Comedy categories
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
“Abbott Elementary”
“The Bear”
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Hacks”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Palm Royale”
“Reservation Dogs”
“What We Do in the Shadows”
Yes, “The Bear” is very serious and sad and it bugs some people that it’s in the comedy category. But most of those people apparently aren’t Emmy voters, judging by the way the show’s first season cleaned up at the Emmys back in January and the way its second season cleaned up last weekend. As rich as it might be for “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to end its 0-for-10 streak in this category – by far the longest losing streak in category history – this looks to be in the bag for “The Bear.”
Predicted winner: “The Bear”
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Matt Berry, “What We Do in the Shadows”
Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai, “Reservation Dogs”
Remember when Jon Hamm went through seven seasons of “Mad Men” without ever winning an Emmy, and then finally won one in the show’s final season? And remember how Larry David has been nominated seven times for starring in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” without ever winning, and now he has one final chance to win in this category? Don’t expect history to repeat itself.
Predicted winner: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”
Maya Rudolph, “Loot”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Kristen Wiig, “Palm Royale”
Quinta Brunson, Jean Smart and Kristen Wiig are all eminently reasonable choices, and Smart is two-for-two with wins for the first two seasons of “Hacks.” But Ayo Edebiri moved from the supporting category (where she won) into lead for the second season of “The Bear,” and she’s got that “Emmy voters love everything about ‘The Bear’” thing going for her. This one feels really close between Edebiri and Smart.
Predicted winner: Jean Smart, “Hacks”
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Lionel Boyce, “The Bear”
Paul W. Downs, “Hacks”
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
Paul Rudd, “Only Murders in the Building”
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”
Will Boyce and Moss-Bachrach split the “Bear” vote and open the door for Downs, Rudd or Yang? It’s a possibility, and Downs had some really great moments on “Hacks” this past season. But Moss-Bachrach is the category’s reigning champ and “The Bear” swept the guest acting categories at the Creative Arts show, and it’s hard to discount that.
Predicted winner: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”
Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”
Liza Colon-Zayas, “The Bear”
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
Meryl Streep, “Only Murders in the Building”
Yes, “The Bear” could win this one, too. But there’s Meryl Freakin’ Streep, people! And Carol Double-Freakin’ Burnett playing a character in a coma! And Hannah Einbinder, the essential yin to Jean Smart’s yang (or vice versa), who might just knock off a couple of legends.
Predicted winner: Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
“Abbott Elementary”: “Party,” directed by Randall Einhorn
“The Bear”: “Fishes,” directed by Christopher Storer
“The Bear”: “Honeydew,” directed by Ramy Youssef
“The Gentlemen”: “Refined Aggression,” directed by Guy Ritchie
“Hacks”: “Bulletproof,” directed by Lucia Aniello
“The Ms. Pat Show”: “I’m the Pappy,” directed by Mary Lou Belli
Well, let’s see: The “Fishes” episode of “The Bear” is one of the most-nominated individual episodes in Emmy history, and it already won three Emmys on its own last weekend. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a “Bear” split and “Hacks” or “The Gentlemen” win, but don’t bet on it.
Predicted winner: “The Bear”: “Fishes”
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
“Abbott Elementary”: “Career Day,” written by Quinta Brunson
“The Bear”: “Fishes,” written by Joanna Calo and Christopher Storer
“Hacks”: “Bulletproof,” written by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky
“Girls5eva”: “Orlando,” written by Meredith Scardino and Sam Means
“The Other Two”: “Brooke Hosts a Night of Undeniable Good,” written by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider
“Pride Parade,” Jake Bender and Zach Dunn, “What We Do in the Shadows”
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the “Fishes” episode of “The Bear” is one of the most-nominated individual episodes in Emmy history, and it already won three Emmys on its own last weekend. And in this category there’s no other “Bear “nominee to split the vote.
Predicted winner: “The Bear”: “Fishes”
