Emmy Nominee James Gandolfini's a Shoe-in for "Outstanding Lead Actor"

The category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" at the 2007 Emmy Awards is a competitive one, featuring five incredibly talented men who each have turned in excellent performances.

The nominees in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" are as follows:

Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer on 24

James Spader as Alan Shore on Boston Legal

Hugh Laurie as Gregory House on House

Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin on Rescue Me

James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano on The Sopranos

Kiefer Sutherland has starred in many films during his lengthy career, but it has been playing the role of Jack Bauer on FOX's 24 that has caused his popularity to resurge and made him a household name again. Sutherland has been nominated for an Emmy Award eight different times in the past five years. As one of the producers of 24, Sutherland shared the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series with the show's other producers in 2006, and he also won the Emmy award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" that same year. Sutherland has also been nominated in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series," and he has been nominated with the show's other producers in the category of "Outstanding Drama Series" in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

James Spader is also known for his roles in '80s movies, but his role as the unethical attorney Alan Shore on Boston Legal has garnered him a lot of attention. Spader has been nominated twice in the past for an Emmy. In 2004, Spader took home the Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" for his work on The Practice. In 2005, Spader again won the Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" for his role on Boston Legal, a spinoff of The Practice"

Hugh Laurie is a talented English actor who appears in the critically acclaimed medical drama House. Laurie has been nominated for an Emmy Award once before. In 2005, he was nominated in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" for his role on "House," but he did not win. Laurie has received several other entertainment awards including two Golden Globes.

Denis Leary plays a sarcastic and troubled firefighter on FX's popular show Rescue Me. Leary is one of the show's writers and also an executive producer. He has been nominated for an Emmy twice in the past. In 2005, Leary was nominated for "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series," and in 2006, Leary was nominated in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series."

James Gandolfini plays Tony Soprano on HBO's enormously popular series The Sopranos. The show ended its eight year run earlier this year, but it is still generating rave reviews. Gandolfini has been nominated for an Emmy five times in the past. In 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004 he was nominated in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series." Of those nominations, Gandolfini won the Emmy in 2000 and 2001.

Who will win the Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series?" All of the evidence points to James Gandolfini. According to the predictions, the two-time Emmy winner will probably pick up his third this Sunday night. Tune in and find out on September 16at 8 p.m. on FOX!