2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

2012 Contenders
Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"
Christine Baranski "The Good Wife"
Archie Panjabi "The Good Wife"
Christina Hendricks "Mad Men"
Angelica Huston "Smash"
Michelle Forbes "The Killing"
Kelly MacDonald "Boardwalk Empire"
Anna Gunn "Breaking Bad"
Rose Byrne "Damages"
Megan Hilty "Smash"
Lauren Graham "Parenthood"
Meg Whitman "Parenthood"
Bonnie Bedalia "Parenthood"
Erika Christensen "Parenthood"
Monica Potter "Parenthood"
Morena Baccarin "Homeland"
Regina King "Southland"
Sandra Oh "Grey's Anatomy"
Chandra Wilson "Grey's Anatomy"
Sara Ramirez "Grey's Anatomy"
Jessica Capshaw "Grey's Anatomy"
Kim Raver "Grey's Anatomy"
Katharine McPhee "Smash"
Jennifer Carpenter "Dexter"
Emilia Clarke "Game of Thrones"
Lena Headey "Game of Thrones"
January Jones "Mad Men"
Cherry Jones "Awake"
Taraji P. Henson "Person of Interest"
Kiernan Shipka "Mad Men"
Betsy Brandt "Breaking Bad"
Connie Nielsen "Boss"
Sharon Gless "Burn Notice"
Mary McDonnell "The Closer"
Jill Hennessey "Luck"
Gretchen Mol "Boardwalk Empire"

Commentary - A combination of new and old faces to this race makes it one of the more interesting at this year's Emmys, especially since it has been a category that has afforded us many surprises over the years. Maggie Smith is surely one of the biggest contenders after winning for the same role last year in the Mini category, she returns again in the Drama one. Everyone loves Maggie Smith, and she is a scene-stealer in the popular Downton Abbey. Christina Hendricks returns to the race, trying once again to reap a win for Mad Men. At this rate it looks like the show will never win an acting award, but Hendricks is, as she has been now for a couple of years, a strong contender and sure-fire nominee. The Good Wife women also return to the race, and both Panjabi and Baranski look like they will be nominees again, and with Panjabi's cliff hanging series finale, she could take home another Emmy. Kelly MacDonald also returns to the race, as does Michelle Forbes. MacDonald looks like a good possibility, but I don't know if The Killing has enough power behind it to warrant a second nomination for Forbes. A great possibility this year is Anna Gunn, whose performance in the ever-popular Breaking Bad is stunning, and I genuinely think this is the show's year to really tear up the Emmys. While I personally find Smash boring as hell, and honestly a mess, Angelica Huston is great in the show, and with her name recognition alone is not to be ruled out, although most likely her co-stars Hilty and McPhee are long shots. After returning to Direct-TV, I do wonder about the residual Emmy strength of Damages. If voters are still fascinated with it, then watch out for Rose Byrne. I know that Grey's has lost its Emmy prowless, but this has been a fantastic season, particularly for Sandra Oh, and I wonder if any of its supporting ladies have a shot at getting in. Finally, there are some individuals receiving a good amount of support, like Morena Baccarin, Emilia Clarke, Gretchen Mol, Regina King, and the outstanding Parenthood ladies, and all of them are still in the race, albeit to a lesser extent than the others.