Last Thursday the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences unveiled the comedy and drama series up for Primetime Emmy nominations. Though those lists were made public, the nominations in the acting categories have been kept secret – though Gold Derby’s Tom O’Neil has tapped his sources and sifted through rumors to provide the unofficial top 10 lists of who made the cut.
The Emmy nominations are a two step process. They begin with a popular vote of all eligible ATAS members that determines what actors and which series will be on the top 10 lists. Each of those 10 nominees then submits an episode that best highlights their work and the academy ranks them, with the popular votes and rankings determining which five will be up for an Emmy. Today O’Neil unveiled the rumored top 10 lists of best lead actor and lead actress in a drama series.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Patrick Dempsey, Grey’s Anatomy
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Eddie Izzard, The Riches
Hugh Laurie, House
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
James Spader, Boston Legal
Among the many well-deserved but not unexpected nominations is the surprising inclusion of former Malcolm in the Middle dad Bryan Cranston. Though his former TV wife Jane Kaczmarek racked up seven noms for her role on that series, Cranston was mostly overlooked by the Academy for his own comedic work. Seems like the Academy prefers his just as crazy but far more dramatic dad on the low-rated Breaking Bad.
Curiously, as now seems to be a trend, Lost actor Matthew Fox was snubbed here despite the series’ fourth season being lauded as one of its best. Though Michael Emerson and Naveen Andrews are up for Best Supporting Actor for their work on the show, none of the show’s supporting actresses are being considered, nor is lead actress Evangeline Lilly, as seen below.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Big Love
The most surprising inclusion on this list is Mary McDonnell. Though routinely giving outstanding performances on the sci-fi drama Battlestar Galactica, her work has been overlooked for years, presumably because of the series’ genre nature. While her inclusion on the top five list is perhaps a long shot, to see her on this list is a thrill for any Battlestar Galactica fan.
While Jeanne Tripplehorn is on the short list of potential best actress nominees, it seems the rest of the Big Love cast has been forgotten, including Bill Paxton and his other TV wives, Ginnifer Goodwin and Chloe Sevigny. Aside from Tripplehorn, only Bruce Dern was nominated for his work on the series in the best supporting actor category, despite only appearing in three episodes.
Judges are currently reviewing the submitted episodes for these short listed potential nominees and are slated to have their ballots in by July 10. The final nominations will be revealed publicly on July 17.
Read More About Emmy Top 10 Finalists:
Comedy and Drama Series
Drama Supporting Actress
Drama Supporting Actor and Comedy Lead Actress
Comedy Supporting Actor and Actress
– , BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: Gold Derby
(Photo courtesy of the SciFi Channel)
With a collective experience in film analysis and entertainment journalism, our team, comprised of avid movie buffs, has always been on the frontline of exploring cinematic universes, from the enchanting realms of Disney to the action-packed scenes of the MCU.
Our passion has led us to exclusive interviews with notable figures, early access, and active participation in the industry.
Recognized by the press, we dive deep into various genres, including drama, cartoons, comedy, and foreign films, always eager to bring fresh insights to our readers.
Connect with us or explore our journey to learn more about our adventures in unraveling the magic of the big screen.
