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Monday, August 9, 2010

Emmy 2010 Preview: Supporting, Comedy

The supporting categories are usually rife with repeat nominees and winners, but this year's crowd features a surprising number of newcomers. In fact, more likely than not both categories will be won by first-time nominees on freshmen shows. Here's the breakdown:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Chris Colfer, Glee
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Only two of these six nominees are previous nominees. Cryer, who won last year, is arguably the best part of his show, but the weakness of his show means little in that regard. Harris is certainly overdue for a win, but will most likely be overshadowed by the strong competition he has this year. Colfer's nomination is a surprise, and his performance is excellent, but its more dramatic than comedic, which will cost him here. There's a lot of anger around the Internet about Ed O'Neill not earning a nomination, but I think all three Modern Family men that were nominated are more than worthy. Out of them, though, Ferguson is probably the least likely to win, given how he doesn't get many laugh-out-loud moments. This race is really between Burrell and Stonestreet, each of which have incredible moments of hilarity and heart on the show. But I'm going to say Stonestreet will win, since he submitted the absolutely superior "Fizbo" episode, which is a perfect showcase for his talent.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Jane Lynch, Glee
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
The Emmys sure do love Taylor, don't they? Its not a complex role on a show that wallows in its simplicity, and she's unlikely to win this year. Krakowski and Wiig are both Emmy-worthy, and hopefully both of them will win one of these days, but in comparison neither one of them had a particularly incredible season (there were 30 Rock episodes where Krakowski barely appeared). The Modern Family ladies both showed great work, as Bowen proved to be an expert at the at-camera glances that said everything without words. However, her work was much more subtle, playing the straight-man to her wacky on-screen husband, Phil (Burrell). Vergara, on the other hand, has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and has impressively proven that she can be funny in both English and her native Spanish. But let's face it: this is Lynch's year, and she's more than earned it as the only part of Glee that's remained consistently superior.

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