Emmys 2012: The Supporting Comedy Actor Race In Review, Including Our Dream Nominees

By Team TVLine June 12, 2012 9:40 am EST

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ansari

Aziz Ansari, Parks and Recreation Pro: Stand-up Ansari’s mad skills got a workout this season, as Tom’s media conglomerate folded — Entertainment 720, we barely knew ye — and his relationship with Ann got a second go — or at least a drunken revisit. Con: If only one of Parks’ supporting guys gets on the ballot, it’ll probably be co-star Nick Offerman (Ron).

Aziz Ansari, Parks and Recreation

Pro: Stand-up Ansari's mad skills got a workout this season, as Tom's media conglomerate folded — Entertainment 720, we barely knew ye — and his relationship with Ann got a second go — or at least a drunken revisit.

Con: If only one of Parks' supporting guys gets on the ballot, it'll probably be co-star Nick Offerman (Ron).

burrell

Ty Burrell, Modern Family Pro: As spot-on this season as he was for the past two, there’s very little chance that Burrell, who won the category last year, won’t be back for another go. Con: None that we can think of. He's a lock for a nomination.

Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Pro: As spot-on this season as he was for the past two, there's very little chance that Burrell, who won the category last year, won't be back for another go.

Con: None that we can think of. He's a lock for a nomination.

colfer

Chris Colfer, Glee Pro: Colfer was great this season as Kurt hit several milestones, including going all the way with Blaine and graduating from McKinley. Con: But this is the comedy category, remember? Colfer’s heavy-duty scenes may have fallen too far to the “drama” side of the Fox dramedy for Emmy voters to put him on the list.

Chris Colfer, Glee

Pro: Colfer was great this season as Kurt hit several milestones, including going all the way with Blaine and graduating from McKinley.

Con: But this is the comedy category, remember? Colfer's heavy-duty scenes may have fallen too far to the "drama" side of the Fox dramedy for Emmy voters to put him on the list.

day

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Charlie Day

Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Pro: After Day impressed during a Saturday Night Live hosting gig in November, people started paying more attention to the Philadelphia regular. Con: Even with the SNL boost and eight years as Philadelphia’s Charlie, Day still isn’t a household name. He’ll likely be overlooked for someone with bigger buzz.

Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Pro: After Day impressed during a Saturday Night Live hosting gig in November, people started paying more attention to the Philadelphia regular.

Con: Even with the SNL boost and eight years as Philadelphia's Charlie, Day still isn't a household name. He'll likely be overlooked for someone with bigger buzz.

ferguson

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family Pro: Aside from his continued outstanding work as Family’s Mitchell, Ferguson’s appearances on So You Think You Can Dance and the recent Tony Awards telecast have made him live TV’s go-to for upbeat fun. Plus, he’s been nominated the past two years. Con: Though Ferguson is a sublime straight man, he’s often in the shadow of his eccentric on-screen partner, Eric Stonestreet, which could keep the redhead out of the running.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family

Pro: Aside from his continued outstanding work as Family's Mitchell, Ferguson's appearances on So You Think You Can Dance and the recent Tony Awards telecast have made him live TV's go-to for upbeat fun. Plus, he's been nominated the past two years.

Con: Though Ferguson is a sublime straight man, he's often in the shadow of his eccentric on-screen partner, Eric Stonestreet, which could keep the redhead out of the running.

glover

Donald Glover, Community Pro: Our love for Glover’s portrayal of Troy could fill a blanket fort the size of Colorado. Con: See Danny Pudi’s entry. Just because this should be the year Community gets the recognition it deserves doesn’t mean it will be.

Donald Glover, Community

Pro: Our love for Glover's portrayal of Troy could fill a blanket fort the size of Colorado.

Con: See Danny Pudi's entry. Just because this should be the year Community gets the recognition it deserves doesn't mean it will be.

greenfield

Max Greenfield, New Girl Pro: How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris carved an awesome Emmy niche for himself as a caddish supporting actor, and we can easily see Greenfield slipping right into it. Con: Most of New Girl’s buzz was about star Zooey Deschanel; while she’s a lock for a nomination, Greenfield and his bros are less of a sure thing.

Max Greenfield, New Girl

Pro: How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris carved an awesome Emmy niche for himself as a caddish supporting actor, and we can easily see Greenfield slipping right into it.

Con: Most of New Girl's buzz was about star Zooey Deschanel; while she's a lock for a nomination, Greenfield and his bros are less of a sure thing.

hader

Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live Pro: The fact that the SNL mainstay has yet to nab a nom is as ridiculous as the New York hotspots his Stefon routinely recommends to tourists. Con: Much like Lindsay Buckingham in the “What Up With That?” sketch, frequent straight man Hader may get overlooked for his flashier competition.

Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live

Pro: The fact that the SNL mainstay has yet to nab a nom is as ridiculous as the New York hotspots his Stefon routinely recommends to tourists.

Con: Much like Lindsay Buckingham in the "What Up With That?" sketch, frequent straight man Hader may get overlooked for his flashier competition.

hale

Tony Hale, Veep Pro: The Arrested Development alum plays Selena Meyers’ purse-holder with a very funny, earnest sense of devotion. Con: Most of Veep’s buzz has been about lead Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which means that much like the public servant he plays, Hale’s work is likely to go without acknowledgement.

Tony Hale, Veep

Pro: The Arrested Development alum plays Selena Meyers' purse-holder with a very funny, earnest sense of devotion.

Con: Most of Veep's buzz has been about lead Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which means that much like the public servant he plays, Hale's work is likely to go without acknowledgement.

harris

Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother Pro: Harris is a quadruple HIMYM nominee whose Barney remained awesome in the light of some big life changes this season. Con: He was passed over for a nod last year.

Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother

Pro: Harris is a quadruple HIMYM nominee whose Barney remained awesome in the light of some big life changes this season.

Con: He was passed over for a nod last year.

helberg

Simon Helberg, The Big Bang Theory Pro: What does a guy have to do to get Emmy voters’ attention, go into space? Done. It’s time for the long-overlooked Helberg to get some kudos of his own. Con: With co-stars Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Jim Parsons (Sheldon) getting the most Bang buzz, Helberg will likely find his Emmy chances flaming out like a rocket upon reentry.

Simon Helberg, The Big Bang Theory

Pro: What does a guy have to do to get Emmy voters' attention, go into space? Done. It's time for the long-overlooked Helberg to get some kudos of his own.

Con: With co-stars Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Jim Parsons (Sheldon) getting the most Bang buzz, Helberg will likely find his Emmy chances flaming out like a rocket upon reentry.

mcbrayer

Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock Pro: The fact that McBrayer’s yokel Kenneth can still make us laugh out loud after six seasons is tantamount to a Leap Day miracle. Con: Though still funny, 30 Rock isn’t the groundbreaker it once was, which makes it — and its cast — easy to move to the sidelines.

Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock

Pro: The fact that McBrayer's yokel Kenneth can still make us laugh out loud after six seasons is tantamount to a Leap Day miracle.

Con: Though still funny, 30 Rock isn't the groundbreaker it once was, which makes it — and its cast — easy to move to the sidelines.

johnson

Jake M. Johnson, New Girl Pro: If Emmy voters aren’t into co-star Max Greenfield’s lovable lothario, they’ll probably back Johnson’s silly, romantic Nick. Con: Conventional wisdom says if any of the Girl guys get a nod, it’ll be Greenfield.

Jake M. Johnson, New Girl

Pro: If Emmy voters aren't into co-star Max Greenfield's lovable lothario, they'll probably back Johnson's silly, romantic Nick.

Con: Conventional wisdom says if any of the Girl guys get a nod, it'll be Greenfield.

morgan

Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock Pro: This season, Morgan continued to imbue his 30 Rock alter ego with killer timing and a hilarious sense of overinflated importance. Con: Morgan hasn’t been nominated since 2009, and the Academy probably hasn’t forgotten his homophobic stand-up routine from last summer. What’s that about biting the hand that feeds you?

Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock

Pro: This season, Morgan continued to imbue his 30 Rock alter ego with killer timing and a hilarious sense of overinflated importance.

Con: Morgan hasn't been nominated since 2009, and the Academy probably hasn't forgotten his homophobic stand-up routine from last summer. What's that about biting the hand that feeds you?

offerman

Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation Pro: This season, Offerman has climbed even higher on his own Pyramid of Greatness as Ron Swanson, Pawnee’s deadpan Parks & Rec head. Con: Offerman’s portrait of laconic Ron was overlooked by Emmy voters for the past three years. We're starting to give up hope.

Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation

Pro: This season, Offerman has climbed even higher on his own Pyramid of Greatness as Ron Swanson, Pawnee's deadpan Parks & Rec head.

Con: Offerman's portrait of laconic Ron was overlooked by Emmy voters for the past three years. We're starting to give up hope.

o'neill

Ed O'Neill, Modern Family Pro: Think of O’Neill’s 2011 nomination as a warm-up, because this year — in particular, Jay’s funny, touching grappling with son Mitchell’s homosexuality — belongs to the TV vet. Con: Then again, O’Neill spent 11 years on Married With Children and received nary a nod…

Ed O'Neill, Modern Family

Pro: Think of O'Neill's 2011 nomination as a warm-up, because this year — in particular, Jay's funny, touching grappling with son Mitchell's homosexuality — belongs to the TV vet.

Con: Then again, O'Neill spent 11 years on Married With Children and received nary a nod...

pally

Adam Pally, Happy Endings Pro: The funny-as-heck Pally is the very definition of a scene-stealer. Con: It may take another season or two before Endings' is on Emmy's radar.

Adam Pally, Happy Endings

Pro: The funny-as-heck Pally is the very definition of a scene-stealer.

Con: It may take another season or two before Endings' is on Emmy's radar.

piven

Jeremy Piven, Entourage Pro: The final season of the HBO hit was Piven’s last go-round as Entourage’s ruthless Ari Gold; the nominating committee may give the much-lauded actor another nod for old times’ sake. Con: -- Though he won three times during Entourage’s heyday (2006 – 2008), Piven hasn’t been nominated since — a possible signal that Emmy’s attraction to him has cooled.

Jeremy Piven, Entourage

Pro: The final season of the HBO hit was Piven's last go-round as Entourage's ruthless Ari Gold; the nominating committee may give the much-lauded actor another nod for old times' sake.

Con: — Though he won three times during Entourage's heyday (2006 – 2008), Piven hasn't been nominated since — a possible signal that Emmy's attraction to him has cooled.

pratt

Chris Pratt, Parks and Recreation Pro: Pratt’s Andy is a great blend of doofiness, heart and plumber’s crack. Con: With co-stars Aziz Ansari and Nick Offerman in the running, Pratt’s chances of making this year’s nominee list aren’t awesomesauce.

Chris Pratt, Parks and Recreation

Pro: Pratt's Andy is a great blend of doofiness, heart and plumber's crack.

Con: With co-stars Aziz Ansari and Nick Offerman in the running, Pratt's chances of making this year's nominee list aren't awesomesauce.

pudi

Danny Pudi, Community Pro: If any member of the Community cast gets nominated, it’ll likely be stellar scene-stealer Pudi. Con: “If any member of the Community cast get nominated…” that's a really big if.

Danny Pudi, Community

Pro: If any member of the Community cast gets nominated, it'll likely be stellar scene-stealer Pudi.

Con: "If any member of the Community cast get nominated..." that's a really big if.

rash

Jim Rash, Community Pro: After an Oscar win (for co-writing The Descendants’ adapted screenplay), the man who plays Greendale’s flamboyant Dean Pelton has more than earned an Emmy bookend. Con: If the nominations do fall in Community’s favor, we’re thinking Danny Pudi or Donald Glover will get the nod before Rash does.

Jim Rash, Community

Pro: After an Oscar win (for co-writing The Descendants' adapted screenplay), the man who plays Greendale's flamboyant Dean Pelton has more than earned an Emmy bookend.

Con: If the nominations do fall in Community's favor, we're thinking Danny Pudi or Donald Glover will get the nod before Rash does.

spader

James Spader, The Office Pro: Spader’s an Emmy golden boy who won three out of the four years he was nominated for Boston Legal. Con: Spader’s Robert California was pretty unpopular, both with Dunder Mifflin Sabre employees and The Office’s audience.

James Spader, The Office

Pro: Spader's an Emmy golden boy who won three out of the four years he was nominated for Boston Legal.

Con: Spader's Robert California was pretty unpopular, both with Dunder Mifflin Sabre employees and The Office's audience.

stonestreet

Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family Pro: Read Ty Burrell’s entry, and swap out “who won the category last year” with “who won the category in 2010.” What can we say? Family is blessed with an extremely talented cast. Con: Nada. He too is a sure thing for a nod.

Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Pro: Read Ty Burrell's entry, and swap out "who won the category last year" with "who won the category in 2010." What can we say? Family is blessed with an extremely talented cast.

Con: Nada. He too is a sure thing for a nod.

van der beek

James Van Der Beek, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Pro: The Dawson’s Creek grad plays a hyperstylized, narcissistic version of himself, and does it well. Hey, it worked for Matt LeBlanc, who was nominated last year for a similar part in Showtime’s Episodes. Con: B--- didn’t get underway until April, which didn’t give Van Der Beek much time to wow Emmy voters.

James Van Der Beek, Don't Trust the B—- in Apartment 23

Pro: The Dawson's Creek grad plays a hyperstylized, narcissistic version of himself, and does it well. Hey, it worked for Matt LeBlanc, who was nominated last year for a similar part in Showtime's Episodes.

Con: B— didn't get underway until April, which didn't give Van Der Beek much time to wow Emmy voters.

wayans jr

Damon Wayans Jr., Happy Endings Pro: Wayans Jr.’s Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination for his portrayal of girlyman Brad could be a precursor to some sweet Emmy lovin’. Con: The Endings' cast will likely be squeezed out by a few Modern men.

Damon Wayans Jr., Happy Endings

Pro: Wayans Jr.'s Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for his portrayal of girlyman Brad could be a precursor to some sweet Emmy lovin'.

Con: The Endings' cast will likely be squeezed out by a few Modern men.

wilson

Rainn Wilson, The Office Pro: Just when you think Dwight couldn’t get weirder, Wilson tops himself — no small feat after eight seasons. Con: Wilson’s been nominated three times (the last time was in 2009) but never won, and the nearly decade-old series isn’t getting the critical attention it once did. Wilson’s probably a long shot.

Rainn Wilson, The Office

Pro: Just when you think Dwight couldn't get weirder, Wilson tops himself — no small feat after eight seasons.

Con: Wilson's been nominated three times (the last time was in 2009) but never won, and the nearly decade-old series isn't getting the critical attention it once did. Wilson's probably a long shot.