Golden Globes 2012: Matt LeBlanc Nabs First Nod for Showtime's 'Episodes'

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Playing himself has scored for Matt LeBlanc. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association named him its best actor in a television comedy or musical on Sunday night for the Showtime series, Episodes.

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“When you don't win, you always say it's nice to be nominated,” LeBlanc said backstage. The winner, who was nominated three times before (once for NBC’s short-lived Joey and twice for the hit series, Friends), said the Showtime comedy shares a similar tone to the long-running NBC series that made him a star.

“Friends was an awesome experience and this has a similar feel. I really can't say enough about the writing on the show. I really learned my lesson when I did the spinoff [Joey]; it wasn't the same,” he said, shooting down the option of a Friends feature film. “Now, I have good writing and direction again and that makes all the difference in the world.”

With Sunday’s win, he beat out a field that included Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; David Duchovny, Californication; Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory; and Thomas Jane, Hung.

Episodes premiered on Showtime in January of last year with seven episodes. It was renewed for a second season a month later.