Lauren Graham, "Parenthood"

Nomination Status: One of these days, somebody's going to have to give Lauren Graham and Emmy nomination for SOMETHING. But probably not here.

In Her Favor: For six years on "Gilmore Girls," Graham was perpetually worthy of an Emmy nomination and never got one. This will be her second straight year in the same position for "Parenthood." Graham's Sarah Braverman went on an emotional roller-coaster in the season's last couple episodes, with the writing of her play and her increasingly troubled daughter. Graham hit every note perfectly, no matter how heightened the character was asked to be.

Working Against Her: It's a tough category. Graham is facing a slew of actresses who have been in the field before who appear on shows that are Emmy favorites. As an outsider on an outsider show (even an outsider show that's on NBC), she may have a struggle.