Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Nomination Status: Two-time defending champ is certain to be nominated.

In His Favor: After a random snubbing for the first "Big Bang Theory" season, Jim Parsons has been nominated three straight years and won two straight years. That has to make him a prohibitive favorite, right? Meanwhile, the "Big Bang Theory" writers continue to play to Parsons' strengths, whether it means letting Sheldon get drunk or, in the case of "The Transporter Malfunction," letting Parsons spend much of an episode acting opposite a Leonard Nimoy doll. There was also the episode in which Amy trained Leonard to be closer to a "normal" boyfriend and the episode in which Sheldon was willing to do anything to meet Stephen Hawking. I'm not sure that all of these gambits worked, but Parsons played them all well.

Working Against Him: Eventually, Jim Parsons fatigue has to set in, right? Not if you look at ratings.