Emmys 2013: The Lead Comedy Actor Race In Review, Including Our 6 Dream Nominees

By Team TVLine June 3, 2013 11:00 am EST

Emmy Best Actor Comedy Nominees

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (Lead Actor) Yeah, yeah, we know. The two-time Emmy winner has already been nominated more times than he’s been photographed by the paps. But he still deserves to be recognized for the comedy’s stellar final season, in which he further evolved Jack from cartoonish blowhard to true-blue friend.

**Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (Lead Actor)**

Yeah, yeah, we know. The two-time Emmy winner has already been nominated more times than he's been photographed by the paps. But he still deserves to be recognized for the comedy's stellar final season, in which he further evolved Jack from cartoonish blowhard to true-blue friend.

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman, Arrested Development

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle, House of Lies (Lead Actor) This Showtime series has yet to attain greatness -- or the kind of buzz that tends to generate Emmy noms -- but its star continues to turn in performances that are (no, ahem, lie) impressive. Plus, since he’s coming off a Golden Globe win, he’s got momentum.

**Don Cheadle, House of Lies (Lead Actor)**

This Showtime series has yet to attain greatness — or the kind of buzz that tends to generate Emmy noms — but its star continues to turn in performances that are (no, ahem, lie) impressive. Plus, since he's coming off a Golden Globe win, he's got momentum.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K., Louie (Lead Actor) If you ask us, the Emmy winner (for writing) deserves another statuette for his SNL Lincoln sketch alone! But he ought to be a real contender in this race as well. His namesake character’s quest for love this season -- with the likes of Parker Posey and Melissa Leo, no less! -- was as hysterical as it was calamitous.

**Louis C.K., Louie (Lead Actor)**

If you ask us, the Emmy winner (for writing) deserves another statuette for his SNL Lincoln sketch alone! But he ought to be a real contender in this race as well. His namesake character's quest for love this season — with the likes of Parker Posey and Melissa Leo, no less! — was as hysterical as it was calamitous.

Jon Cryer

Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Johnny Galecki

Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory

Jake Johnson

Jake M. Johnson, New Girl (Lead Actor) It’s a good thing Zooey Deschanel’s leading man bumped himself up from supporting this year -- if he hadn’t, we’d have had to get on his case! (No one wants that!) Not only was he front and center, but as Jess fell for Nick, we fell for his portrayer.

**Jake M. Johnson, New Girl (Lead Actor)**

It's a good thing Zooey Deschanel's leading man bumped himself up from supporting this year — if he hadn't, we'd have had to get on his case! (No one wants that!) Not only was he front and center, but as Jess fell for Nick, we fell for his portrayer.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Joel McHale

Joel McHale, Community

Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (Lead Actor) In the CBS smash’s best season yet (and that’s saying something!), the two-time Emmy victor was able to flesh out his brainiac alter ego as Sheldon moved ever (slowly!) forward in his relationship with Amy and even showed signs that he’s -- gasp -- human?!

**Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (Lead Actor)**

In the CBS smash's best season yet (and that's saying something!), the two-time Emmy victor was able to flesh out his brainiac alter ego as Sheldon moved ever (slowly!) forward in his relationship with Amy and even showed signs that he's — gasp — human?!

Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry, Go On

Adam Scott

Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation (Lead Actor) If the category was most swoon-inducing, Amy Poehler’s “better half” would be a lock. As it is, as Ben and Leslie’s romance approached (arguably) the wedding of the year, we asked ourselves repeatedly, “Do you think the groom deserves an Emmy?” Every time, our reply was the same: We do.

**Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation (Lead Actor)**

If the category was most swoon-inducing, Amy Poehler's "better half" would be a lock. As it is, as Ben and Leslie's romance approached (arguably) the wedding of the year, we asked ourselves repeatedly, "Do you think the groom deserves an Emmy?" Every time, our reply was the same: We do.

Jeremy Sisto

Jeremy Sisto, Suburgatory