This is another category where the absence of CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond”-which accounted for two nominations and one win in the category last year-opens things up for some new faces. Among those, two rising NBC stars-Ethan Suplee of “My Name Is Earl” and Rainn Wilson of “The Office”-have a lot of support. But in the end it could be a couple of relative veterans-2005 nominees Jeremy Piven of HBO’s “Entourage” and Sean Hayes of NBC’s “Will & Grace”-who fight it out for the Emmy. Lifetime’s Tim Brooks calls Mr. Hayes “a brilliant slapstick artist on a favored show.” But TV Guide’s Matt Roush leans toward Mr. Piven: “Ari Gold is Jeremy Piven’s career breakthrough role, and this should be the year he wins.”
TVWeek‘s Emmy Panel
Panelists’ Predictions
TelevisionWeek staff picks
2005 contenders
Winner: Brad Garrett, ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ (CBS)
Other nominees: