Let’s get serious for a moment, Emmy voters. Below you’ll find the penultimate installment of my 2009 Dream Emmy Ballot, this one focused on two of this year’s most competitive categories — lead actor and actress in a drama series. (My suggestions for outstanding comedy and drama series will be posted tomorrow.) Please use this list of recommendations as your own personal cheat sheet when the real balloting process begins next week. Sound good? Cool. Oh, and I will be checking my picks against the official nominations when they come out on July 16. You know, just to see if you copied correctly.
Best Actor (Drama)
• Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment): He bared his soul as his shrink got shrunk.
• Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights): The series’ heart and soul never punts. Ever.
• Michael Chiklis (The Shield): He made his character sympathetic right down to his final despicable act. That’s art.
• Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad): I’m not a fan of reruns, but c’mon, last year’s winner deserves a repeat.
• Hugh Laurie (House): He kissed Cuddy, lost Kutner, saw dead people, and got committed. ‘Nuff said.
• Denis Leary (Rescue Me): Fired up about the show’s creative resurgence? Thank the guy who fanned the flame.
Best Actress (Drama)
• January Jones (Mad Men): Played the ultimate desperate housewife with remarkable restraint.
• Regina King (Southland): Her complicated, compassionate cop is the standout in a top-notch ensemble.
• Jeanne Tripplehorn (Big Love): When her devout character was excommunicated, it was a religious experience for me, too!
• Glenn Close (Damages): So sharp, she cut clean through a scattered season 2.
• Evangeline Lilly (Lost): She parted ways with "son" Aaron and delivered the mother of all performances.
• Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men): Masterfully conveyed the quiet pain of giving up a child.
Dream Emmy Ballot Part 1: Best Supporting Actor and Actress (comedy)
Dream Emmy Ballot Part 2: Best Supporting Actor and Actress (drama)
Dream Emmy Ballot Part 3: Best Lead Actor and Actress (comedy)
Comments (1-30) of 488 Add your comment
So glad you agree with me on Elisabeth Moss, she is remarkable!
No Lisa Edelstein? That is BEYOND ASSHOOD, Ausiello!
Why no Kiefer?
What would it take for a nom for Jensen Ackles, I mean he puts out quality work year after year but because it is a CW show, not one bit of attention!
Anna Paquin?
Are you kidding me? No Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick?! Come on!
*sigh* no love for the men of ‘Supernatural’
No Sutherland…No Pompeo… wow.
By the way, “Wilson” from House should get a supporting nod.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/05/27/breaking-news-is-greys-t-r-knight-leaving-spoiler/
do u not watch DEXTER? michael c hall should not only get nominated but probably win. Jennifer Carpenter was great and Jimmy Smits was amazing. You just pick the shows you like.
And Ellen Pompeo is where?
Don’t tell me people are being retarded again this year and don’t think she deserves it. If so… I will seriously scream!
I love Lost, but Evangeline Lilly does not deserve an Emmy nod. She was good but not great this season and still really annoys me more than anything.
evangeline lilly absolutely deserves a nomination. she was spectacular this season!
TWO mad men actresses, cmon. January Jones just tries to be Carmela Soprano and she fails miserably. BIG LOVE Can’t get nominated in every catagory
Excellent choices! I would be so happy if Kyle Chandler was nominated. As you said, he is the heart and soul of FNL. Hoping for Kyle and January Jones to take home the awards.
I’m really glad to see Evangeline Lilly and Jeanne Tripplehorn on here. I think both of them gave absolutely phenomenal performances in those scenes you mentioned, and were consistently good through the season (and the entire series). They deserve to be recognized.
No Mary Mcdonnell??? Or Lisa.. What about Elizabeth Mitchell from Lost??? Come on dude!!!
The only person that I would feel okay with him beating out Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights).
Evangeline Lilly isn’t a good actress, she has much road left to get there. I don’t think she deserves an Emmy.
I am on board with this except I want Jon Hamm in there. The Best Actress category is spot on for everyone however.
I am a Lost fan through and through, but I actually don’t think Evangeline Lilly deserves a nomination. She had one fantastic scene where she said goodbye to Aaron, but she is outshined by many of the other cast members her interacts with (Josh Holloway and Elizabeth Mitchell especially). I’d give her spot to either Mary McDonnell or Katee Sackhoff… where is the love for BSG?!?!
Hugh Laurie all the way!!!!!!!
Again WHERE IS EMILY DESCHANEL????????
You are passing up a major actress.
I agree with jdking. Jensen Ackles deserves an Emmy nod for Supernatural. Sure, it’s a CW show and it doesn’t get a lot of attention, but he’s a brilliant actor. The expressed so much emotion in just his facial expressions, and you can really feel his pain (about Sam drinking the demon blood). A truly underrated talent. Oh, and he’s hot as hell
(couldn’t resist adding that!)
Also, Manu, Lisa Edelstein’s role on House is not a lead role, it’s supporting.
KIEFER SUTHERLAND
I know you try to be trendy, but sometimes you just gotta stick with the basics. Six for six. Now seven for seven. He’ll probably get nominated for Redemption, too.
I’m surprised you didn’t include Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell from BSG!
No, no, no and no. No Brothers & Sisters love = Michael is on crack.
How about Zachary Quinto on Heroes?
Also!
Now that BSG is over, can we get some love for the brilliant cast?! Everybody was overlooked and everybody was brilliant. Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos, James Callis, Jamie Bamber, etc. were all wonderful.
Yes, Hugh Laurie deserves it.
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NO LISA E.??? are you crazy, ausiello? are you kidding? are you insane? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING WITH YOU?
She deserves it.
Oh Michael…tsc tsc tsc