James Badge Dale, "Rubicon"

Nomination Status: Doubtful.

In His Favor: Coupled with HBO's "The Pacific," James Badge Dale's 2010 resume established him as an actor of uncommon intelligence and poise. In "Rubicon," he spent most of his time researching and walking around New York City in a paranoid haze, but he did it while anchoring a cast of fellow eccentrics and holding his own with tremendous scene-stealers like Arliss Howard and Michael Christofer.

Working Against Him: "Rubicon" seemed cold to many viewers and the finale seemed rushed. Perhaps that's why it became the first one-and-done drama in AMC's recent wave of success.