Maybe it’s because I watched five out of the six performances that have been nominated for the best actor in a supporting role at this year’s Emmys, but it looks like the most interesting category to me. There are a few familiar faces, with previous winners Michael Emerson and Terry O’Quinn from Lost returning with nominations for the final time (for their performances as Ben Linus and John Locke, anyway). Aaron Paul is nominated again this year for his performance as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad, and his AMC colleague John Slattery is nominated for the second year in a row for his work on Mad Men. Andre Braugher’s performance in Men of a Certain Age has been nominated, and it’s the only one I am not familiar with. The final nominee is my sentimental favorite: Martin Short in Damages.
I’m a huge fan of Damages (and I’m still hoping there is somehow going to be a season four). I thought season three was particularly strong, and Martin Short had a huge part in that. I was skeptical at the beginning of the season about whether or not he was going to be able to hold his own on such a dramatic show, with the vast majority of his career lying in comedy. Like so many comedic actors in the past, however, Short took on the dramatic work and knocked it out of the park.
The role of Leonard Winstone was juicy and central to the third season of Damages. It was a key role, and Short was able to hit all the notes well. He was able to convey the love and loyalty for the Tobin family, while maintaining the con man cool of the character’s past. Later in the season, he did well portraying the loss of confidence, and fear, about the events of the season getting out of Leonard’s control. It was a subtle and nuanced performance, and I think it was the best work of Short’s career. Like so many other awards, there seem to be so many story lines heading into the pick aside from the performance. I have a feeling that the voters are going to see a big name like Martin Short on the ballot and make the sentimental choice.
That’s not to take anything away from the other performances, because they were all great. However, Emerson and O’Quinn have each already taken home a statue for their roles. Yes, it was the final season of Lost, but the season really belonged to Matthew Fox (who received a nomination in the lead actor category). I was really rooting for Aaron Paul last year, and I think he will be a perennial nominee. Ditto Slattery. They have time to win their awards. This year, I’ll be rooting for Martin Short, though I don’t think I will be disappointed no matter who wins.
Who are you rooting for?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jul 13, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
Andre Braugher — and definitely a show you should be watching. It’s unbelievable how consistently phenomenal Men of a Certain Age is.
I agree with you that Martin Short was much more impressive in this dramatic role than anyone could have expected.
Braugher is amazing on “MofCA”, and fearless, in terms of being willing to be seen looking less than his best. It’s also interesting to see him play a character who isn’t the smartest person around, as he played on “Homicide,” or even smart enough to go one-on-one with House in his guest spots last year.
But he’s already won Emmys, and will have more chances to win them for this role. So for the Emmy, I have to go with Terry O’Quinn from “Lost”. He had an opportunity to play a totally new character, 180 degrees different from John Locke, this season. He conveyed menace and a sense of power and threat–not attributes he’s had many chances to play in his career. And he was outstanding. He deserves to win for this new character he played, not John Locke. So it’s not a repeat Emmy. (Michael Emerson is fantastic, but Ben didn’t have as much to do this year. John Slattery is one of my favorite actors, but I don’t watch “Mad Men”, so I can’t speak to his worthiness. And I don’t know Aaron Paul’s work at all.)
I’d be onboard with Martin Short being nominated for Damages if it wasn’t for the fact that Tate Donovan as Tom nearly stole the show. His entire arc of financial ruin to his death was probably the most compelling of any character on there this season and he conveyed all of that desparation brilliantly. Martin Short was good, but Donovan took a character we thought we knew and completely brought out new dimensions that were only hinted at.