Emmys Watch: Who will fill seven empty slots in Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series?
Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 11:00PM Our team is breaking down the top contenders in all the major Emmy races and highlighting some of our favorites over the next few weeks. Today, we’re looking at Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
How many men from "Ted Lasso" can earn nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series?
By: Christopher James
In terms of precursors and returning nominees, we are flying blind with Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, which is exciting. We only have one returning eligible performer this year (Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live). Both the SAG and Golden Globe Awards didn’t nominate a single still-eligible comedy supporting actor performance. Both went all-in on Schitt’s Creek and last year’s winner, Dan Levy. The Critics Choice TV Awards pointed out some dark horse favorites that could have a shot in this wide open category. However, this is a wide open category that will likely be a key place where new shows can demonstrate their strength and rack up nominations. Shows like Ted Lasso and The Flight Attendant could make a big splash here, or the Emmys could just nominate a majority of the Saturday Night Live cast.
Read on to see who is in contention this year...
Kenan Thompson could earn his third consecutive Emmy nomination this year.
The Returning Nominees
Kenan Thompson is the only eligible returning nominee. Saturday Night Live has done very well in the supporting categories since cast members were allowed starting in 2008. Since then, 24 performers from SNL have been nominated in the supporting categories, though 75% of them were in Supporting Actress. This would be Thompson’s third consecutive nomination in this category. Additionally, now that Kenan has his own show (Kenan), he’s got even more of a narrative to earn recognition from the Emmys. It’s possible he could even win, becoming only the third SNL performer to win in Supporting (after Kate McKinnon and Alec Baldwin).
Brett Goldstein could be one of many men nominated for "Ted Lasso" in this category.
Freshman Series Supporting Players
Ted Lasso is expected to be the frontrunner in the comedy categories at the Emmys this year. So how many acting nominations can it get? As the gruff soccer player Roy Kent, Brett Goldstein is probably the biggest lock in this category from the first season of the Apple TV+ comedy. Still, there are plenty of other scene stealers that could also find themselves nominated, depending on how much the Emmys love the show. As Ted’s unflappable assistant Coach Beard, Brendan Hunt manages to wring laughs out of audiences with just a look. Other than Ted, the beating heart of the show is Nick Mohammed as Nathan, a shy kit man with a passion for soccer that is nurtured by Ted. Both men could ride the coattails of the show’s passion to nominations.
Similarly, if The Flight Attendant does well on Emmys morning, it could also net multiple supporting actor nominations. Michael Huisman stands a chance for his role as Alex Sokolov, the mysterious dead man Kaley Cuoco’s Cassie wakes up next to. Huisman’s Alex appears to Cassie in dream sequences that people either love or hate. Or it might be Grey’s Anatomy alum T.R. Knight who represents The Flight Attendant in this category. As Cassie’s exasperated gay brother, Davey, Knight isn’t exactly funny, but he's the emotional core to the show.
If Emmy voters want to nominate one of their favorite actors, they could go with Ray Romano from HBO Max’s Made for Love. Romano plays Herbert Green, our lead character’s Father who now lives in a committed relationship with a sex doll. The show may be too strange for Emmys taste, but the Everybody Loves Raymond star could still get in on good will. Similarly, Miami Vice star Don Johnson could return to the Emmys for his role in Kenan.
Bowen Yang will likely be the newest "Saturday Night Live" cast member to receive an Emmy nomination.
Coattails From Emmy Favorites
When there are many vacancies in an Emmy category, it’s always best to assume the Emmys will fill them with performances from shows they are already fans of. This is how shows like Barry can get up to three performances nominated in one category. With seven new slots to fill, some old favorites will show up. 2018 was the only year two SNL cast members were nominated in Supporting Actor (Thompson and Alec Baldwin), while Supporting Actress has seen two years with three SNL nominees (2017 - 2018). The cast member most likely to break into this category if they choose more than just Kenan Thompson, is Bowen Yang, who has been the breakout star of this season. With strong characters like Fran Liebowitz and the Titanic iceberg, among others, Yang has become the reason to watch SNL. If voters really want to stack the category with SNL cast members, Pete Davidson could possibly fill a third slot.
The Kominski Method has earned nominations for Alan Arkin the past two years. Unfortunately, Arkin left the show for the third season, leaving a vacancy for the Emmys to fill. Netflix’s comedy is expected to return to Comedy Series and Lead Actor, so it makes sense that Paul Reiser could take Arkin’s usual spot in the lineup.
Fellow Comedy Series nominee black-ish could use the wide open category to finally get Laurence Fishburne an Emmy nominee as Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) lothario father. It’s clear that the Emmys are watching the show, even if it received fewer nominations last year. Plus, being a respected, famous actor always helps.
The Critics Choice Awards cited William Fichtner from Mom and Andrew Rannells from Black Monday this year. Both Mom and Black Monday have earned Emmy nominations before, but only for their famous leads, Allison Janney and Don Cheadle, respectively. This suggests voters are more loyal to the performers than the shows, which hurts both Fichtner and Rannells’ chances.
If they are nominated, Alex Newell will be the first gender nonconforming performer nominated for an Emmy acting award.
Potential Breakthroughs
Alex Newell could make history as the first open, gender nonconfirming nominee in an Emmy acting category. The Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist actor plays Mo, Zoey’s landlord turned best friend who also identifies as genderfluid. Both the performance and narrative warrant awards attention (and helped Newell land a Critics Choice nomination). However, it remains to be seen whether voters are watching Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which was just cancelled by NBC and not picked up by Peacock. Newell's co-star Skylar Astin also contends in this category.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist isn’t the only NBC comedy hoping for Emmy success in its final season. Superstore concluded its six year run this past year. Nico Santos has been a standout on the show for most of its run and has earned multiple Critics Choice awards in the process. If the Emmys wanted to finally recognize the show in its final season, this is likely where it would happen.
Finally, don’t count out Apple TV+, which has been doing a hard push for all of their comedies, including Mythic Quest, which has a devoted fan base. The recent second season won the show many more fans (and potentially some Emmy votes). Community star Danny Pudi could finally receive an Emmy nomination; however, he likely isn’t the best shot from Mythic Quest. Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham has surprised at the Emmys before, earning two nominations for Homeland. His name recognition could convince people to watch the show and vote for him. In such a wide open field, name recognition can definitely help.
PREDICTIONS
- Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live
- Bowen Yang - Saturday Night Live
- Brett Goldstein - Ted Lasso
- Brendan Hunt - Ted Lasso
- Alex Newell - Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
- Nick Mohammed - Ted Lasso
- Paul Reiser - The Kominski Method
- F. Murray Abraham - Mythic Quest
Who are you rooting for in Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series this year?
more on the upcoming Emmys
- COMEDY
- Actress Comedy
- Actor Comedy
- Supporting Actress, Comedy
- Supporting Actor, Comedy
- DRAMA
- Actress Drama
- Actor Drama
- Supporting Actress, Drama
- Supporting Actor, Drama
- MORE...
- Emmy Ballots
- FYC The Handmaid's Tale
- FYC Marielle Heller, Queen's Gambit
- FYC Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
- FYC I May Destroy You
- FYC For All Mankind
Reader Comments (17)
I feel like your top six is totally right - the three Lasso boys, two SNL players, and Alex Newell. I'd suggest Pete Davidson could make it in as well - he's been one of the more well-known players of the current cast, and may get boost from both King of Staten Island coming out after last Emmy season and the paucity of competition this year.
Really hope Michiel Huisman doesn't get in for The Flight Attendant - I'm shocked he's had as much buzz as he has, I can barely remember a single significant acting choice or moment of his. T. R. Knight is much better in the same show (as are Griffin Matthews and Deniz Akdeniz), and as you point out Knight is the emotional core of the show (and a previous nominee).
Yang had better make it in as a nominee, or I'll give the Emmy voters SUCH A PINCH!
I’d really love to see Carl Clemons-Hopkins who plays ‘Marcus’ on HACKS sneak into the lineup.
Brett Goldstein is far and away the best supporting player in Ted Lasso, and I hope he wins. He also has a clear character arc, which helps. Nick Mohammed and Brendan Hunt are funny, but it’s mostly brief wisecracks and reaction shots.
I'd also suggest that if an additional Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist actor gets in, it would be more likely to be John Clarence Stewart than Skylar Astin - Stewart got a pretty meaty storyline this year dealing with silicon valley's institutional racism and his best friend/love interest's inability to understand the depth of the issue.
I wouldn't be surprised if Jeremy Swift and Phil Dunster (neither mentioned in this article) from Ted Lasso sneak in here.
How does category placement work with non-binary actors? Do they have to pick one of the gendered categories themselves? Or does the academy/network? This is a tricky subject that will surely become troublesome in the future.
I feel like Huisman will be nominated over Mohammed or Abraham.
I wonder if the cancellation of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist will affect Newell's chances.
Brett Goldstein for the win.
Skylar Astin, Alex Newell, John Clarence Stewart, F. Murray Abraham, Brett Goldstein, Kenan Thompson, and T.R. Knight
@Carlos - I read that Asia Kate Dillon (non-binary actor from "Billions") submits in 'Actor' categories over 'Actress' because the word 'actor' is not gendered. I'd assume it's on an individual basis though... but Dillon's logic makes sense!
A.H. -- i loved them in that, too!
Carlos & Nick - I assume it's the actor's choice. Carl Clemons-Hopkins from HACKS (who plays Marcus) goes by gender neutral pronouns as well. One assumes they'll be submitted in supporting actor given the role presents as completely masculine, but who knows.
everyone -- i'm surprised that people think Zoey's is going to get nominations. It was cancelled and it seems more of a cult fanbase show than an actual hit... and Emmys tend to be more mainstream. but maybe i'm wrong.
Have to agree with A.H. and Nathaniel about Carl Clemons-Hopkins. They stole their solo scenes.
Let's hope they're in. Also glad to know they go by gender-neutral pronouns.
@Carlos. My understanding is that non-binary actors get to chose which of the two categories to submit under, though there might be some pressure from the producers to go one way or the other for strategic reasons.
Hey everyone! I had the same questions when writing this RE: Alex Newell's category placement. The individual determines where they want to be submitted. Asia Katie Dillon spoke out about this when they were submitting for Billions and they felt that "Actor" felt the most gender neutral of the two categories. From what I had read previously (and based on Newell's submission in the Supporting Actor category at Critics Choice) it seems like they have submitted in this category.
Also did not know Carl Clemons-Hopkins goes by gender neutral pronouns, but happy to know now. While I love Hacks (and their performance in it), it feels like Jean Smart is hogging most of the awards attention for that show (though I also hope they show Kaitlin Olsen some love).
Bowen Yang as Fran Lebowitz was absolutely brilliant! One of the best impressions I've ever seen and a much needed injection of actual humor into the current show.
Colin Woodell for his brilliant performance on the season finale of The Flight Attendant, please.
So disappointed that Zoey wasn’t renewed. While it didn’t finish with a true cliffhanger, it did finish with an intriguing ongoing premise. I really hope Alex Newell receives a nomination.