2022 Emmys: Comedy Supporting Actress

By: Christopher James

Hannah Waddingham hopes to win a second consecutive Emmy for her work in "Ted Lasso."What happens when winners collide? The Comedy Supporting Actress race is loaded with three past winners this year. Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham looks to repeat last year’s win for season two of the hit Apple TV+ program. Meanwhile, both Alex Borstein (Marvelous Mrs Maisel) and Kate McKinnon (SNL) could add a third Emmy trophy to their mantle. McKinnon took home the prize in both 2016 and 2017, with Borstein following in 2018 and 2019. 

As powerful as these three are, it would be unwise to count out the newcomers. Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph contend for the first season of Abbott Elementary, while Sarah Niles enters the race for her first appearance on Ted Lasso. Both Hannah Einbender and Juno Temple also earned their second consecutive nomination for their roles in Hacks and Ted Lasso, respectively. Who will take home the gold? Let’s break down the race...

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

• Alex Borstein - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - Episode: “Everything is Bellmore” (Season 4, Episode 3)

  • Description (IMDB): Midge runs into an old friend at work. Susie finds out she has a close friend. Abe's job gets personal. Rose's matchmaking business draws attention.

• Hannah Einbinder - Hacks - Episode: “The Captain’s Wife” (Season 2, Episode 4)

  • Description (IMDB): While Deb struggles to connect with her audience on a cruise, Ava finds herself an unexpected hit.

• Janelle James - Abbott Elementary - Episode: “Ava vs. the Superintendent” (Season 1, Episode 12)

  • Description (IMDB): With the school board threatening to pull their funds, Janine and Gregory decide to help Ava with her presentation; their plan is derailed when a curveball is thrown; Barbara offends Melissa when she doesn't agree with her blackmail idea.

• Kate McKinnon - Saturday Night Live - Episode: “Host: Natasha Lyonne” (Season 47, Episode 21)

  • Description (IMDB): Host Natasha Lyonne; Japanese Breakfast performs.

• Sarah Niles - Ted Lasso - Episode: “Headspace” (Season 2, Episode 7)

  • Description (IMDB): With things turning around for Richmond, it's time for everyone to work on their issues - like Ted's discomfort, Nate's confidence and Roy's attention.

• Sheryl Lee Ralph - Abbott Elementary - Episode: “New Tech” (Season 1, Episode 4)

  • Description (IMDB): When a new computer program is introduced at Abbott, Janine is excited to finally help Barbara with something; Barbara is reluctant to accept change and finds herself in a tricky situation; Melissa surprises Jacob.

• Juno Temple - Ted Lasso - Episode: “Midnight Train to Royston” (Season 2, Episode 11)

  • Description (IMDB): A billionaire football enthusiast from Ghana makes Sam an unbelievable offer. Ted plans something special for Dr. Sharon's last day with the team.

• Hannah Waddingham - Ted Lasso - Episode: “No Weddings and a Funeral” (Season 2, Episode 10)

  • Description (IMDB): Rebecca is stunned by a sudden loss. The team rallies to show their support, but Ted finds himself grappling with a piece of his past.

Analysis: It’s the incumbent’s prize to lose. Last year, Hannah Waddingham won the Emmy for her role as Rebecca, the owner of AFC Richmond who had a nefarious plan to hire an unseasoned American football coach to lead her team so she could destroy it. Waddingham had fun playing the villain, but was able to dramatize the hurt and pain underneath her actions that made her a real human. In season two, we have a new, much sunnier Rebecca. Her submitted episode, “No Weddings and a Funeral,” also earned nominations for Directing and Writing this year, so it's a favourite episode of the show's second season. Rebecca must work through the complicated emotions she had towards her Father as she attends his funeral. A beautifully melancholic rendition of “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley is one of her standout moments. Waddingham probably would’ve been able to win on Ted Lasso love alone, but having a dynamite submission nearly secures her win. 

"Abbott Elementary" fans could push Janelle James to a win in this category.I say “nearly” because there is still some fierce competition. Under the tape system, it would be hard to bet against Janelle James. Yes, she stole scenes in every episode of Abbott Elementary, making her the show’s breakout player. However, her episode takes her comic relief character to a new level, giving her depth and redemption on top of brilliant one-liners. Not only does James radiate pizzaz, but she rises to the occasion in a stand-off with the superintendent and comes off as an unexpected hero. Waddingham goes for the drama, but if voters want pure laughs, then James could walk away with the win.

Shows with multiple nominees typically have to coalesce around a frontrunner if they want to succeed. When episode submissions were the primary factor for determining a win, a performance could get an upper hand if their co-stars submitted an episode that they were also heavily featured in. With Waddingham and James the frontrunners for their shows, that means that the nomination is probably the reward for Sarah Niles, Juno Temple and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Niles elevated Season Two of Ted Lasso, as Dr. Sharon, who helps Ted cope with trauma from his childhood. She's a calming presence that took the show in a different direction, but by design her character doesn’t have the fireworks that typically lead to awards. Similarly, Juno Temple is always a welcome presence as bubbly PR executive Keeley, and her episode highlights Keeley’s business savvy. Yet, it’s not enough to dethrone fellow co-star Hannah Waddingham. Meanwhile, Sheryl Lee Ralph wrings pure gold out of her submission, where her character struggles to understand new classroom technology. Ralph is strong enough that she could siphon votes away from Janelle James, which could hurt the latter's chances for a surprise win.

Watch out for Hannah Einbinder, though. Hacks only rose in popularity in season two with more Emmy nominations. Einbinder’s Ava has been the subject of much debate. By design sge can come off as grating or entitled. However, her submission “The Captain’s Wife” allows her to show the carefree side of her character when she lets her hair down on a lesbian cruise. One of the final moments of the episode finds Ava in a dingy when her molly hits and she uncomfortably dances on her boss, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). The Hacks contingent could theoretically eke out a win for Einbinder, especially in a competitive field.

The other two previous winners have phoned it in with their submission episodes, and their shows have grown cold in terms of Emmys momentum. Borstein has a beautiful monologue in “Everything is Bellmore,” when she eulogizes her friend. Unfortunately, not much else happens for her in the episode and Suzie continually has less to do with each season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. McKinnon could’ve had an awards narrative submitting her final episode ever on Saturday Night Live. However, the Emmy winning star never gets enough of a proper sendoff. She hashilarious energy as Ms. Rafferty, an alien abductee, in the cold open. After this though, she's mostly absent for the rest of the episode.

Will Win: Hannah Waddingham - Ted Lasso
Should Win: Janelle James - Abbott Elementary
Spoiler: Janelle James - Abbott Elementary OR Hannah Einbinder - Hacks

Who do you think will win and who are you rooting for?

MORE ANALYSIS

• Supporting Actress - Limited Series
• Supporting Actress - Drama
• Guest Acting - Comedy
• Guest Acting - Drama

• Writing/Directing - Limited Series or Anthology
• Writing/Directing -  Comedy Series
• Writing/Directing - Drama Series 

Comments

[Andrew Carden]

My gut say it's James, though Waddingham could repeat. Don't think the others have a real prayer, unless HACKS is taking Comedy Series, in which case Einbinder may be along for the ride.

[Finbar McBride]

I am an enthusiastic member of Team Einbinder. While I failed to engage with the actress in the first season of Hacks, I thought Ava Daniels was hilarious on the cruise ship, touching in the release of her father’s ashes, and deeply affecting in the season finale. Einbinder deserves the prize for both her excellence and her improvement.

[thevoid99]

I think Waddington is going to win but I really hope Juno Temple wins as I thought she was great in that season as I see Waddington more as a co-lead.

[NATHANIEL R]

I can see the reasoning behind Einbinder or James as spoilers though in the case of Einbinder I really cant approve. Yes, she's aces on the show but that is a true undeniable leading role. So i couldn't vote for her. I would love Temple to win (i think she's doing the best work of her career on that show) becasue i believe in spreading the wealth but I actually dont think Waddingham is going to win. I'm thinking James takes it.

but honestly i'd be thrilled with half of them winning. The only disappointments would be Einbinder (death to category fraud!) McKinnon (over rewarded) Borstein (overrewarded), or Waddingham. The latter I love love love on Ted Lasso but i'v never understood the need to give people multiple Emmys for the same role unless nobody else is working on that level ... and that so rarely ever happens. James, Ralph, Temple, and Niles are all doing incredible things with their roles.

[Peggy Sue]

I'll deny having said it but I think I prefer the guys in the male category.

Einbinder is a lead-lead so Juno Temple gets my vote.

Jenifer Lewis would have been a worthy nominee for I Love That for You.

[jules]

I haven't yet watched Abbott Elementary or Ted Lasso, but I'm glad we've moved beyond awarding Alex Borstein for Mrs. Maisel - the most annoying performance in an extremely annoying show. I am still angry that she somehow managed to beat Betty Gilpin for the final season of Glow and Olivia Colman and Sian Clifford for Fleabag.

[NATHANIEL R]

Peggy Sue -- yes to Jenifer Lewis. I dont understand why people didn't rave about I LOVE THAT FOR YOU. Was it the timing, at the tail end of the season with the glut of programming. she's wondrous in that with tons of juicy material. My list would have been like so...

ERSKINE - Pen15
JAMES - abbot elementary
LEWIS - I love that for you
RALPH - abbot elementary
SHANNON - i love that for you OR the other two OR both (is both allowed at the Emmys?)
TEMPLE - ted lasso
WADDINGHAM - ted lasso

and for the final spot i've have to choose between Sarah Niles on Ted Lasso, Meg Stalter on Hacks and whoever else I'm forgetting.

[TomG]

Personally I would vote for Sheryl Lee Ralph.

[Fabio Dantas Flappers]

Hannah Einbinder!!!!!
So great as Smart in "Hacks".