Early Emmy Nomination Advice – Comedy Series - Ed Martin

Television actors and actresses recently submitted their work from the last twelve months for 2011 Emmy Award consideration. The official announcement of actual nominees is still a long way off (nominating ballots won't be available until June 6, final nominees will be announced July 14), but the buzz about who should be nominated in what category will kick into high gear within the next couple of weeks and stay there until July. So there is no time like the present to look back on the best series and performances of the last year and offer serious advice on who belongs where.

I've already weighed in on the series and actors that I believe are the most deserving in the drama series categories. Now it's comedy time. While many readers will undoubtedly feel that I have left a few of their favorites off this list, surely we can all agree that the people and the programs mentioned below warrant special attention. The point is to remind voting members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences of the outstanding work included here, since they have an annoying habit of bypassing some of the medium's best. I tried to limit my final choices to six per category, but as always I found it impossible to do so when considering the extraordinary supporting work on so many shows. Feel free to add your own suggestions to each group.

Outstanding Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Community(NBC)
Glee (Fox)
The Middle (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
Nurse Jackie (Showtime)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carrel – The Office (NBC)
Matt LeBlanc – Episodes(Showtime)
Joel McHale – Community (NBC)
Matthew Morrison – Glee (Fox)
Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Toni Collette – United States of Tara (Showtime)
Courteney Cox – Cougar Town (ABC)
Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Patricia Heaton – The Middle (ABC)
Laura Linney – The Big C (Showtime)
Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell – Modern Family (ABC)
Chris Colfer – Glee (Fox)
Jon Cryer – Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Peter Facinelli – Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson – Modern Family (ABC)
Stephen Mangan – Episodes (Showtime)
Ed O'Neil – Modern Family(ABC)
Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Eve Best – Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Julie Bowen – Modern Family (ABC)
TamsinGreig – Episodes (Showtime)
Jane Lynch – Glee (Fox)
Heather Morris – Glee (Fox)
Kathleen Rose Perkins – Episodes (Showtime)
Sofia Vergara – Modern Family (ABC)
Betty White – Hot in Cleveland (TV Land)