Emmy Watch 2009

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

30 Rock • Gavin Volure • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios Steve Martin, as Gavin Volure

30 Rock • The Bubble • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios Jon Hamm, as Dr. Drew Baird

30 Rock • Mamma Mia • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios Alan Alda, as Milton Greene

Desperate Housewives • The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened • ABC • ABC Studios Beau Bridges, as Eli Scruggs

Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video Justin Timberlake, as Various Characters

I'll be completely honest from the start: I didn't see Beau Bridges' performance in Desperate Housewives because, well, I don't watch it! So it could be the greatest comedic performance of all time and I wouldn't know it. Sorry. Moving on...

As I've told friends, I thought Steve Martin was just ANNOYING as Gavin Volure. Yes, we get it, you're playing an eccentric "billionaire" who lusts for Tina Fey's Liz Lemon. Could you tone it down, just a bit, or maybe bring something original to the performance? Don't think I don't love Steve Martin; I saw him host Saturday Night Live this year and it was a relatively hilarious show. Love his book too. But this just wasn't my cup of tea (probably the only episode of 30 Rock I didn't love this year).

Jon Hamm was perfection as Dr. Baird and I'm so glad he submitted "The Bubble" as his episode (his arc lasted three episodes). While I do find Mad Men overrated, I thoroughly enjoy Hamm's performance on the show. By playing Dr. Baird, he was able to mess with television audiences by playing two very different characters on two very different shows. The revelation that his character gets everything handed to him on a plate because of his looks; as Liz Lemon says, "You can't put Gatorade on salmon."

Alan Alda, very funny in Mamma Mia. Tina Fey stole the episode though with her bright eyed look at the prospects of there being a real Mamma Mia.

Justin Timberlake is a consistently solid Saturday Night Live host, but this years' appearance was nothing different from the ones in the past. Very, very funny, but a little stale.

Win goes to Jon Hamm.