Emmys 2012: ‘Breaking Bad’s’ Giancarlo Esposito cool on red carpet

Giancarlo Esposito, nominated for an Emmy Award for supporting actor in “Breaking Bad,” had a novel way of keeping cool Sunday on the red carpet, which was a sweltering 88 degrees. He was carrying a fan made by his girlfriend and daughter, depicting his character, Gus, with half his face blown off, just like on the show.

“The secret is the fan,” Esposito said. “I can always talk to it when I don’t have anyone else to talk to. I can use it as a seat filler.”

It wasn’t likely that Esposito wouldn’t have anyone to talk to Sunday afternoon, with “Breaking Bad” up for a number of big awards and its viewers more excited about it than ever.

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And although the groundbreaking show may be coming to an end next summer, Dean Norris, the affable actor who plays Bryan Cranston’s DEA brother-in-law Hank Schrader, said he expects to return to the Emmys plenty in the future.

“This nomination is for Season 4,” Norris said. “We’ve still got Season 5, and that’s two parts, so we’ll be back, maybe twice.”

He paused to think, and smiled.

“Yeah, we’ll be old with grandchildren and we’ll be here at the Emmys.”

Accompanied by costars Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, whom he jokingly hugged tightly from behind, Norris said he felt like this really might be “Breaking Bad’s” big night. Banks and Odenkirk agreed.

“It’s good that we’re wrapping up,” Odenkirk said. “If it went on forever, it wouldn’t have all those really great cliffhangers that make the show what it is.”

Added Banks: “If we don’t win, stand up on your chair and yell at the TV screen.”

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