Emmy Analysis: Comedy Supporting Categories
Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 7:00AM 
Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri in FX's The Bear
With only fourteen nominees, the comedy supporting categories still have nearly double the shows represented by the drama supporting categories’ sixteen recognized individuals. Both supporting actor and supporting actress contain two sets of double nominees, but it’s hardly the overwhelming domination that exists on the drama side. There are also five past winners and a handful of fresh faces that make these two races well worth watching...
Brett Goldstein and Phil Dunster in Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso
Five of this year’s nominees are new, but one of them has been around his show since the start. That would be Phil Dunster, whose Jamie Tartt had a great redemption arc in the final season of Ted Lasso. The good news is that Dunster beat out a whole host of previously-cited costars – Nick Mohammed, Toheeb Jimoh, James Lance, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift – for a spot, but he is competing against two-time defending champion Brett Goldstein, whose Roy Kent is always a highlight of the show. Dunster and Goldstein also shared a great deal of screentime this season, which could potentially enable them to cancel each other out. That wasn’t a problem for supporting actress contender Hannah Waddingham, who beat Juno Temple for season one of her show, and now the two actresses are nominated again for the third year in a row (Sarah Niles, who was also cited last year, is now up for guest actress).
Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James in ABC's Abbott Elementary
The supporting actress prize went to another star of a show represented by multiple nominees last year, Sheryl Lee Ralph, who defeated Janelle James. Both star in Abbott Elementary, which was expected to be a Best Comedy Series frontrunner this season but didn’t perform all that well, missing out on directing and writing nominations and receiving the same four acting mentions as last year (plus a bid for guest actress Taraji P. Henson). Ralph could easily repeat, and things might be looking good also for Tyler James Williams, who beat four industry veterans in much more serious roles at the Golden Globes in January. While that’s hardly a precursor these days, it does suggest his popularity and an easy way to reward the show.
Alex Borstein in Prime Video's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
There are two other previous winners in contention this year, and both are bidding farewell to their shows. One is Alex Borstein, who won for the first two seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and made a memorable exit as Susie Myerson in the show’s swan song. Her show did well overall with technical bids but didn’t make as much of a mark in the acting categories (past winner Tony Shalhoub was snubbed this time around). It’s pretty much the same situation for Henry Winkler, who triumphed for the first season of Barry. He’s again nominated alongside costar Anthony Carrigan, whose Noho Hank was terrific as always. That show also was pretty much on par with its past performance. It doesn’t feel like either actor has the momentum for a win.
Christa Miller and Jessica Williams in Apple TV+'s Shrinking
That brings us to the other four new nominees, any of whom could shake up the race. Though she’s absolutely phenomenal, I don’t think that Jessica Williams can win since Shrinking is the only show in either category not nominated for Best Comedy Series (though it should have been). Her costar Harrison Ford’s snub also stings. James Marsden was a bit of a surprise for Jury Duty (he was also eligible for Dead to Me), and sending up himself may be just what voters want. I’d watch out most for the pair of actors from The Bear since that show is red-hot and just aired its second season, which isn’t eligible yet but should curry plenty of goodwill. Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri are both crucial to the show’s success, and hearing either or both of their names called would not be a surprise.
Juno Temple and Hannah Waddingham in Apple TV+'s Ted Lasso
If episode submissions matter, they’re all pretty great for the actresses. Borstein is the focus of her episode, “The Testi-Roastial,” which shows her playing her character in multiple time periods. Waddingham gets to stand up to a group of powerful men in “International Break,” and it’s as good a showcase as she’s had. “We’ll Never Have Paris” gives Temple plenty to work with, but I know some people didn’t love her storyline this year. When I watched “Fire,” I noted how great an episode submission it would be for Ralph, and “Fundraiser” is just as good for James. Edebiri’s installment, “Review,” is a very intense showcase of her superb work, and Williams is spectacular in her episode, “Boop,” as Gaby gives in to her worst impulses at an art show.
Anthony Carrigan in HBO's Barry
The supporting actors are more of a mixed bag episode submission-wise. Dunster’s choice of the penultimate installment, “Mom City,” gives him much more to do than Goldstein in “La Locker Room Aux Folles,” which just gives Roy a few key scenes related to him not wanting to do a press conference. Both Carrigan and Winkler chose episodes before the series’ time jump, and Carrigan’s, “it takes a psycho,” is a more melancholy showcase than Winkler’s, “bestest place on the earth,” which is pretty much the lightest work he does all season before things get very depressing. Marsden’s self-portrayal is all comedic as he ramps up for his big role in “Ineffective Assistance,” while Williams gets to have fun with Gregory getting an award he’s not sure he deserves in “Educator of the Year.” Moss-Bachrach also gets a great spotlight in “Ceres,” where we saw a more complex side of the more difficult cousin.
James Marsden in Freevee's Jury Duty
If I was voting based on season-long performances, I would probably choose Moss-Bachrach or Carrigan and Williams or Borstein, though they’re all fine choices. Based on episodes, Williams gets my vote and I’d throw Edebiri in for a three-way actress tie. As far as my winner predictions go, I’ll bet on Williams with Marsden or Moss-Bachrach spoiling and Ralph to repeat with an Edebiri possible upset.
What do you think of these categories, and who’s ahead to win?
Reader Comments (4)
The Emmys love to rubber stamp the same winners every year. It’ll probably be Brett Goldstein & Sheryl Lee Ralph because…why not?
Personally I’d vote for Anthony Carrigan and one of the Abbott ladies.
Still totally baffled how The Bear considers itself a comedy. It’s a comedy the way that Succession is a comedy: it’s unquestionably a dark and serious drama that adds some laughs here and there for levity. But it’s still a drama!
Breaking Bad had hilarious moments consistently throughout and it never tried to pull this shit.
I really wish the Emmys still made voters watch episodes before voting. That system has always felt more precise than the one we have now, which seems based on pure buzz.
However, I think we'll still get some surprises. People seem to genuniley like James Marsden's performance, and I suspect he's a big reason why his show ended up in the Comedy Series category. I also think his performance will go down well industry voters given how he's poking fun of himself (and semi-famous actors), so I suspect think he'll win. I've also heard some interviews, and he's a great campaigner, so when that starts up again he'll do well.
That being said, I thought Phil Dunster was great this year on Lasso and really showed that he contains multitudes as an actor. I'd love to see what he could do with a BBC/ITV contemporary series as a lead.
The actress side is much harder to select. I'd give it to Borstein, and if voters had to watch submitted episodes she'd be the frontrunnger that folks question a bit come emmy night, but who has an undeniable performance (think David Hyde Pierce in the final season of Frasier). Hannah Waddingham, Ralph and James are also very in it.
Borstein was by far the best in an episode-dependent system. Maybe a slight edge over Jessica Williams. I'd vote for either of them, but the perpetual boringness of the Emmys probably means Sheryl Lee wins again.
The concurrent season of The Bear might be a boon to Ebon -- he had a phenomenal arc (it felt like he was in the season even more than Jeremy Allen White?) and was a standout in a stacked cast. He's my pick.
I'm rooting for Phil Dunster as I loved the arc that Jamie went through for the whole series including this season as I loved the friendship that he and Roy had as well as being the star player that the team needed but also someone who can help others bring the best in them.