Experts slugfest: Can anything beat ‘The Bear’ in the Emmy comedy categories?
“The Bear” cooked up a record-breaking 10 Emmy wins for its first season and it feels all but certain that it will nab a bookend Best Comedy Series statuette in September — not to mention go 7/7. But what has the best chance of taking it down? Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng are here to discuss the top-heavy comedy field… and the rise of “The Gentlemen”?
“Hacks,” returning for its third season on May 2 after missing last year’s eligibility, and “Abbott Elementary” are second and third in the odds behind “The Bear.” Each also stars the most recent Best Comedy Actress winners, Jean Smart (2021, 2022) and reigning champ Quinta Brunson, respectively. While “Hacks” Season 3 is yet to be seen, “Abbott” has returned with a bang with its shortened third season, due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes. The ABC sitcom didn’t explode in nominations for its second season as expected — and was snubbed in a category, writing, that it won in 2022 — but it be runner-up here over a show that sat out a year and might not return as strongly with voters?
SEE Experts slugfest: Our first 2024 Emmy nominations predictions
Meanwhile, the final two slots in comedy series is tough to fill out after the consensus six — or maybe not? “Reservation Dogs” has risen to seventh place. The FX series, which ended last year with its third season, is a critical hit but has only one nomination to its name thus far. Apple TV+’s “Palm Royale,” which premiered last week, is in the eighth spot, but “The Gentlemen” is right on its heels. Since moving to comedy last week, the Guy Ritchie hit, enjoying its third week as Netflix’s top show with 11.7 million views, has surged to ninth place. Will it be the populist nominee of the year?
Elsewhere, we discuss Leslie Bibb running Kristen Wiig‘s Emmy campaign, if Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown”) and Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”) should go lead, and “Euphoria’s” Season 3 delay.
Email your questions to slugfests@goldderby.com.
Timestamps:
Intro and “The Gentlemen” keeps rising (0:00)
Is “Hacks” or “Abbott Elementary” No. 2 to “The Bear”? (10:47)
Now or never for Selena Gomez? (17:31)
The final comedy actor spot (25:30)
Can Sheryl Lee Ralph win again? (32:37)
Comedy supporting actor coattails (45:21)
Listener questioners (49:37)
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