On the latest Variety Awards Circuit presented by Paramount+, Variety TV editors Emily Longeretta and Michael Schneider discussed the best comedy performance race for this year’s Emmys.
Although Jeremy Allen White is a top contender for lead actor again with FX’s “The Bear,” Martin Short remains a key player for his role in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” where he stars alongside Steve Martin who is also vying for a nomination.
“Jeremy Allen White is fantastic, and he’s everywhere,” Schneider said. “Martin Short just won the SAG awards, so he’s definitely in the race. All things considered, White won last year, so you have to figure out that the momentum is there. The new season is about to come out, so he’ll be top of mind. There’s a chance that Season 4 may be the final season. But that means he’ll still be available next year.”
Other actors that Schneider highlighted included Nathan Lane from “Mid-Century Modern,” Ted Danson from “A Man on the Inside,” Jason Segel from “Shrinking,” Adam Brody from “Nobody Wants This” and Seth Rogen from “The Studio.”
For lead comedy actress, “We have national treasure Jean Smart who won last year for ‘Hacks,’ Longeretta said. “Quinta Brunson, who has also won in the past, and Ayo Edebiri, who won in supporting. So, when she moved to lead, things changed a little bit. Kristen Bell from ‘Nobody Wants This’ did well for Netflix, [as did] Tina Fey for ‘The Four Seasons.’”
Other contenders for comedy performances include Kathryn Hahn for “Agatha All Along,” Natasha Lyonne for “Poker Face,” Bridget Everett for “Somebody Somewhere” and Kate Hudson for “Running Point.”
“It’s a great show that’s underappreciated,” Schneider chimed in about “Somebody Somewhere.” “The people who watch it love it. Bridget Everett deserves some attention now that the show is off.”
Longeretta added, “Kate Hudson in ‘Running Point’ could also be a surprise. I was impressed with Kate, so I could see her breaking in. But, I have a hard time believing that anyone will dethrone Jean Smart.”
In the supporting actress category, Hannah Einbinder from “Hacks” is a contender who has yet to receive an Emmy. “Maybe it’s time to give her some love finally,” Schneider said. This is a standout season where her character is standing up to Deborah Vance and is getting some amazing moments as a throuple.”
Other standout performances include Catherine O’Hara from “The Studio,” as well as Jessica Williams from “Shrinking” and “Abbott Elementary’s” Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph, which the latter picked up an Emmy win in the category in 2022.
Schneider and Longeretta also mentioned that Linda Lavin has a strong case for a posthumous nomination for her role in “Mid-Century Modern.”
“I go back to Alice with Linda Vin and everything that she’s done since then,” Schneider said. “She’s been in several dramas but came on ‘Mid-Century Modern’ and was a foil to Nathan Lane’s character as his mom.”
Longeretta added, “She died in the middle of production. They had to write it in, and it was a very emotional turn for the show. I would love to see her get the nomination. Give her all her flowers.”
For supporting actors in a comedy, major players are Ebon Moss-Bachrach from “The Bear,” Ike Barinholtz from “The Studio,” Colman Domingo and Will Forte from “The Four Seasons,” Harrison Ford from “Shrinking,” Paul W. Downs from “Hacks” and Tyler James Williams with “Abbott Elementary.”
Coming off the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” eyes will also be on Bowen Yang. “There have been a lot of great performances, so I think that there’s gonna be at least one from ‘Saturday Night Live,’” Longeretta said. “I would guess that he will be the one to break.”
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