Eric Stonestreet on Modern Family's Emmy Rivalry and the Show's Losing Strategy

Just this year, Eric Stonestreet has gone from a Kansas-born actor best known for a minor role on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to an Emmy nominee on this year's most well-accepted -- and arguably, best -- comedy on television. As Cameron Tucker, the most flamboyant member of Modern Family, Stonestreet is often responsible for delivering the show's biggest laugh lines, a fact not lost on the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. When Movieline bumped into the actor earlier this week at the Beverly Hilton, he was quick to cite his plan for the night which includes meeting his favorite actress and delivering an award-worthy losing performance.

Modern Family's ensemble cast garnered an impressive five Emmy nominations in the supporting actor/actress categories this year -- a coup for the freshman comedy that could also pose a hindrance if the cast members end up neutralizing each other in the voting process. When I spoke to Julie Bowen earlier this week, she still forecasted a Modern Family win in the Supporting Actress category. But what are the chances that one of the three Modern Family male nominees -- Eric Stonestreet, Ty Burrell and Jesse Tyler Ferguson -- will stomp out their competition, which includes Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Colfer and Jon Cryer?

"I think Ty has a great shot at it," Stonestreet told a group of reporters gathered for ABC's press day. "I told him from basically episode three on that he was going to win an Emmy for that role so I just want to keep it in the family, so to speak."

Regardless of who wins, Movieline asked how the cast plans on handling the Family rivalry on the big night. "Ty and I have joked around that if any of us win, that the others should act noticeably pissed, get up and storm out -- you know, just joking around," Stonestreet replied.

The nomination did not take the actor by complete surprise, though.

"I kind of always thought that it was a possibility that I would be nominated for an award," he said. "Because Hollywood has a tendency to give itself awards, and I always knew if I was doing as good of a job as I could possibly do on a show that afforded me certain opportunities... that could do that. I don't think that any actor that sticks with it for 14 years doesn't have the confidence that someone would recognize them at some point."

Even if the show does not win a single award in the 14 categories in which it's nominated, Stonestreet still has another objective for the night.

"I want to meet Kathy Bates," he confessed. "She is one of my favorite actresses. I am taking my mom and my girlfriend so I am excited for that stuff. The awards are just -- whatever, icing on the cake."

[Top photo: Mathew Imaging/Getty Images]