Emmy Category Analysis: Outstanding Comedy Series
Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10:00AM By: Christopher James
Eight comedy series compete for the prize of Outstanding Comedy Series.
There’s something for everyone in this season’s Comedy Series race. We once again have a major network TV sitcom fighting against a gaggle of streamers and premium cable offerings. A network sitcom hasn’t won this prize since Modern Family won it for five consecutive years from 2010-2014. Could Abbott Elementary break the drought? Meanwhile, a couple of former winners are looking to defend or reclaim their titles...
While it has been a while since The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel won back in 2018, Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso is fresh off last year’s win. We could also have a brand new winner from a buzzy freshman series, like Only Murders in the Building, a growing critical favorite, like Hacks, or a long dormant action-dramedy, like Barry.
Without further ado, let’s go through each of the nominated shows submissions and their Emmy chances.
Abbott Elementary (Season 1, ABC)
Episodes: “Pilot,” “Light Bulb,” “Work Family,” “Step Class,” “Open House,” “Zoo Balloon”
What’s old is new again with Abbott Elementary. Creator and star Quinta Brunson immediately won audiences over with her confident, and hilarious, pilot. The titular world of Abbott Elementary comes alive instantly. Plus, the concept takes the well worn tropes of workplace sitcoms and makes them new again with a relevant look at public school teachers working against a system that undervalues them and their students. Brunson and crew never make the topical series feel didactic. Episodes like “Light Bulb” and “Open House” marry belly laughs with poignant feels. Plus, the ensemble cannot be beat, with Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph (both nominated) as standouts.
Already the show is going 1-1 with the Emmys. It won Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series at the Creative Arts Emmys. This bodes well for the freshman series, which has a large contingent of passionate fans. What stands in the way is the lack of a Directing nomination. The last show to win a series award without a directing nomination was Mad Men in 2011, which was after multiple previous wins. This hasn't happend in the comedy race since The Office in 2006. Still, rules are made to be broken and Abbott Elementary has enough of a narrative to make it happen this year.
Barry (Season 3, HBO)
Episodes: “forgiving jeff,” “limonada,” “all the sauces,” “710N,” “candy asses,” “starting now”
As the TV landscape changes, the lines between comedy and drama become increasingly blurred. What began as a comedy about an assassin exploring his acting dreams has morphed into something darker and more contemplative. Season three finds Barry (Bill Hader) haunted by his demons as his past actions come back to bite. I can appreciate a big swing, but Barry’s emotional journey felt repetitive and unearned. The best moments come from the barbed critiques of the entertainment industry and the people within it, particularly as Sally (Sarah Goldberg) experiences success. The filmmaking techniques are certainly impressive, peaking at a high speed chase in “710N.” Ultimately, it’s a season of television one will either love or hate, and one’s mileage doesn’t necessarily depend on previous seasons of the show.
One of the biggest questions this season was whether the three year gap would matter when it came to Barry’s Emmy trajectory. Fourteen nominations is nothing to scoff at, but it is a bit down from season two, where it won three of its 17 nominations. Some of these wins have been high profile acting wins, with Hader winning twice and Winkler winning once. Having already taken three Creative Arts Emmys, Barry still has some Emmy juice in it. However, it’s most likely to be for Hader in either directing or acting.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 10, HBO)
Episodes: “The Five-Foot Fence,” “The Watermelon,” “IRASSHAIMASE!” “What Have I Done?” “Igor, Gregor & Timor,” “The Mormon Advantage”
There’s something so comforting in hearing the opening “ba da da daaa da da, da na duh duhh” of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David’s tale of petty upper class slights never gets old, even if it never exactly deepens or grows. Season 11 features two very funny running jokes that carry on throughout the season. One involves Larry being bribed into giving an untalented woman, Maria Sofia (Keyla Monterroso Mejia), a part in his new Netflix show. Another features Larry carrying on a relationship with an uncouth city councilwoman (Tracey Ullman) in order to get a law repealed forcing homeowners to have a 6-foot-fence around their pool. Not every moment is a winner though. In “The Watermelon,” Larry somehow goes out of his way to help a Klansman get a stain out of his hooded robe. More of the same may sound dismissive, but when it comes to Curb Your Enthusiasm, it’s exactly what the doctor ordered.
Though it has been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series ten times, it has only amassed two wins over those seasons. One was for Directing in 2003, the other was for Single Camera Picture Editing in 2012. Few things are as reliable as Curb Your Enthusiasm; it will always get nominated in Series and it will always lose.
Hacks (Season 2, HBO)
Episodes: “There Will Be Blood,” “Quid Pro Quo,” “The Captain's Wife,” “Retired,” “The Click,” “The One, The Only”
Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is one of the most three-dimensional female characters on television. While season one was about a woman perched in Vegas luxury, season two finds Debrorah searching for fulfillment and validation. She hits the road with Ava (Hannah Einbinder), her joke writer who left a grudge filled voicemail about Deborah, as they take her confessional comedy routine on a US tour. Episodes ranged from cringe-worthy hilarity, see Deborah on a lesbian cruise in “The Captain’s Wife,” to beautifully melancholic, like Harriet Sansom Harris’ guest spot in “Retired.” It all builds to a barbed, yet heartfelt, conclusion, as Deborah and Ava’s work comes to fruition and their relationship takes a new turn. Season two also spotlights more of its terrific cast, with Paul Downs and Megan Stalter consistently providing laughs as Deborah’s agent and his incompetent assistant.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 4, Prime Video)
Episodes: “Everything is Bellmore,” “Interesting People on Christopher Street,'' “How to Chew Quietly and Influence People,” “Maisel vs. Lennon: The Cut Contest,” “Ethan… Esther… Chaim,” “How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?”
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The problem with that sentiment in television is doing the same thing over and over becomes stale real quick. Season 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dials up the antics that, when they're on the fringe, lead to the biggest laughs. A big family argument on the Coney Island Wonder Wheel epitomizes this. For every subplot that works, such as Rose’s (Marin Hinkle) matchmaking business, another falters, like Abe’s (Tony Shalhoub) budding theater criticism work. All of this is more than fan favorite Susie (Alex Borstein) is given, still stuck to the increasingly obnoxious Sophie Lennon (Jane Lynch) and begging for her business to be taken seriously. For all the unevenness, Midge’s growth through the season leads to a poignant finale. The season wisely questions if Midge is funny enough for the big time and if she deserves what she got after outing Shy Baldwin. Her hard-headedness gets the better of her at a major inflection point. Hopefully we are primed for a more adventurous and interesting season 5. At best, season four feels like a delectable footnote.
As one of only two former winners in this category, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on paper is a contender. Unfortunately, the show has been going downhill in terms of quality and buzz. In its first season, it won 8 out of 14 nominations, including Comedy Series, Directing, Writing, Actress and Supporting Actress. Though it did not win the Comedy Series award the next year, it still won eight awards and had 20 nominations. Now, it is down to only 12 nominations and already it has lost all of its Creative Arts Emmy nominations... which it usually wins. This puts Maisel at the bottom of the pack of this lineup.
Only Murders in the Building (Season 1, Hulu)
Episodes: “True Crime,” “How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors,” “The Boy From 6B,” “Fan Fiction,” “Double Time,” “Open & Shut”
It’s tricky business making murder not just funny, but charming. Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building is many things at once. Comedy icons Steve Martin and Martin Short have magical interplay as two old neighbors and adversaries drawn together when someone dies in their building… or were they murdered? The secret sauce is their young, mysterious counterpart, Mabel (Selena Gomez), who knows more than she lets on, but is equally interested in solving the murder. It’s light, but also ambitious, as shown in “The Boy From 6B,” which is told almost completely without spoken words. For a show revolving around a season-long mystery, it is made or broken by whether the reveal is surprising and clever. Luckily, it sticks the landing, delivering laughs, charm and thrills.
After the Creative Arts Emmys, this may be the one to watch. It took home three awards already - Guest Actor (Nathan Lane), Production Design and Sound Mixing. On top of that, the second season of the show was even more well received than the first. That's great momentum. By virtue of its premise, it also brought together older audiences and younger audiences over the shared love of mystery and whimsy. If it wins Writing or Directing, it could point to a surprise win on Monday night.
Ted Lasso (Season 2, Apple TV+)
Episodes: “Goodbye Earl,” “Do the Right-est Thing,” “Rainbow,” “Man City,” “No Weddings and a Funeral,” “Inverting the Pyramid of Success”
Having a beloved first season is a double edged sword. Ted Lasso was a giant rainbow that premiered during a particularly tough time during the pandemic. Jason Sudeikis knew how to bring smiles to audiences faces as the lovable soccer coach Ted Lasso, an American shipped off to the UK for a coaching gig he was purposefully ill prepared for. Season two drew some criticism for taking a different approach, delving deeper into the tears behind the clown of Ted Lasso. Rather than changing the DNA of the show, which Barry did for more clout, season two was like an interrogation of what people loved about season one. Ted Lasso’s optimism masks a dormant pain that he begins to work through thanks to team psychologist, Dr. Sharon (Sarah Niles). It’s not just Lasso going through this confrontation of their own emotions. The strongest episode of the season, “No Weddings and a Funeral,” compares and contrasts Rebecca’s (Hannah Waddingham) complicated, fresh feelings of grief alongside Ted’s lingering guilt. As dour as it sounds, the delightful optimism and good natured laughs are still in strong supply throughout.
While last year Ted Lasso was a surprise juggernaut, this year the second season of the show is a bit of a Goliath. With that, people may want to take it down a peg. At 20 nominations, it held steady compared to last year, so voters clearly didn’t hate the more polarizing second season. Plus, it has the most nominations of any Comedy this year. When it comes to the Creative Arts Emmys though, Ted Lasso lost all 10 of its bids. It may be a show people still like or love, but is the passion still there? One thing is for sure, it has more true competition than last year.
What We Do In The Shadows (Season 3, FX)
Episodes: “The Prisoner,” “The Casino,” “The Escape,” “The Wellness Center,” “A Farewell,” “The Portrait”
In terms of laughs-per-minute, nothing can beat What We Do In The Shadows in the comedy field. Season three upped the ante of the jokes and wove a resonant emotional tale through the season to boot. A vampire trip to Atlantic City in “The Casino” provided nothing but nonstop belly laughs. It also provides a great starting place for Nandor’s season-long malaise. When one lives forever, how can one find meaning? His quest leads him to a darkly cheery 80s style exercise cult, first introduced in “The Wellness Center.” A surprise death in “A Farewell” allows for the group’s dynamic to grow and change. This is how shows should grow after a few seasons. The best is yet to come for What We Do In The Shadows.
Hopefully this means one day it will get the Emmys love it deserves. This year looks to be more of the same in terms of Emmy luck, or lack thereof. It just won its first Emmy in three seasons this year, for Fantasy Costumes. Still, it only has nominations in Writing among Primetime categories. Once the cast starts getting nominated, there may be signals that it is poised for an upset. Right now, the nomination is the prize.
Overall Thoughts
It’s going to be a photo finish for the win.
Ted Lasso has the most nominations and is the incumbent. Yet, signs are everywhere that there is fatigue for the show. The main question is… who takes it down? Looking at the Creative Arts Emmys, Only Murders in the Building has the edge. If it comes to narrative, Abbott Elementary could pull ahead. Or maybe Hacks has continued building its following and now is the perfect time for the HBO dramedy to win. Who knows, we might be underestimating Barry, which had an ambitious third season. It’s truly an exciting race.
Will Win: Only Murders in the Building
Should Win: Hacks
Spoiler: Abbott Elementary
And that's a wrap on our category-by-category analysis... The Emmys are this Monday night, September 12th, on NBC/Peacock
- Limited Series
- Writing/Directing – Limited Series
- Lead Actress - Limited or Anthology
- Lead Actor - Limited or Anthology Series
- Supporting Actress – Limited or Anthology Series
- Supporting Actor - Limited or Anthology Series
- Comedy Series
- Writing/Directing – Comedy Series
- Lead Actress - Comedy
- Lead Actor - Comedy
- Supporting Actress – Comedy
- Guest Acting - Comedy
Reader Comments (9)
will win: abbott elementary
should win: what we do in the shadows
spoiler: hacks
this really is an interesting race. I see FOUR possibilities for the win (which is a lot) . I think momentum is with ONLY MURDERS or ABBOTT ELEMENTARY but HACKS. and TED LASSO both feel possible since they're still strong and with four possible winners, i suspect nobody is taking this without a slim margin of victory.
It’s a fascinating race; I’m sort of expecting Abbott Elementary to take it, though I wasn’t much for it as a show (Sheryl Lee Ralph notwithstanding, who is excellent and the reason to watch).
My vote would be Mrs Maisel - a shame it doesn’t have a shot this time, because honestly I felt this season was an absolute knockout, and that final scene between Brosnahan and Kirby was the best thing I saw in any television show all year.
Ted Lasso suffered from an inconsistent second season. Yet, we all must acknowledge that Emmy voters are lazy and prone to check off last year’s winner.
At first, the decision to run the second season of Only Murders in the Building during the voting window seemed ingenious. However, as the episodes wore on and the writing just fell apart, it didn’t appear so ingenious after all. A lot will depend how much of the second season voters watched before completing their ballots.
Abbott isn’t very funny. The narrative is the attraction. And it has a stronghold in nostalgia. It seems a struggle to watch the show and not be prompted to remember and reflect on an aspect of one’s own grade school experience.
Hacks deserves to win. Top flight acting (especially now that Hannah Einbinder has upped her game). Writing insures this is not The Jean Smart Show. The spotlight is shared with strong supporting characters and terrific guest spots. However, I think the brilliance of the marketing department of HBOMax was to add those after show interviews with top notch female stand up comics chatting with the show’s creative team. As these veterans of night clubs share their favorite scenes and how the series gets it right when capturing the nuances of the experience of a female in the business, the show just shines.
I'll be happy with any of the 3: Hacks, Only Murders or Abbott. Maybe a slight favoritism for Abbott Elementary, to show that a network sitcom can still win.
I'm rooting for Ted Lasso as I loved that second season as I wished my dad was alive to watch that show as he would've loved it mainly because of futbol.
excluding Curb, Maisel and What we do... the race for comedy series is definitely the most open one and cases for any of the other 5 nominees can be made
Abbott has the momentum, being a very popular show and critically acclaimed, the same advantages Ted Lasso had last year, and surprisingly won Casting in a comedy series, which has been closely tied to the top prize in recent years.
Barry is equally acclaimed, for some people is the best season so far and it's likely to win at least Directing. What might hurt its chances is being the nominee that feels more like a drama series.
Hacks won Writing and Directing last year and might repeat in one of those, writing being the best shot, although is a close call with Abbott and Jean Smart is most likely repeating in lead actress.
Only Murders...had the "critical darling" label until Abbott appeared and kinda stole its thunder, but still did very well in nods and already won 3 and season 2 already premiered which kept it fresh in the voters' minds
And finally Ted Lasso, which might repeat based on popularity, although last year it had no competition, unlike this year. And not winning anything at the Creative arts is not a good sign, and many people claimed it suffered sophomore slump. Wouldn't be surprised if it wins, but also wouldn't be shocked at all if it goes home empty-handed.
Please, let What we do in the shadows sweep... why isn't Harvey Guillen nominated???
In a perfect world, Hacks and Only Murders In The Building would tie. As it stands, I'd prefer for Hacks to win and Only Murders can have next season.