Everyone in this category has been
nominated at least once by the Emmys. Three of them were nominated last year,
two of them have been nominated multiple times in this category and two others
are seasoned veterans who only in recent years have the Emmys started to catch
up with their caliber of work. With last year's winner ineligible we will have
a new winner in this category for the third straight year.
As with last year there is an
overwhelming frontrunner and I'd really like to believe he'll win this year –
but we were down this road last year and the exact same set of circumstances
apply. That said, it's hard for me not to believe the stars are aligned.
So here are the nominees.
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons.
For Playing: Danny, half of a gay couple going on vacation every year. Pro: The 2020s have witnessed
Hollywood's overwhelming recognition of Colman Domingo after decades. He's
already won an Emmy, been nominated for 2 Oscars and has been nominated in both
comedy and drama this year for roles he's already made iconic. Domingo's
versatility is honestly more on display as Danny as he gets a chance to do a
kind of heartfelt comedy that has been missing from the intensity that we
associate him with. Four Seasons has become something of a sleeper hit
in large because of Domingo's work and in the future it's the kind of role I
hope to seem play more often. Con: It's the same problem he had last
year, really: Domingo is the sole nominee for his show and that really does
work against these nominees. But, as he is currently the frontrunner for Best
Guest Actor in a Drama for his work in Euphoria, I think there's a good
chance he won't go home empty handed.
Paul W. Downs, Hacks. For
Playing: Jimmy a
Hollywood agent dealing with a business that shifting everyday and facing his
past coming back hard. Pro: It's amazing how much Jimmy has grown during
the run of these series. Facing his agency's near collapse he spends as much
time in the final season trying to help his two favorite clients succeed while
dealing with the fact that the business he's been trying to build is suffering
from boycotts from last season. In the second half of the season his old boss
cut the legs out from under his agency financially and forced him and Kayla to
return to their old stomping grounds and him taking a final blow by sending him
to the mailroom. And yet that humiliation led to his ultimate triumph as he and
Kayla managed a coup in the series finale that gave them the power we knew they
were capable of having. A role that might have once seems like a mere cameo has
grown to the point that people want a spinoff with him and Kayla. A great
triumph. Con: The thing is Downs is also the writer and co-producer of Hacks
along with his wife which means he's already gotten quite a few Emmys for
writing and producing by now. Considering that Hacks is nearly assured
to win Best Comedy and Best Writing for the series finale that probably means
he'll be getting two Emmys anyway. He's not going away from Emmy night empty
handed so he doesn't need an acting win.
Harrison Ford, Shrinking. (EXPERTS
PICK, MY PICK) For Playing: Paul,
a legendary psychiatrist facing the end of his career but perhaps a happier
life. Pro: He should have won last year; all due respect to Jeff Hiller.
And as always every moment watching Paul in Season 3 demonstrating that he is
still capable of being the funniest man on the screen when he's working with
some of the funniest people in TV history. And as he came to accept how his
professional life was ended it looked like his personal life was improving. He
finally married the doctor he's loved, he began to embrace a real relationship
with his daughter and he showed that he was capable of being a good friend and
colleague and the kind of person you need to lean on even as he's reluctant to
do so. That's before you consider the fact that Ford has never won anything in
his entire life and we want to hear what an acceptance speech is from Han Solo
and Indiana Jones. He received the lifetime achievement award from SAG-AFTRA
this year so we got a hint and he has already won Best Supporting Actor in a
Comedy from the Astras. And come on, he's now so comfortable with his own
history that Paul can walk into his office singing John Williams theme music
and we all love it. Con: The thing is every single thing I said this
year can just as easily be applied to this year. Now I'm thrilled Jeff Hiller
won but I also have mentioned the Emmys lack of sentimentality. Ford deserves
to win on the merits but considering so does everyone else in this category
that may not be enough.
Nick Offerman, Margo's Got Money
Troubles. For Playing: Jax,
a former wrestler and heroin addict who comes back into the life of the
daughter he left behind when she gives birth. Pro: Since there was a
time that the Emmys basically chose not to nominate Offerman no matter
how great his work was, I'm thrilled to see that he's double-dipping this year.
(We'll get to that.) And it's good to see him doing a role that's more of a mix
of comedy and drama then we've gotten as he plays a man who comes back into his
daughter's life when she needs him and yet can't stop getting in his own way,
either overcompensating as a father or when his failures come ending up
relapsing to heroin. We also see the good in him, with his acceptance of
Margo's purpose in Only Fans and being willing to help her when her mother
leaves the field for a bit. He gets to play the gentle giant he hasn't quite
yet managed to do on TV in a while and you see every real part of him as well
as the fracturing relationship with all the women in his life, whether its his
daughter and both his former loves. It's a superb performance with genuine
soul. Con: I can see Offerman winning in this category eventually but I
just don't see it happening this year. Margo's already been renewed for
another season so we know he'll get another bite at the apple. Or maybe we'll
get a second season of Death By Lightning…but one thing at a time.
Stephen Root, Widow's Bay (DARK
HORSE) For Playing: Wyck,
the old fisherman in Widow's Bay trying to convince the mayor that there's a
curse on this town. Pro: Okay if it weren't for Ford being here I'd
absolutely be pulling for Root who's been acting just as long as Ford in TV but
gotten far less credit. As someone who grew up watching Newsradio and King
Of The Hill and who really loved his work as 'The Raven' on Barry just
a few years ago I know just how extraordinary an actor, comic, dramatic or
otherwise Stephen Root. And honestly he's absolutely perfectly cast given that
his last major job was in Barry a show that was just as capable of using
surrealism and horror, which is Widow's Bay whole oeuvre. Refreshingly
he gets to play someone whose essentially a good guy here and who is right on
everything even though no one initially takes him seriously. And Root is so
good at Wyck that you absolutely believe he is the kind of man who would dig up
the grave of the town founder, be non-plussed said founder is still alive, have
issues taking him out on the sea to drop his corpse, then deliver a monologue
giving his entire backstory as a warning to what not to do – only to learn that
its been completely disregarded, then give the only natural response. Root deserves
to win as much as Ford does. Con: That said, the show has been renewed
for a second season so he'll get another chance. And I think if he loses he
won't set the theater on fire.
Michael Urie, Shrinking. For
Playing: Brian, a gay
man facing fatherhood while trying to mix with the friendships he's built. Pro:
Let's not kid ourselves. If it weren't for one other prominent name I'd
absolutely be pulling for Urie. His work as Brian is very much the comic
highpoints and there's so much ego and narcissism but also a very big heart. We
see it as he tries to be strong and push the surrogate of his child out of
their life but can't, gets terrified in the delivery room when Ava hasn't
signed the adoption papers yet but eventually does, the way his friendship with
Derek and Liz has become a small joy (I love their bond) and the way he's
stunned his father can be accepting of his granddaughter in a way that's never
happened before. Throw in the fact its always hysterical every moment he's on
screen and the wonderful recreation of a duet from Les Mis with him playing
Javert that absolutely should be shown in the Emmy highlight reel and he
definitely deserves to win. Con: Urie, however, is not Brian. We know
like everyone else he wants his co-star and co-nominee to win in this category.
And as we saw last year he was just as thrilled when Hiller won and I suspect
it'll be just as great to see his reaction this year if Ford does.
Tyler James Williams, Abbott
Elementary. For Playing: Gregory, a
teacher moving forward professionally and personally. Pro: First of all,
still pissed he didn't get nominated last year. And only slightly less
irritated he has yet to notch a win in this category. Williams work as Gregory
is one of the standout comedy performances of this entire show far more when
he's not saying anything then when he is saying something. And he spent
a lot of time saying some funny dialogue this year too particularly with his
relationship with Janine. We saw it when he realize her ex-boyfriend had so
much of his old stuff at Janine's place, then tried to move without saying he
wanted to move. We saw as he and Janine started fighting over their trip, then
broke up, and then he ended up getting drunk and partying down in a way that
was just as hysterical as Janine's rage. Then they worked things out and got
back together and now it's clear he's thinking of proposing in Season 6. And of
course, he keeps moving forward professional while just always making the wrong
moves so much of the time, and that's funny, first when he says that he could
do a better job teaching Barbara's class as well as creating 'Serious Day' as a
countermove to April Fools Day. He ended up becoming Vice principal achieving
his professional dreams to. So could we place get around to giving him an Emmy?
Con: To be clear much as I'm frustrated with the lack of recognition I
really do think there's someone in this category who deserves it more. And I
think Williams would be fine losing to Han Solo.
My Prediction: The experts think its going to happen
and so do I: we're finally going to hear Harrison Ford give an exception
speech.
Tomorrow I will wrap things up in
comedy when I deal with Outstanding Supporting Actress in this category and
make my own preferences known for Guest Actor and Actress as well as writing
and directing.
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