Tuesday, September 14, 2021

'Ted Lasso' vs. 'Hacks' eclipses 'Black-ish' and 'The Flight Attendant' in comedies at the Emmy Awards


I told my readers to "Stay tuned for comedy" at the end of 'The Queen's Gambit' leads limited series at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, but can it beat 'Mare of Easttown' and 'WandaVision' on the final night? Tragedy (or at least drama) tomorrow, comedy tonight! Here are the seven comedy series categories at the Primetime Emmy Awards along with commentary on their chances of winning.
Outstanding Comedy Series

Black-ish (ABC)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Hacks (HBO Max)
The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
PEN15 (Hulu)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
This field of comedy nominees has less politics and government content than the nominees in the other scripted series categories at next week's ceremony. "Black-ish" regularly has political commentary, "PEN15" has public school as part of its setting, and "The Flight Attendant" is a crime comedy with a strong police presence that will only become more prominent next season as — spoiler — Kaley Cuoco's Cassie Bowden is recruited as an undercover agent at the end of the first season. That's it, although all of them include social commentary in their comedy.

Before I share my opinion of the nominee's chances, I'm embedding Gold Derby asking Emmy slug[f]est: Will 'Hacks' upset 'Ted Lasso?'

As 'Ted Lasso' kicks off its second season, Gold Derby editors Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng discuss how many Emmys it can win and are very much into a battle of Hannah Einbinder from 'Hacks' and Hannah Waddingham.
I agree with Eng and Rosen that "Ted Lasso" is the prohibitive favorite in this category. Like "The Queen's Gambit," it won all the major end-of-year awards last year as well as the Gold Derby TV Awards. Unlike the limited series about chess, its competitor from HBO hasn't been enough to seriously challenge it for the lead. As for perennial nominee "Black-ish" and newcomers — to this category, at least — "PEN15" and "The Flight Attendant," I'd wish them better luck next year except that "Ted Lasso" will return for its second season, keeping them from winning again. Darn. Here's to hoping "What We Do in the Shadows" doesn't get snubbed again next year.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson, Sr. on Black-ish (Episode: "What About Gary?") (ABC)
Michael Douglas as Sandy Kominsky on The Kominsky Method (Episode: "Chapter 20. The round toes, of the high shoes") (Netflix)
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher on Shameless (Episode: "Father Frank, Full of Grace") (Showtime)
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso on Ted Lasso (Episode: "Pilot") (Apple TV+)
Kenan Thompson as Kenan Williams on Kenan (Episode: "Flirting") (NBC)
This is a very impressive field of nominees, but like his series, this award is Jason Sudeikis's to lose. Next!

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Aidy Bryant as Annie Easton on Shrill (Episode: "Ranchers") (Hulu)
Kaley Cuoco as Cassie Bowden on The Flight Attendant (Episode: "In Case of Emergency") (HBO Max)
Allison Janney as Bonnie Plunkett on Mom (Episode: "My Kinda People and the Big To-Do") (CBS)
Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Rainbow "Bow" Johnson on Black-ish (Episode: "Babes in Boyland") (ABC)
Jean Smart as Deborah Vance on Hacks (Episode: "1.69 Million") (HBO Max)
Again, this is a very impressive field of nominees, but it's Jean Smart's award to lose, particularly since she won Performer of the Year at the Gold Derby TV Awards. Too bad, as I really enjoyed Kaley Cuoco's performance.

Follow over the jump for the nominations I already covered in It's Saturday night, so here are the 21 Emmy nominations for 'Saturday Night Live' along with those for people behind the camera.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus Vaughan on Hacks (Episode: "New Eyes") (HBO Max)
Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent on Ted Lasso (Episode: "All Apologies") (Apple TV+)
Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard on Ted Lasso (Episode: "Two Aces") (Apple TV+)
Nick Mohammed as Nathan Shelley on Ted Lasso (Episode: "Make Rebecca Great Again") (Apple TV+)
Paul Reiser as Martin Schneider on The Kominsky Method (Episode: "Chapter 18. You only give me your funny paper") (Netflix)
Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins on Ted Lasso (Episode: "Biscuits") (Apple TV+)
Kenan Thompson as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Dave Chappelle") (NBC)
Bowen Yang as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Carey Mulligan") (NBC)
... Thompson is the only returning nominee from last year, so he'd be the nominal favorite by that criterion. I'm not so sure he'll win, as "Ted Lasso" has four nominees in this category alone, replacing Schitt's Creek as the favorite comedy series at these awards. If the Emmy electorate can settle on a single candidate, then whoever he is will win. If not, then I think it will be between Carl Clemons-Hopkins for "Hacks" and Paul Reiser on "The Kominsky Method." Both series are about show business and, all else being equal, the Emmy electorate will vote for good shows about the entertainment business. I'm not sure all things are equal, as SNL and "Ted Lasso" have more nominations with 21 and 20 respectively, but vote-splitting might allow one or the other to slip past. After writing all that, watch Yang surprise me by winning.
A month later, I still think so

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Aidy Bryant as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Regé-Jean Page") (NBC)
Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels on Hacks (Episode: "I Think She Will") (HBO Max)
Kate McKinnon as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Bill Burr") (NBC)
Rosie Perez as Megan Briscoe on The Flight Attendant (Episode: "Arrivals and Departures") (HBO Max)
Cecily Strong as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Anya Taylor-Joy") (NBC)
Juno Temple as Keeley Jones on Ted Lasso (Episode: "For the Children") (Apple TV+)
Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso (Episode: "All Apologies") (Apple TV+)
Both Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong return as nominees in this category, joined by Aidy Bryant from SNL. Like cast-mate Kenan Thompson, that would make them nominal favorites based on that criterion. Between the two of them, I would give the slight nod to McKinnon as a former winner. Also like Thompson, I think that may not be enough, as the two hot scripted comedy series are "Hacks" and "Ted Lasso." I think "Ted Lasso" may be the better comedy, but "Hacks" is about show business, so I expect one of the two Hannahs, Einbinder from "Hacks" and Waddingham from "Ted Lasso," will win instead.
Right now, I'd pick Waddingham after she won the comparable Gold Derby TV Award.
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

B Positive (Episode: "Pilot"), Directed by James Burrows (CBS)
The Flight Attendant (Episode: "In Case of Emergency"), Directed by Susanna Fogel (HBO Max)
Hacks (Episode: "There Is No Line"), Directed by Lucia Aniello (HBO Max)
Mom (Episode: "Scooby-Doo Checks and Salisbury Steak"), Directed by James Widdoes (CBS)
Ted Lasso (Episode: "Biscuits"), Directed by Zach Braff (Apple TV+)
Ted Lasso (Episode: "The Hope that Kills You"), Directed by MJ Delaney (Apple TV+)
Ted Lasso (Episode: "Make Rebecca Great Again"), Directed by Declan Lowney (Apple TV+)
Eng and Rosen's opinions confirm my personal preference that "The Flight Attendant," my favorite among all the nominated comedies, is the best directed of all the nominees, so I'm going with it.
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

The Flight Attendant (Episode: "In Case of Emergency"), Written by Steve Yockey (HBO Max)
Girls5eva (Episode: "Pilot"), Written by Meredith Scardino (Peacock)
Hacks (Episode: "There Is No Line"), Written by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky (HBO Max)
PEN15 (Episode: "Play"), Written by Maya Erskine (Hulu)
Ted Lasso (Episode: "Make Rebecca Great Again"), Written by Joe Kelly, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis (Apple TV+)
Ted Lasso (Episode: "Pilot"), Written by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly (Apple TV+)
Again, I'm going with Eng and Rosen that "Hacks" has the advantage here, in that the show is about writing for show business, and the Television Academy voters love good shows about show business, even if it's not Hollywood.


"Ted Lasso" leads comedy series in Emmy Awards so far, winning three at the 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series, as predicted by Eng and Rosen, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation. The only other comedy series to win over the weekend was "The Flight Attendant," which took home Original Main Title Theme Music.


I plan on embedding the theme music when I write about comedy winners. Until then, stay tuned for the drama nominees.

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