The Bear is sweeping everything, even though I (and many others) think it’s much more of a drama with some humorous moments, not the other way around. And while Season 2 was my No. 1 show of 2023, there’s so much great stuff here that shouldn’t go unrewarded. The Academy did finally nominate Reservation Dogs in two categories, but it should have been represented in every single one.
COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
The Bear (Hulu)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Hacks (Max)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Palm Royale (AppleTV+)
Reservation Dogs (Hulu)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Will win: The Bear
Could win: Abbott Elementary
Should win: Reservation Dogs
Should have been nominated: Girls5eva (Netflix)
ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Matt Berry, What We Do in the Shadows
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Reservation Dogs
Will win: Jeremy Allen White
Could win: Larry David
Should win: D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
Should have been nominated: John Goodman, The Righteous Gemstones
ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Maya Rudolph, Loot
Jean Smart, Hacks
Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale
Will win: Ayo Edebiri
Could win: Jean Smart
Should win: Quinta Brunson
Should have been nominated: Devery Jacobs, Reservation Dogs
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Lionel Boyce, The Bear
Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Will and should win: Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Could win: Lionel Boyce
Should have been nominated: Lane Factor, Reservation Dogs
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Carol Burnett, Palm Royale
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
Will win: Lisa Colón-Zayas
Could win: Meryl Streep
Should win: Hannah Einbinder
Should have been nominated: Paulina Alexis, Reservation Dogs
WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (“Career Day”)
The Bear (“Fishes”)
Girls5eva (“Orlando”)
Hacks (“Bulletproof”)
The Other Two (“Brooke Hosts a Night of Undeniable Good”)
What We Do in the Shadows (“Pride Parade”)
Will win: The Bear
Could and should win: Hacks
Should have been nominated: Reservation Dogs (“Elora’s Dad”)
DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (“Party”)
The Bear (“Fishes”)
The Bear (“Honeydew”)
The Gentlemen (“Refined Aggression”)
Hacks (“Bulletproof”)
The Ms. Pat Show (“I’m the Pappy”)
Will and should win: The Bear (“Fishes”)
Could win: The Bear (“Honeydew”)
Should have been nominated: Reservation Dogs (“Deer Lady”)
SCRIPTED VARIETY SERIES
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Will and should win: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Could win: Saturday Night Live
Should have been nominated: After Midnight (CBS)
TALK SERIES
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Will and should win: The Daily Show
Could win: Late Night with Seth Meyers
Should have been nominated: Hot Ones (YouTube)
WRITING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
Alex Edelman: Just for Us
Jacqueline Novak: Get on Your Knees
John Early: Now More Than Ever
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool
The Oscars
Will win: Mike Birbiglia
Should win: John Early
Could win: The Oscars
Should have been nominated: Greg Gulman: Born on 3rd Base