Play all audios:
Actor Unlike in the series categories, the Emmys don’t force voters to view DVDs in the movie and miniseries categories. Nominees are chosen by a popular vote of industry actors, which
favors name recognition. It’s the same process used in the Academy Awards -- and many names often overlap. Oscar champ Robert Duvall probably will be nominated for his performance as a
heroic cowboy in AMC’s hit western miniseries “Broken Trail.” Also probable: Jim Broadbent (“Longford,” HBO), who recently won the BAFTA TV award in the role of a British lord duped into
fighting to release a devious killer from jail. Voters could go for William Hurt, as a mercenary battling an army of toy soldiers in TNT’s mini “Nightmares & Dreamscapes.” Ditto for his
costar William H. Macy, as a detective novelist who swaps places with his fictional gumshoe. TNT also has a high-caliber contender in Matthew Perry as a gutsy teacher who inspires students
at an inner-city school in “The Ron Clark Story.” HBO’s debut of “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” in the last days of Emmy eligibility puts it at the front of voters’ minds, benefiting Adam
Beach, who played a Sioux assimilated into Yankee culture. Given the highbrow appeal of BBC entries, voters may hail Jason Isaacs’ role as a British ambassador to the U.S. who is swept up in
intrigue and doesn’t know whom he can trust in “The State Within.” Other contenders: Robbie Coltrane (“Cracker: A New Terror”), Peter Krause (“The Lost Room”), Harvey Keitel (“The Path to
9/11”), Chiwitel Ejiofor (“Tsunami: The Aftermath”). Actress Awards juggernaut Helen Mirren claimed this category three times in the past, including in 1996 for “Prime Suspect 4.” Now she
competes in the seventh, and final, installment of PBS’ classic and critically acclaimed British detective series. Two other Oscar champs could be nominated: Mercedes Ruehl as a single mom
who campaigns for the rights of transgendered people after her son-turned-daughter is killed by a gang (“A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story,” Lifetime), and, with Alec Baldwin a likely
nominee for “30 Rock,” it’ll be interesting to see if his ex, Kim Basinger, shows up with a nomination as an adulterous spouse in “The Mermaid Chair” (Lifetime). Courageous real-life dramas
often dominate this acting category, which bodes well for “Scrubs” star Sarah Chalke as a sassy, young TV producer who strives to keep a positive attitude while battling breast cancer in
“Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy” (Lifetime). Three-time Emmy victor Gena Rowlands battles cancer defiantly too in Lifetime’s “What If God Were the Sun?” In HBO’s “Life Support,” Queen
Latifah’s real-life character has already triumphed over crack addiction when she launches a crusade as an AIDS activist. After proving herself Emmy-worthy in “Will & Grace,” Debra
Messing tackles the showy role of discarded Hollywood spouse in “The Starter Wife” (USA). Also: Ruth Wilson (“Jane Eyre”), Sharon Gless (“The State Within”), Sophie Okonedo (“Tsunami: The
Aftermath”), Julianna Margulies (“The Lost Room”). -- MAKING EMMY’S BALLOT EMMY nominees for series and acting are determined by a combination of voting methods. First, a popular vote of TV
academy members narrows the field to the Top 10 contenders, with each submitting a sample episode of their best work to judges viewing DVDs at panels (series) or at home (actors). Judges
rank the episodes from 1 to 10. Then accountants combine the judges’ scores with results of the original popular vote in equal measure to determine the final five nominees, which will be
announced on July 19. All 12,000 academy members may vote in the series races. Only actors may weigh in on the acting races. Emmy success is largely decided by how well contestants pick a
sample episode. The most common mistake made by actors: opting for an episode with histrionics. Voters want to see a big money scene, yes, but also some emotional range (from tears to
cheers) from an empathetic character. The typical mistake made by program entries: serialized shows not submitting self-contained stories. Kiefer Sutherland’s “24” overcame this challenge
and won best drama last year, but many Emmy experts believe “Lost” wasn’t nominated because of a poor, disjointed episode choice. -- Tom O’Neil -- THE PICKS Gold Derby blogger Tom O’Neil
prognosticates the Emmy nominees for the Envelope, today breaking down the acting categories for drama, comedy and movies/miniseries. For ongoing discussion of the Emmy races visit
TheEnvelope.com. MORE TO READ