Emmy Race Analysis: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

In today's second post, I'll be analyzing the male companion in the guest acting in the drama categories. The nominees for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series excel, above all else, at revealing darker shades to their characters in their episode submissions, making for a juicy race.

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Dylan Baker - The Good Wife (episode: "Tying the Knot")
Beau Bridges - Masters of Sex (episode: "Manhigh")
Reg E. Cathey - House of Cards (episode: "Chapter 22")
Paul Giamatti - Downton Abbey (episode: "Episode 4.8")
Robert Morse - Mad Men (episode: "Waterloo")
Joe Morton - Scandal (episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner")

As the lone "TGW" guest nominee this year, Baker now ties Michael J. Fox as the most-nominated guest actor in the show's history with his third nomination. Baker came back for a memorable episode this past season in which his new wife was on trial for the fake suicide/murder of her friend at a party at the couple's home. Baker, as a result, takes a bit of a backseat in this episode, but he's excellent throughout. Especially viewers with the show, you'll find that Baker's portrayal is the right kind of unsettling, where he is still funny, even charming, although you do not exactly trust him. He doesn't really have any scenes that he steals, but he does leave an impact by episode's end. It's great, but brief, work by Baker, and I'm not sure if it'll win him an Emmy. Bridges, much like his on-screen wife Allison Janney, was a bright spot in the first season of "Masters of Sex," playing a closeted provost at a hospital. In his episode, he is in hot water after his protege Bill's presentation describing his sex study is met with distaste and outrage. He gets a number of great scenes with Michael Sheen and Janney, as he also deals with the repercussions of his crumbling marriage and his guilt over his homosexual desires. It's a great tape for Bridges, as he juggles multiple stories and has a strong presence in the episode. You can really see the heartbreak as he tries to save his sinking relationship with his wife and his position at the hospital. He confides in Sheen's character and really stands out throughout the episode. It's a really solid episode, and while Bridges doesn't get any big scenes, he delivers a quiet, heartbreaking performance comparable to Janney's that could also seal the deal. Cathey was a surprise nomination, but fans have always had a soft spot for his character, Freddy. Cathey's submission is Freddy's biggest episode to date, and gives the actor an opportunity to really give some dimension to the man behind the ribs. As Freddy's friend Frank Underwood's star rises in the political world due to his new position as Vice President, Freddy begins to cut a deal to make his rib shack a national chain. However, to do this, Freddy is forced to deal with some skeletons in his closet, including his distant and dangerous son. As he tries to make amends, Freddy actually finds himself in the public eye when his son pulls a gun on a reporter. Controversy surrounds Freddy and leads to Frank ending their friendship, at least in the public eye, for political reasons. It's a heartbreaking episode for a character who we've never learned much about, and it works that this episode is almost all exposition to Freddy's life. Cathey appears regularly throughout the episode, delivering solid work, and he definitely gets empathy from the audience in his final scenes with Kevin Spacey, as he realizes his possible future of getting rich and moving away from a bad neighborhood are crushed with his son's legal issues. Among brighter co-stars, Cathey does manage to stand out, and it could be enough to surprise and steal the gold, especially from much more recognizable co-stars.

Paul Giamatti guest-starred as an American in the British show "Downton Abbey" this past season, and as is one of many problems with the show, it is hard for a character to stand out in a ridiculously huge ensemble. Giamatti gets some extra attention as he shares scenes with Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine, but he doesn't get many scenes of depth and they are spaced so few and far between that there isn't much of an impact left. Of course, Giamatti is a fine actor as has been evidenced for the better half of a decade and longer, but since his nomination does feel like a name-check already, I don't think the tape does many favors to push him to the winner's circle. Robert Morse, a constant presence on "Mad Men" since the show's first season, racks up his fifth nomination, (SPOILERS) his final one for the show's run. Morse's character dies in his submission episode, but it's a unique scenario: his death does not end his appearance in the episode. Morse has some pedestrian scenes in the first half of the episode, and suddenly dies off-screen. He does, however, return at the end of the episode for (and I'm not making this up) a song-and-dance number. It's more of a tribute to the actor (Morse is a multiple Tony Award winner), and definitely outside of the realm of comfort for "Mad Men." This tape is really going to have mixed feelings among the voters. I can imagine there will be some that will love the tribute to the actor. Others, like myself, will be confused and underwhelmed. I think that general disharmony toward the episode might prevent Morse from winning the award, in addition to the "Mad Men" acting curse and stronger performances. He does have impact, but range and emotion aren't on display here. For a tape that got a lot of buzz, I didn't see anything too special. The final actor nominated is Morton, a standout in the third season of "Scandal," playing the murderous and untrustworthy father of main character Olivia Pope. This episode is not the first time we meet Morton's character, but it is the first time we get backstory on the man. He has flashbacks, as well as present day interaction, with his daughter that detail their tumultuous relationship built on distrust. He gets range from being sympathetic to evil, he has loud outbursts and quiet moments, but he definitely does not have the audience's trust. He is sympathetic in some flashbacks, but those moments are tarnished with reveals later in the episode. Still, a good villain turn can sometimes contrast the sympathy that most tapes need in order to get to a win. Morton's performance certainly qualifies as that and he is an extremely strong contender for the trophy.

Rankings based on strength of tapes:
1. Beau Bridges - Masters of Sex (episode: "Manhigh")
2. Joe Morton - Scandal (episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner")
3. Reg E. Cathey - House of Cards (episode: "Chapter 22")
4. Robert Morse - Mad Men (episode: "Waterloo")
5. Dylan Baker - The Good Wife (episode: "Tying the Knot")
6. Paul Giamatti - Downton Abbey (episode: "Episode 4.8")

Bridges has the strongest tape and makes the biggest impact out of all of his competitors. He gets different storylines and delivers many great monologues. Morton, on the other hand, has the benefit of flashbacks above his competitors, and is a morally gray character, making for some interesting contrast in his performance. Cathey is heartbreaking as Freddy's world goes from being full of hope to having lost many of the most meaningful things in his life, as a result of his friend's rise to the top. Morse gets the most unique showcase, but whether or not it is the best performance will not be something voters easily agree on. Baker is deliciously perfect in his role, but a small dosage of his charm and creepiness doesn't help his odds. Finally, Giamatti doesn't stick out from the rest of the ensemble barring the fact that he is Paul Giamatti, and his character (and performance) don't make the impact necessary for a win.

Rankings based on likelihood of winning:
6. Dylan Baker - The Good Wife
5. Paul Giamatti - Downton Abbey
4. Robert Morse - Mad Men
3. Reg E. Cathey - House of Cards
2. Joe Morton - Scandal
1. Beau Bridges - Masters of Sex

Baker and Giamatti are most likely not going to win this category, and they'd have to rely on general goodwill for their shows and themselves as actors to garner the votes for a win. Morse's tape is too divisive, and I don't see this being the performance that finally breaks the "Mad Men" curse. I considered ranking him above Cathey, but I just don't see Morse winning with an episode like this that only has one standout moment that some people may not even like (like yours truly). Cathey, on the other hand, is less known, but at least has a good, substantial episode. Cathey may not be able to prevail over more well-known actors. Morton has a diverse, great submission episode, and "Scandal" is the defending champion here. He has range and impact, but the lack of empathy may hurt him (although it has also helped others win here in the past). That's why I'm sticking with Bridges for the win. It's a great tape that has him juggling multiple stories, each culminating in the portrait of a man whose life is falling down around him. Predicting a "Masters of Sex" actor to win both guest acting categories may seem outrageous, but it's also a testament to the standout performances from Bridges and Janney this season. Coincidentally, there are also two "Scandal" actors nipping at the bud in both categories. I would expect, if Bridges and/or Janney don't win, "Scandal" to steal the spotlight. For now, I'll say that the Scullys (Bridges and Janney's characters on the show) will go home with matching Emmy gold.