A Supportive Emmy
by Vera H-C ChanSep 18, 2008
4 Votes
Let's get this out of the way: Supporting actors and actresses are not second-fiddle. Television history has shown time and time again how a secondary character, or even a cameo, emerges to be bigger than leads or the show itself.
USA Today casts a series of well-deserved "spotlights" on Emmy-nominated supporters, probing Amy Poehler about her pregnancy, John Slattery on his first nomination in a 20-year career, Kristin Chenoweth about her upcoming Christmas album, and veteran Zeljko Ivanek on keeping his name just the way it is.
While all are loved, here are the supporting crew ranked in order of searches during the Emmy eligibility period (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008).
| Top Searched Supporting Actress Nominee, Comedy | Top Searched Supporting Actor Nominee, Comedy | |||
| 1. | Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty," ABC) | 1. | Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother," CBS) | |
| 2. | Kristin Chenoweth ("Pushing Daisies," ABC) | 2. | Jeremy Piven ("Entourage," HBO) | |
| 3. | Amy Poehler ("Saturday Night Live," NBC) | 3. | Rainn Wilson ("The Office," NBC) | |
| 4. | Jean Smart ("Samantha Who?," ABC) | 4. | Jon Cryer ("Two and a Half Men," CBS) | |
| 5. | Holland Taylor ("Two and a Half Men," CBS) | 5. | Kevin Dillon ("Entourage," HBO) | |
| Top Searched Supporting Actress Nominee, Drama | Top Searched Supporting Actor Nominee, Drama | |||
| 1. | Sandra Oh ("Grey's Anatomy," ABC) | 1. | William Shatner ("Boston Legal," ABC) | |
| 2. | Rachel Griffiths ("Brothers & Sisters," ABC) | 2. | John Slattery ("Mad Men," AMC) | |
| 3. | Candice Bergen ("Boston Legal," ABC) | 3. | Ted Danson ("Damages," FX) | |
| 4. | Chandra Wilson ("Grey's Anatomy," ABC) | 4. | Michael C. Hall ("Dexter," Showtime) | |
| 5. | Dianne Wiest ("In Treatment," HBO) | 5. | Zeljko Ivanek ("Damages," FX) | |