“Ted Lasso” looks for a third consecutive Emmy win for Outstanding Comedy Series against other major contenders that are ending like “Maisel” and “Barry,” as well as rising newcomers like “Abbott Elementary” and “The Bear.”
We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2023 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 15 to June 26, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 12. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be presented over two consecutive nights on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, with an edited presentation of the ceremonies to be broadcast on FXX at a later date. Finally, the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards take place on Monday, September 18, and air live on FOX at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.
The State of the Race
Though it is unlikely that heavy hitter “Hacks” (HBO Max) will be back in time to be eligible for this year’s Emmys, given Jean Smart needing to take some time away from production to recover from a heart procedure, the Outstanding Comedy Series race has not gotten any less competitive.
“Ted Lasso” Season 3 being the two-time winner’s final one is the headline news, and definitely sets the widely popular Apple TV+ sports comedy up for another year of awards success, but in its one and a half year absence, fellow Emmy winner “Abbott Elementary” has really ascended. This winter, the ABC sitcom won the Golden Globe, the Critics Choice Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Comedy. Its wins last year for Supporting Actress and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series were also highlights of the night that left a positive impression on many TV Academy voters.
Still, the network TV hit is a rarity, and it is more likely that the race will be dominated by streaming series. Hulu has tightened its grip on the Comedy race, propelled forward by its working relationship with FX Networks, so expect “Only Murders in the Building” and “The Great” to get some more Emmys love alongside newcomer “The Bear,” arguably the biggest hit of last summer.
Netflix gets the award for most improved, entering the Comedy race with not only the blockbuster series “Wednesday,” but a couple critical favorites like 2022 AFI Award winner “Mo” and SXSW premiere “Beef.” Peacock also has its biggest contender ever in the form of starry mystery series “Poker Face” created by four-time Emmy nominee Natasha Lyonne and two-time Oscar nominee Rian Johnson.
It should be noted though that the upcoming fifth season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is also the 2018 Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy winner’s swan song, so if creator Amy Sherman-Palladino saved the best for last, the Amazon Prime Video series could be bookended by Emmy wins.
Current Contenders (In Alphabetical Order):
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
“Atlanta” (FX)
“Barry” (HBO)
“The Bear” (FX)
“Beef” (Netflix)
“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
“Reservation Dogs” (FX)
“Ted Lasso” (Apple TV+)
“The Great” (Hulu)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Mo” (Netflix)
“Poker Face” (Peacock)
“Shrinking” (Apple TV+)
“Wednesday” (Netflix)
“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)
More Comedy Category Predictions:
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
To see IndieWire’s full set of predictions for the 75th Emmy Awards click here.
Last Year’s Winner: “Ted Lasso”
Still Eligible: Yes.
Hot Streak: Should “Ted Lasso” score a third consecutive Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy, it would not break any major records, but it would put the Apple TV+ hit in the same league as other beloved sitcoms like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Taxi,” and “30 Rock,” which also won the category three times in a row.
Notable Ineligible Series: “Hacks” (Season 3 was not eligible); “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Season 12 was not eligible); “Black-ish” (ended)
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