Emmy Guest Stars: Beating the System?

There’s something a little off about the Emmy Awards when it comes to the guest acting categories. Just a glance at the nominees in the comedy category should tip things off—there are two Oscar nominees and one Oscar winner in the mix. The rest of the categories are rounded out by very familiar faces—including a famous female comedian whose nominated performance really amounted to a glorified cameo.

Increasingly, it seems like these categories are a way to bring a little star power to the Emmy proceedings, rather than honoring a true standout. Sadly, voters likely got for names they recognize—how else to explain Margaret Cho scoring a nod for playing Kim Jong-Il in “30 Rock”? Was there really anything particularly memorable about that performance? Even as a fan of Cho and the show, I have to say no way. The behind-the-scenes video NBC put together on Cho probably ran longer than her screen time for her submitted episode.

At least in the comedy categories, things are a bit fairer in terms of screen time. Most actors come on for one episode and kill it—witness nominees Greg Kinnear for “Modern Family” and particularly Michael J. Fox playing himself on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” In the drama category, things get a bit trickier. Remember in 2010 when John Lithgow won guest actor in a drama series for “Dexter,” despite the fact he was second in screen time only to star Michael C. Hall that season? Well, the drama category seems to be a way for actors to play a little fast and loose with the rules. For example, three of the actors nominated in the guest actor category this year were really more or less regulars on their respective shows. Jeremy Davies figured prominently into the last season of “Justified,” appearing in seven episodes of the season. “Mad Men” cast member Ben Feldman was in nine. And Jason Ritter, nominated for “Parenthood,” was in 15 episodes of the qualifying season. How that counts as “guest” is a mystery for the ages.

Obviously, actors put themselves in the guest category because they believe they have a better shot. And obviously, it pays off. Yes, actors are only allowed to submit one episode, but let’s be honest—people who appear in multiple episodes have a definite advantage over a true guest star, who comes in, makes an impression in a short amount of time, and is done. And it’s a shame that voters are going for star power over true performance. Gone are the days when a relatively unknown actor could be honored for his performance in a single standout episode. The last time that happened in recent memory was probably 2001, when a guest actor on “The Practice” beat the likes of Rene Auberjonois, James Cromwell, Patrick Dempsey, and Oliver Platt to win the award. That actor’s name? Michael Emerson.