Michael Emerson 2009 Emmy Win Long Overdue

Michael Emerson was not the favorite for the 2009 Emmy, even though Michael Emerson was the most experienced 2009 Emmy nominee in his category. Emerson came into the 2009 Emmys having lost Best Supporting Actor twice in a row, despite being beloved for playing Lost's infamous Ben Linus. But at the 2009 Emmys, many thought Michael Emerson would lose to the star power of William Hurt, or to rising star Aaron Paul. Instead, Michael Emerson finally got Lost another Emmy, and at last got recognized for playing network TV's greatest quasi-villain.

Michael Emerson's category kicked off the drama round of the 2009 Emmys, as new NCIS spinoff stars Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J announced the winner. Critics had predicted that William Hurt would take it for Damages, or that Aaron Paul would do it for Breaking Bad. Emerson was largely a "Who should win" pick, given that he had been snubbed two years in a row.

But Michael Emerson turned into a "Who will win" pick when his name was announced. His first act was to kiss long-time wife and True Blood supporting star Carrie Preston, then go up to the stage. The moment didn't quite seem to sink in for Emerson on stage, even as he got out that this was a "character actor's dream."

The rise of Michael Emerson is well known to Lost fanatics, as he was only supposed to do a few episodes as a suspicious prisoner named "Henry Gale." But Lost's trademark hand of destiny and fate demanded, along with fans, that he stick around longer. Four years later, Ben Linus is the very epicenter of Lost.

Emerson joins his best on-screen partner, Terry O'Quinn, as Lost's only acting Emmy winners. After he lost to O'Quinn in 2007, and got upset by Damages Zeljko Ivanek last year as a heavy favorite, the 2009 Emmys brought Emerson in as a slight underdog this time.

Hurt seemed to have too much name recognition to overcome, even if his Damages role wasn't that strong, and Paul had had a big breakout year for Breaking Bad. With William Shatner taking his last shot for Boston Legal, and John Slattery riding the Mad Men tide, Emerson looked to be the odd man out again for the 2009 Emmy. Yet he was named the winner anyway, in one of the last surprise 2009 Emmy wins before the same old winners took over the final few categories.

In any case, Michael Emerson can now finally add to his 2001 Guest Emmy for The Practice, which kicked off his reputation - inaccurate or not - as TV's scariest actor. He can take the 2009 Emmy back to the island, as Lost's final year and Ben's final evil plans resume filming.

Sources

Star Bulletin- "Emmy win is dream realized for Emerson" www.starbulletin.com/features/20090921_emmy_win_is_dream_realized_for_emerson.html

You Tube- "Michael Emerson Wins the Emmy!" www.youtube.com/watch

CNN.com- "1 on 1 with Michael Emerson" www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/09/21/sot.emmys.emerson.cnn