Holiday Poolies Watch- Drama

I'm a little late on my first of the month timeline for these now bi-monthly Poolies Watch posts, but as the saying goes "better late than clever." That's not it? Well either way, the 2011 Poolies Ballots are six months away, which means the season is six months over. Here we'll take a look at how the awards are stacking up so far, with who's in, who's out, and who's awful. First up are the drama awards. As always, if you think a show or character deserves more credit, or any at all, feel free to leave a comment. You don't want to end up like Mags last year, trying to illegally write in Tom Haverford for the Arthur Spooner Award. Also spit any performances you've liked at me on Twitter via @quietpool.

The Dynasty Award

The outlook on the award for best drama series hasn’t changed much since the October Watch. Friday Night Lights, the two-time winner, has begun its final season and inserted itself amongst the definites in the category. In doing so, Life Unexpected loses its spot amongst the probables. I enjoy The Defenders, but look for Hellcats as the only one on the outside to maybe grab a spot if it outshines Gossip Girl, Parenthood, or 90210 in the spring. Then again, the returns of Men of a Certain Age and Greek are on the horizon, so nobody is safe.

Definites
Friday Night Lights
Mad Men
Treme

In For Now
Jonas
Entourage
House
Glee
Parenthood
90210
Gossip Girl

Outside Looking In
Hellcats
The Defenders
Life Unexpected
One Tree Hill
Grey’s Anatomy
Brothers and Sisters
Pretty Little Liars

The Dr. Doug Ross Award

Vince and Coach Taylor

As always, working out who will end up as lead and who will be supporting, is the toughest part of this whole thing. As we take a look at the best lead characters in a drama, we have to add some Friday Night Lights dudes to the mix, namely Coach Taylor and Vince Howard. With Tim Riggins taking most of the season off, I see last year’s winner, Greg House, as the early favorite. Vinny Chase remains in the running after what I thought was a fantastic drugged and drunken season, but I fear he will lose out on a spot after being off the air for almost a year by the time ballots come out.

Definites
Greg House- House
Don Draper- Mad Men
Ari Gold- Entourage
Eric Taylor- Friday Night Lights

In For Now
Joe Lucas- Jonas
Davis McAlary- Treme
Antoine Batiste- Treme
Adam Braverman- Parenthood
Vince Howard- Friday Night Lights
Vincent Chase- Entourage

Outside Looking In
Nate Archibald- Gossip Girl
Nick Morelli- The Defenders
Liam Court- 90210
Dan Humphrey- Gossip Girl
Julian Baker- One Tree Hill
Johnny Chase- Entourage
Nick Lucas- Jonas

The Noah Hunter Award

Dr. Chase

After realizing that two-time winner Ari Gold was really more of a lead character, and moving him up accordingly, the award for best supporting character in a drama looks to be up for grabs. If Tim Riggins, Matt Saracen or someone else from Friday Night Lights comes back for a great three or four episodes down the final stretch of the season, I might like them to be a contender, but right now I have no idea what will happen come voting time. I personally think it is Roger Sterling’s category to lose, but Mad Men might not have enough pull amongst the Poolies voters. In a surprising turn, I’ve really enjoyed Dr. Chase on this season of House thus far. If I had to pick one dude from the doctor drama in this category, it would be Chase over Wilson.

Definites
Roger Sterling- Mad Men
Scott Lavin- Entourage

In For Now
Albert Lambreaux- Treme
Buddy Garrity- Friday Night Lights
Noah Puckerman- Glee
Chase Adams- One Tree Hill
Robert Chase- House
Chuck Bass- Gossip Girl
Ornette Howard- Friday Night Lights
James Wilson- House

Outside Looking In
Dan Patch- Hellcats
Crosby Braverman- Parenthood
Lane Pryce- Mad Men
Mark Sloan- Grey’s Anatomy
Oscar- 90210
Paul Jamison- The Big C
Miles Cannon- 90210

The Veronica Mars Award

Naomi Clark

Julie Taylor deservedly won this award two years ago, then last year she somehow stole it from everyone else in the category. The way she has started out in the final season of Friday Night Lights, I don’t even see her getting nominated for the best female character in a drama award. Even though there aren’t nearly enough Jonas viewers that are also Poolie voters, Macy Misa should hands down win this award. Everything in this category looks the same as the Fall Watch, other than the addition of Becky Sproles, which knocked out Sally Draper. The young Mad Men star didn’t see much action down the stretch and shouldn’t be in line for a nomination this summer. Look for the girls of Glee, 90210, and Gossip Girl to jockey for position as you never know which ones will step up in the spring.

Definites
Macy Misa- Jonas
Naomi Clark- 90210
Annie- Treme
Sue Sylvester- Glee

In For Now
Peggy Olsen- Mad Men
Santana Lopez- Glee
Savannah Munroe- Hellcats
Stella Malone- Jonas
Becky Sproles- Friday Night Lights
Alex Dupre- One Tree Hill

Outside Looking In
Juliet Sharp- Gossip Girl
Ivy Sullivan- 90210
Sally Draper- Mad Men
Vanessa Abrams- Gossip Girl
Quinn Fabray- Glee
Adrianna Tate Duncan- 90210
Rachel Berry- Glee
Julie Taylor- Friday Night Lights

The Marissa Cooper Award

Serena van der Woodson

The award for the character you love to hate in a drama is always a tough group to crack. I could come up with 30 qualified contenders if I wanted to, but after the start to this season of Glee, how is Kurt Hummel not the one to beat? Sure Tanya Skagle of Hung might be more detestable, but nobody even watches that show so she’s probably out of luck. Serena is definitely back to her Marissa Coooper-like ways on this season of Gossip, which should place her among the top candidates this season. There are so many people to choose from on Glee that it ends up being a crap shoot and they will knock each other out of the running on a consistent basis.

Definites
Kurt Hummel- Glee
Tanya Skagle- Hung

In For Now
Turtle- Entourage
Will Schuester- Glee
Tami Taylor- Friday Night Lights
Serena van der Woodson- Gossip Girl
Erin Silver- 90210
Clay Evans- One Tree Hill
Artie Abrams- Glee
Dixon Wilson- 90210

Outside Looking In
Quinn James- One Tree Hill
Emma Pillsbury- Glee
Charlie Selby- 90210
Mercedes Jones- Glee
Meredith Grey- Grey’s Anatomy
Jess Merriweather- Friday Night Lights
Eric Foreman- House

The “One Wedding and a Funeral” Award
I don’t see the Mad Men or Jonas eps losing their respective spots here. Treme’s first season gem may lose its spot to a superior ep from the upcoming second season. The most recent episode of Friday Night Lights was good, but I expect much better as the final season heads down the stretch.

In For Now
Mad Men- “The Suitcase” – 407
Treme- “All on a Mardis Gras Day” – 108
Jonas- “Band of Brothers” – 213
Entourage- “Lose Yourself” – 710
Friday Night Lights- “Kingdom” – 505