Sure. His part basically requires that the actor plays two emotional states. The main one is carefully controlled emotionless robot. It doesn't exactly take Al Pacino to do that I don't think; usually we are impressed by actors who can do a good job of showing the emotion the character is feeling. Now, Esposito does a good job of showing us that Gus is a tightly wound and very controlled individual, but is that really that difficult of a part to play or an emotion (lack of emotion?) to convey? Doesn't seem like it to me. Especially not compared to the parts Cranston, Paul, Gunn and Norris have on the show.

The other emotional state Gus' character has is quietly controlled rageface. Again, the actor does a good job, but it is hardly nuanced compared to the other acting on the show. Norris was far more deserving of a nomination. As was GOAT supporting actor Vincent Kartheiser.

But maybe it's mostly that I just don't recognize any humanity Gus' character. He doesn't behave in a way that seems human or real or authentic. I don't blame the actor, it's a problem with the writing. They choose to make him a sort of cartoonish robotlike automaton -- that was a deliberate choice made by the writers. I think that was a mistake. They could have made him far more human and the show would have been better for it.

Bates from Downton Abbey was doing essentially the same thing as Gus, but that character had far more of a tragic humanity as far as the consequences of being such an emotionless and professional dude.

Tough to see Gus winning over what is a truly stacked lineup, I'd handicap the edge to Paul or Harris.

You make a lot of interesting points in both of your posts. I could probably agree that it's easier to portray an emotionless individual than someone like Jesse or Walt who portray such drastic ranges of emotion. I am glad that you clarified that the writing is probably more to blame than Esposito. The humanity you fail to recognize in Gus, for me, is precisely what makes him so believably cold and calculating. But, that is also what makes him less believable as a character...it was as if he was not capable of making a single mistake, and that is just never the case when it comes to criminals....as we see is the case time and time again with Walt and Jesse. Maybe it's more of Gus' "look" than his actual acting performance that has me so captivated by him. And yes....Norris is amazing and definitely deserved a nomination. Watched an episode of Married With Children with him in it...man was he skinny.

I think there's too many bald people on this show.

Yeah, I'm always amazed when actors change so much that you pretty much can't recognize them anymore.

"The enemy cannot push a button, if you disable his hand!"

This famous quote was spoken by Dean Norris, and when I found out recently I had to look twice to see it's him.

Tio just doesn't strike me as a "Mark".

ACTING!

Isn't that Jake Busey and Clancy Brown?

I think Harris, Dinklage and Paul should all go before Esposito(?), with that said I think he does a great job with a slightly cartoonish character. I get that hes polite, calm and all that and I like it but it feels a bit over done and that for me also makes the potential of the character much smaller which hurts Esposito here. I'd pick Harris for supporting actor and Cranston for the lead actor. Both shows deserves at least one actor/actress emmy although Mad Men has a shot at both the actress categorys.

that's not him, that's this guy:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000317/

he's another guy in the movie

where's the like button? (y)

LOLOL, I guess you're right . When I was told recently that he's the drill instructor in that film, I checked, but didn't watch the whole film. I guess "knowing" it's him, I wanted to see similarities .

He's actually the commanding officer in the boot camp, not the drill instructor.

Hopefully Hank gets his emmy for S5...

13 emmy nominations in total by the way, I have no idea how many that is but it sounds like a lot.

Regarding the opening scene at Denny's, going to take a long shot and guess the older African American dude seated at the counter next to Walt is going to play into this somehow. He seemed a little too attentive, imo.

Also, if VG is really a Denny's fan, his show is rendered invalid.

i like how BB has conditioned us to suspect every seemingly low-key profile as a potential player. i thought the waitress was going to be tied in somehow and expected her to slip a note to walt.

^^^That's one of the amazing things about the show. There is no wasted movement. Every character seems to be significant and advance the plot in an important way. Can't wait to see what's in store

Just realized tonight that Giancarlo Esposito (Gus) is FBI agent Jack Baer in the Usual Suspects. Whoa, weird.

Gus was good and all but I'm not sure Emmy-worthy. Aaron Paul definitely is and I thought season 4 was his best work, he seems to do everything extremely well. He's more a lead character than supporting but w/e

Mad Men has 17

And not only that, American Horror Story also has 17, Downtown Abbey and Hatfields & McCoys has 16, Modern Family 14.

Well Mad Men always is a huge success at any award show isn't it so that's no surprise .

American Horror Story obv wasn't better than BB S4 but meh I don't mind it was a ****ing great show.

Modern Family obv dropped a ton in quality this season but I still love the show, wouldn't say it deserves 14 for S3 though.

Never seen Downtown Abbey or Hatfields

Yeah, havent seen any of those except Mad Men (which btw have the chance to make a record breaking 5th straight win in Best Drama), kinda made me wanna watch Downtown Abbey though.

1st season downton abbey is my much better than the second, which gets a little too soap opera ish.

I really wish I'd made a rule that we were only allowed to talk about the Emmys if they nom-ed Offerman.

Way too much thought expended on the opinions of a group of people who are taking this less seriously that you all are.