TV Feature: If I Had an Emmy Ballot 2013

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OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Bobby Cannavale for Boardwalk Empire Photo credit: HBO

This category makes me cry. It may be the most loaded-with-talent category in the history of the Emmys. You best take this one seriously Emmy voters. And even if you do, you’re going to exclude some talented guys. I’m sorry. It’s a classic lose-win-lose-win-lose-cry.

How crowded is Supporting Actor? I’d be incredibly happy if these were the big six…

Noah Emmerich, “The Americans”
Walton Goggins, “Justified”
Freddie Highmore, “Bates Motel”
John Noble, “Fringe”
Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland”
Sam Waterston, “The Newsroom”

…and yet none would make my actual ballot for 2012-13 if I had one. It’s hard to believe. They’re all GREAT — candidates to win in lesser years much less even be considered for nomination. Heck, the tier right below them including people like Vincent Kartheiser & John Slattery for “Mad Men” and everyone not named Aaron Paul on “Breaking Bad” (Jonathan Banks, Dean Norris, Bob Odenkirk, and RJ Mitte) is stacked with talent. If you need any proof of the level of performer being drawn to dramatic television, you need look no further than this category.

Who rises to the top? Someone from “Breaking Bad” needs to represent arguably the best drama on TV and that should clearly be the great Aaron Paul. I like the idea of a send-off nomination for Banks given the fate of his character but it wasn’t his best season overall and it would be pushing out a better candidate due to sentimentality.

I know I said no sentimentality for Banks but let’s have a little for Michael Cudlitz, an actor who delivered every season on TNT’s “Southland” and had his best arc to date in what proved to be the underrated drama’s last. Nominate him or he makes my snubs list. You’ve been warned.

HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” delivered their best season to date by some stretch and the entire supporting cast merits consideration. In fact, you could populate the entire category with “Empire” guys — Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Graham, Jack Huston, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Michael K. Williams. Cannavale really injected the show with some dark, driving energy this season and deserves the nod.

The only character this year who wouldn’t feel an ounce of fear in the face of Cannavale’s Gyp Rosetti is the title one from NBC’s brilliant “Hannibal.” Mads Mikkelsen has taken an iconic role with big, bloody shoes to fill and made it his own with a brilliant blend of intellect and menace.

That’s four spots populated by incredible performances — Cannavale, Cudlitz, Mikkelsen, and Paul. Who’s left?

Of course, someone from “Game of Thrones” needs to get in to represent the ensemble. Should it be the always-great Peter Dinklage or someone new? Strong, strong consideration should be given to Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who really delivered this year, especially in his confessional scene in “Kissed By Fire.” There’s a part of me that wants to pick him over Tyrion. But I just can’t do it. Dinklage is too good to ignore, one of the more memorable characters of the ’10s.

Finally, there’s the show that’s bound to shake things up at this year’s Emmys and earn the most headlines because of it — “Netflix Enters Emmy Race!” “House of Cards” will be a player this year in multiple categories and the best performance on the show, overall, was given by Corey Stoll (with consideration to the great Michael Kelly as well).

Bobby Cannavale, “Boardwalk Empire”
Michael Cudlitz, “Southland”
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
Mads Mikkelsen, “Hannibal”
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
Corey Stoll, “House of Cards”

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Abigail Spencer for Rectify Photo credit: Sundance Channel

This one’s tough. I think it’s because there are fewer clear stand-outs than in most categories. Admit it, for most of these categories, you know 4 or even 5 nominees that you have thought all year should be nominated and the questions really come down to who fills those last couple slots. Here, there’s a giant pool of people to consider with fewer must-nominate candidates. There are honestly two dozen talented actresses whose nomination would be worthwhile.

But decisions must be made and so we will make them. Who’s on the outside looking in for 2012-13? I like the submitted ladies of “Game of Thrones” — Emilia Clarke, Natalie Dormer, Michelle Fairley, and Lena Headey — but they all just miss out. As do past “Dream Ballot” selections Morena Baccarin (“Homeland”), Rose Byrne (“Damages”), Jennifer Carpenter (“Dexter”), Jessica Pare (“Mad Men”), and Maggie Smith (“Downton Abbey”). None had their strongest season.

As for veterans on shows who are too rarely considered, someone should recognize the consistent work by Joelle Carter on “Justified,” Monica Potter on “Parenthood,” and Deborah Ann Woll on “True Blood.” All fall just short this year.

Looking at the ballot, there’s a stunning amount of talent in this category from new shows. Kristen Connolly & Kate Mara are both stellar on “House of Cards,” Olivia Cooke is memorable on “Bates Motel,” Caroline Dhavernas wasn’t given enough to work with but did wonders with what she was on “Hannibal,” Annet Mahendru made a minor character memorable on “The Americans,” and HBO’s “The Newsroom” is largely driven by its strong female performers, including Emily Mortimer, Alison Pill, and the one I would choose on my ballot, Olivia Munn.

Also new to the game is the great Abigail Spencer from Sundance Channel’s excellent “Rectify.” She captivates in every scene, making smart choices with a very difficult role. She’s the best thing about a show that I expect will go many interesting places in season two.

The other four spots go to veterans. Did any of them have their strongest season yet? Nope. But they’ve all delivered so well over the years and didn’t falter enough this year to lose out. Although there are clearly some exciting newcomers breathing down their necks.

Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Regina King, “Southland”
Kelly MacDonald, “Boardwalk Empire”
Olivia Munn, “The Newsroom”
Abigail Spencer, “Rectify”

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Hugh Dancy for Hannibal Photo credit: NBC

Often the category that gets the most attention, this is another Emmy line-up rich with talent although it’s also one where I predict some of the least degree of change. Who are the new contenders to challenge annual nominees like Bryan Cranston & Jon Hamm, both deserving again this year? While those two are likely to be joined by other veterans, there are at least three new characters worth challenging the throne.

As for the rookies who miss out, Kevin Bacon is the best thing about “The Following,” Robert Taylor carries “Longmire,” Matthew Rhys is quite good on “The Americans,” Aden Young would be a glorious surprise for “Rectify,” and if ABC had handled it right Andre Braugher would be considered for “Last Resort.” None make the top six.

Former greats Michael C. Hall for “Dexter” and Timothy Olyphant for “Justified” fall just short. The latter because the competition is too stiff in 2013 and the latter because, well, “Dexter” just isn’t Emmy-worthy any more.

A few folks seemingly never considered merit “runner-up” citation, including Nathan Fillion (“Castle”), Charlie Hunnam (“Sons of Anarchy”), and Peter Krause (“Parenthood”).

As is so often the case, there’s an insane battle for the final spot here. So let’s start at the other side of the category, picking the locks — Cranston, Hamm, Damian Lewis for “Homeland,” and Steve Buscemi for “Boardwalk Empire”. All are “duh” choices that can’t be ignored.

It leaves two spots for three incredible actors from new shows - Hugh Dancy for “Hannibal,” Jeff Daniels for “The Newsroom,” and Kevin Spacey for “House of Cards.” HBO’s program is the least dramatically successful of those three but I don’t think any of that blame falls at Daniels’s feet. He’s great. Dancy surpassed all expectations in his work on “Hannibal,” delivering one of the most fearless performances on any network. It’s hard to believe but after much consideration, I’d push out Spacey. I feel bad about it. Let’s move on before I cry again.

Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Hugh Dancy, “Hannibal”
Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Damian Lewis, “Homeland”

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Claire Danes for Homeland Photo credit: Showtime

For years, this has been an incredibly difficult category to fill but things seem to be changing. Claire Danes is delivering one of the most nuanced performances on any network and she deserves her inevitable second nomination (and likely win) for “Homeland.” Former winner Juliana Margulies proves that there is still room for dramatically rich characters on network TV with her work on “The Good Wife.” And it’s just insane that Elisabeth Moss has yet to win for “Mad Men” (in fact, no actor from that show has won an Emmy yet, believe it or not). Peggy is one of the new era’s most interesting characters.

Three spots for veterans, three spots for newcomers.

Vera Farmiga takes what could have been a paper-thin, B-movie role on “Bates Motel” and makes it believable and fascinating. She could end up being Danes’s biggest threat to win. Tatiana Maslany doesn’t just give one great performance on “Orphan Black,” she gives several. And finally there’s the great Keri Russell, a riveting suburban super-spy on FX’s very-good “The Americans.”

Well, that’s all six. What about the runner-ups? There aren’t many. Kerry Washington could get some votes for “Scandal” and she’s very good there. Connie Britton is the best thing about “Nashville” and Katey Sagal has been snubbed for better seasons of “Sons of Anarchy.” Michelle Dockery on “Downton Abbey,” Glenn Close on “Damages,” Emmy Rossum on “Shameless,” and, most of all, Robin Wright for “House of Cards”. All good, none as good as these six.

Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Vera Farmiga, “Bates Motel”
Juliana Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”
Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”
Keri Russell, “The Americans”

OUTSTANDING DRAMATIC SERIES

Breaking Bad Photo credit: AMC

Once again, let’s go in reverse order. They aired in 2012 and so you may be more likely to forget that HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and AMC’s “Breaking Bad” were the two best dramas of last year. If you fail to nominate them, you fail the Emmy system. No pressure.

HBO’s “Game of Thrones” proves that Hollywood-level production values can translate to the small screen and has become one of the most talked-about shows of the current golden age. It would be silly not to nominate it.

While those three are easy choices, the final three are a bit more in flux. The best drama on network television is also one of its least-rated. Take a chance and nominate the dark, daring, brilliant “Hannibal,” a program that proves that complex storytelling doesn’t have to be relegated only to cable.

Two spots and, man, it’s a tough two. For the mid-section of the season when it clicked into dramatic gear, Netflix’s “House of Cards” merits a nomination. I had some issues with the final arc of the first season but the highs of this show far outweigh the lows.

One spot. And several great choices for it. A former nominee like “Mad Men” or “Homeland”? Or a new show like “The Americans,” “The Newsroom,” “Bates Motel,” or “Rectify”? And what about “The Walking Dead,” a show that had at least half of a great season? It’s such a tough call. You make it. Here’s how I would…today…

“Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)
“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Hannibal” (NBC)
“House of Cards” (Netflix)
“Mad Men” (AMC)

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