Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory. Fans have been hoping Parsons would be recognized for his role on the series, which has been gaining momentum since its 2007 debut. (As I mentioned this morning, Big Bang repeats are getting huge ratings this summer.) Congrats to all of the nominees, but I must say, I hope Sept. 20 is Parsons' night. He deserves it -- and so does Sheldon.

It's safe to say there's no other character on television like Parsons' Sheldon Cooper, a theoretical physicist who hails from the South and may or may not have Asperger's Syndrome. From his disinterest in women to his peculiar food habits to his astounding collection of geeky T-shirts, Sheldon is endlessly fascinating, and it's hard to imagine anyone but Parsons playing the part.

Today, Parsons' name was called in the outstanding actor category alongside The Office's Steve Carell, 30 Rock's Alec Baldwin, Monk's Tony Shalhoub, Two and a Half Men's Charlie Sheen and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. If the Best Comedy Actor nominees had a couple of the usual suspects (Charlie Sheen and Tony Shalhoub again? really?), the surprise here was Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords -- yes, the Emmys are finally catching up to Flight of the Conchords.