clockwise (from top left): Hall, Leary,
Cranston, Laurie.
Picking the leading men of drama is no easy task--there are those who deserve to be here, those who have flown under the radar, and those that we just love to watch. What that results in is a pool of dozens of worthy candidates, and coworkers at each other's throats trying to get their picks in the final lot.
Well, after several verbal fights and a few slammed doors, we finally whittled down our selections for best actor in a drama. Friendships were ruined, blood was spilled, and employees were fired; here are the results of the senseless violence.
Hugh Laurie, House
Role: Dr. Gregory HouseTalk about a show that revolves around one man. House IS Hugh Laurie--without Laurie and his deft performance, House is just another quirky medical drama. We're looking forward to seeing the cantankerous doc next season, where Laurie will be able to show his crazier side.
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Role: Walter WhiteCranston was last year's "surprise" winner, but to anyone who saw the first season of Breaking Bad, it wasn't that much of a shock. Like many of our other picks, Walter White has two sides. One, the sheepish dad just trying to be a good father, the other a manipulative drug kingpin. But it's how Cranston combines the two in that scary grey area that really stands out.
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
Role: Tommy GavinOnce he was just a chain-smoking a**hole singing about being an a**hole, but now he's the main attraction to watch FX's Rescue Me. Don't get us wrong, he still smokes and drinks, but he's also shown he can do more than just rant about what he hates.
Can we finally get Kyle an award?
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Role: Coach Eric TaylorIt's hard to believe the talented Kyle Chandler played the jerk actor in King Kong. As Coach Taylor, he's become the heart and soul of the network television program with the most heart and soul. The perfection with which Chandler approaches Eric's coaching side and familial side is staggering--and when he and Connie Britton are on the screen together, it's absolute dynamite. This guy deserves an award.
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Role: Dexter MorganDexter Morgan is a complicated man, and it takes a complicated actor to bring him to life. Hall is arguably the most talented actor on the small screen, and he brings his A-game to Showtime's dark tale of a serial killer. Hall knows the script, too; when Dexter is going through one of his inner monologues, we seem to be in Hall's head, not listening to overdubbed dialogue.
Honorable Mention: Michael Chiklis--The Shield, Nathan Fillion--Castle, Life on Mars--Life on Mars, Jonathan Rhys Meyers--The Tudors, Gabriel Byrne--In Treatment, Jensen Ackles--Supernatural
And our winner is: Kyle Chandler. The way Coach Taylor has to deal with boosters, his players, and the opposing team as coach of the Dillon Panthers is nothing compared to what he goes through as the father of a teenage daughter--and Chandler does it splendidly.
Our picks for Best Actress in a Drama
Our picks for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Our picks for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Our picks for Best Comedy Series
Our picks for Best Actor in a Comedy
Our picks for Best Actress in a Comedy
Our picks for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Our picks for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Comments (77)
Hugh Laurie, overlooked for too many years, absolutely deserves the win this year; however, I agree that Kyle Chandler should have been nominated in this category for 2009.Mr. Chandler was born to play the role of Coach Eric Taylor. Although FNLs has an ensemble cast of young people, it is Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton who do the heavy lifting. With a 2-year renewal of FNL, perhaps next year he'll be included in the category ... where he belongs. Hopefully, the writers will continue to give him acting gems in the upcoming season. As described by tv.com, he can do it all.Simon Baker was also very deserving of the nomination. THE most successful new show of the season, and it's all because of him.Both of these very talented men are far from 'overnight successes.' Seasoned veterans, they are just now coming into their prime.moreless
Hugh deserves the award like nobody else :D I hope he'll win :D
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Chris Meloni should be nominated!
Hugh Laurie and Michael C Hall would be my picks.
Hugh Laurie HAS to win... his performance gets better and better. House is the best tv character i have ever seen and it's mostly because of the actor. He's amazing. Its hard to believe he's acting
Cranston - far and away the best!!!
Where is SIMON BAKER????!!!!Someone is missing the boat!!
Where is SIMON BAKER????!!!!Someone is missing the boat!!
definitely Hugh Laurie. It's absolutely confounding how he hasn't won an Emmy yet. both golden globes and SAG showed the appropriate consideration for his talent. His amazing performance, especially during the last two episodes of the season, certainly should make this, finally, his year.
Hugh Laurie hands down
Hugh Laurie!
That's a tough one... Michael C. Hall is great on Dexter, he never won an Emmy before and, plus, the third season of Dexter was so awesome. He deserves it, but if Hugh Laurie or Bryan Cranston won I won't be disappointed.
I'd say Hall, closely followed by Laurie (I don't think House is his best gig)
Should win Hugh Laurie. Yes or yes.
Interesting list, but Jared Padalecki should be up there with Jensen considering how incredible his performances were last season.
Michael C. Hall has more talent than all the rest.hes an amazing actor and if he doesint win well its a huge joke then.
If Hugh Laurie does not win after his portrayal of the detox in Under My Skin and his preformance in the season finale there is NO justice in the world. HL should have won the emmy years ago.
My support is always behind Hugh Laurie in the Emmy race :)
Bryan Cranston
Hugh Laurie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drop the stupid Friday Night Lights and throw up 24.
I would pick Hugh Laurie or Michael C. Hall.
When is the picks for Drama Series coming out?
Kyle Chandler deserves to win. They keep this show on with barely any viewers because the acting and the storys are that good.
Cranston is in a class by himself here, and he deserves the win far more than anyone else - inlcuding Kyle Chandler (if anyone but him wins,
http://www.naturistspace.org
The show is great every year but its same old same old. http://www.naturistspace.org
The mention of Mark Harmon below -- who would have been on my list -- brings up the question as to whether the Emmys should start paying more attention to ensemble casts. TV is no longer stuck in the "Lucy-Ricky-Ethel-Fred" structure. Some shows, like HOUSE have ONE star and supporting players. (Somneone nominated Cuddy for Female Lead, but she isn't.) Other shows have one star and an ensemble backing them that work as one, that it is unfair to pick any one or two of them as THE supporting cast. (Kyra Sedgwick is the star, but the rest are so totally a unit -- which is what makes the show, not just Brenda.) I could even argue that some shows don't have a true star or lead, that the ensemble IS the main character. CRIMINAL MINDS discovered this this year and it made it the best year of the show. Maybe Montegna's agent got him 'star billing' but he only began to fit in when he became 'just part of the team.' (On the other hand, Catherine Willows SHOULD have become the star of CSI as well as the leader, but her failure to step into the role -- or be written into it -- hurt the show badly this year.)
Even with Harmon, I'm not sure if he or the ensemble is the real star of NCIS. But, as the categories are now, you HAVE to pick Laurie. Honorable mention to Harmon and the stars of two canceled shows, Anthony LaPaglia and Damian Lewis -- and why didn't USA rescue that?moreless
Jensen Ackles gets only an honorable mention? Damn, that is so unfair! I would measure him (or Jared Padalecki in "When the Levee Breaks") against any one of the nommed actors for the Emmy this year! It angers me that actors on the CW are always left behind in these nominations, as if they're second-class citizens who don't even deserve to be considered. Bah! I won't be watching the Emmys this year, that much I guarantee!
HUGH LAURIE :)
who on earth is Kyle Chandler?????!!!!!!!!$##%%^%$#
House and Dexter
KYLE CHANDLER!!
Hugh Laurie and Michael C. Hall are the only people who can win this price for sure!
Keifer was astounding this season of 24. It's close between him and Laurie. Personally, I think you've got this one royally wrong...
no kiefer sutherland? what a joke
I'm partial to Nathan Fillion on this list, but have to wonder why Mark Harmon and/or Kiefer Sutherland are absent...??? Hello...
Here is my list. Winner - Bryan Cranston/Breaking Bad. Runner Up - Micheal Chiklish/The Sheild. 3rd - Micheal C. Hall/Dexter. 4th - Edward Olmos/ BattleStar Gallactica. 5th - Wentworth Miller/Prison Break
Michael C. Hall FTW
Hugh Laurie. Or Denis Leary.
Kyle Chandler, all the way. He and Connie Britton are 100% the best acting duo on television, and if you disagree, your brain needs a reboot.
Hugh Laurie
I love FNL, but I don't think Chandler is ever going to get a nom, and I had to laugh at the honorable mention to Jensen Ackles, the CW is never going to get an Emmy for acting no matter if someone deserves it or not. Go House
Kudos on your choices. As a huge Hugh Laurie fan, that's my vote. I would like to mention Fred Weller as Marshall Mann on 'In Plain Sight'. Though he might not count as a leading man I suppose. Still he is one of the biggest assets of that fantastic show.
This is probably the toughest one to choose from. If i had a vote it would go to Hugh Laurie; i think he did his best job yet (emotionally) on "House" this past season. I Love Michael C. Hall on "Dexter" but imo he did nothing expceptional with the Dexter character. The show is great every year but its same old same old. So my second choice would be Brian Cranston for his role as Walt on "Breaking Bad"; if he won last year and did an even better job this year... why not give it to him again?!
It's a tough call. Both Michael C. Hall and Hugh Laurie are phenomonal playing their perspective characters. In the end, I would say that Hugh Laurie definately deserves the Emmy this year.
Hugh Laurie or Michel C. Hall should win they are the best two actors in TV shows!
no doubt here HUGH LAURIE is the top choice here