In Contention: Picking an Emmy-worthy moment

Believe it or not, series actors don't win statuettes based upon who gave the best performance over the entire TV season. Victory can be determined by a single episode.

That's because the Emmy -- unlike the Oscar, Grammy and Tony -- is a juried award, which means nominees must pick a sample of their best work to be evaluated by a panel of their peers. The episode is not the only criterion used by judges, who also weigh buzz, past wins and losses and the actors' larger bodies of work. But it's often the deciding factor since it must be viewed at voting time.

Strategy is key when determining just the right episode to submit. The most common mistake: contenders thinking nonstop screaming or tears equal great acting. Judges want to see a money scene, yes, but they're also looking for broad emotional range. And it helps if a character is empathetic.

A typical category is judged by about 75 actors who watch DVD screeners at home. Ballots must be returned by Aug. 31 with an affidavit attesting that a judge viewed all acting samples.

Here's what they're seeing this year in the lead series categories.

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES»