Dream Emmy Ballot: Best Supporting Actress In A Drama

With the announcement of Emmy nominations right around the corner, I think it is time to break down what I believe should be the Emmy nominations for the year.  As always, these are just my opinions and are based on the shows that I watch.

Elisabeth Moss has correctly opted to move up Lead Actress. Rose Byrne isn't eligible after "Damages" took a year off in its transition from FX to DirecTV. At the very least, then, that means two new nominees.

The Good Wife is a show that I want to like a lot more then I actually do.  It is full of actors and performances that I like but it just doesn’t hold my attention from week to week.  That being said, Archie Panjabi is fantastic.  She brings a huge sense of realism to the performance.  Panjabi's Kalinda had one dynamite episode after another in the season's second half as a string of secrets unraveled the character's closest relationships. Panjabi's inclusion and then win were slightly surprising last year, but she's gone from underdog to clear favorite in no time.

When I learned that Margo Martindale was going to be the main bad guy, I knew it was either going to go up in flames or be a piece of casting genius.  Well casting genius was an understatement.  Mags Bennett has taken her place in the pantheon of small screen adversaries and Martindale elevated the performance of all around her every time she came on screen.  Emmy voters usually have a hard time recognizing that FX exists, but if Martindale does not receive a nomination, I am calling the cops an reporting a robbery.

Mad Men had their best season since season one.  And now with Elizabeth Moss going back to the lead actress category where she belongs, that leaves the door wide open for Christina Hendricks to stick around in this category.  She wasn’t really a main focus of the season but Joan relationship with Roger was quite fascinating and provided ample opportunity for the two great supporting actors to really demonstrate their acting chops.

Grey’s Anatomy has received a creative resurrection in the last season and a half and that should mean a return to the Emmy fold for some of the people involved.  That includes five time nominee Sandra Oh.  Oh had several Emmy-ready arcs this season, including her character's PTSD from last year's finale shooting and subsequent decision to quit and then her end-of-the-season baby drama. As always, Oh was terrific with everything she was given and her inclusion in this category will never get an argument.

Oh was not the only who benefited from Grey’s resurgence. Sara Ramirez not only had a great season, but she got her very own showcase episode in the Greys Anatomy musical experience.  As silly as that episode was, Ramirez was a knockout in it and nailed every scene she acted in and nailed every note she sang.  It's a strong enough single episode that if Ramirez makes the cut for a nomination, she may instantly become the favorite to win.

Parenthood made the leap in to great show territory this past season.  A major reason was Mae Whitman.  She played a confused teen so well that it’s hard to remember that she is already an acting veteran at this point.  With Friday Night Lights set to go off the air, She is set to take over for Aimee Teagarden as the most realistic teenager on television.  Whitman and co-star Lauren Graham were good enough in the season's last couple episodes that they ought to be in any merit-based Emmy conversation.