Yidio Emmy Spotlight: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
by Morgan Glennon
Yidio Emmy Spotlight: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
In the Yidio Emmy spotlight we take a look at some of the toughest races in this year’s Emmy Awards. Today, we’re looking at a category full of worthy nominees: Supporting Actor in a Drama.
Past Winners:
Last year went to the fantastic Aaron Paul from “Breaking Bad” who had long seen star Bryan Cranston clean up at the awards ceremony but had yet to take home any Emmy gold himself. Will it go to another first time nominee this year?
The Nominees:
Peter Dinklage- “Game of Thrones”
Josh Charles- “The Good Wife”
Alan Cumming- “The Good Wife”
Walton Goggins- “Justified”
John Slattery- “Mad Men”
Andrew Braugher- “Men of a Certain Age”
Handicapping the Race
Certainly with the amount of talent in this category it could be anyone’s race. Each actor has not only done a great job in their role, but all shows represented have been firing on all creative cylderies lately. Also I’d like to take this moment to point out cable’s dominance over the Emmys in general by noting that all the nominees here come courtesy of either pay or basic cable except those hailing from “The Good Wife."
More and more cable has been edging out broadcast not only in the Nielsens, but especially at the Emmys.
While both Alan Cummings and Josh Charles are great on CBS’s legal procedural “The Good Wife”, the inclusion of both fine actors will probably split the vote allowing another actor to nab the trophy.
Andrew Braugher is no Emmy novice, having already snagged statues in the past for the NBC series "Homicide: Life on the Street." But will the recent cancellation of critically acclaimed but low-rate “Men of a Certain Age” help or hurt the actor in his quest for Emmy gold? My guess is although he might get some sympathy votes for good work done, not enough of the voting pool watched the show to make this his year.
Which might also be an issue for “Justified” nominee Walton Goggins. Despite the fact that “Justified” sports some of the best supporting characters on television, it’s under the radar status might make his win a longshot.
A cable show that doesn’t worry about recognition is “Mad Men”. The 1960’s ad agency drama could probably put out a season of the actors just staring into the camera and still win Emmy gold. Which isn’t to say that John Slattery doesn’t deserve to win for his portrayal of a more subdued and downtrodden Rodger Stirling last season.
Finally Peter Dinklage was amazing in HBO’s fantasy epic “Game of Thrones”, often being the soul voice of humor. Which doesn’t mean that it was all fun and games for his character; he got to do a lot of great stuff in between the jokes. Could this be his year?
Prediction
This might be a risky bet but I’m going with Dinklage to win this one.
With two horses in the race, “The Good Wife” contenders might cancel each other out. Andrew Braugherand Walton Goggins did great work on their niche cable shows but they might not have been seen by enough voters to turn the tide. Which leaves Slattery and Dinklage to duke it out. While the Emmys understandably love "Mad Men" and all its period trappings, the show’s past Emmy sweeps might hinder it this time around.
And with Jon Hamm up for Best Actor for a year in which he got to really dig deep and show new sides of Don Draper, the Emmys might not want to have "Mad Men" sweep every category. “Game of Thrones”, however original and interesting, will most likely not upset in the drama category, so the Emmys might want to reward the show in another way clearing a path for Dinklage to snag some much deserved Emmy gold.