2016 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Actor in a Drama Series

2016 Nomination Predictions
Kyle Chandler "Bloodline"
Paul Giamatti "Billions"
Rami Malek "Mr. Robot"
Bob Odenkirk "Better Call Saul"
Liev Schreiber "Ray Donovan"
Kevin Spacey "House of Cards"

Other Contenders - Damien Lewis "Billions", Hugh Bonneville "Downton Abbey", Terrence Howard "Empire", Steve Buscemi "Horace & Pete", Louis C.K. "Horace & Pete", Matthew Rhys "The Americans", Sam Heughan "Outlander", Bobby Cannavale "Vinyl", Aaron Paul "The Path", Clive Owen "The Knick", Aldis Hodge "Underground", Wagner Moura "Narcos", Justin Theroux "The Leftovers", Ray Liotta "Shades of Blue", Peter Capalidi "Doctor Who", Freddie Highmore "Bates Motel", Dominic West "The Affair", James Spader "The Blacklist", Jeremy Piven "Mr. Selfridge", Andrew Lincoln "The Walking Dead", Travis Fimmel "Vikings", Peter Krause "The Catch"

Commentary - I don't know if Billions will be a big Emmy hit, so I am putting Giamatti in, and leaving Lewis out, despite his recent Emmy history. That is probably odd, but if they like the show, but not love it, then there may not be enough support for both. Can Lewis get in? Of Course. Odenkirk and Spacey are locks, and Malek feels safe as Mr. Robot is the new hit favorite. But the other two are nowhere near safe. Bloodline kind of sticks now, but Chandler is clearly beloved, and the surprise nomination for Liev Schreiber last year could have been a fluke, or it could be a trend. Beyond Lewis, Bonneville could ride nostalgia back into the top six, Terrence Howard was snubbed last year, and the Horace & Pete duo could surprise a lot of folks. Sam Heughan is a hot newcomer, Bobby Cannavale has this in the bag until Vinyl got panned and cancelled, and Matthew Rhys, like The Americans as a whole, is overdue. Wagner Moura made some early precursors, James Spader is a veteran, Aaron Paul could get some Breaking Bad hangover love, Clive Owen, Aldis Hodge, Freddie Highmore, and then there is Peter Capaldi. As Doctor Who finally gets Emmy consideration, we may see just how many fanboys it has in the Television Academy.