i effin hate that show

Hell yes! I'm REALLY surprised because I was sure it would be Hugh Laurie's year! I think James Spader was just as surprised. His glasses rock too - cheers to his refusal to wear contacts! haha

ah, and how great to win an award for the same character on two different shows! Alan Shore truly is one of the great television characters.

Totally disagree! I cant believe James Gandolfini didnt win.

Watch the show, then you'll see why Spader won.

disagree! Hugh Laurie was robbed

Are you kidding me???? James Spader is sooo past his prime. I agree: Hugh Laurie was robbed, I think he should get a police report.

I thought Gandolfini was a shoe in. Even when they read the name off the card, there was a bit of hesitation after reading James but before the last name - I think they were shocked. I wonder if Gandolfini stood up after hearing James...

i still don't know what show he is even on!

I can't believe Hugh Laurie didn't win!!! He is just too talented!

Horrible

i love james spader. he's fantastic. i personally wanted denis leary to win, but i'm just glad gandolfini didn't.

i hate this show! it's so wacky and not in a good way. it rubs me the wrong way and so does he!

Denis Leary should have won or James Gandolfini!

James Spader and Hugh Laurie are so hot, I'd be happy to honor either of them with my own personal award.

Spader is an amazing actor, but since joining the Boston Legal team he seems to have gained a ton of weight, lost his sex appeal, and acts like William Shatner(gross!). I wish he would go to the gym!

Hugh Laurie should have won this one.

grr. so wrong.

I was completely shocked that he won, but I must say that I was pleased. I love Spader on that show.

I don't know one person who even watches Boston Legal.

This was a big surprise; Hugh Laurie was my choice, so I'm disappointed. Just not a Boston Legal fan and I find Spader and his character most annoying.

I can't get into Boston Legal at all, I think it's a horrible show. I also thought Spader was the ONE person in that category that had absolutely no chance of winning. Just more evidence that the emmy voting process is unfair.

Hugh Laurie! Hugh Laurie!

I love Boston Legal! I am glad he won.

you said it lala...hugh laurie was totally robbed!!

i was really rooting for hugh laurie. but this is a tough category, and i can't say any of these guys couldn't win. they're all great.

I love Boston Legal as much as the nice gal, but Hugh was totally robbed! And it infuriates me even more knowing that he'd think he didn't deserve it. Modest to the end, sigh...

Hugh Laurie should have won!

What everybody seems to be forgetting here is that nominees in each category are voted for by their peers. In other words, the reason James Spader won for Lead Actor is because his peers (aka other leading dramatic actors like Gandolfini, Laurie, Sutherland & Leary)voted for him. I'm not saying all of them voted for Mr. Spader, but most of them apparently did. And since there is no specific person upon whom to lay blame, most of you have chosen to demonize and personally insult the chosen winner.

If you want to point fingers, lay blame, throw insults, sling mud, or say any other not-so-nice things about someone I personally consider to be one of the greatest actors of my generation, focus your energies on the real culprits here...the voting body of the Television Academy. The one person more stunned than anyone posting here was James Spader himself, and he openly told the press backstage he believed Gandolfini would win, and that Hugh Laurie was due to win. His acceptance speech clearly indicated he felt that as well, and if you were watching closely, even Mr. Gandolfini was laughing at the mob joke. Clearly he and the other nominees have more class than most television ctitics who don't even take the time to really watch Boston Legal (are you listening Matt Roush???).

My apologies to those of you whose favorite actor didn't win. Mine did, and I'm absolutely thrilled. For the record, I would've also been thrilled had one of the other four talented men nominated won. Instead of sour grapes, how about taking a deep breath and focusing on what really matters in the world today? If you need ideas, tune into Boston Legal, watch James Spader deliver a kick-ass closing as Alan Shore, and you'll see why his fellow actors voted him as Outstanding Leading Actor in a Drama Series.