Jared Harris, "Mad Men"

Nomination Status: "Mad Men" has placed two actors in the nomination field for the same category before. Harris is good enough to make it happen again.

In His Favor: Leaving aside spoilers for what happened with Lane Pryce on the fifth "Mad Men" season, I'll just point to "Commissions and Fees" and say that it's certain to be one of the six best pieces of submittable acting in this category. Over the course of a full season, many actors in this category probably had more to do, but all you need to be nominated for an Emmy (or to win an Emmy) is one good arc or one good episode. Harris definitely had that.

Working Against Him: Slattery's the Supporting Actor nominee for "Mad Men." That appears to be the rule. While Harris may have the material to be the exception to that rule, this probably isn't the year. There are just too many people in this category.