I hate trying to predict the Emmy awards, particularly in a category where I’m invested in a particular show or actor. I don’t claim to be objective, nor do I want to be. I refuse to sidestep the fact that I really want Hugh Laurie to win Best Actor in a Drama this year. He deserves it, certainly, for his nominated performance in “Broken,” and for the five previous years (including the second season, 
which he was incredulously not nominated at all).
All six actors nominated in the incredibly competitive category are outstanding in their nominated episodes and are indeed the best actors currently on the small screen. I’ve watched several Mad Men episodes (and now I’m intrigued because Draper’s 10 year old daughter seems as obsessed with Ilya Kuryakin on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., as I was at that age!). Jon Hamm plays a generally pretty unlikable character in a cast of unlikeable characters. He’s excellent, underplaying his role and speaking volumes with a twitch or a quirk of his eyebrow.
I loved Bryan Cranston in Malcom in the Middle, and his character in Breaking Bad couldn’t be more different. Cranston has range and brings a lot of sympathy to his character. Michael C. Hall is probably the favorite among TV critics for his work on Dexter, and he’s already won a slew of awards this for his performance as the serial killer with a peculiar ethical code. Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) and Matthew Fox (Lost) are also good candidates, and you could make arguments on their behalf as well. But I would like to think this is Hugh Laurie’s year, finally.
“Broken” is a two-hour showcase of exactly why Laurie is the best actor around. The episode’s writers (who absolutely should have been nominated for their wonderful script) provided the material for House’s journey from Hell, but Laurie infused the writers’ words with every emotion possible: terror, anger, bitterness, menace, frustration, desperation, amusement, pathos, fury, elation and so much more. He so embodies this character with whom he’s lived for six seasons, that it’s easy to forget that Laurie is not playing himself. The only thing the two share are their love of music, motorcycles and expansive intelligence.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Donna
Barbara, I'm totally with you here. And again Hugh Laurie has deserved an Emmy every year nominated but still w/o a win. My concern is it will go to a dark horse, light weight in this category due to sentimentality. Not saying who but you can probably guess. I hesitate to add I also fear this could be Hugh's last nomination as the Emmy community will move on to the newer talent on television. Hope I'm so wrong on both counts. Michael C. Hall is a great default choice. But right now I selfishly want Hugh Laurie for the win!
2 - Olga Parera
I wanna Hugh to win so bad!! He's been sooo overdue!
3 - handyguy
Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, the magnificent stars of Friday Night Lights, have been overlooked entirely until this year. Unfortunately, the TV academy will probably think nominations are reward enough for them.
4 - Jackie
I am hoping for Hugh to win that elusive Emmy tomorrow night. Going back through all 130 plus episodes thus far in the "House" series and just marvelling at Hugh Laurie's brilliance in both the outrageous and subtle in his acting is joy to behold. I remember last September when "Broken" was reviewed by many critics and those same people said it's a good thing that he lost last year, because in 2010 it will be his by right of performance. Now it is squeaker time again! I know of Michael C. Hall's recent health battle, etc., and although he did win a GG and SAG this year, Hugh won the same awards in 2007 and that did not guarantee him the Emmy that September.
I still fail to understand the Television Academy's oversight regarding Hugh Laurie thus far. It is frustrating to say the least. Unless the "House" writers come up with an amputation or a multi-limb breakdown, I don't know what Hugh can do to add that statuette to his collection if it's not there by tomorrow at midnight. "House's Head" and "Under My Skin" didn't bring the Emmy home...still wondering what would have happened if "Three Stories" would have been his Emmy submission for 2005...maybe we wouldn't be having this controversy at all. Fingers and toes crossed for the win tomorrow night!
5 - Nancy
Hugh happens to have two Golden Globes. Does he deserve an Emmy? Perhaps. The only problem is he's up against Matthew Fox,and LOST had its series finale. The show and actors are probably going to rake it in.
6 - Jay
Nancy Fontaine actually won't a short article about Hugh hopefully winning the Emmy on Sunday and she said that it's tragic that actors don't win based on their performance during the whole season, but instead based on their performance in a single episode. I actually think that this works in Hugh's favor this year since Broken was a fantastic episode and everything else this year kind of paled in comparison (except for Help Me) mostly because the writing wasn't as good as it was in past seasons and many of the plotlines were weak and contrived. Good luck to Hugh tomorrow night and hopefully we'll get a good season 7!
7 - barbara barnett
Jay--
I agree with the idea that the leading actor categories should be based on a season's body of work. House (the character) did not have any super-powerhouse episodes except for Broken and the two final episodes of the season. I disagree that this was a weak season; although I do feel it had a different vibe to it.
8 - El Bicho
How silly. They aren't going to change the rules for leading actors and ask voters to watch over a hundred hours of TV. Besides, how would they enforce anyone watched a whole season?
9 - barbara barnett
No, but they could ask actors to submit representative work--say 4-6 episodes from the season (like the series do).
10 - Visitkarte
I want his so badly to win, I think I won't look out of fear I couldn't stand it. I so much hope I wake up early Monday and read that he won. And then watch his speech on You Tube.
11 - Jay
You know what Barbara? I think that the way that you described Season 6 was probably better than the way that I described it. Now that I think about it, there were several notable episodes in Season 6, but it just had a different vibe to it.
12 - barbara barnett
Jay--During the season, I realized there were parts of it when I was not enthusiastic (and said so in my column). When I re-watched the season closely to finish the book (I watched all the episodes in succession over a period of a week), it occurred to me how many episodes in Season six were really, really good.
The whole season felt slightly off-kilter with House trying to change, his apartment and much of his music gone, like his motorbike. Less brooding, etc. But so many episodes resonate in retrospect.
13 - RobF
Breaking Bad was just crazy good most of season 3, and had excellent performances from almost every character. I think Hugh Laurie has been consistently excellent through 6 seasons of House, and deserved at least one Emmy in previous seasons, but Bryan Cranston would be a good choice this year.
14 - ruthinor
I have never understood the criticism that a particular "season" was strong or weak. It has always seemed to me that each season had both weak and strong entries, and of course, people have different tastes. But so much of this seems to be related to whether or not a favorite character was present often, or not so often.
I don't watch awards shows anymore because, like politics, I find them to be mostly BS. People win for reasons that have nothing to do with their actual performances, and they are generally pretty boring. I would love for Hugh Laurie to win, but it seems that, unlike his big fans (us!), many critics have written off the show because it's the "in" thing to do.
15 - RJW
I agree that Hugh is way overdue for an Emmy win! As for season 6, I thought it was great,and it was my 16 year-old son's favorite season so far.
16 - Glen Boyd
I know you loves you some House Barbara, but I gotta go with Matthew Fox here.
Lost's final season was a genuine television event, and regardless of what anyone thought of the finale (for the record, I loved it), Fox's brought a real depth to his character this season...a guy who came full circle from his original "Mr. Fix It" character to one who ultimately finds redemption through faith.
And anyone who wasn't moved by the final scene needs to check themselves for a pulse.
Fox wins. Maybe Hugh'll get it next year though.
-Glen
17 - barbara barnett
I just don't know, Glen. That was an immense journey House took during Broken. The thing about Hugh Laurie that makes the performance even more remarkable is not that he's great in the part (which he is), but that the acting itself is a feat. The character is so incredibly far from the personality of the actor, and if they're rewarding the art, then HL should win. HL embodies this character in a way that makes you want to throttle him in one moment--and then rips your gut out the next with its pathos.
18 - Glen Boyd
We'll have to see what happens, I guess.
If Laurie takes it over Fox, I'd be okay with it (although I still think its only the second best lead actor performance of the past year). Fox's Jack Shepherd was also a guy of many contradictions, who only relinquishes his need to fix everything once he realizes he sees the truly broken man he is in his mirror image (symbolized in "The Lighthouse" episode).
If HL took it, I wouldn't see it as a crime, but I just think this is Fox's year. Or more appropriately perhaps, it's Lost's year.
Now if either Micheal Emerson (Ben Linus) or Terry O'Quinn (Locke/Smokey) don't take a supporting actor award home, that will be a crime.
-Glen
19 - El Bicho
Presumably they would see the actor's work in what the series submits, so not sure what the benefit would be of increasing the homework of voters, who aren't necessarily going to do it anyway.
Are their other shows where the fans have this odd need for validation from a group of people they don't know? I don't see Dexter fans whine like this every year.
20 - Eve K
I really loved Broken, but maybe, just maybe they could have gone even darker with it. It was in many ways a very light episode for its theme, mending a broken soul. It was a lot of slapstick humour, and some "Deus ex machina" solutions (music-box saving the mute woman - and given by superman in a wheelchair) - but I think they could have made a fantastic episode without all that...just keeping it real. But then again - Hugh was fantastic and Broken was the best episode of the season. Good luck tonight!
On a side note - I dont watch much tv, but I really love Jim Parsons character Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, some really Housian character traits there. Hope he also wins tonight!
21 - Eve K
Oh, and yes, I do agree with El Bicho that House fans are somewhat obsessive and that they (we) should tone it down a bit so not to hurt the show. Some of the twitter fans are crazy and have no life what so ever. My interest here is a character study. As soon as that is not interesting anymore, Im out.
22 - Cynthiaanne (hiyacinth)
I know i'm one of the many who really hope it's Hugh's year for the Emmy. I just think Hugh's acting was incredible in Broken, as he is in all he does but i believe that was the episode submitted.
Trying to imagine what Hugh's win will cause, those of us who wanted him to win for so long will just erupt with delight that he got there in the end.
23 - barbara barnett
Show with "fandoms" tend to be obsessive about stuff like this. I just think it's his time (not whining) and not afraid to say it. Agree with Eve K about why to watch the show. To me it's an immensely intriguing character study of a flawed, but ultimately noble character. Whether I find those characters in film, tv or in literature I tend to gravitate towards them.
I've begun watching Rubicon and am finding it quite good.
24 - Elena
He deserves it? â€" Yes
We need him to win it? â€" Yes.
He needs it? - No.
25 - ruthinor
I get the feeling that many folks, even in the TV industry, think that Laurie has already won an Emmy. I think that might be a factor.