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If you’ve been paying attention, Ausiello has been giving out his dream Emmy nominations for the 2008-2009 season (those are always fun to read). As most people do, he has “nominated” Michael Urie as Best Supporting actor, and Vanessa Williams as best supporting Acress in a comedy.
For the record, he also suggested America Ferrera as Best Lead Actress in a Comedy, along with the other usual suspects.
It always interests me, though, that whenever these discussions come around, Ugly Betty is always without a Lead Actor.
But, Tom, you might say, Ugly Betty doesn’t have a male lead. It’s a female-centric show about a young woman.
Well, that may be. But, it just doesn’t feel right to me. I have always considered Eric Mabius the “leading man” of the show. I know that technically, by the Academy’s standards, he probably isn’t. But, nevertheless, he’s always seemed like one.
I’ll bet that in the various versions of the show around the world, the Armando/Daniel/etc. character is considered the male lead. Although, those are serialized telenovelas, so it’s had to make a comparison.
And that’s why I don’t think, regretfully, Mabius is ever considered for Best Supporting Actor in a comedy. And that’s a shame, because I really think he deserves recognition for this season.
Interestingly, if the storylines for season 4 ramp up from those in season 3, you could almost consider Michael Urie the show’s leading man. Marc, not Wilhelmina, is shaping up to be Betty’s biggest rival.
But, I know, I know – that picky Academy, always assigning everyone in an ensemble cast to “supporting” categories.
I don’t know – maybe it just seems weird to me. As much as I love Michael Urie, and I think he REALLY deserves the Emmy this year, I just wish Eric Mabius could get some recognition as well. Unfortunately, he’s stuck in that “in between lead and supporting character” status.
What do you think? Do you consider Eric Mabius (or Michael Urie, for that matter) to be the show’s male lead?
Image: Newscom
464 days ago
Hi Tom, I like the new look. As for Eric Mabius, I agree I feel bad that he gets left out of The Emmy shuffle. I really hope that Michael & Becki get Emmy nominations they stole the show this season. I also hope Vanessa gets a nomination. America better get another nomination and another win.
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464 days ago
I like the new look Tom! Regarding Eric, I always thought that Eric was male lead for some reason. I think next to America, Eric is probably the next one in line who gets storylines (I remember him mentioning in a couple of interviews that he puts in 70 hour work weeks & he is exhausted by the end of the season he doesn’t take on too much outside projects as they film like 10 months out of the year..they are known to have a rigorous shooting schedule). When the show first started, alot of the storyline was between Betty & Daniel, but as time went on the other characters were getting their due & America’s & Eric’s characters don’t interact as much as they did when the show started. Eric should get nominated this year esp. with the storyline he had, along with Michael Urie who had a bigger role this season esp. with Marc & Betty getting involved Y.E.T.I.& leaning that he & Betty have the same career goals.
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464 days ago
I totally think Eric Mabius deserves an Emmy nom this season, and it’s unfortunate he’s stuck between the lead/supporting actor role. I’ve always considered him the male lead, and he’s second in the credits next to America. However, a similar thing happened with the Office, people questioning who the female lead was since everyone knows Steve Carell is the main character. When Jenna Fischer was nominated for an Emmy, it was in the supporting actress category, so I guess it’s possible Betty really doesn;t have a lead guy.
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464 days ago
I had no idea that they don’t consider Eric Mabius as the leading male actor of the show! He definitely is!!!Urie is the supporting one, who generates laughter, but the story is about the libidius boss and the slappy assistant!The point is their relationship!
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462 days ago
You are correct… In all of the other versions, the Armando/Daniel character is indeed each show’s male lead. Also, in ever other adaptation, the show is as much about the male lead’s growth as a human being as it is about the female lead’s transformation.
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462 days ago
And I think that it’s a shame that Becki Newton gets overlooked. She is extremely underrated (but not by us, of course). Ana Ortiz never disappoints either.
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462 days ago
Daniel totally is the lead actor. I agree, he was in the background in a few eps, but he IS still the lead!
as for female support cast, I think venessa, claire, becki, and ana all deserve a nomination. I just love claire, brings such spunk to the show.
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