Emmys: Best Supporting Actor

With Emmy nominations only five days away I'm going to rehash the 2004-05 TV season with my own picks for the best performances and shows in ten different Emmy categories.

The Emmys generally limit their nominations at five, but I've put no real restriction on my picks other than who or what I feel is most deserving.

You'll see a lot of the same shows turning up in several categories. Just as the Emmys have their own biases, and favorite shows, I have mine. But I wouldn't be surprised if I watched more shows last season than the average Emmy voter.

Supporting Actor (Comedy)

My picks: Michael Cera (Arrested Development), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls), Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), David Cross (Arrested Development), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Edward Herrmann (Gilmore Girls)

The comedy arena overall was weak this year but just because I've included five actors from the same show shouldn't be seen as an indication that this a weak field. Arrested Development has one of the finest ensemble casts on television period and that's due in no small part to its supporting actors.

Will Arnett's Gob continues to be a standout and hopefully he'll earn his first Emmy nomination this year (he should've won last year, but wasn't even nominated). However, my personal favorite this season was the cast's youngest actor, Michael Cera, who turned his character, George Michael, into one of the funniest and most endearing dorks in TV history. It's notoriously difficult for young actors to garner Emmy attention but Cera deserves it (his finest half hour probably came in the episode The Immaculate Election when he runs for student council president).

Of my picks only Tambor, Arnett and Entourage standout Piven seem to have a genuine chance at nominations. Likely nominees in this category include usual Emmy suspects Brad Garrett, Peter Boyle and Sean Hayes.

Supporting Actor (Drama)

My picks: Terry O'Quinn (Lost), Anthony Anderson (The Shield), Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under), Jay Karnes (The Shield), Powers Boothe (Deadwood), James Cromwell (Six Feet Under), Naveen Andrews (Lost), Garrett Dillahunt (Deadwood), Oliver Platt (Huff), William Sanderson (Deadwood)

Like most drama contests this year supporting actor is a richer, deeper category than its comedy counterpart. But again my top contenders come from some of the shows that I thought were among the best of the season.

Terry O'Quinn's portrayal of Lost's ambiguous John Locke made for one of the television season's most intriguing new characters. Not far behind him was "reformed" gangbanger Antwon Mitchell, played with an unsettling amount of cool menace by comedian Anthony Anderson on The Shield.

Being bad was also good for Deadwood's Powers Boothe (saloon proprietor Cy Tolliver) and Garrett Dillahunt (psychotic new arrival Francis Wolcott).

As his character's marriage hit the rocks on Six Feet Under Freddy Rodriguez delivered his finest work yet and James Cromwell made for a perfectly unbalanced addition to the show's cast.

Amongst all this insanity it's important not to forget Lost's Naveen Andrews (Sayid) and especially The Shield's Jay Karnes (Dutch) who remained compelling in good guy roles.

Who will actually be nominated is hard to call but O'Quinn seems to have an excellent shot. Boothe, Rodriguez and Cromwell could turn up, as could past Deadwood nominee Brad Dourif. New West Wing additions Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits also seem to be in the mix along with Boston Legal's William Shatner (whose work I wish I had seen a little more of) and Alias' always-nominated Victor Garber (who did some very strong work despite an uneven season creatively).