The Golden Globes have announced their nominations for the 2013 award ceremony and the race for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical includes a returning champ and several past nominees.
Alec Baldwin: 30 Rock: The New York native, who was born into a showbiz family, is nominated for his role as Jack Donaghy in the hit TV series 30 Rock. A seasoned actor, Baldwin has appeared in numerous TV shows and big screen films. He is perhaps best known for his roles in The Hunt for Red October (1990), Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Departed (2006). Baldwin has been nominated for a multitude of awards, including an Academy Award (2004), a BAFTA Award (2010), five Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymphs, 12 Primetime Emmys (1996, 2001-2002, 2005-2007 and 2010-2012) and 11 SAG Awards (1996, 2001, 2004-2005, 2007-2008, and 2010-2013). He has also taken home several awards, including two Primetime Emmys (2008 and 2009), two Satellite Awards (2006 and 2010) and six SAG Awards (2007-2012). Baldwin is an eight-time Golden Globe nominee and a three-time award winner (2007, 2009 and 2010). The returning nominee is sure to give the rest of the contenders a run for their money.
Don Cheadle: House of Lies: The always funny Kansas City native is nominated for his role as Marty Kaan in the Showtime TV series House of Lies. The veteran film and TV actor is perhaps best known for his roles in Hotel Rwanda (2004), Traitor (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010). Cheadle has accumulated a number of award nominations, including an Academy Award (2005), two BAFTA Awards (2006), six BET Awards (2005-2006 and 2008-2012), five Primetime Emmys (1999, 2002-2003 and 2012) and seven SAG Awards (1995-1996, 1998 and 2005-2006). He has also taken home one BET Award (2007) and two SAG Awards (2001 and 2006). The 48-year-old actor is a two-time Golden Globe nominee and a one-time Golden Globes winner (1999). Cheadle is a formidable actor and one to watch in this category.
Louis C.K.: Louie: The D.C. native is a multi-talented man with several acting, writing and comedic works in his resume. He is nominated for his role as Louie on his hit FX TV series Louie. The 45-year-old stand-up comedian, writer, director and actor is best known for his work on Pootie Tang (2001), Down to Earth (2001) and Louis C.K.: Hilarious (2010). He's been nominated for several awards, including 13 Primetime Emmys (1998, 2000, 2009 and 2011-2012), one SAG Award (2013) and two Writers Guild of America Awards (2012 and 2013). C.K. has also won three Primetime Emmys (1999 and 2012), a Satellite Award (2011) and a Television Critics Association Award (2012). This is his first Golden Globes nomination and not likely to be his last.
Matt LeBlanc: Episodes: The Massachusetts native known for his killer humor is a returning champ for playing himself in his hit TV series Episodes. Best known for his role as Joey on the hit NBC show Friends (1994-2004), LeBlanc has also appeared on Joey (2004-2006) and Charlie's Angels (2000). The veteran actor has been nominated for several awards including four Primetime Emmys (2002-2004 and 2011), three Satellite Awards (2003-2004 and 2011) and seven SAG Awards (1999-2004). LeBlanc has won a number of awards, including a People's Choice Award (2005), a SAG Award (1996) and a TV Guide Award (2000). He's been nominated for four Golden Globes and he took home last year's Golden Globe in this category. LeBlanc could take the award again this year.
Jim Parsons: The Big Bang Theory: The Texas native takes over for his co-star Johnny Galecki in this category with his role of Sheldon Cooper in the hit CBS series The Big Bang Theory. Parsons has acted in several TV shows and films, but is best known for Garden State (2004), School for Scoundrels (2006) and The Muppets (2011). He has been nominated for several awards, including a Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph (2012), three People's Choice Awards (2011-2013), two Primetime Emmys (2009 and 2012), and three SAG Awards (2012-2013). The 39-year-old has won two Primetime Emmys (2010 and 2011) and a Television Critics Association Award (2009). He's been nominated once for the Golden Globes (2013) and has taken home one Golden Globe in this same category in 2011. Parsons is among the frontrunners of this race.
Prediction: The race for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical is a tough one, especially with the addition of returning winner Matt LeBlanc. However, 30 Rock's Alec Baldwin and The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons are definite frontrunners for this race. They have both been nominated in this race before, but Parsons is my pick for this category. A second win by LeBlanc, however, should not be discarded.