Ty Burrell

“Modern Family” (ABC)

Emmy history: Four nominations, one win

The case: All the characters experience their share of embarrassing situations, but Phil often seems to have it the worst, especially this past season when he tried to attend career day at his son’s school. Burrell also got to play the drama of Phil’s mother’s death in the show’s fourth-season finale.

Trivia: Phil experienced an earthquake in a season-two episode of “Modern Family” and Burrell did, too, while improvising a scene in college at Southern Oregon U.

— Rob Owen

Adam Driver

“Girls” (HBO)

Emmy history: First nom

The case: As the primary boy among “Girls,” Driver’s Adam was a source of controversy in the season two episode where he may have raped his girlfriend before ejaculating on her chest in what the Los Angeles Times called “a jarring end to a violent and hard-to-watch scene.”

Trivia: Joined the U.S. Marines after high school, but a mountain biking injury led to an early discharge.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

“Modern Family” (ABC)

Emmy history: Four noms

The case: When his partner, Cam (Eric Stonestreet), and sister, Claire (Julie Bowen), joined forces to buy and flip a house, Ferguson’s Mitchell fussed over the prospect of failure; in another episode Mitch inadvertently became the kind of bully he abhors.

Trivia: Prior to his breakout role in “Modern Family,” Ferguson starred in two low-rated, short-lived sitcoms: CBS’ “The Class” (2006-07) and Fox’s “Do Not Disturb” (2008).

Bill Hader

“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Emmy history: Four noms, one win

The case: It’s his last chance for an Emmy for his “SNL” work, having departed the show in May, taking memorable characters (“Weekend Update” nightlife correspondent Stefon) and impersonations (James Carville, Al Pacino) with him.

Trivia: Hader is married to Maggie Carey, writer-director of this summer’s Aubrey Plaza comedy “The To Do List.” Hader also stars in the film as an ambitionless pool manager.

Tony Hale

“Veep” (HBO)

Emmy history: First nom

The case: Hale’s subservient vice presidential aide Gary has begun planning for a bigger bag as boss Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) plots a run for U.S. president. Though he was nominated for “Veep,” Hale also reprised his role as Buster in “Arrested Development” on Netflix this year, making a vote for him a two-fer.

Trivia: Hale’s Buster had less screen time in season four than some other “Arrested” characters due to scheduling conflicts with his role on “Veep.”

— Rob Owen

Ed O’Neill

“Modern Family” (ABC)

Emmy history: Three noms

The case: This past season saw an addition to the Pritchett family as Jay welcomed a new baby into his home, giving O’Neill new comedy territory to mine.

Trivia: Though he’s best known for his roles in comedies, including “Married … with Children,” O’Neill has also had his share of parts in TV dramas, including HBO’s short-lived “John From Cincinnati” and ABC’s 2003-04 “Dragnet” remake as Lt. JoeFriday.

— Rob Owen