Emmys: Special Victims Unit

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Amy Pietz, 'Aliens in America'
When "Aliens in America" premiered, I was skeptical, to say the least. The premise of a narrow-minded Midwestern family struggling to relate to a Pakistani Muslim exchange student was at first bumpy and broadly drawn. But it settled into one of the smartest and sweetest comedies on the air, thanks to Amy Pietz. Pietz played Franny Tolchuck, a mother who is initially cold to Raja (Adhir Kalyan) until she realizes that another child in the house means one more person to smother. She's pitch-perfect in every scene, which is why it's a shame that "Aliens" won't return in the fall and that Pietz won't be recognized for her worthy, if short-lived, performance.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jamie Hector, 'The Wire'
The hardest part of making this list was figuring out where "The Wire" entry would go. A list of Emmy snubs could consist exclusively of the show's cast members. The show itself still has yet to be nominated for Best Drama. (And don't hold your breath for a nomination this year: the over-under is grim.) But of all the performances to highlight in "The Wire's" final season, I kept coming back to Jamie Hector, whose intensity as drug lord Marlo Stansfield is unparalleled. Even when dispatching his enemies, he never raised his voice above a whisper, making it that much more terrifying when, in the second-to-last episode, his rage rises to the surface.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: January Jones, 'Mad Men'
Emmy voting tends to work to the disadvantage of actors who aren't well-known names, and that's about the only explanation I can come up with for why January Jones, who played dissatisfied housewife Betty Draper, was scorned. Betty's arc over the season was about sadness and disillusionment, the frustration that comes with getting what she thought she wanted only to find out that she still wasn't happy. Few scenes affected me as much last year as when Betty tried to return to modeling in an effort to reclaim some of her former glory, only to find herself with silent tears running down her face when things don't go to plan.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Andy Samberg, 'Saturday Night Live'
The cast members of "SNL" tried something daring this year, submitting themselves in the Supporting Actor category rather than their usual Variety category. The only "SNL" player it worked for was Amy Poehler, who eked out a pre-nomination. But the more deserving Andy Samberg was left in the cold. Poehler is great, but anyone who's been following "SNL" for the past couple of years knows that the funniest parts of the typically flaccid show are the digital shorts. The shorts are Samberg's fiefdom, allowing him to execute ideas that might not work in front of an audience. (See: "Laser Cats.") If anyone from "SNL" is recognized, it should be the guy who consistently brings the funny.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jennifer Esposito, 'Samantha Who?'
Who says blondes have more fun? Christina Applegate is practically a lock for lead actress in a comedy for her performance on "Samantha," but it's her co-star Jennifer Esposito who gets tossed the tartest one-liners, and she spikes every last one. Applegate plays a selfish, inconsiderate jerk who awakens from a coma with amnesia and a desire to change her ways. Esposito plays Andrea, Sam's best friend from the pre-coma, alpha-female days and has so much fun swilling vodka and belittling people, it's hard not to love her.

© 2008