Image Credit: TNT; Quantrell Colbert/The CW; Karen Neal/ABC; ShowtimeWe’re less than 12 hours away from the 2010 Emmy Nominations announcement, and I’m feeling like a kid on Christmas Eve. A kid who is gonna be quickly disappointed to open umpteen boxes of socks, but still… Let me hold on to my feelings of unbridled optimism that Vanessa L. Williams will take home the statuette for four awesome seasons of Ugly Betty for a little while longer. We’ve already discussed our hopes and dreams for unlikely nominees in the Best Supporting Actor and Actress divisions, as well as our out-of-left-field choices for Best Comedy and Drama series. Now let’s turn our attention to the Lead Actor and Actress races. I’ll get the party started:
Regina King, Southland: Didn’t get a nod last year, even though she should’ve. This year, her Det. Lydia Adams struggled to connect with potential new partners while her main man was laid up in a hospital bed, and King’s work was as evocative and subtle as ever. Probably too subtle for voters who fancy ham sandwiches, but still…
Ian Somerhalder, The Vampire Diaries: Yeah, his CW series has its slight moments, but Somerhalder’s impishly sexy performance could never be described as such. Even during the teen-angstiest moments of the vampire-girl-vampire triangle, he’s absolutely riveting. You could almost say he sucks all the blood out of the room.
Portia de Rossi, Better Off Ted: Hey, if Lisa Kudrow could score an Emmy nod for her brilliant-but-canceled The Comeback, shouldn’t de Rossi get similar love for her legendary — yes, legendary, people! — performance as icy, obtuse Veronica Palmer?
John Corbett, United States of Tara: On a show that could get frequent flier miles for its flights of fancy, Corbett’s performance as long-suffering Max is terrifically grounded. Just because he doesn’t have the movie-star-slumming-on-the-small-screen cred of Toni Collette doesn’t mean he’s not Emmy-worthy.
Okay, it’s your turn. Tell us which non-traditional nominees you’d like to see for Best Actor and Actress (Comedy and/or Drama). Remember, the best argued snubs could wind up as EWwy nominees next month!
Read more:
2010 Emmys: Which longshots deserve nods in the Supporting Actor/Actress categories?
Emmys 2010: Which longshots deserve nominations in the Best Comedy and Best Drama Series races?
Zachary Levi!! So charming, so funny, and so sweet, but totally kicks butt too.
My thoughts exactly. I love the whole Chuck cast, but thank you Zachary Levi for making Chuck as believable and interesting and awesome as he is.
Zachary Levi!
He’s great as Chuck!
Matthew Fox. Period.
Exclamation point!
Yes.
Yes, exclamtion point! ( I don’t care about Lost, but it seemed like the right thing to do!!!!!!!!
The scene in “Lighthouse” where he finally bonds with his (fake) son wrecked me.
And I haven’t even gotten to his Island death march.
“I died too…”
Oh God, here come the tears.
Matthew Fox, of course!!! I will never forget his Jack in Lost!
I don’t know if he’s an “outsider”, but I think John Noble’s performance as Walter Bishop on “Fringe” is sublimely perfect and incredible to watch.
BonBon, you are dead on. It will be a shame if Noble is not nominated. He is one of the best actors on TV and can portray humor, intellect, grief, madness, and so much more in one scene alone. Fringe is amazing, but Noble takes it to the next level.
That’s all I can hope for… John Noble’s performance this season, and even last season was outstanding. Countless people will be disappointed if he is not recognized for his excellent work.
john noble is pretty awesome but ian is the baddest <3
If John Noble doesn’t get a nom, I know plenty of people on my LJ, Twitter and Tumblr friends lists that will kick someone’s ass. Damn Emmy for hating sci-fi!
BonBon, I so agree!
Kyle Chandler. I know he doesn’t have a chance but he deserves it.
You betcha. He and Connie Britton both, especially since I think they’re both giving performances this season that top any of the previous ones.
Why is there no love for them. Sigh.
Zach Gilford!!!!!
This, I’ll never understand – I mean, at least the “Battlestar Galactica” thing could be chalked up to the show being on SyFy or the genre or whatever.
“FNL” is basically a small-town family drama on a major network (NBC still counts) and has GLOWING reviews.
It’s criminal that Chandler and Britton aren’t shoo-ins every year, much less nominees!
Right, but it’s a show that major network (NBC) cares nothing about. It wouldn’t be an NBC show if it wasn’t for DirecTV, so it’s not likely FNL gets high priority on the Emmy publicity materials the Peacock sends out to voters. (It shouldn’t stop the voters from recognizing a good show, but that’s another argument…)
…I just saw the nominations….I take it back…nice job, Emmys!
Adam Scott for PARTY DOWN
SO TRUE! He is GREAT as Henry.
1. Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights.
2. Connie Britton for Friday Night Lights.
3. See #1 and 2.
Don’t know if you’d consider him an outsider, but Mark Harmon from NCIS deserves an Emmy for his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Totally agree.
yes, yes, yes, I love that show, actor, and character.
I agree wholeheartedly! Mark Harmon (and his team) have been logging in outstanding episodes for years. It would be my guess that he hasn’t allowed his name to be submitted for nomination.
John Noble of Fringe. Absolutely mind-blowing actor. Stunning.
Seriously, the flashback episode this season alone should get him nominated.
Zach Gilford for his amazing work this season on “Friday Night Lights”. I’ll probably find a leprechaun with a giant pot of gold sitting on my front porch before the Emmy voters will ever go off script and nominate anyone not associated with “Mad Men” or “Lost”.
Somerhalder is a pretty weak actor IMHO. I predict big noms for LOST.
How on Earth could you say he’s a weak actor. Ian’s humor is sublime just like Ryan Reynolds’ is. With just a change of facial expression Ian can have me near tears or laughing my ass off. He deserves credit for that!!
I totally agree with Brooke… Ian is an amazing actor!!
totally agreed! his gestures and facial expressions make his character unbelievably realistic!
I second brookes comment Ian is great!! he should sooo win!!! GO IAN!!
Completely agree with you, Brooke, on both counts. Ryan has been amazing me for years with his twists and turns. Then Ian Somerhalder came along with similar nuances that can jerk you around in your seat!
Thank you Mr.Slezak for giving him an honorable mention… and for John Corbett too.
Ian Somerhalder is, in my opinion, the most exciting and talented actor to have come into a new role this year. VD is far and away my most favourite new show this year, and Ian absolutely, no bones about it, takes the cake for acting chops. I think there will be big things in his future. Chops. Serious chops, boys and girls. Just sayin’.
If it wasn’t for Ian I would not be watching VD…. I absolutly love his sense of humor in that show…
I second Lizette… While the show is pretty entertaining, I would never have stuck with it through slower parts of the season had it not been for Ian… I also hope he’s nominated
Absolutely agree – Love Ian’s sense of humor and his ability to go from sexy to funny to scary in the blink of an eye. Incredible talent!
weak?¿? he is the best of all!!! why don’t you try to act…and then maybe you can say if he is really weak or not! besides lost was ….what—-years ago! he growed!!! as actor person etc…
he is the one for this award! IAN SOMERHALDER!!!
Totally agree!!!!Ian is the most worthy actor of the nominated
Yes, Ian is outstanding as Damon. He is the most deserving for the award of best actor. He has the whole package…talent, smarts, compassion, and fantastic looks.
Ouch! Watch him for ten minutes, he’s one of those rare actors who commits down to nose wrinkles. I really admire him.
For what this preson said about somerhalder i have to disagree i think he happens to be one of the best actors around the world at least he can act unlike some people how shouldnt be on t.v. or in movies and on the vampire diaries he plays the character damon graet
Have you actually watched this show? IMHO Ian Somerhalder’s performance is outstanding in this series, he is literally the reason most people tune into this show and IMO has been the reason for the shows great success, I know I wouldn’t be such a fan of this show without his brilliant portrayal of his character Damon.
Nathan Fillion! Totally love him on Castle, I also think Stana did some pretty awesome acting herself, especially in the episode Sucker Punch
Ian somerhalder.
Absolutely Ian Somerhalder! He fully commits to his character and I love that he zigs when I expect him to zag.
Zach Gilford from Friday Night Lights. Matt Saracen is truly Emmy worthy.
Michael Weatherly for NCIS, seven years of turning out ROCK SOLID performances regardless of the success of an episode in general.
Josh Halloway for ‘Lost,’ Sawyer is one of the more complex characters on the show and Halloway’s performance was always flawless whether it was Sawyer being flagrantly cocky or surprisingly vulnerable.
John Corbett! John Corbett!!