Jim & Pam were the only real reason to continue on with the show over its last season & Krasinki & Fischer delivered. Krasinski's had funnier seasons to be sure, though his rooming with Darryl & serving as Dwight's Assistant to the Regional Manager provided some of the bigger laughs of the season, but he's never been so dramatically affecting as he was this year as Jim strove to build the work life he's always wanted & dealt with the marital troubles that caused. There was never any doubt Jim & Pam would make it through the season with their relationship intact but Krasinski, & Fischer, made sure we cared all the same.
Possible Submission Episode: "Livin' the Dream"
Chances of a Nomination: 20%
Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson, Parks and Recreation)-Every year Offerman makes my list, Sepinwall's list, & countless others but never receives an Emmy nomination. This, along with their treatment of Steve Carell & The Wire, look to be the greatest embarrassments (& proof the Emmys are stupid) of Emmy voters in the 21st Century thus far (assuming Emmy voters are smart enough to be embarrassed). This year Offerman continued his excellent work as everyone's favorite mustachioed Libertarian. He got to explore Ron out of his comfort zone as he dealt with a new relationship, & the kids that come with it. Let's just say Ron Swanson plus little girls equals a whole lot of funny. Of course Ron plus a lot of things equals funny, be they getting food poisoning, punching Councilman Jamm in the face, or telling the truth about cats, & that's because of Nick Offerman.
Possible Submission Episode: "Ron and Diane"
Chances of a Nomination: 8%
Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer, Parks and Recreation)-Just like Offerman, every year Pratt has made my top six & failed to make an Emmy headway but at least casting directors are taking notice as he's appeared in Oscar nominated films Moneyball & Zero Dark Thirty, so he's doing alright. This year Pratt got to play the ever oblivious Andy in a more motivated form as he aimed to become part of Pawnee's police force. Sadly that dream failed, but it did lead to the Pratt/Adam Scott paring at Sweetums that paid immediate dividends, he continued to be part of the funniest marriage on TV, & the child like enthusiasm Pratt brings to the role never fails to provide laughs. Of course Bert Macklin alone would justify Pratt's nomination.
Possible Submission Episode: "Pawnee Commons"
Chances of a Nomination: 4%
Luke Wilson (Levi Callow, Enlightened)-Rarely does anyone rave about Luke Wilson & that's no surprise because there's not usually much to rave about. It's not that Wilson is bad but he's rarely as noteworthy as the performances going on around him. In Old School, Idiocracy, & countless other films he's the grounding force amongst all the craziness (in many ways he's a lesser Jason Bateman). However in Enlightened he's been given the material, even if it's not particularly funny, to truly test himself & what has resulted is career best work. In Enlightened's second season his substance abusing Levi goes to rehab & in his spotlight episode Wilson absolutely kills it. It's emotionally devastating work that earns the redemption at the end of the episode & Wilson's just as good when Levi returns & tries to rebuild his failed marriage. Sadly Enlightened was cancelled but I hope Wilson is able to find another role as rewarding as this one.
Possible Submission Episode: "Higher Power"
Chances of a Nomination: 0%
Honorable Mention: In such a competitive field Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, & Jim Rash couldn't overcome the drop in Community's quality from excellent to merely good. Arrested Development's new season wasn't as funny as those in the past but the Will Arnett episodes held their own against the past. The Mindy Project never fully coalesced this season but Ike Barinholtz was guaranteed to make me bust out laughing at least once an episode. As mentioned Ty Burrell will be deserving when he inevitably gets his Emmy nomination. I badly wanted to put Glen Howerton in for his demented work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Alex Karpovsky's Ray is my favorite character on Girls. Echo Kellum was as fun a performer as any on TV in the prematurely cancelled Ben & Kate. Lamore Morris doesn't get the same level of material as his New Girl cohorts but he maximizes whatever he gets. Keegan-Michael Key & Jordan Peele were both hilarious in various sketches on Key & Peele. Adam Pally & Damon Wayans Jr. were once again fantastic on the sadly deceased Happy Endings. Mike White deserves an Emmy for Enlightened be it for his understated acting, or brilliant writing & directing.
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