2010 Emmys: Drama Part 2

     Last week, the Emmy nominations for this year were released.  This is television's biggest awards show, and as a television reviewer, I couldn't help but be excited.  Sure, there were some snubs, but there were also some pleasant surprises.  With 51 days left until the statues are handed out on August 29th, there is plenty of time to examine who's up for what.  In this second in a series of articles, I'll look at the the supporting player categories for Dramas.

 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC), Martin Short, Damages (FX), Terry O'Quinn, Lost (ABC), Michael Emerson, Lost (ABC), John Slattery, Mad Men (AMC), Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age (TNT).  This is a very tough category.  I didn't initially like Mad Men, but am just now getting around to watching it, as I purchased the first three seasons on DVD some time ago, and I'm tired of them just collecting dust.  I'm still on season 1, so I don't know how Slattery did this year.  I watched all the episodes of the shows the other five nominees are in, though.  Braugher was good, though I was surprised to see him in the Supporting category instead of Lead.  And where are his co-stars?  O'Quinn and Emerson area always good, but neither match previous season appearances.  Not that it's a detriment to them, but their earlier work on Lost was so spine-tingling good, I just can't see them taking it for the final season.  Short was also incredibly enjoyable, and proved he can do serious drama just as well as he does comedy.  However, as tempted as I am to support Short this year, Aaron Paul was incredible.  Season 3 brought so many big moments for his character, from dealing with the death of his girlfriend, to struggling to stay sober, to almost getting killer, and then contemplating murder.  I have to say, Paul all the way.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Sharon Gless, Burn Notice (USA), Rose Byrne, Damages (FX), Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife (CBS), Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (CBS), Christina Hendricks, Mad Men (AMC), Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (AMC).  I am ashamed to say that I only saw two of these fine women in their entirety.  As stated above, I'm way behind on Mad Men.  I missed the boat on The Good Wife, though in my defense, I already have the season one DVD pre-ordered, and I certainly won't continue to be delinquent any longer than necessary.  That being said, I always love Baranski, so maybe she should get.  Byrne did a fine job on Damages, but like some of the man above, she had a much better chance to stretch her talent prior to this season.  She was relatively balanced by this past year, so I wouldn't give it to her.  I am pleased to see Gless in this category, a completely unexpected turn.  When Burn Notice began, I really didn't care for her character.  But now she was forced her way into the group and proven her mettle, so I do enjoy her contribution.  I guess, still being unsure, as this is the rare category I don't feel prepared to judge because of all the Good Wife and Mad Men nominees, I am still putting my money (figuratively) on Baranski.

     The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Sunday, August 29th at 8pm on NBC.