Steven Prusakowski
Please note OUR EMMY PREDICTIONS ARE LIVE (here). Before or after reading this FYC piece (and the related Drama FYC) head over to the current Emmy predictions across twenty categories.
Over the past four months the incredible Awards Radar TV team has been endlessly working to provide an FYC of sorts through hundreds of interviews with the contenders both above and below the line. (You can find them all under the TV / FYC menu above.) Our goal is to cast a spotlight on the performances and the talented work not only of the Emmy frontrunners, but some who may not be on your radar.
We know that many of your Emmy decisions are not often made until the last few hours of the Emmy phase one voting. For this reason, in addition to our endless interviews, we have provided this list of names for Emmy voters to keep in mind as you fill out those ballots. Keep it handy as you make your choices, because every name listed truly delivered this season. And, if you have not watched their work yet, NOW is your time.
We are not asking you to forget your personal favorites or to cast aside those worthy nominees currently favored to win. What we do want you to do is instead of voting with the flow make some waves by casting votes for some very deserving nominees when possible. We love all the big shows, we love the favorites, but the TV landscape is vast and better representation of shows big and small is needed.
If you look at the list of potential nominees who will be left off the official final Emmy nominations you will find several if not dozens of worthy nominees. Let’s recognize them. And away we go.
OUR AWARDS RADAR COMEDY FYC
THE RULES: Our Awards Radar TV’s Emmy FYC contains names of the outstanding newcomers and already established work that has yet to find a place on the Emmy ballot that our ARTV team knows deserve your attention. Some of these names are brand new while others are head scratching omissions from seasons’ worth of incredible comedic work.
COMEDY SERIES
The first thing to notice are the missing names that have been represented in this category for the last handful of year. Shows like Barry, Ted Lasso, Atlanta, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have all said their goodbyes leaving room for a new Emmy contenders. Still yet to make the nominations list are series like Ghosts, Girls5eva, and Physical.
Then there’s the cancelled but surely not forgotten Our Flag Means Death, which if you don’t know has some of the most dedicated fans – they conducted endless campaigns to help the series renewed or find a new home. They even rented spaced on a billboard in Times Square. Sadly to no avail. The series had a wonderful final season and deserves some recognition.
New series’ like The Boys spinoff, Gen V, which had no business being as good as it was especially when watching so many bad people, I’m a Virgo, and the star-studded Palm Royale certainly make a case for your vote.
Our Spotlight Pick: Reservation Dogs (FX) The series about about four Native teenagers in making their way in Oklahoma while dealing with the suicide of their fifth continued to evolve, added emotional depth, and found ways to surprise, make us laugh and cry. It has been a spiritual journey that only got better right to the very end.
Runner Up: Colin From Accounts – the surprise comedy series of the year for me, a tender, irreverent, unconventional romance that keeps you locked in thanks to the leads chemistry. Give it a watch.
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Two names that should be on your minds when voting are the reliably hilarious Utkarsh Ambudkar (Ghosts) and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs) whose emotional journey was one to watch this season. Again some of the funniest men on television have been ignored. Fix that with a vote for Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien) or Kayvan Novak and Matt Berry for What We Do In The Shadows
Newcomers this year Theo James (The Gentlemen) and Jharrel Jerome (I Am Virgo) left big impressions for very different reasons.
Our Spotlight Pick: This season of Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet on Our Flag Means Death delivered one of the best, most nuanced and still incredibly funny performances of his career as they wrapped his love story with Taika Waititi‘s Blackbeard (another actor to consider) in the most beautiful fashion.
Runner up: Patrick Brammall (Colin From Accounts) is endlessly relatable, funny, and a joy to watch as he bumbles through life, relationships, and pet care.
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
This category has some familiar faces who we can expect to get some nods, Ayo Edebiri, Jean Smart, and Quinta Brunson seem like locks, but there’s still room for some fresh names like Renee Elise Goldsberry (Girls5Eva) and Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale), while not new to the scene both are ready for their first nomination in the category. Call them snubs or omissions, whatever you want, consider your vote to make these actresses first-time nominees. Somehow Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building) and Rose McIver (Ghosts), Rose Byrne (Physical) have all gone without nominations for their work. Add to that list Natasia Demetriou on the criminally under-Emmy-appreciated (What We Do in the Shadows) which received its only Emmy win for costumes.
Our Spotlight Pick: We demand you to consider Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs) whose work has been amazing from episode one of the series, but her work in the penultimate episode of the season which had her meeting her father for the first time was mesmerizing, sweet, and tapped right into my heart. While her work on the series is certainly not defined by that episode alone, she saved the best the last with one of the best episodes of TV this year.
Runner up: Harriet Dyer (Colin From Accounts) If you know Harriet’s work on American Auto this is completely different, but just as good. Charming and sweet with lots of rough edges.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
The Bear will have plenty of Emmy representation but it doesn’t mean that a few of these actors and actresses don’t deserved your consideration. Oliver Platt & Matty Matheson both gave stellar performances making the most of their screen time with a surprising amount of depth. Please keep in mind the Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) as a private dick without a clue nor the craftiness, but what he lacks there he makes up in laughs – worthy of his own series, imo. J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) makes too damn funny look too damn easy – it’s not. Remember that and consider him for this final season – the house guest that never left makes every line an opportunity for hilarity.
What We Do in the Shadows comes up again and again but because Emmy voters have yet to acknowledge Mark Proksch he’s back here again. The only thing more draining than his character’s powers is the idea that comic work this strong has not recognized garnered one Emmy acting nomination. Paul W. Downs has been nominated for his writing on Hacks, but he is much more than a writer his work on screen is consistently great – funny, smart, and tapped into the pulse of the character.
Our Spotlight Pick: What Harvey Guillén (What We Do In the Shadows) can do with a raised eyebrow or a quick glance at the camera is incredible, add to the that all he brings to Guillermo’s journey that took some unexpected turns just when you thought his dreams were coming true lead to a hilarious and heartfelt arc I did’t anticipate.
Runner-up: Lionel Boyce (The Bear) in season one Marcus was part of the amazing ensemble, but for season two he spread his wings and flew. We were allowed inside his life, his head and his heart.
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
How is Meryl Streep (Only Murders In the Building), one of the most respected actresses of all time on this list? Rules are rules. She was never nominated in the category – plus she delivered a comedic performance where she more than held her own among some of comedy’s best.
Another The Bear performance that still needs to be recognized is Liza Colon-Zayas‘ – her work as Tina is just another wonderfully layered performance in a series full of them. Isn’t it time to look out for some new blood? If so, Allison Janney and Carol Burnett are definitely worth considering.
There’s also Paulina Alexis in Reservation Dogs who doesn’t always say a ton, but has just the right words to make an impact. Alexis has an authenticity about her that makes everything, from the humor to the drama, land with conviction. And then there’s Paula Pell (Girls5Eva) the unsung hero of the series who is worthy of your consideration.
Our Spotlight Pick: Abby Elliott (The Bear) keeps surprising me. In season one she got my attention. In season two she demanded it. While many other actors on the praised series are given their recognition, Elliott’s work is the glue that binds much of this show together and should not be left off ballots. While her work in “Fishes” was a quiet standout, her presence can be felt in every scene she is in this season – no matter who she is sharing the screen with.
Runner-up: Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm) is much more than swearing and screaming, she’s the series moral compass and after 24 years in the role maybe follow that compass to her name on the ballot. Someone should really put up a billboard of her to promote her work this season. What’s the worst that can happen?
Thank you For Your Consideration. We look forward to seeing who makes that final list on July 12th – hopefully a few surprises. Look for more Emmy coverage and interviews on Awards Radar from our incredible team; Joey Magidson, Abe Friedtanzer, Niki Cruz, Ayla Ruby, Danny Jarabek, Maxance Vincent, Diego Peralta, Lucas Longacre, Emilia Yu, Norm Felker, Cory Stillman, Joshua Harris and Red Broadwell, – along with me, TV Editor Steven Prusakowski, have been working endlessly to ensure all the best of television is on your Awards Radar.
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