My Attempts To Predict The 2024 Astras, Part 2: Comedy Is Easy Compared to Picking The Winners for Comedy

 

 

One of the things I’ve learned from the first three years of the Astras is that they can chart their own path in comedy, particularly in broadcast and cable. In their first year the biggest winner in Comedy was Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist but they gave Best Network Comedy to Superstore. In their second year they gave two of the male acting awards in comedy to Barry but gave Best Cable Comedy to What We Do In The Shadows. And last year with such powers as Barry and Shadows in cable they gave the grand prize to Party Down. So I acknowledge there’s more room for surprises here.

I’ll start with Broadcast and Cable.

 

BEST NETWORK COMEDY

Well, much as I’d like to see this go to either Not Dead Yet or Young Sheldon I think the winner is obvious to all of us. Abbott Elementary has won in this category the past two years and there’s nothing I can see will stop it for a third.

Should Win/Will Win: Abbott Elementary.

 

BEST CABLE COMEDY

Here’s where it gets interesting. Resident Alien, which won in this category the first year of the Astras’ existence is nominated again. What We Do In The Shadows, which was the second year winner is up as well. Both series are represented well in acting and writing.

The overwhelming favorite would seem to be Curb Your Enthusiasm the only nominee in this category up for an Emmy as well. Still part of me does think there’s at least a chance it will go to one or the other. I’m going to go with Shadows more because I like it more than Curb.

Should Win: What We Do In The Shadows.

Will Win: Curb Your Enthusiasm (probably)

 

BEST ACTOR IN A BROADCAST NETWORK OR CABLE COMEDY

This category is fairly open. Larry David and Matt Berry, who were both nominated for Emmys, are the major contenders. However Utkarsh Ambudkar, the surprising winner last year for Ghosts is up again. And I have two sentimental favorites in this category Iain Armitage for Young Sheldon and Dule Hill for The Wonder Years.

Personally I’d like to Hill prevail, not just for his superb work in the cancelled Wonder Years but because he’s acted for more than two decades in so many great shows and never won a thing. But I’m going to give a slight edge to David who (much as he’d hate to acknowledge it) is both the leading contender and sentimental favorite in this category.

Should Win: Hill.

Will Win: David.

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A BROADCAST OR CABLE COMEDY

Oh this hurts. I really would like to see Gina Rodriguez or Marcia Gay Harden win in this category for their cancelled too soon series Not Dead Yet and So Help Me Todd, respectively. My personal preference would be Harden because she’s been part of TV longer.

But I suspect – and really don’t mind – that Quinta Brunson will likely net her third consecutive prize is this category for Abbott Elementary. She might be embarrassed by now at the amount of awards she’s won for Abbott but by now, it’s hard to say she hasn’t earned any of them.

Should Win: Harden.

Will Win: Brunson.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A NETWORK OR CABLE COMEDY

I suspect Tyler James Williams will repeat in this category for his incredible work on Abbott Elementary. I won’t rule out the possibility I could be proven wrong. Chris Perfetti honestly deserves to win more than Williams whose gotten an overwhelming amount of recognition (though not an Emmy) and an argument could be made for Bowen Yang. Still I’ll go with Williams.

Should Win: Williams/Perfetti.

Will Win: Williams.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A NETWORK COMEDY

We might see a surprise here. Last year Sheryl Lee Ralph, the heavy favorite was upset by Danielle Pinnock for Ghosts. And there’s an argument that all three of the women from Abbott more than deserve to win. I’m also of the opinion Annie Potts deserves a trophy for her time on Young Sheldon.

My personal preference this time out is Lisa Ann Walter as she is the only cast member who has yet to get a nomination from the Emmys. I think it’ll probably go to one of her co-stars and I’m leaning towards James.

Should Win: Walter.

Will Win: James/Ralph.

 

BEST WRITING  AND DIRECTING IN A  BROADCAST OR CABLE COMEDY

I’d personally like To see So Help Me Todd win for its writing but I suspect it will go either to Brunson for Abbott Elementary or ‘Funeral’ for Young Sheldon. Similarly for direction I’d like to see Wonder Years win but I suspect it will go either to Abbott or the series finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

 

Now I head on to streaming which I suspect will have fewer surprises.

 

BEST STREAMING COMEDY

You can’t exactly rule out the possibility of an upset here. It’s possible that Hacks, which has dominated these awards the first two years it was on the air will win the grand prize. It could also go to Reservation Dogs which more than deserves to go out on a high note. But I think that, even with the mixed attitude towards season 3, The Bear will continue its winning streak.

Should Win: Reservation Dogs.

Will Win: The Bear

 

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Jeremy Allen White will almost certainly repeat – but in 2022, I was certain that Jason Sudeikis would win his second consecutive award in this category. And he lost to Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building. Then again, White beat Short last year in every award in the book. So let’s assume White continues his march to the Emmy.

Should Win/Will Win: White.

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

This one will be very interesting. Ayo Edebiri has already won every award in the book up to 2022. Then Season 3 of Hacks dropped and Jean Smart took momentum. On the other hand, the last time Smart was up in this category she lost to Selena Gomez for Only Murders In The Building. Look who’s back. And Rachel Brosnahan, last year’s winner in this category, isn’t in it.

This is going to be a tough pick. Five of the nominees in this category are up for Emmys and with the exception of Rudolph, all have a good chance. There’s also a strong argument for Devery Jacobs who many (myself including) thought was robbed of an Emmy nomination for Reservation Dogs. My personal preference would be Jacobs or Jean Smart. I’m going to give the edge to Smart.

Should Win: Jacobs/Smart.

Will Win: Smart.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A STREAMING COMEDY

Ebon Moss-Bachrach has been breezed to the Best Supporting Actor for the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards. However, in both those awards he had the advantage of not competing against two of his co-stars from The Bear. Considering Oliver Platt or Matty Matheson were both ignored by the Emmys, the Astras might be willing to share the love.

My personal preference is Paul W. Downs, whose work as Jimmy on Hacks is one of the most delightful performances on a show of superb performers. I’d also like to see Ricky Martin win for his fine work in Palm Royale. I still think Moss-Bachrach will have enough momentum to prevail in this category – but I’m not sure.

Should Win: Downs.

Will Win: Moss-Bachrach – but they’re all good choices.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

This category has only three corresponding Emmy nominees and having seen all but one of the nominated performers I can make a compelling argument for all of them. Allison Janney and Laura Dern were both wonderful in Palm Royale and since both were ignored by the Emmys they more than deserve to. Abby Elliott was funny and heartbreaking in The Bear and in my personal opinion deserved an Emmy nomination more than Lisa Colon-Zayas. And Meg Stalter should have been nominated. No question.

But ultimately this one’s a no-brainer. Hannah Einbinder tied with Hannah Waddingham in this category in its first year of existence. In its second she won uncontested.  Having seen Season 3, she absolutely deserves to make it three in a row. I hope it will be the springboard to an Emmy this fall.

Should Win: Any Of Them Really.

Will Win: Einbinder.

 

BEST DIRECTING AND WRITING

The Bear wins this hands down for the Fishes episode in writing and very likely directing. I’ll be honest. I’d prefer that Reservation Dogs take at least one award for its series finale and Palm Royale win for Directing. Who knows? Maybe it’ll even happen.

 

BEST GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

This is a tough one as I’m not convinced Jon Bernthal will lock it up immediately. Personally I’d prefer if Bob Odenkirk took the prize and I’d actually like to see Christopher McDonald win for his glowing work on Hacks.  I’ll give Bernthal a slight edge though.

Should Win: McDonald.

Will Win: Bernthal.

 

BEST GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Having seen the work of Christina Hendricks and Kaitlin Olson in Hacks I’m on their side immediately. Tatyana Ali was superb in Abbott Elementary. Da’Vine Hoy Randolph could use her Oscar as a boost for glory. But we all know who this will go to in the end: Jamie Lee Curtis as the mother of all mothers in The Bear.

Should Win: Hendricks.

Will Win: Curtis.

 

Tomorrow I cover all things Limited Series as well as all extraneous awards.