COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Barry (HBO)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Hacks (HBO Max)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Will win: Abbott Elementary
Could win: Ted Lasso
Should win: Barry
Should have been nominated: Reservation Dogs (Hulu)
The skinny: A truly wonderful lineup that failed to include last year’s best comedy (Reservation Dogs). While Ted Lasso won big last year, it’s more complex second season will probably come up empty. But Abbott Elementary has all the momentum and good will, and I think it will be the first broadcast show to win this award since Modern Family. May it run just as long.
COMEDY ACTOR
Donald Glover, Atlanta
Bill Hader, Barry
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Will win: Bill Hader
Could win: Jason Sudeikis
Should win: Nicholas Hoult
Should have been nominated: John Goodman, The Righteous Gemstones
The skinny: Barry hadn’t aired a new episode since 2019, but it felt like it hadn’t missed a beat. Even if the show doesn’t get the big award, I think Hader’s almost guaranteed to win a third Best Actor trophy.
COMEDY ACTRESS
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
Elle Fanning, The Great
Issa Rae, Insecure
Jean Smart, Hacks
Will win: Jean Smart
Could win: Quinta Brunson
Should win: Elle Fanning
Should have been nominated: Devery Jacobs, Reservation Dogs
The skinny: Is there any woman on TV funnier than Jean Smart? I can’t think of one, and her second consecutive win for Hacks would be quite all right with me. As the creator and writer of the Abbott Elementary, it’s also possible voters honor Abbott here, even though she’s arguably the third or fourth funniest person on her own show (see also: Donald Glover’s Best Actor win for Atlanta‘s first season).
COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR
Anthony Carrigan, Barry
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Toheeb Jimoh, Ted Lasso
Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Henry Winkler, Barry
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Will win: Henry Winkler
Could win: Brett Goldstein
Should win: Anthony Carrigan
Should have been nominated: James Austin Johnson, Saturday Night Live
The skinny: Winkler won a long-overdue Emmy for the first season, but lost the next year to Tony Shalhoub. They’re facing off again, but it’s hard to see anyone make the case against Winkler’s repeat. The entire season revolves around his Gene Cousineau and his attempts to rebuild bridges he’s burned.
COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Juno Temple, Ted Lasso
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Will win: Janelle James
Could win: Kate McKinnon
Should win: Hannah Einbinder
Should have been nominated: Sarah Goldberg, Barry
The skinny: Nominating Kate McKinnon over Sarah Goldberg is awards malpractice. Just completely unacceptable. She should have won this year, and she’s not even nominated! So that clears the way for Abbott Elementary‘s breakout character to walk away with this.
COMEDY WRITING
Abbott Elementary (Pilot episode)
Barry (“710N”)
Barry (“Starting Now”)
Hacks (“The One, the Only”)
Only Murders in the Building (“True Crime”)
Ted Lasso (“No Weddings and a Funeral”)
What We Do in the Shadows (“The Casino”)
What We Do in the Shadows (“The Wellness Center”)
Will win: Hacks
Could win: Abbott Elementary
Should win: What We Do in the Shadows (“The Casino”)
Should have been nominated: Reservation Dogs
The skinny: Hacks surprised with wins in Writing and Directing last year. I’m predicting it repeats the feat, but only in this category for its extraordinary finale.
COMEDY DIRECTING
Atlanta (“New Jazz”)
Barry (“710N”)
Hacks (“There Will Be Blood”)
The Ms. Pat Show (“Baby Daddy Groundhog Day”)
Only Murders in the Building (“The Boy from 6B”)
Only Murders in the Building (“True Crime”)
Ted Lasso (“No Weddings and a Funeral”)
Will win: Barry
Could win: Hacks
Should win: Only Murders in the Building (“The Boy from 6B”)
Should have been nominated: The Righteous Gemstones
The skinny: While I have a soft spot for Only Murders‘ extraordinary silent episode, there’s not a whole lot of arguing against Barry‘s stunning motorcycle chase.
VARIETY TALK SERIES
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Will and should win: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Could win: Late Night with Seth Meyers
Should have been nominated: Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
The skinny: Oliver’s going to win yet again. If there was anyone doing it better, I’d be upset.
VARIETY SKETCH SERIES
A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Will win: Saturday Night Live
Could and should win: A Black Lady Sketch Show
Should have been nominated: N/A
The skinny: *yawning the biggest possible yawn*
As long as this category continues to be thin, SNL will keep winning every year, despite little innovation. The year’s best sketch comedy – the Kids in the Hall revival – wasn’t even submitted for consideration.
WRITING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
Ali Wong: Don Wong
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Globe – Hungary for Democracy
Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel
Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo)
Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special
Will win: Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel
Could and should win: Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special
The skinny: Carmichael’s deeply personal Rothaniel special is winning this, and that’s more than fine. It’s a welcome corrective to awarding some deeply awful people in the past. But god, would it be nice for Norm to pick up this award posthumously.