2015 Emmy Contenders: Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series

2015 Contenders
Ben Barnes "Sons of Liberty"
Adrien Brody "Houdini"
Ricky Gervais "Derek: The Final Chapter"
Tony Goldwyn "Outlaw Prophet"
Tom Hollander "A Poet in New York"
Tom Hughes "The Game"
Timothy Hutton "American Crime"
Jason Isaacs "Dig"
Richard Jenkins "Olive Kitteridge"
Michael Kitchen "Poirot: Curtain, Poirot's Last Case"
Nathan Lane "The Lance"
Jason Lee "Away and Back"
Stephen Merchant "Hello Ladies: The Movie"
James Nesbitt "The Missing"
Bill Nighy "Worricker: Salting the Battlefield"
David Oyelowo "Nightingale"
Bill Paxton "Texas Rising"
Evan Peters "American Horror Story: Freak Show"
Ryan Phillippe "Secrets & Lies"
Mark Rylance "Wolf Hall"
Peter Sarsgaard "The Slap"
David Suchet "Poirot: Curtain, Poirot's Last Case"
Kiefer Sutherland "24: Live Another Day"
David Tennant "Gracepoint"

Commentary - A group that simply pales in comparison to its female counterpart, nonetheless has some great actors populating its ranks. At the top of the list is Richard Jenkins for his heartfelt performance in Oliv Kitteridge, the one I personally hope wins. He was fantastic, is a well-respected veteran with an Oscar nomination under his belt, and he holds his own against the ferocity of Frances McDormand. David Oyelowo might have missed out on an Oscar nomination (still a shameful snub), but his new HBO movie Nightingale looks like a potential powerhouse for the now-popular actor. Bill Paxton missed out in favor of his co-star Kevin Costner for Hatfields and McCoys. He has another shot this year with Texas Rising. American Crime was a low-rated, but critical favorite, and Oscar winner Timothy Hutton could benefit with a nomination. Wolf Hall was a huge hit for PBS, and Mark Rylance is a popular Tony-winner making a big jump quite well to television. After his Oscar win, Adrien Brody has been on a losing streak, but his Houdini got decent reviews and could earn him an Emmy nomination. Ricky Gervais got in last year in Comedy for Derek, and The Final Chapter could earn him two in a row. For some strange reason, Evan Peters has bumped up to lead for Freak Show. It would be a worthy nomination, but I think it is not going to happen (for the fourth year in a row, a true shame). James Nesbitt is not getting quite the affection that Frances O'Connor is for The Missing, but he is a possibility. Bill Night and Tom Hughes could be British additions, Stephen Merchant is hilarious, and you can never count out Kiefer Sutherland. Then there are the string of great actors in less-than-stellar roles who are hoping that name recognition will be enough: Jason Lee, Peter Saarsgard, Nathan Lane, Jason Issacs, Ryan Phillippe, and Tony Goldwyn.