Walton Goggins, "The Shield"

Nomination Status:  A dark horse

Bottom Line: How often do supporting players suddenly zoom into the Emmy nomination field for a basic cable show that Emmy voters apparently forgot years ago? It doesn't happen much. But then again, how often to supporting actors secure Television Critics Association nominations for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Drama over their more heavily hyped stars? That sure doesn't happen much either, but Goggins was so good that he secured a TCA nod over Michael Chiklis for the final season of "The Shield." That implies that what Goggins did this past season was so clearly outstanding that it defies precedent.