2021 Emmy Picks: Comedy and Variety

With so many series facing extended production delays due to the pandemic, the window is open for a lot of series that probably wouldn’t have ever gotten their shot in a “normal” TV year. So let’s celebrate these underdogs.

COMEDY SERIES
black-ish (ABC)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Hacks (HBO Max)
The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Master of None (Netflix)
PEN15 (Hulu)
Superstore (NBC)
Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)

Potential surprises:
Dickinson (AppleTV+) – never nominated
Emily in Paris (Netflix) – new show
Girls5eva (Peacock) – new show
Mr. Mayor (NBC) – new show
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC) – never nominated

Ineligible: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dead to Me, Insecure, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Schitt’s Creek, What We Do in the Shadows

In my dreams: Search Party (HBO Max)

The skinny: While AppleTV+ is still a nascent streaming service, it has won a major Emmy already (Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The Morning Show). This series is a bona-fide phenomenon and offers the same warm vibes the previous winner (Schitt’s Creek) had. I will be shocked if anything else wins.

COMEDY ACTOR
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Ted Danson, Mr. Mayor
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Martin Freeman, Breeders
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Kenan Thompson, Kenan

Potential surprises:
Jamie Foxx, Dad, Stop Embarrassing Me! – new show
John Goodman, The Connors – never nominated for this show; 7 nominations for this role on Roseanne
William H. Macy, Shameless – 5 nominations
Ben Platt, The Politician – never nominated

Ineligible: Don Cheadle, Ted Danson (for The Good Place), Eugene Levy, Ramy Youssef

In my dreams: Glenn Howerton, A.P. Bio

The skinny: Ted Lasso wouldn’t work without Sudeikis’ indefatigable coach. He’s a lock.

COMEDY ACTRESS
Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Girls5eva
Allison Janney, Mom
Jane Levy, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Jean Smart, Hacks

Potential surprises:
Aidy Bryant, Shrill – never nominated for this show; 1 nomination for Supporting Actress
Maya Erskine, PEN15 – never nominated for acting; 1 nomination for Writing
Anna Konkle, PEN15 – never nominated for acting; 1 nomination for Writing
Nasim Pedrad, Chad – new show
Hailee Steinfeld, Dickinson – never nominated
Lena Waithe, Master of None – never nominated for acting; 1 win for Writing

Ineligible: Christina Applegate, Rachel Brosnahan, Linda Cardellini, Catherine O’Hara, Issa Rae

In my dreams: Alia Shawkat, Search Party

The skinny: After losing two nominations for Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Jean Smart seems poised to win not one but two awards this year.

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR
Pete Davidson, Saturday Night Live
Laurence Fishburne, black-ish
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Michael Huisman, The Flight Attendant
Brendan Hunt, Ted Lasso
Jeremy Swift, Ted Lasso
Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live

Potential surprises:
Beck Bennett, Saturday Night Live – never nominated
Mikey Day, Saturday Night Live – never nominated for acting; 1 nomination for Writing for a Variety Series
Paul W. Downs, Hacks – new show
T.R. Knight, The Flight Attendant – new show; 1 nomination for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Christopher McDonald, Hacks – new show
Alex Moffat, Saturday Night Live – never nominated
Kyle Mooney, Saturday Night Live – never nominated
Chris Redd, Saturday Night Live – never nominated for acting; 1 win for Music and Lyrics
Paul Reiser, The Kominsky Method – never nominated for this show; 6 nominations for Lead Actor
Ray Romano, Made for Love – new show; 6 nominations (including 1 win) for Lead Actor
Nico Santos, Superstore – never nominated
George Segal, The Goldbergs – never nominated

Ineligible: Mahershala Ali, Alan Arkin, Andre Braugher, Sterling K. Brown, William Jackson Harper, Dan Levy, Tony Shalhoub

In my dreams: Cole Escola, Search Party

The skinny: This category is by far the most wide open. Could it be all SNL and Ted Lasso dudes? It’s definitely a possibility. Kenan and Bowen seem like the only locks here.

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Naomi Ackie, Master of None
Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Holly Hunter, Mr. Mayor
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Cecily Strong, Saturday Night Live
Juno Temple, Ted Lasso
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Potential surprises:
Chloe Fineman, Saturday Night Live – never nominated
Heidi Gardner, Saturday Night Live – never nominated
Jane Krakowski, Dickinson – never nominated for this show; 5 nominations for Supporting Actress
Zosia Mamet, The Flight Attendant – new show
Laurie Metcalf, The Conners – never nominated for this show; 5 nominations (including 3 wins) for this role on Roseanne
Kaitlin Olson, Hacks – new show
Rosie Perez, The Flight Attendant – new show; 3 nominations for Choreography
Jaime Pressly, Mom – never nominated for this show; 2 nominations (including 1 win) for Supporting Actress
Kathleen Turner, The Kominsky Method – never nominated
Melissa Villaseñor, Saturday Night Live – never nominated

Ineligible: Alex Borstein, D’Arcy Carden, Betty Gilpin, Marin Hinkle, Annie Murphy, Yvonne Orji

In my dreams: Paula Pell, A.P. Bio

The skinny: Another wide-open category. Kate McKinnon is a mainstay, and Hannah Waddingham will almost certainly be here as well. Naomi Ackie is likely to run away with this, though I’m not sure if there are any eligibility issues with a new season of a show that ran only five episodes.

WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
black-ish
The Flight Attendant
Hacks
Master of None
PEN15
Ted Lasso


Potential surprises:
Girls5eva – new show
The Kominsky Method – never nominated
Superstore – never nominated

Ineligible: The Good Place, The Great, Schitt’s Creek, What We Do in the Shadows

In my dreams: Search Party

The skinny: It’s almost certainly going to be a Ted Lasso sleep come September 19, though Master of None could go three-for-three here.

DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
black-ish
The Flight Attendant
Hacks
Master of None
PEN15
Ted Lasso


Potential surprises:
Girls5eva – new show
The Kominsky Method – never nominated
Superstore – never nominated
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist – never nominated

Ineligible: The Great, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Modern Family, Ramy, Schitt’s Creek, Will & Grace

In my dreams: A.P. Bio

The skinny: Again, Ted Lasso looks dominant, but the stylish 4×3 and intimate camerawork of Master of None could surprise.

VARIETY TALK SERIES
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Potential surprises:
Conan (TBS) – never nominated
Desus & Mero (Showtime) – never nominated
The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS) – 4 nominations
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) – never nominated

In my dreams: Wilmore (Peacock)

The skinny: No need to fight it. Last Week Tonight will win for a sixth straight year.

VARIETY SKETCH SERIES
A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Potential surprises:
The Amber Ruffin Show (Peacock)
Ziwe (Showtime)

In my dreams: How To with John Wilson (HBO)

The skinny: With so few eligible series, there will likely only be two nominees, which means that – ugh – SNL will win for a fifth straight year.

VARIETY SPECIAL (LIVE)
Celebrating America: An Inauguration Night Special (PBS)
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)
The Oscars (ABC)
The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Starring The Weeknd (CBS)
Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 (CBS)

Potential surprise:
The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards (NBC)

In my dreams: N/A

The skinny: Since everyone rightfully despises the HFPA, this might be the first time the Globes miss out since for just the second time since 2010. That means the Biden love-fest will likely pick up this award, even though the Oscars might get consideration for its alternative format.

VARIETY SPECIAL (PRE-RECORDED)
Between the World and Me (HBO)
Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix)
David Byrne’s American Utopia (HBO)
Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute (Netflix)
Hamilton (Disney+)

Potential surprises:
8:46 (YouTube)
Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You (AppleTV+)
Death to 2020 (HBO)
Derek DelGuadio’s In & Of Itself (Hulu)
Friends: The Reunion (HBO Max)

In my dreams: Natalie Palamides: Nate – A One Man Show (Netflix)

The skinny: It’s Hamilton vs. Burnham! But of course the former will dominate, and possibly clean up in the acting categories, too.

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