Emmys 2011: Sizing Up The Lead Comedy Actor Race — Including Our 6 Dream Nominees

Alec Baldwin, 30 RockThe 30 Rock star seemed on his way to scoring the rare Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series three-peat until he was bazinga'd last year by The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons. But after a stellar Season 5, the erstwhile Jack Donaghy looks like a strong contender to reclaim bragging rights.

Steve Carell, The OfficeHard as it is to believe, Emmy has never handed the Office funnyman-turned-movie star a statuette. This being his final season as Michael Scott, perhaps voters will see fit to present him with the award as a lovely parting gift?

Louis C.K., LouieThere's no underestimating the talents of this rare quintuple threat, who not only stars in but produces, writes, directs and edits his FX comedy. But the fictionalized series based on his real life may be flying too far under the radar for it — or its lead — to get noticed by Emmy.

Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang TheoryThough it's his TV roommate Jim Parsons' highly-functioning dysfunction that draws most of the attention, the CBS hit's resident straight man is a rock-solid anchor and stylish counterpuncher. Following his long run on Roseanne, voters have watched him mature into a highly likeable lead. Perhaps his time has come....

Billy Gardell, Mike & MollyWhat the stand-up-turned-sitcom star has going for him is Mike & Molly's out-of-the-gate success and his appeal as an endearing Everyman. Unfortunately, he has working against him the fact that almost all his competition is better known. It also might take some time for voters to forget the early criticism of his show's plus-sized premise.

Matt LeBlanc, EpisodesDuring his run on Friends as clueless but sweet Joey Tribbiani, LeBlanc was nominated for an Emmy three times but never took home the prize. His chances of winning over voters may be better now that he's playing a part that was literally tailor-made for him — a parody of his real-life self on Showtime's superlative Episodes.

Zachary Levi, ChuckIt's an auspicious omen for Levi's Emmy odds that typically half of the Chuck chatter concerns how very good the show is (and how good he is in it), while the other half invariably dwells on whether the spy yarn will get off the renewal bubble. Fortunately, NBC's recent decision to renew the spy comedy for a fifth and final season will end that side conversation and possibly boost Levi's chances.

Rob Lowe, Parks and RecreationThe alum of Brothers & Sisters and The West Wing raised some eyebrows — and in some cases, ire — by entering himself as a lead actor despite having less screen time than some of Parks and Rec's supporting players. But considering how insanely competitive the supporting category is, his gamble could pay off.

Danny McBride, Eastbound & DownThe Eastbound & Down front man has not only HBO but producer Will Ferrell in his corner. Unfortunately, the show's racy tone makes him at best a dark horse candidate to win a nom, never mind go home with the award.

Joel McHale, CommunityBy giving depth and dimension to a character that could have come off as simply smug and sarcastic, the "father figure" from NBC's cult-y comedy has made himself an Emmy contender. Also to his credit: After years as the witty zingmaster of E!'s The Soup, is there any voter — or anyone at all — who doesn't know him?

Matthew Morrison, GleeNominated last year, the Glee crooner — his profile higher than ever, thanks to his sideline recording career — is a Schue-in to make the short list this go-round. Emmy voters could decide, however, that his burgeoning multi-media career is enough of a reward. Plus, do you remember laughing at anything the New Directions coach did this season?

Lucas Neff, Raising HopeLike a latter-day Roseanne, Fox's Raising Hope has brought blue-collar sitcoms back into style. But since the show's young single dad is played by this newbie — promising though he is — odds are that he'll have to spend his first trip to the Big Show cheering on a likelier Hope-ful nominee: his on-screen mom, stage and screen vet Martha Plimpton.

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang TheoryBig Bang's big scene-stealer pulled off a major upset last year by besting Rock star Alec Baldwin. This time around, the question seems likely to be not will he get nominated, but with his profile now so high, will Baldwin and Carell — or some newer upstart — feel like the "fresh faces" instead?

Josh Radnor, How I Met Your MotherThe boy-next-door appeal and comic timing of the CBS hitcom's dad-to-be have never been in question. What's debatable is whether Emmy voters see his star as shining brightly enough to move out of the shadow cast by his showier show-mate, Neil Patrick Harris.

Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half MenAt press time, the sitcom star-turned-tabloid headline-grabber still hadn't entered the Emmy race. Maybe that's for the best: Even if he ended up, yes, winning!, it probably wouldn't be enough to rinse clean his tarnished reputation.