Danny Pudi, "Community"

Nomination Status: The heart-and-soul of "Community" is certainly deserving, but it probably won't happen.

In His Favor: This was a fantastic season for Danny Pudi, as Dan Harmon receded deeper and deeper into his own psyche and therefore delved deeper and deeper into Abed's psyche. The spring alone featured a half-dozen episodes in which Abed became increasingly alienated from the show's primary reality, allowing for the sort of close investigation of an emotionally "different" -- whether you choose to read Abed as "autistic" is up to you and I guess there's no point in pegging him to a single diagnosis -- character that you rarely see in an ostensible comedy. The renewal buzz and then the buzz about Harmon's departure may give "Community" an elevated profile for Emmy voters.

Working Against Him: It probably won't. If Emmy voters were going to embrace "Community," surely they would have done it already, right?