This year’s Emmy nominations for comedy have once again delivered a delightfully odd mix of names and talent. It’s a true testament to the breadth of great work happening on television that we get to see such wildly different performances vie for the same awards.
Let’s break down the races for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series, where I’ll offer my two cents on who deserves the gold and, more importantly, who will be going home with it.
What You’ll Find in This Article
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: The Nominees
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: The Nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: The Nominees
The great thing about the comedy division of these awards is that it often gives us strange bedfellows. Seriously, can you imagine another time or scenario in which this particular group of men would be mentioned in the same breath? If so, please let me know, because I cannot for the life of me think of one.
The nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series are:
- Ike Barinholtz for The Studio
- Colman Domingo for The Four Seasons
- Harrison Ford for Shrinking
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach for The Bear
- Bowen Yang for Saturday Night Live
- Jeff Hiller for Somebody Somewhere
- Michael Urie for Shrinking
Seriously, Ike Barinholtz and Harrison Ford in the same sentence. And Bowen Yang. Wow.
The Emmy Race for Jeff Hiller and Colman Domingo
I worked with Jeff Hiller once, many years ago, and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about him as both an actor and a human being.
The fact that he was recognized for his lovely, tender work on Somebody Somewhere — one of my favorite shows over the last few years — is a testament to how strong that work really was, because it’s otherwise not a show that tends to get noticed. My affection for him personally might have led me to put his name on my ballot, but ultimately, I can’t quite go that far. His nomination is his reward, and I celebrate on his behalf, but I’d still vote for someone else.
Colman Domingo is one of our finest actors, and it’s heartening to see him get his due in recent years with all these Emmy and Oscar nominations. The fact that he was the only person recognized for the high-profile fizzle that was Tina Fey’s adaptation of The Four Seasons should tell you that, while people loved his work, they’re not going to go further than that to reward it.
Bowen Yang, Michael Urie and Harrison Ford’s Chances for an Emmy
Bowen Yang has been nominated four of the last five years, and he has deserved every one of those nods, because he’s great on SNL. Would you like to guess how many actors have won this award for their work in this category over the five decades the show has been on the air? Seriously, take a guess. I’ll wait.
If you answered two … you’d be wrong! It’s just one — Alec Baldwin, eight years ago, for playing Donald Trump. That may be a travesty, but I don’t see it suddenly changing this year. Bowen is a brilliant performer, but he’s not winning, not with the strength of the other nominees.
The same goes for Michael Urie, an actor whose work I admire, but as good as he is in Shrinking, he is outshone by a legend who has a much better shot of winning.
Harrison Ford finally got his Emmy nod for his work in the show’s second season — after being hosed for season 1 — and it would be hard for me to say anyone else deserves this award more than he does (it’s not just because he’s one of my all-time favorite actors).
Seeing the 80-something Ford face his own mortality through the character of Paul and his increasingly debilitating Parkinson’s disease was an emotional roller coaster, while also mixing with great humor and some big laughs. I love Ford, I think he deserves far more than the one Oscar nod he’s ever received (for Witness in 1985), and I would without question vote for him for this award. No other qualifications needed.
That said, I don’t think he’s going to win, and it’s not because of the two-time defending champ in this category, Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach vs. Ike Barinholtz
Moss-Bachrach was once again dynamite in season 3 of The Bear, but I just don’t see him taking a three-peat. Part of it is a gut sense that people feel they’ve rewarded him enough, but part of it is because of Ike Barinholtz.
Barinholtz’s manic comedic energy is not for everyone. Still, in the right role, it’s better than just about anything, and that is absolutely the case with his Sal Saperstein on The Studio.
Sal is a hapless striver for success and attention, and it’s as if this particular role was created for this particular actor. It shows, especially in the series’ fifth episode, “The War,” which is one of the funniest things I saw on TV this year. I love Harrison Ford and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, but I honestly don’t believe anyone is going to beat Barinholtz for the no-holds-barred insanity he brings to that half hour of television.
Who Should Win: Harrison Ford
Who Will Win: Ike Barinholtz
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: The Nominees
As usual, we bring things to a close with comedy, because as we all know, laughter is the best medicine, and couldn’t we all use some medicine at this fraught moment in history? These ladies brought some laughs to our lives, so let’s talk about them now.
The nominees for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series are:
- Liza Colón-Zayas for The Bear
- Hannah Einbinder for Hacks
- Kathryn Hahn for The Studio
- Janelle James for Abbott Elementary
- Catherine O’Hara for The Studio
- Sheryl Lee Ralph for Abbott Elementary
- Jessica Williams for Shrinking
Will The Studio Unseat The Bear?
First and foremost, while I love Catherine O’Hara and have for decades, I don’t think she should be here. I believe that her co-star, Chase Sui Wonders, deserves this nomination. I don’t think that will affect O’Hara’s chances (remember, we had the same conversation about Carrie Coon for Supporting Actress in a Drama), and I think she’s going to win. There are too many other tough competitors here to make me believe for a second that the comedy legend will take this.
I think The Studio is going to unseat The Bear as Best Comedy Series, and will win at least one acting award and probably two, which we will discuss soon enough.
Since we’re talking about it, let’s also mention another comedy genius, Kathryn Hahn, who shows once again that she can do anything, and it’s only a matter of time before she actually wins one of these awards. It’s just not going to be this year. Nor is Jessica Williams, who is great on Shrinking, but has no chance whatsoever of hearing her name called on Emmy night.
The reason is the remaining four nominees.
Liza Colón-Zayas, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James and Hannah Einbinder
There are two recent winners for these particular roles and two perennial nominees who absolutely should have won this award by now, and between the four of them, one will come out victorious. Let’s talk about which one and why.
Last year, I got this category wrong, as I didn’t think Liza Colón-Zayas would win for The Bear season 2, given that her best work was in season 3. I still think that, but of course, I was wrong, because she did win. Ironically, while her work in the more recent season was better, I think she will suffer from the strength of her competition, and the fact that at least two of her competitors had even better seasons on their shows.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, the other former winner here for her work on Abbott Elementary, is not one of the two, though she is always an absolute joy to watch. Ralph is perpetually amazing, but this is the year her co-star Janelle James finally outshone her.
James’s work as Principal Ava Coleman took a real turn in the show’s fourth season, in which she showed more heart and empathy, while showing a side to Ava we hadn’t really seen before as the character lost and then regained her job. It was magnificent work from an actress who has always been hilarious on a very funny show.
This was the year she added a whole other level of depth to the role, and for that, I think she deserves this award, after three previous years of being nominated and not winning. Unfortunately, though, I don’t think she’ll actually win it.
That’s because this is finally Hannah Einbinder’s year to win for her work in Hacks. Einbinder has been nominated for each of the show’s first three seasons and lost to, in order, Hannah Waddingham for Ted Lasso, Ralph, and Colón-Zayas. All deserving winners, but now it’s Einbinder’s turn to play another Ava — Ava Daniels.
The fourth season of the show, which spent much of it focusing on a war between Einbinder’s Daniels and Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance, showcased the best work the young actress has ever done, especially in the “Mrs. Table” episode, in which she has something of a psychotic break and spirals through a hilarious breakdown.
If not for Janelle James, I would say that performance in that episode would get my vote. As it happens, I think most voters will say that without the qualifier, and will mark down Einbinder’s name on their ballots. If I’m right, I will not be terribly upset about it.
Who Should Win: Janelle James
Who Will Win: Hannah Einbinder
Final Takeaways
The Emmy nominations for comedy this year highlight the incredible range and uniqueness of performances across television. With a healthy variety of seasoned legends and rising stars, the competition is fierce. For new actors, there are some clear takeaways that can help navigate the entertainment industry.
- Find roles that allow your distinct energy and style to shine.
- Embrace complexity in your characters; deep emotional layers combined with humor resonate strongly.
- Consistency matters. Prove that persistence and honing your craft pay off over time.
- Build genuine relationships in the industry. Professionalism and kindness can open doors.
- Take on roles that show growth and vulnerability, adding depth to characters.
It’s not just about getting noticed but about choosing work that challenges you and showcases your range. The Emmy races remind us that authenticity, versatility, and persistence are key ingredients for success in comedy acting.
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