Emmy Watch: Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Monday, May 4, 2020 at 4:31PM We’re looking at another Emmy Awards category today – Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. This category has been overstuffed recently, offering a whopping eight nominees for two years in a row but half of last year’s slate isn’t eligible this time around, with six-time nominee Anna Chlumsky (Veep) and new additions Sian Clifford and Olivia Colman (Fleabag) out as a result of their shows ending and Sarah Goldberg (Barry) off the ballot until whenever her show returns...
Will they finally recognize D'Arcy Carden's amazing "Janet" creation this Emmy season?
Two-time defending champ Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) is eligible – and all but guaranteed – to return, as might her costar Marin Hinkle, though she’ll have to face new internal competition from Jane Lynch, who’s now eligible here after winning the guest acting trophy last year. Another two-time winner, Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live), is looking to earn her seventh consecutive bid, while Betty Gilpin (GLOW) is aiming for her third nomination. Those four are the likely frontrunners, with a handful of mostly new contenders trying to fill the rest of the slots.
The past four years...
Four nominees from two years ago missed out despite being eligible last year. Leslie Jones (Saturday Night Live) is no longer on her show, but her costar Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live), who many of our readers hope will show up in the lead actress race for her performance on Shrill, is. While Roseanne was cancelled following the problematic rantings of its star, Laurie Metcalf could be nominated again for playing the same part on The Conners.
Will Emmy voters want to wish a fond farewell to "Modern Family"
Departing shows
Megan Mullally is the only one of her cast to have already been cited for the return of Will and Grace. She could uld land her ninth career bid and vie for her third win for the now truly final season of her show. Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara (Modern Family) haven’t been nominated since 2015 and 2013, respectively, but it’s not too smart an idea to count either of them out in case Emmy voters feel nostalgic about one of their old favorites signing off after eleven years on the air.
The strongest contender from a returning (and departing) show who has yet to be nominated is surely D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place), who announced the nominations last year only to not have her own name shortlisted. The much-talked-about episode that featured her playing multiple roles – "Janet(s)" – earned a writing bid last year, and so this may be when she finally breaks through with a nod of her own. Next up is Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), who is a popular part of a beloved show, and her costar Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek) might also get in if voters are as gung-ho for the show as the internet is.
Could Anne Hathaway surprise for her buzzy bipolar performance on "Modern Love"?
Newbies
Turning to new shows, TV mainstays Mary Steenburgen and Lauren Graham (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) are sure to attract some attention for their performances on NBC’s new musical dramedy, but I don’t think that will be enough to land either of them a nomination. It’s too early to know just yet if Emmy favorite Lisa Kudrow (Space Force) will have a substantial and deserving role on Netflix’s late-breaking comedy, which isn’t set to debut until May 29th. I was ready to predict that Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Run) would sneak in even though she has yet to appear on the show, but it’s been confirmed that she only appears in one episode. Past Emmy winner Archie Panjabi (Run) might still compete here, but I think attention for that show will focus on the main stars. Since Modern Love was renewed for a second season, it’s competing in the comedy races, and positive mentions for Anne Hathaway shouldn’t be ignored. I would sooner choose Emmy winner Julia Garner from the same anthology, but I don’t think either will end up as nominees since they appear so minimally within the series.
So, where does that leave us?
It seems too simple to plug in default nominees McKinnon and Gilpin, keep Borstein and Lynch, and have room for the long-snubbed Carden and Murphy, but that’s what seems realistic right now.
Predictions:
- Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel)
- D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place)
- Betty Gilpin (GLOW)
- Jane Lynch (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel)
- Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live)
- Annie Murphy (Schitt's Creek)
Which funny ladies do you expect to see in the lineup?
ALL DISCUSSIONS THUS FAR
Reader Comments (18)
I really hope Annie Murphy gets in. Alexis Rose is just as wonderful a creation as Moira Rose, and the little flourishes of character work that Murphy puts in are great, particularly on repeat viewing.
It'd be nice to see D'Arcy Carden be nominated or actually win, she's been deserving for so long. What she created with her character is really different from everything I've seen while also being very funny.
My hunch is Borstein, Hinkle, Lynch, McKinnon, Moreno (!) and Murphy. And Borstein probably wins again.
I'll be over the moon if Murphy and Hampshite can make it into this category. I'd very much welcome a Kristen Johnson (Mom) & Miriam Shor (Younger) nomination as both are so good on their shows.
This category being 3/6 or 8 dominated by TMMM gives me confidence that someone like Murphy can win as the sole representative of her show.
Anne Hathaway is G-R-E-A-T in her episode of Modern Love, but she is literally in only one 30-minute episode. How can that compete with actresses who are in 22 episodes? That sort of competition doesn't make sense to me.
I would love to see Carden get nominated, but I feel The Good Place runs into the same problem as Better Call Saul. Those are shows that are more "respected" than "beloved" which leads to name checking. If Carden couldn't get in last year in a field of eight despite her show getting nominated for Comedy series, I don't see why this will be her year (as much as I love the Janet, she doesn't have a standout episode in the final season). I see Ted Danson as the only acting nominee because he's a legend and his category is really slim.
I haven't seen The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, but is anyone annoyed that the show is looking to take up nearly half of the slots in both supporting categories? I'm having awful flashbacks from last year with Game of Thrones taking 4 slots in drama supporting actress.
I really hope Betty Gilpin can get nominated again.
I feel like Marin Hinkle will get nominated again, knocking out D'Arcy Carden or Gilpin.
This feels like another weak category too.
Unfortunately, I think it's too late for Carden. While well received, her show had more buzz and momentum in other years and her performance especially in previous years. I'm worried if she wasn't able to break through in either of the past two years, she won't be able to this year.
But on the other hand, Murphy has the exact opposite scenario with her show on an upwards trend after finally getting noticed last year. I think a nod for her looks likely (I'm predicting all four main players getting mentions this year).
I'm an Annie Murphy voter.
That wasn’t me
Megan Mullally. Will & Grace
Please, a Emmy for Queen Anne and she's half-way to become.... SUPER-ELITE!!!!!
Nathaniel, he's back.
I never understand the amount of nominees in this category. It varies anywhere from 5 to 8.. what gives?!
Carden deserves a nomination but I'd give the award to Murphy. If you rewatch from the beginning you can see she was giving gold since the first season.
Marin Hinkle's breakdown in Queens almost guarantees her a nomination.
@Frank if you watch Maisel you will see why that show gets so much actor love. Don't lump it with GoT.