Emmy inside track: The race for supporting comedy actor

There's a very good chance that all six of last year's Emmy nominees for best supporting comedy actor will return. That means the "Modern Family" trio likely will be back: Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and 2010 winner Eric Stonestreet. But, hey, what about their poor costar Ed O'Neill, who's never nabbed an Emmy nom, not even back during his "Married With Children" heyday?

If O'Neill finally sneaks in along with his "Family" members, that means one of the other 2010 nominees must go. But recent Golden Globe champ Chris Colfer ("Glee") is so red hot right now that he's a lock for a spot, of course, and could finally win because he's way overdue. And nobody's bumping 2009 Emmy victor Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men"), who gets a big sympathy hug for all the tiger blood he's had to swallow of late. That leaves Neil Patrick Harris, who finally won Emmys last year, not for "How I Met Your Mother" but for guesting on "Glee" and for hosting the Tony Awards. He's overdue to win for "Mother," so surely he'll be nominated.

Knocking very hard on this category door are Mike O'Malley ("Glee") and  Oliver Platt ("The Big C") plus a few others. Below, my handicapping.

-- Tom O'Neil

BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTOR
(Front-runners)
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Chris Colfer, "Glee"
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
Nick Offerman, "Parks and Recreation"
Mike O'Malley, "Glee"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"
Oliver Platt, "The Big C"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

(Possible)
Aziz Ansari, "Parks and Recreation"
Fred Armisen, "Saturday Night Live"
Ed Asner, "Working Class"
Chevy Chase, "Community"
Ted Danson, "Bored to Death"
Danny DeVito, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"
Simon Helberg, "The Big Bang Theory"
Ed Helms, "The Office"
Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock"
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Danny Pudi, "Community"
Andy Samberg, "Saturday Night Live"
Rainn Wilson, "The Office"

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Left photo: Chris Colfer backstage at the Golden Globes in January. Credit: Paul Buck/EPA.

Right photo: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, left, and Eric Stonestreet in "Modern Family." Credit: Karen Neal / ABC

Comments

[Marc G]

Even Chris Colfer wants Eric Stonestreet to win! You can check out his backstage interview at the Golden Globes, because he genuinely is humble.
I love that the cast of Modern Family and Glee are so friendly, even though they compete against each other during Emmys/Golden Globes/SAGs/GLAAD awards. (and they are on different networks lol)

[Joe]

How is Colfer "way overdue"? He's been nominated ONCE!

[amy]

danny pudi is underrated. would love him to get a nom.

[jake]

I think the father episode will finally give neil patrick harris a win -- but of course this might be the year that he won't get nominated, which would suck. the same thing happened with chandra wilson last year -- she would have won had she been nominated.

[Johnny S]

After less than two seasons, no matter how much we love him, it is absurd to call Chris Colfer "way overdue".

[Terrence]

Mike O'Malley hasn't appeared enough this season to warrant a Supporting Actor nomination. He'll have a better shot in the Guest Actor category.

Harris has two very strong episodes he could submit that might garner him a third Emmy. However, Ty Burrell has been hilarious this season -- especially in his "hosting" episode.

[Carolyn]

Only Chris Colfer could received the statement "could finally win because he's way overdue" for his first tv role at the age of 20. I'm not knocking the writer, I feel that way too. But it just amazes me.