Michael Kenneth Williams, "Boardwalk Empire"

Nomination Status: If "Boardwalk Empire" can somehow land five nominations in this category, Williams should be able to get one.

In His Favor: Realistically, Michael Shannon is the "Boardwalk Empire" star most likely to join the field if Emmy voters recognize somebody beyond Michael Pitt. Michael K. Williams and Michael Stuhlbarg are probably in the second tier of "Boardwalk Empire" Michaels. But only one of those "Boardwalk Empire" co-stars got to give a three-minute monologue about his daddy's tools and the bookcases he isn't building. And that would be the man who's Chalky White in your Playbill, but Omar in your heart.

Working Against Him: There are just too many "Boardwalk Empire" stars and not enough available Emmy nominations.