OUTSTANDING
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Unlike many of
the previous categories we have a frontrunner, albeit a slight one. But this
one’s going to be trickier than usual given that one of the series has three
nominees in it and another has two. We’ve seen in recent years in the Emmys
that sometimes this can hurt qualified nominees (Game of Thrones, Better
Call Saul) sometimes it doesn’t (Succession, The Crown) We’ll find
out which is which this year. I should add that four of the nominees are among
the actors I’ve admired the most over the years, particularly in television or
in film. Here we go.
Tadanobu Asano,
Shogun. Odds: 11-2. For Playing: Yabushige, the right hand man to
Toranaga – for the moment. Pro: If there was a character who became a
fan favorite during Shogun it was Yabushige. In a show where every
character kept a poker face, it was often hysterical to see a character
acknowledge how horrible his situation was and try to do everything he could to
survive, which meant switching sides whenever possible. Asano’s work was among
the comic highpoints of the show – and in the season finale, took on a note of
tragedy when he realized how his lord had manipulated him, appreciated the
marvel of his plan – but would still not be confided in even at death. Asano is
more than deserving of a win. Con: Unlike his fellow nominees Asano doesn’t
have this category to himself. And as we’ll see, there’s an excellent chance
his surprise co-nominee could take enough votes to deny him the prize
Billy Crudup, The
Morning Show. Odds: 5-1. For Playing: Cory Ellison, the executive
producer dealing with the potential sail of the network he works on. Pro: Crudup
is the only nominee in this category with a win from a previous awards show under
his belt – he was the surprise winner of the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
at the Critics Choice Awards this past January, one of the few major awards
Matthew MacFayden didn’t get last year. In a series with so many names in it,
Crudup has been the unquestioned star, unflinching his ruthlessness, but
somehow hysterical (and musical). While many have overall questioned the
quality of this show, few deny the ability of Crudup to dominate the screen as
Ellison. And considering that he was the last previous winner in this category on
an awards show that loves to give repeats, it might pay off. Con: It has
been four years since Crudup’s previous upset win in 2020 at the Emmys and many
at the time questioned what was this show’s only win at the Emmys. Institutional
memory may not be enough.
Mark Duplass, The
Morning Show. Odds: 7-1. For Playing: Chip Black, working behind the
scenes at TMS. Pro: Speaking strictly for myself I’ve been a huge admirer
of Duplass as both a writer and a performer for the last decade. I’ve loved him
in just about every TV series he’s done over the years, whether its his work on
The League or the two short-lived series Togetherness, his guest
role on The Mindy Project or Goliath, or his producing the
superbly weird Room 104 anthology as well as his work for the superb Somebody
Somewhere. He and his brother Jay (also criminally underrecognized for his
own acting) have been the kings of independent films. I couldn’t be more thrilled
that he is finally getting long, long overdue recognition for what is a relatively
subtle role as Chip on The Morning Show. He more than deserves the
nominations he gets. Con: Unfortunately it is the fate of a Duplass to
be underappreciated and that is true on this show. One of his co-nominees are
more likely to get it than him.
Jon Hamm, The
Morning Show: Odds: 6-1. For Playing: Paul Marks, a billionaire CEO
who becomes involved with Alex. Pro: Jon Hamm never really left
television when Mad Men ended but he officially returned during 2023 and
has been nominated for both his major roles. We know we shouldn’t trust Paul
from the moment we meet him but it’s the gift of Hamm as a performer that we,
like Alex, are lured in by his charm and good looks. We want to trust him even
when we shouldn’t. But when he offers to throw UBA lifeline some are willing to give it, even as
the warning signs flare and then at the end of the season we learn all too well
our first instincts were right. Hamm has this century living in the grey area,
even when he’s clear evil. His rugged good looks and charm carry him. Plus you
know, one Emmy out of 12 nominations? I grant the difficulty of the competition
but he’s not up against Bryan Cranston this year. Con: No, he’s up
against another brilliant actor who happens to have the initials B.C. Maybe he’ll
have better luck in Best Limited Series (though if anything, the competition
there is even worse.)
Takehiro Hira, Shogun.
Odds: 13-2. For Playing: Kazunari, trying to manipulate himself in
order to rule Feudal Japan. Pro: Few suspected that Hira, among a superb
ensemble would be among the nominees. But there was much to admire in Hira’s
work as Kazunari, Toranaga’s chief nemesis in his fight for power. Hira was, as
we saw, just as skilled at manipulation as Toranaga was and as we saw
throughout much of the series he was just as capable of holding the upper hand.
It was only when he decided to destroy Mariko that he was outmaneuvered. Unlike
most of the other characters, Hira could return for the second season and I’d
more than welcome it just to see what he does next. Con: If there’s a
favorite from Shogun in this category, it’s Asano by all measure. How
fitting it would be for the man who worked for power to rob his rival of
support.
Jack Lowden, Slow
Horses: Odds: 13-2. For Playing: River Cartwright, the youngest member
of Slough House, still not used to his assignment. Pro: I wasn’t sure
Lowden would be able to get a nomination for his incredible work, given that
this is traditionally a category that often recognizes older character actors
rather than young blood. But the cream rose to the top and Lowden managed to
grab a nomination. Jackson Lamb may be the main lead of Slow Horses but
Lowden is its action hero, always in motion, always on the front lines and
inevitably ending up taking the most blows, physically, metaphorically and when
it comes to Jackson Lamb, verbally. In this season he has come to the
realization that his beloved grandfather, a legend in MI-6 is beginning to
suffer from the first stages of dementia and become a liability for the agency –
and himself. (Those who have read the books know what the inevitable fate for
his grandfather will be.) Lowden is also invariably a source for a great deal
of humor in this often hysterically funny series and such was the case. Good to
see him here. Con: This is not going to be Lowden’s year by a long shot
given the level of his competition. He can take with him that old cliché – ‘it’s
an honor just to be nominated’ and with the likelihood that he will return to this
front again.
Jonathan Pryce,
The Crown. Odds: 6-1. For Playing: Prince Philip, the aging
patriarch of the Windsor clan. Pro: Over the last few years Pryce, a veteran
of nearly four decades of acting, has been enjoying a late career renaissance. He
has been nominated this year for both series he has appeared in for this role
and for his work in Slow Horses. In both cases he should have been
nominated previously and we can blame the glut of recognition for The White
House and Succession last year for excluding him. Pryce is the third
actor to play Philip in the series life and his predecessors Matt Smith in the
first two seasons and Tobias Menzies in the second two were both nominated in
this category in their final season (Menzies won). And in a way there is the
most contrast between his Philip and the ones we’ve seen in the previous two
incarnation. We can’t recognize the young man who chafed against the system in
the first two seasons or the man who was still trying to be a good husband and
father in the next two. Now we see an old man, considering himself the safeguard
of the system, even more of a relic than his wife is, refusing to acknowledge
how much time has passed him and the system he represents by. Pryce has been
one of our best character actors for nearly half a century and is more than
overdue recognition. Con: Time has passed The Crown by as well.
The reviews for the final two seasons have not been kind as they were when it
was at its peak. Pryce may have a better chance of getting a win for Slow
Horses – but I’ll get to that later.
Prediction: My personal
preference would be for Hamm or Pryce, but I’m giving the edge to Crudup –
albeit with less confidence then many of the other nominees.
Tomorrow I wrap
up drama with Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama as well as the rest of
the major categories.
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