This week I’ll be pretending that I have an Emmy vote and discussing my picks for all the major categories. Once it gets closer to the time that nominees are actually announced, I’ll do an official “picks” column. Today: Supporting Actress in a Drama Series!
Two things before we get going: First, I’m only choosing performers or writers that are actually on the ballots, so these choices are all real possibilities. Second, unlike in the writing categories where I decided to give each series an opportunity at only one slot, so these categories won’t be dominated by one writer or team, acting categories have the chance to be filled with multiple performers from one series. I wanted to stick to the one-per-program rule, but just couldn’t in some categories, so with this being my dream ballot, I might as well ignore many “rules.”
Again, this is a tough one.
Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men
Moss was nominated last year in the lead category and smartly dropped down to supporting since her Peggy didn’t have much of an overall arc in season three. However, Peggy did have a lot of individual moments — the pot, the one night stands — that kept the character compelling and kept reminding us how good Elizabeth Moss is in the role. And if she was a nominee and possible winner in the lead category, she is more than so in this one. The Mad Men women haven’t been awarded often for their work even while they’re often nominated, so it would be nice to see Moss take one home for one of television’s best series.
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
And maybe if Moss can’t take one home, her co-star can. Hendricks’ Joan was given even less to do than Peggy in season three, but her uncomfortable and sometimes heart-wrenching moments at home were played wonderfully by Hendricks, who is as good an actress as she is beautiful. It’s interesting to see the other characters react to her return to the action in the wonderful finale because it is as if they’re just as relieved that she’s back as we are. The characters know how important Joan is and it would be nice to see the Emmy voters pick up on that as well and given Hendricks some love.
Kim Dickens, Treme
Again, I haven’t seen all of this season’s episodes of Treme, but from what I’ve seen Dickens is just as strong as she always is and that means nomination in my book. Her character is just one of millions dealing with the aftermath of Katrina, but Dickens brings her to life in a completely realistic way. Of course, that can be said about all the performances on Treme, but for whatever reason, when Janette is a main part of the episode, I’m more interested. So I guess that “whatever reason” is Dickens’ performance.
Lisa Edelstein, House
Despite sometimes weak material, Lisa Edelstein always brings it on House and the fact that people are so behind a Cuddy-House romance lends credit to not only her performance but chemistry with leading man Hugh Laurie. The character’s transition from episodic antagonist to support system and only occasional antagonist has been mostly smooth because Edelstein has been able to handle the softer moments for Cuddy even better than the angry hospital administration ones. Plus, this was a big year for Cuddy: more time with the baby, a new boyfriend, a changing relationship with House and her “own” episode in “5 to 9.” I think that if there’s ever a time she gets nominated, it’s now.
Joelle Carter, Justified
Justified is very much Timothy Olyphant’s series and it’s also a series that’s powered by so many morally and lawfully corrupt men, but Joelle Carter helped make certain the women weren’t going to be frivolous love interests or worse. Her performance as Ava is strong, confident and sexy despite all the crazy things going on around her and the people coming to kill her. There’s an indication in the pilot that Raylan’s return home is going to mean big things for he and his ex-wife, but thanks to Carter’s performance and chemistry with Olyphant, I’d bet most fans of the series would rather see him keep things going with Ava.
Mary Lynn Rajskub, 24
I’ve never been an overwhelming fan of Chloe, but in the final batch of episodes in 24‘s final season, I really started to buy into the fact that she and Jack were this weird quasi-couple who’d been through an otherworldly amount of s**t. And I think a lot of my feelings about their relationship were spurred on by Rajskub’s turn as a more confident, less “weird” Chloe that took charge not only of CTU but of the final missions to keep Jack alive. I think in previous she got away with simply giving awkward facial expressions or saying things in a weird tone as if that were character development, but this season, Rajskub was not only charming, but a legitimately strong actress. And what the hell, it’s 24′s final season.
Next: lead categories!
Past days of the Dream Ballot
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
CB, PhD 
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