2015 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Movie/Miniseries

2015 Nomination Predictions
Ricky Gervais "Derek: The Final Chapter"
Timothy Hutton "American Crime"
Richard Jenkins "Olive Kitteridge"
David Oyelowo "Nightingale"
Bill Paxton "Texas Rising"
Mark Rylance "Wolf Hall"

Other Contenders - Kiefer Sutherland "24: Live Another Day", Adrien Brody "Houdini", James Nesbitt "The Missing", Nathan Lane "The Nance", Billy Nighy "Worricker: Salting the Battlefield", Evan Peters "American Horror Story: Freak Show", Michael Kitchen "Foyle's War: Elise, The Final Mystery", David Suchet "Agatha Christie's Poirot: Curtain, Poirot's Last Case", Jason Isaacs "Dig", David Tennant "Gracepoint", Peter Sarsgaard "The Slap", Ben Barnes "Sons of Liberty", Lyriq Bent "The Book of Negroes", Stephan Merchant "Hello Ladies: The Movie"

Commentary -  I think this is an eight-way race for six slots. I really hope that Richard Jenkins wins this year for his emotional and triumphant role in Olive Kitteridge. Frances McDormand gets a lot of credit (and deserved), but Jenkins was her rock, and is definitely worthy as well. David Oyelowo could give him a run for his money. He was snubbed of an Oscar, and is becoming a genuine movie star. Plus, he is commanding in Nightingale. If they want to reward the hot ticket, he is it. Texas Rising didn't get rave reviews my any means, but Bill Paxton is a favorite among these voters. I don't know if he can win up against the likes of Oyelowo and Jenkins, but I think he is a pretty safe nominee. I also think that three-time Tony nominee Mary Rylance will get in for his role in the PBS series Wolf Hall. You know how Emmy voters love them some British productions, and I expect this one to rack up the nominations. The last couple of slots are tricky. Adrien Brody is an Oscar-winner, and Kiefer Sutherland has won an Emmy for his role as Jack Bauer. But I don't know if either can make the cut. Instead, I am going with Ricky Gervais, who got a surprise nod for Derek when it was a comedy series, and is definitely an Emmy favorite. Finally, I think that American Crime will be well-received by voters, as it was by critics, and that Oscar-winner Timothy Hutton will be swept up in the love and get an Emmy nomination.