2006

Eligible Shows (meaning they predominantly aired between June 1, 2005 and May 31, 2006)

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy:

The BTA goes to:  Jenna Fischer for The Office

Pam's season of flirting with Jim is my favorite part of my favorite season of The Office.  She kisses him in "The Dundies," orchestrates the Office Olympics with him, bonds with him over question games during "The Fire," gets an extremely personal gift from him for Christmas, almost hears Jim's confession in "Booze Cruise," almost confesses herself in "The Secret," and ultimately gives a fantastic, complex, and real performance during "Casino Night," when she's finally faced with the prospect of a real relationship with Jim.  John Krasinski gets all the love, but Jenna Fischer is just as integral to making The Office as great as it is. 

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy: 

The BTA goes to:  John Krasinski for The Office

I just listed the highlights of the Jim-Pam romance above, so change the gender, flip the relationship and give it another read.  In other words, as outstanding as Piven's Ari Gold or Ouimette's Oliver Welles are, not to mention Tobias with hair plugs and TBA and Charlie getting drunk and way too involved in high school politics, as great as those characters were this year, Jim Halpert remains my favorite. 

Best Actress in a Comedy:

The BTA goes to:  Lisa Kudrow for The Comeback

Valerie Cherish is a stunning creation, oblivious to her own marginalization, and Lisa Kudrow is exemplary.  As the show's foundation, she imbues the series with its tragedy, her failure powerfully involving to the point where it's almost too much to watch the episodes back to back.

Best Actor in a Comedy:

The BTA goes to:  Steve Carell for The Office

In Season 2, Michael Scott was a more grounded character, and accordingly his tragic loneliness is even more poignant.  As great as his antics alone and with Dwight are, it's Michael's humanity, displayed by his extreme desires for approval and family, that makes the character so powerful. 

Best Comedy: 

The BTA goes to:  Arrested Development

The third season of Arrested Development begins with one of its very best, moves into the Rita episodes, then becomes a show about itself trying to get renewed, and closes with a spectacular finale involving a mock trial, fake coma, real wedding, surprise Bluth relative, and a bookend of the premiere where Lucille and Annyong are revealed to be masterminds, never losing its sharp satire of American politics.   

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama:

The BTA goes to:  Tricia Helfer for Battlestar Galactica

I think Tricia Helfer is phenomenal at playing Gaius' Head Six, but Season 2 also gave her the abused Pegasus prisoner Gina and the hero of the Cylons Caprica Six, on top of which she got "Downloaded," her very own spotlight episode which many felt was the best to that point. 

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama:

The BTA goes to:  Joseph R. Gannascoli for The Sopranos

Thanks to Season 6 getting stretched out, Vito Spatafore became one of the biggest characters, his arc of self-discovery in idyllic fantasy Dartford overtaking AJ's subplot to become the most important supporting character.  And he is believable in every moment, whether jockeying to take over the family or dancing with some guy in leather or being inexplicably drawn to the man who cooks his johnny cakes, if you catch my drift.  He's certainly not the most sympathetic character, and it strikes me only now that three of the nominees have homosexual-related subplots, but he delivers a surprisingly great performance.

Best Actress in a Drama:

The BTA goes to:  Lauren Ambrose for Six Feet Under

By the final year of Six Feet Under, Claire had become the main character, and the long-deserving Lauren Ambrose becomes the best lead actress of the year.  This is another case that was nearly impossible to decide, because just look at her competition.  But Claire Fisher working a soulless job and dating Billy takes the cake, as she gets fantasy sequences of releasing her pent-up creative energy and a wonderful reconciliation with her mother.  And at the end, Nate's death allows her to leave LA and pursue her dreams, as she drives away in one of the best series finales yet. 

Best Actor in a Drama: 

The BTA goes to:  James Callis for Battlestar Galactica

This season, Gaius Baltar went from barely surviving on Kobol to surrendering New Caprica to the cylons.  Along the way, he fantasized with Head Six on Kobol about an opera house and a baby, released Gina who murdered Admiral Cain, and ran a political campaign focusing on civil liberties and a peaceful life, though his presidency failed to achieve his dreams.  He also got to play Head Baltar for Caprica Six, and it was shocking to see Gaius as a charming, confident manipulator the way Head Six is powerfully strong. 

Best Drama: 

The BTA goes to:  Veronica Mars

My favorite season of Veronica Mars featured a whole lot of payoff as Veronica investigate the bus crash amidst the new arrivals of mayoral candidate Woody Goodman, daughter Gia, half-bitch, half-interesting (all liar) Jackie Cook, and the fabulously mysterious Kendall Casablancas.  Meanwhile, Keith runs for sheriff, Duncan gets a sendoff, Dick and Beaver get shading, and Weevil loses control of his biker gang.  Of course, the season gave us a ton of great endings, including the arrival of dead Curly Moran with Veronica's name on his hand, the flight of Big Dick, Keith finding the rat, Lamb watching the Mannings' house all night, Mr. Clemmons being revealed to have set up Veronica to get him promoted, Logan pushing the plunger that kills Thumper, the Alterna-Prom and elevator scene, and the acquittal of Aaron Echolls.  We also get a trip to Hearst College featuring George-Michael and Maeby, a series of incredible dance episodes (Homecoming, Sadie Hawkins Dance, Alterna-Prom), and a finale where the good guys win but lose even worse.

2006 BTA Winners: 

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