The love of Betty White and the split vote with fellow cast members could account for the lack of Sofia Vergara's award wins. But the "Modern Family" bombshell may finally get to make an acceptance speech with that beloved accent this year. With no nominations for Julie Bowen to stand in her way, the curvaceous Latina may be this season's big winner for her consistently funny work as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett.
When the award accolades for the ABC comedy started to pour in, many believed that Sofia Vergara would be at the front of the receiving line. The confident, loud, and fearless performance of this relatively unknown actress is a highlight of the show and made Vergara into an international superstar. Standing up to TV comedy force Ed O'Neill and complimenting a surprisingly mature performance from child actor Rico Rodriguez, the Colombian actress stood out amongst an impressive comedic cast.
Vergara's popularity grew along with the show, leading to major commercial campaigns for Pepsi and her own line of clothing and home décor with Kmart. She has expanded her acting work, as well, with roles in films such as "The Smurfs," "New Year's Eve," and "The Three Stooges." The only thing left to take away from her newfound success is an award for her role on the show that made her a household name.
Timing has not been on Vergara's side at past award shows. There was the return of Betty White to primetime television, and both actors and academies chose to honor the comedic legend's solid work in her senior years. Then, the attention turned to the couple playing her stepchildren on "Modern Family," with a year of sweeping wins for both Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell. But the pendulum seems to be swinging in Vergara's direction this year. After a handful of wins, Bowen is absent from the list of nominees, and Vergara remains the sole female on the show to score nominations from both the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Screen Actors Guild.
Winning the Golden Globe will no doubt continue to be tough for Vergara, as the award for supporting work in television spans all genres. But her competition this year is weaker than in years past, without standout favorites like Jane Lynch or Jessica Lange amongst the nominees. As for the SAG Award, odds are in Vergara's favor this time around -- she is not sharing the nom with other cast members and is due for recognition among her acting peers.
Many would hope that Sofia Vergara will win her first award in 2013, if for no other reason than she is sure to deliver a memorable acceptance speech and get a chance to show off a gorgeous gown. But beyond the night's pomp and circumstance, the time has come for this Latina comedienne to be honored for her bold and surprising work on "Modern Family." The stage is set and the path is paved for this to be Sofia Vergara's year.
