Emmys Predictions: Best Comedy Series

Many shows try to sneak in a nomination in a fierce competition 

With reigning champion Fleabag and Emmy darling Veep finished while Barry hasn't aired its third season in time to be eligible, this category has major openings for which some shows will return, new shows will attempt to get attention and shows that haven't been nominated will try to finally break in at the Emmys. With Emmy champion "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" returning for it's third season, it seems guaranteed that it will continue to earn its third consecutive nomination in this category and be as strong as ever. The third season launched with positive reviews from both critics and the public and the show broke the record for the most wins won by a comedy show in one year with 8 wins for its first season and matched its record last year despite losing to Fleabag for the big award. It seems poised to win again (it previously won for its first season), however I am predicting a possible sweep for a different show similar to how Fleabag pulled off a victory last year. After Fleabag swept last year and Veep (which previously won 3 times) lost, I feel like voters are getting tired of choosing the same shows to prevail in this category and are tired of shows winning multiple times, but are aimed towards choosing fresh new shows to win. Therefore, I predict Dan and Eugene Levy's"Schitt's Creek" has a great opportunity and chance to pull off the rare victory for winning for its' final season. "Schitt's Creek" broke into the Emmys last year for its fifth season and although it didn't win, critics and audiences have called the new season a perfect ending to the series and even some going to say it is a masterpiece. Also, it has a lot of buzz after landing on Netflix and gaining a bigger fan base for it's final and emotional season and Emmys are known for picking the show with the most attention from the public (hence Fleabag from last year), therefore I predict "Schitt's Creek" could easily sweep the Emmys this year and finish its run with an unexpected victory. Also, Mrs. Maisel aired a while ago (December) compared to "Schitt's Creek" where the final 6th season finished in April, airing at just the right time so it would be fresh on the voters mind (and be able to continue buzz through the summer) while Mrs. Maisel might lose buzz or the voters might forget about it, giving the major advantage to "Schitt's Creek." I have recently watched both "Schitt's Creek" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and although they are both stunning shows, they vary in their style, but the similarity between Fleabag and Schitt's Creek's style stands out to me against the more thematic Mrs. Maisel, so I feel like if voters were to continue in their patterns from last year, it would be hard to see "Schitt's Creek" not winning, but this fierce competition will most likely come down to Mrs. Maisel vs. "Schitt's Creek," unless another surprise show rises (like Fleabag did last year). 

      

Shows that I also see earning a nomination include "The Good Place," "Dead to Me," "Run," "Space Force," and "Better Things." Good Place earned its first, but overdue series nomination last year and the final season was much better than the previous and used it's capabilities to become more emotional, heartfelt and meaningful, so I find it hard to see this category without the return of "The Good Place." In addition, "Dead to Me" sparked some serious Emmy buzz last year but ended up only receiving one nomination for Christina Applegate. With the second season's reviews positive for Netflix, the show gaining more popularity this year and the category being more open this year, I definitely see "Dead to Me" scoring a nomination, however there is a possibility voters might find it too slow and the plot too dragged (but I heavily disagree) and ignore it in the series category and continue to award the acting instead, but if the show's buzz is able to carry it through Emmy voting, I can see it scoring its first series nomination. HBO's "Run" also gained momentum from it's premiere, and with the good reviews and stellar acting performances from Merritt Wever (who plays Ruby) and Domhnall Gleeson (who plays Billy Johnson), the show has a lot of momentum right now to land a nomination and fill the HBO slot in the category that "Veep" and "Barry" used to cover. The show also is a bright new comedy series for this year and the Emmys are usually interested in giving attention to the new hit shows of the year (look at Mrs. Maisel for its first season and Modern Family), therefore "Run" seems like it is in a good spot for a nomination assuming it can keep up its strong momentum.  

Although my next prediction might seem risky, I predict the show "Space Force" will sneak it's way into this category because the similarity to Barry (which surprisingly earned a nomination for its first season despite odds against it). Voters seem to love the new shows that create buzz especially in this category, so if "Space Force" can deliver on all it is promising, I can definitely see it earning a nomination, but since the show hasn't premiered yet and final reviews are not out, it is difficult to be sure whether it will go down or go up in the rankings, but there is for sure a strong chance.  Finally, I am predicting Pamela Adlon's "Better Things" to finally earn a nomination in this category and although I actually haven't seen this show, I have heard nothing but great things about it. Pamela Adlon has been nominated for her acting before, and I think this is the breakout year for the show for which it will finally earn the overdue nomination like Good Place did last year. We already know that the voters love Pamela Adlon and I feel like that praise could carry her through to earn a series nomination for the show. Although Emmy voters might not enjoy the show anymore than they previously did, this category is much more open this year to new nominees and if this show was on the border of a nomination last year, you can definitely expect it to land in the top seven this year especially with Veep, Fleabag, Barry and Atlanta (hasn't aired it's third season yet) all out of the running.

 

However, every year has the breakout show that many people didn't expect to earn a nomination and with the abundance of shows that are so close to a nomination, one could easily take the slot of my top seven. I mean last year people weren't even predicting Fleabag to earn a nomination and it ended up sweeping, so you never know what might happen. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" aired another season and is definitely popular with the Emmy voters and has a great chance to earn a nomination. The only reason I haven't put it in my top seven is because I don't feel like it provides anything new for the voters in its latest season and looking at "Fleabag" last year, I continue to think the voters want something fresh. But despite that and looking at history, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" has a great chance to earn another nomination. Also, "Modern Family" (won this category for 5 consecutive years!) aired it's final season and given how much the Emmys love this show, they might want to give it one more nomination before the show is done. The momentum of it being the last season brings the show up greatly, but the reason I don't see it earning the nomination easily is because the last season didn't air to overwhelmingly positive reviews and my personal opinion of this last year was that it was kind of rushed and lacked the magic from the previous seasons, but the voters do love the show and I do love "Modern Family" and would love to see it earn a final nomination before it leaves. "The Kominsky Method" will try to break in this year and receive its first series nomination and while I do think acting nominations are met with good odds, I have a hard time seeing it being nominated mainly because last year it had so much momentum and odds to earn a nomination and underperformed in the nominations, therefore unless season 2 was remarkably different and impossible to ignore (which I don't think it was), I don't feel like it can get the voters attention this year. "Silicon Valley" aired it's final episodes also and similar to "Modern Family," they might want to award it for its final season (it was previously nominated in this category also), but the last season didn't wow audiences that much or make that much noise and given all the new shows that have gained buzz, it seems hard for "Silicon Valley" to earn its final nomination, but it has gained momentum and continues to be a strong contender looking in for a nomination.

There are also a lot of shows that could possibly sneak in (or back in) this category this year and without the opening slots, there is always a chance for them. Hulu's "Ramy" hasn't aired yet, but if it exceeds expectations and continues it's very original storytelling, the voters could love the show and it could break into the category. But, the first season was underwhelming and the second season hasn't gained as much attention as "Space Force," however when the season aires, it if launches with as much strength as people say it will, it could be the surprise nominee for the year. ABC's "Black-ish" has been in this category a couple times and although the Emmy buzz for the show has died out, it could sneak it's way back into the category especially if it sparks what the voters always loved about it or it's connection to society and real-world problems with racism and class. In similar fashion, NBC's "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" hasn't had the greatest ratings, but has gained a lot of attention from critics and a strong fan base. Plus, the uniqueness (freshness) and love for musical-type shows from the Emmys could help push it into this category, but it would definitely be difficult to break in. Netflix's "GLOW" also will try to come back in like "Black-ish" and although I agree that it should be in this category, the voters will have to love the new season as much as they did the first one and it will definitely need to keep up its strong momentum for voting season. One show I really feel we are all underestimating is FX's "What We Do In The Shadows." This show has sparked a lot of love for its second season and although its first did underperform at the Emmys, the love for the show and new buzz (plus the new fresh style of it) could just gain the voters attention and make it the surprise nominee that we all want to be nominated (one of my favorite new shows and I think the second season is even more unique than the first). 

 Hulu's "The Great" just launched and although I didn't necessarily love the series, I think it has generated enough attention to possibly lure the voters in and help it sneak its way in the category, especially with the great acting and more satirical comedy storytelling of the show on such a heavy subject. It reminds me of if "The Crown" were to go comedic and given how much the Emmys love "The Crown" and other period shows, "The Great" could shock us all with a nomination. Apple TV+'s"Little America," Ben Platt and Gwyneth Paltrow's "The Politician," Issa Rae's hilarious "Insecure," and the Netflix hit "Sex Education" will also try to break in this category and they each have enough attention to possibly do so, but I think to make it in the category, they will need something bigger or more buzz to gain the attention from the voters and beat some other shows that are more popular and well known with the voters. 

My Predicted Nominees:

1. Schitt's Creek

2. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

3. The Good Place

4. Dead to Me

5. Run 

6. Space Force

7. Better Things

Strong Competitors:

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Modern Family

The Kominsky Method 

Silicon Valley 

Possible Nominees:

Ramy

Black-ish

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

GLOW 

What We Do In The Shadows

The Great

Little America 

The Politician

Insecure 

Sex Education