With Seth Rogen ineligible we are
guaranteed for the second time in this decade to crown a different winner in
this category. And despite having ignored Steve Martin and Adam Brody it
remains a formidable lineup with quite a few nominees who have yet to receive
their due from the Emmys in long careers. Of course they are almost certain to
be 'cursed' to lose to one of the greatest actors in TV history receiving his
first nomination in this category – but certainly not his last.
Without further ado let's go over the
nominees.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder Man. For
Playing: Simon Williams, a smalltime actor trying to land his dream role with a
shady government operative. Pro: Unlike
the vast majority of the MCU TV universe this series connected with critics and
fans because it had a beating heart at its center rather then a show that was
designed for Easter eggs. A large part of this had to do with Abdul-Mahteen as
Simon, who as we all know managed to win an Emmy for basically being able to do
the exact same thing in Watchmen. And because this was a series far more
about being a failed actor rather then a superhero origin story it had the
ability to connect with critics and audiences. It was a pleasant surprise and
Abdul-Mahteen deserves all the credit for getting it there. Con: Even
before Season 2 was unexpected cancelled after being renewed Abdul-Mahteen was
facing a major obstacle. His nomination was the only one Wonder Man received
which cut any real chance he had of winning in an already stacked category down
to nearly non-existent. I guess he's now facing where Simon was at the start of
his series but he'll get through it.
Steve Carell, Rooster. For
Playing: Greg Russo, an author who comes to work at a college campus after his
daughter's marriage implodes. Pro: I've
seen quite a few episodes of Rooster and I now plan to see it in full
when Season 2 begins. In keeping with Bill Lawrence's comedies as a whole, Rooster
is a heartfelt show that gets its comedy from human foibles and in its
title role Carell actually gets to use his trademark awkwardness, which left me
cold as Michael Scott, in a far more tender and friendly fashion. It pays off
big time as we see a divorced man on the other side of his fifties facing the
fact that he wants to reinvent himself yet again. So he returns to his alma
mater and tries to be a better father and professor, all in the same ridiculous
ways that make us love everything Lawrence does in the last decade. Carell
embraces Greg with a charm and sincerity that I never once sensed in all the
time I saw him on The Office and you get a sense of humanity and the
knowledge of past mistakes that you keep making despite your best intentions.
The fact that Carell has never gotten an Emmy despite eight nominations would
seem to make him an overwhelming sentimental favorite. Con: Unfortunately
Carell's nomination is the only one Rooster received this year. And as
Kathy Bates ended up proving last year, often that means the Emmys chooses to
leave you on the outside looking in. Carell must hate the term: "Better
Luck Next Time' but in this case it's almost certainly going to be true.
Matthew Rhys, Widow's Bay. (EXPERT'S
PICK): For Playing: Tom
Loftis, the mayor of Widow's Bay whose trying to turn his island community into
the next Martha's Vineyard, right about the time a centuries old cure
resurfaces. Pro: I've been a huge
fan of Rhys ever since his incredible work in The Americans and he's
been one of the greatest TV actors in the 21st century. But I never for a moment suspected that he could be
as good at comedy as so many veteran actors that he displayed. His Tom is a
wonder to watch even in only the seven episodes that are available for
eligibility: someone who is determined to make his town that he loathes with
every fiber of his being a resort attraction and denies all good sense and his
own eyes that there is a huge supernatural presence until his second supernatural
encounter with a Sea Hag. Then of course he goes completely in the opposite
direction, ending up on a mushroom trip that has to be experienced to be
believed and then having a conversation with the town founder even though he's
been dead for over three centuries (as one does). His incredible work is one of
the biggest reasons this show became the cultural phenomena it did so quickly
and why he made Emmy history this year (we'll get to that) but why he might be
able to join a select crowd of those who've won in both comedy and drama in the
same acting category. (And two of them are nominees this year!) Rhys can never
get enough recognition in my eyes and I'm fine with it. Con: The only
thing that might work against him is the sentimentality factor combined with
some of the incredible comic performances in this category which I'm going to
get too below.
Jason Segel, Shrinking. For
Playing: Jimmy, a
psychiatrist facing an empty nest and the urge to start dating now that his
professional life is back in order. Pro: Segel managed to win in this
category at the Astras this weekend and despite the glaring absence of Rhys,
he's more than a deserving candidate. His work has been a masterpiece of comic
awkwardness mixed with trauma for two seasons and in Season 3 they let Jimmy
have less trauma and be more awkward as he found himself very gradually
starting to date again with so many hiccups before he ended up with someone who
might be his potential soul mate. We saw him increasingly take on the role of a
grownup, deal with his relationship with Paul, making amends and being there
for his neighbors and trying to find a way to heal decades long grudges with
his own father. Combined with the fact that despite having been in TV for
twenty five years he has yet to win an Emmy (why?!) he's more than overdue. Con:
For the second straight year Segel's work has been overshadowed by another
male lead in an Apple TV comedy. I think its inevitable Segel will win in this
category but I don't see it happening this year.
Martin Short, Only Murders in the
Building (MY PICK, DARK HORSE) For Playing: Oliver Putnam, a podcaster trying to
solve the murder of a doorman in his building while being forced to face his
own shortcomings. Pro: Short is the only lead who has been nominated
every season he's been eligible and while this speaks in part to the flaws of
the Emmys it also shows just how much he still has it after nearly half a
century in the business. This season showed more sides to Oliver then we've
gotten in five years: newlywed with a hot wife overseas pursuing her dream,
longtime tenant of the Arconia facing just how little his neighbors think of
him, and a deep dive into his backstory of his childhood which explained a lot
about why he is who he is. As always he remained the egomaniacal bastard we all
love, the good friend we know he's capable of being and the competent crime
solver he can be – all while being hysterically funny every moment he's
onscreen. He's gotten a disproportionate amount of recognition from the Emmys
compared to his constant brilliance and combined with so many of the personal
tragedies he's undergone recently, sentimentality could push him over the top. Con:
The Emmys just ain't sentimental anymore. They seem more willing to recognize performers
based on things such as merit rather then legacy and that's actually a virtue
that I've come to respect over the last
twenty years or so. Much as I'd love to see him up there, I just can't see it
happening this year.
PREDICTION: Rhys will triumph in a landslide. I
have no problem with that and I'm guessing neither will his co-nominees.
Tomorrow I deal with Outstanding Lead
Actress in a Comedy. Now we all know who's going to win but I will go through the motions because it is
an honor to lose to Jean Smart.
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