hughsblues, don't worry about the quote problem, we're on top of that. And you're not talking yourself! Do the producers really select the submission rather than the actor themselves? I didn't realize that. Much as I love HW, I'm not sure it was the best showcase for HL versus MLC or even Top Secret in terms of the dramatic range that you see in the ep (& yes, they are "showier"). Gandolfini vs HL, its a toss up, but given Gandolfini's already got three & there's a popular "HL wuz robbed" contingent, I wouldn't be surprised if HL takes it. Also, FYI, our fearless leader, 407, has opened a general Emmy chat thread here. Feel free to continue the House & HL love here, but if folks would like to chat about other shows/people, awards, winners, losers, ugly dresses, bad hair, annoying presenters , & a play-by-play of the show etc etc, here's the place for the discussion (& we won't shoot you for talking about House in the new thread either!)

Man, I'm always talking to myself... I'm still sticking with my JG prediction, but Hugh winning most definitely isn't out of the realm of possibility. I just don't want to get my hopes up, you know. Cynacism, you know?

hughsblues - I think we're in a very similar place. I've spent way too much time thinking about and trying to analyze it. We want it so badly for him because it's the elusive one that he doesn't have and we know he's earned it. Regarding Half-Wit, I guess I need to clarify I really don't think it was a bad choice, I just felt like MLC was *the" choice for him. Maybe if it was a close contest between him and Gandolfini, that might have made the difference. But who knows. Like I said if it's decided based on giving it to Gandolfini to bookend the character of Tony Soprano, it wouldn't have mattered what Hugh submitted. My head's going to explode if I think about it any more! As far as who chooses his submission, that's something we don't know the answer to. I kind of figure it is Shore/Jacobs only because we know Hugh doesn't watch the episodes, so it seems like it would be hard for him to decide what to submit. I'm guessing he wouldn't know by episode titles...maybe they give him brief episode descriptions and he decides that way. If that chat on goldderby hadn't been cancelled that's what I was hoping to ask him, or hoping that someone else would get to ask him.

Just looking at how we're doing after only 3 seasons makes me wonder how TWW fans survived all those years without Martin Sheen ever winning best actor...

The problem is, if Half-Wit makes him unlikeable, what the hell is he in MLC? Seriously?

But even though Half-Wit's the submission, it's not to say that the Emmy voters aren't familiar with the other episodes, right? I guess they're supposed to base their decision only on the episode submitted by each actor, but if they regularly watch the particular show it'd be hard to make the mental leap to separate that one episode from the series as a whole. Sadly though, if it is true for Hugh, it's true for all the other actors in the category too. ETA: Does what I just said make any sense? I'm just rambling on today...

Do the producers really select the submission rather than the actor themselves? I didn't realize that. No, that's not generally the case. It's up to the actor and their people. They can choose episodes themselves, have publicists or other "people" choose for them, consult their producers, consult whoever...it doesn't just default to the producers of the show. They pick the episodes submitted in show categories, but the actors are responsible for themselves unless they choose not to be. Regarding Half-Wit, I guess I need to clarify I really don't think it was a bad choice, I just felt like MLC was *the" choice for him. Maybe if it was a close contest between him and Gandolfini, that might have made the difference. But who knows. Like I said if it's decided based on giving it to Gandolfini to bookend the character of Tony Soprano, it wouldn't have mattered what Hugh submitted. My head's going to explode if I think about it any more! The thing is, they're voting for their favorites, too. I know that for some there *is* the mentality of sending a great show off with a truckload of awards. Some others, like the above mentioned Sheen, get the shaft right up til the end in spite of being critically acclaimed and universally loved. I can tell myself all day and night that I wouldn't be biased if I were a voter, but it's tough. In theory, back the first time he was nominated, if I'd been forced to watch each episode and decide, I should have probably given it to Spader. I was outraged (in a melodramatic, non-serious sense) that Hugh didn't win, but once I realized what Spader submitted, it was kind of hard to argue. But, that's in hindsight. If that ballot was in my hand, I'd probably vote my favorites across the board, whether there were better people in the category or not. I think Hugh and Gandolfini will get plenty of "best man" votes, but they'll probably both get a lot of "he's the best actor on TV no matter what he submits" votes and it could really go either way.

Regarding Half-Wit, I guess I need to clarify I really don't think it was a bad choice, I just felt like MLC was *the" choice for him. Maybe if it was a close contest between him and Gandolfini, that might have made the difference. But who knows. Like I said if it's decided based on giving it to Gandolfini to bookend the character of Tony Soprano, it wouldn't have mattered what Hugh submitted. My head's going to explode if I think about it any more! No no I totally see what you mean and I'm not saying you're wrong at all!! MLC might have been a better choice than HW...maybe it packs a bigger emotional punch. I just think HW and MLC are both awesome shows for him but for different reasons. There's a lot of emotion from House in HW too...but no detox so it doesn't have that phsyical thing that made MLC stand out. There's just something about him in HW though that's powerful. I guess I can't describe what I mean very well but I know exactly what you're saying iamdaffodils. Just looking at how we're doing after only 3 seasons makes me wonder how TWW fans survived all those years without Martin Sheen ever winning best actor... Yes!! That's so true! And KS waited for five seasons of 24 to get his Emmy so his fans went crazy for two more years than we've been going nuts. But you pretty much just hit my biggest Emmy fear...that they'll go all Martin Sheen on us and Hugh will never get one for a performance that really really deserves it.

I can tell myself all day and night that I wouldn't be biased if I were a voter, but it's tough. In theory, back the first time he was nominated, if I'd been forced to watch each episode and decide, I should have probably given it to Spader. I was outraged (in a melodramatic, non-serious sense) that Hugh didn't win, but once I realized what Spader submitted, it was kind of hard to argue. Which episode did Spader submit?

Angel of Death is his submission for this year's Emmy's. Which he was fantastic in(as usual and I remember mr GG saying "do you smell that? It smells like another Emmy" while watching that episode), but I probably should have been clearer, I was asking about what he submitted three years ago when he won over HL.

Ah, gotcha GG. My skim-reading has apparently taken a nose-dive :D As for his submission in '05... I have no idea. Goldderby do, however - according to them, he submitted Death Be Not Proud in the '04 - '05 season.