Before we deal with the
nominations in comedy we must address the elephant in the room – or more
accurately, the animal that isn’t in it.
In what very well may
be a foreshadowing of things to come The Bear, not only the biggest
winner at the Emmys last year and one of the bigger winners at last year’s
Critics Choice Awards, has almost no presence this year with just one
nomination.
This is not, as some
might argue, the fact that the Critics are having doubts about whether the show
deserves to be classified as a comedy but rather the consensus about the disappointing
nature of the third season overall. The
show’s defenders might want to argue that this is merely a case of newer series
taking over various spots – to which I would point out two of last year’s major
contenders as well as two other series that have done very well with the
Critics Choice in previous years are very well represented and I don’t
think anyone will question whether Season 4 of Abbott Elementary has
dipped so far this year.
Whether this is an
anomaly may become clearer with the Golden Globe nominations on Monday. On the
plus side this gap has led to opportunities for new faces as well as the certainty
of new winners in at least three of the acting categories in play.
Now let’s deal with the
actual nominees in comedy – which any neutral party will argue are very well
done.
OUTSTANDING COMEDY
SERIES
I seriously doubt
anyone will argue that Hacks, Abbott Elementary, Only Murders in the Building or What We Do
In The Shadows don’t deserve to be here. Now let’s marvel at the four
newcomers to this category.
First welcome praise to
the Critics Choice for recognizing in its farewell season the sublime Somebody
Somewhere. And having seen all of original episodes of both series I’m elated
to see English Teacher and St. Denis Medical among the major
contenders. I’m honestly more impressed by the latter, though as you’ll see the
Critics still acknowledge network comedy is great. I have yet to see Nobody
Wants This but I will correct that start next week. No notes.
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A
COMEDY SERIES
For the first time in
four years we are guaranteed to see a new winner in this category. Jeremy Allan
White, the deserving winner the past two seasons for The Bear is not
here and with Ted Lasso over (at least for now) Jason Sudeikis who won
the previous two years isn’t eligible either.
Steve Martin and Martin
Short more than deserve to be here as does Kayvan Novak for What We Do In
the Shadows. Brian Jordan Alvarez has more than earned his spot for The
English Teacher and I’m overjoyed to see David Alan Grier here for St.
Denis Medical. For now, I will
assume Adam Brody deserves to be here to. Again no notes.
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN
A COMEDY
Overjoyed to see the
wondrous Bridget Everett here for the second consecutive year for Somebody
Somewhere and while I really want here to win, I’m sure she’s fine just
being nominated.
But who wouldn’t be
among this company? Quinta Brunson and Jean Smart will face off for the second
time in three years. Natasia Demetriou is back for What We Do In The Shadows.
And the Critics Choice have more than surpassed the number of qualified Kristens
for this category: Bell for Nobody Wants This and Wiig for Palm
Royale. I won’t deny I would have
liked to see Selena Gomez here instead of Demetriou but Wiig and Everett overcome
all sins.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
IN A COMEDY
Again we will see a new
winner in this category as Ebon-Moss Bachrach, Henry Winkler and Brett
Goldstein, the winners in this category during the decade so far are either
ineligible or not-nominated.
Two of my all-time
favorites, Tyler James Williams and Paul W. Downs for Hacks are facing
off. Harvey Guillen, one of the most beloved co-stars of Shadows is in
the hunt again. Brandon Scott Jones has earned his share of love for Ghosts and
I’ll allow for Asher Grodman.
I don’t have a problem
with a nominee from Shrinking in this category so much as I’m a little
surprised its Michael Urie rather than Harrison Ford. Take nothing away from
Urie – he may have been the most undervalued member of the cast – but I’d have
like to see Ford. Oh well.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING
ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
We will definitely see
a different winner in this category as Sheryl Lee Ralph was not nominated for Abbott
and neither was Meryl Streep the previous years winner. And it’s a pretty
good group.
Lisa Colon-Zayas is the
only nominee of The Bear here and given that she may have starred in the
one episode that everyone liked I can’t argue with it. Janelle James is back in
the ranks as is Hannah Einbinder who really deserves a win. Annie Potts has
been in this category a couple of times for Young Sheldon and I’m
thrilled to see Stephanie Koenig here for her delightful work in English
Teacher. I will see Agatha All Along eventually but I have to say Patti
LuPone’s choice over, say, Aubrey Plaza seems a little odd.
GLARING OMISSIONS
Aside from The Bear I
think the strangest ones involve the lack of contenders from Shrinking or
Palm Royale. I would have thought that Jason Segel would be back for the
former and I expected Carol Burnett back for the latter. Aside from that this
will be one of the more competitive groups of the night and while I have my suspicions
as to what will win the top prize, I’m not certain on any of the acting ones.
Tomorrow I will wrap
things up with Best Limited Series and TV Movie along with my opinions on whatever
remains. I will say that strictly speaking for Limited Series, once again the
Critics have more than outdone the Emmys almost across the board.
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