The Film Experience

Our team is breaking down the top contenders in all the major Emmy races and highlighting some of our favorites over the next few weeks. Today, we’re looking at Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

How many men from "Ted Lasso" can earn nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series?

By: Christopher James

In terms of precursors and returning nominees, we are flying blind with Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, which is exciting. We only have one returning eligible performer this year (Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live). Both the SAG and Golden Globe Awards didn’t nominate a single still-eligible comedy supporting actor performance. Both went all-in on Schitt’s Creek and last year’s winner, Dan Levy. The Critics Choice TV Awards pointed out some dark horse favorites that could have a shot in this wide open category. However, this is a wide open category that will likely be a key place where new shows can demonstrate their strength and rack up nominations. Shows like Ted Lasso and The Flight Attendant could make a big splash here, or the Emmys could just nominate a majority of the Saturday Night Live cast.

Read on to see who is in contention this year...

Kenan Thompson could earn his third consecutive Emmy nomination this year.

The Returning Nominees
Kenan Thompson is the only eligible returning nominee. Saturday Night Live has done very well in the supporting categories since cast members were allowed starting in 2008. Since then, 24 performers from SNL have been nominated in the supporting categories, though 75% of them were in Supporting Actress. This would be Thompson’s third consecutive nomination in this category. Additionally, now that Kenan has his own show (Kenan), he’s got even more of a narrative to earn recognition from the Emmys. It’s possible he could even win, becoming only the third SNL performer to win in Supporting (after Kate McKinnon and Alec Baldwin).

Brett Goldstein could be one of many men nominated for "Ted Lasso" in this category.

Freshman Series Supporting Players
Ted Lasso is expected to be the frontrunner in the comedy categories at the Emmys this year. So how many acting nominations can it get? As the gruff soccer player Roy Kent, Brett Goldstein is probably the biggest lock in this category from the first season of the Apple TV+ comedy. Still, there are plenty of other scene stealers that could also find themselves nominated, depending on how much the Emmys love the show. As Ted’s unflappable assistant Coach Beard, Brendan Hunt manages to wring laughs out of audiences with just a look. Other than Ted, the beating heart of the show is Nick Mohammed as Nathan, a shy kit man with a passion for soccer that is nurtured by Ted. Both men could ride the coattails of the show’s passion to nominations.

Similarly, if The Flight Attendant does well on Emmys morning, it could also net multiple supporting actor nominations. Michael Huisman stands a chance for his role as Alex Sokolov, the mysterious dead man Kaley Cuoco’s Cassie wakes up next to. Huisman’s Alex appears to Cassie in dream sequences that people either love or hate. Or it might be Grey’s Anatomy alum T.R. Knight who represents The Flight Attendant in this category. As Cassie’s exasperated gay brother, Davey, Knight isn’t exactly funny, but he's the emotional core to the show.

If Emmy voters want to nominate one of their favorite actors, they could go with Ray Romano from HBO Max’s Made for Love. Romano plays Herbert Green, our lead character’s Father who now lives in a committed relationship with a sex doll. The show may be too strange for Emmys taste, but the Everybody Loves Raymond star could still get in on good will. Similarly, Miami Vice star Don Johnson could return to the Emmys for his role in Kenan.

Bowen Yang will likely be the newest "Saturday Night Live" cast member to receive an Emmy nomination.

Coattails From Emmy Favorites
When there are many vacancies in an Emmy category, it’s always best to assume the Emmys will fill them with performances from shows they are already fans of. This is how shows like Barry can get up to three performances nominated in one category. With seven new slots to fill, some old favorites will show up. 2018 was the only year two SNL cast members were nominated in Supporting Actor (Thompson and Alec Baldwin), while Supporting Actress has seen two years with three SNL nominees (2017 - 2018). The cast member most likely to break into this category if they choose more than just Kenan Thompson, is Bowen Yang, who has been the breakout star of this season. With strong characters like Fran Liebowitz and the Titanic iceberg, among others, Yang has become the reason to watch SNL. If voters really want to stack the category with SNL cast members, Pete Davidson could possibly fill a third slot.

The Kominski Method has earned nominations for Alan Arkin the past two years. Unfortunately, Arkin left the show for the third season, leaving a vacancy for the Emmys to fill. Netflix’s comedy is expected to return to Comedy Series and Lead Actor, so it makes sense that Paul Reiser could take Arkin’s usual spot in the lineup.

Fellow Comedy Series nominee black-ish could use the wide open category to finally get Laurence Fishburne an Emmy nominee as Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) lothario father. It’s clear that the Emmys are watching the show, even if it received fewer nominations last year. Plus, being a respected, famous actor always helps.

The Critics Choice Awards cited William Fichtner from Mom and Andrew Rannells from Black Monday this year. Both Mom and Black Monday have earned Emmy nominations before, but only for their famous leads, Allison Janney and Don Cheadle, respectively. This suggests voters are more loyal to the performers than the shows, which hurts both Fichtner and Rannells’ chances.

If they are nominated, Alex Newell will be the first gender nonconforming performer nominated for an Emmy acting award.

Potential Breakthroughs
Alex Newell could make history as the first open, gender nonconfirming nominee in an Emmy acting category. The Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist actor plays Mo, Zoey’s landlord turned best friend who also identifies as genderfluid. Both the performance and narrative warrant awards attention (and helped Newell land a Critics Choice nomination). However, it remains to be seen whether voters are watching Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which was just cancelled by NBC and not picked up by Peacock. Newell's co-star Skylar Astin also contends in this category.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist isn’t the only NBC comedy hoping for Emmy success in its final season. Superstore concluded its six year run this past year. Nico Santos has been a standout on the show for most of its run and has earned multiple Critics Choice awards in the process. If the Emmys wanted to finally recognize the show in its final season, this is likely where it would happen.

Finally, don’t count out Apple TV+, which has been doing a hard push for all of their comedies, including Mythic Quest, which has a devoted fan base. The recent second season won the show many more fans (and potentially some Emmy votes). Community star Danny Pudi could finally receive an Emmy nomination; however, he likely isn’t the best shot from Mythic Quest. Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham has surprised at the Emmys before, earning two nominations for Homeland. His name recognition could convince people to watch the show and vote for him. In such a wide open field, name recognition can definitely help.

PREDICTIONS

Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live
Bowen Yang - Saturday Night Live
Brett Goldstein - Ted Lasso
Brendan Hunt - Ted Lasso
Alex Newell - Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Nick Mohammed - Ted Lasso
Paul Reiser - The Kominski Method
F. Murray Abraham - Mythic Quest

Who are you rooting for in Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series this year?

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