Emmy season is here, and predictor and awards enthusiasts are already placing their bets, favoring some shows while actively neglecting others. The past year delivered some genuinely gripping and engaging television, so the Academy has an embarrassment of riches to choose from for this year's ceremony.
Outstanding Comedy Series is one of the most competitive categories every year, and 2022 isn't the exception. From breakout shows like Abbott Elementary to returning hits like Barry, this year's comedy contenders prove why this is still a golden age for television. The folks at GoldDerby are on top of things, combining the odds of their Experts and Top Users and providing some clarity to the otherwise hectic category.
10 The Flight Attendant
Kaley Cuoco returned in season 2 of The Flight Attendant, reprising her role as the troubled but resourceful Cassie Bowden. The show's sophomore effort finds her involved in a new mystery that involves a mysterious doppelgånger committing crimes in a convoluted effort to frame her.
The Flight Attendant season 2 received positive reviews from critics, with major praise for Cuoco's career-best performance. The show lacked the same attention it received for season 1, so a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series might be less likely. Cuoco is the show's best bet at some Emmy love though.
9 Reservation Dogs
Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, Reservation Dogs is a groundbreaking series featuring an all-Indigenous writing and directing team, plus a nearly all-Indigenous cast and production team. The plot follows a group of four Indigenous teenagers committing crimes in Oklahoma while planning their eventual move to California.
FX's Reservation Dogs' cast of likable characters and sharp writing earned it critical acclaim. Major praise went to its subversive tone, dark jokes, and Indigenous-specific commentary and humor. The show has already won a Peabody Award and secured nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards, so an Emmy nomination isn't out of the question.
8 What We Do In The Shadows
Waititi has another horse in the race with What We Do In The Shadows, based on his and Jemaine Clement's film of the same name. One of the best ongoing dark comedy shows on television, What We Do in the Shadows follows a group of vampire roommates living in Staten Island.
Critically acclaimed for its writing and performances, the show already received an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination in 2020 for its second season. It should have no problem returning to the ceremony, but competition is stiff, and the Emmys might favor other higher-profile shows.
7 Atlanta
Donald Glover's biting and relevant comedy series Atlanta follows a musical manager and a rapper navigating the chaotic Atlanta rap scene. The show, which also stars Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, and Zazie Beetz, explores racial and societal issues through humor and surrealism.
Atlanta has received critical acclaim throughout its run and previous seasons received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. Season 3 received further positive reviews, becoming one of the most acclaimed TV comedies of 2022, but garnered a more divisive response for its standalone episodes, which didn't feature the core four. Low viewership also makes its Emmy prospects more uncertain.
6 Abbott Elementary
The undeniable breakout comedy of the 2022 season, Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary sitcom about a group of teachers at a fictional Black school in Philadelphia. It stars an ensemble cast led by Quinta Brunson, who also created the show, including Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Already renewed for season 2, Abbott Elementary received critical acclaim, with praise for its writing and ensemble cast. The show also attracted high viewership numbers, which bodes well for its Emmy prospects. Competition is stiff, but if any show deserves the nomination, it's this one.
5 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Emmy darling The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel returned for a fourth season after a two-year absence. The show continues the titular character's story and her efforts to become a successful stand-up comic.
Starring Rachel Brosnahan in her breakout role, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is an Emmys juggernaut, winning the Outstanding Comedy Series award for its first season and securing nominations for its second and third. Reception to season 4 was more lukewarm than anticipated, but the show is still in a healthy position to secure a nomination, even if its chances of winning are slim.
4 Only Murders In The Building
The surprise hit of 2021 was Only Murders in the Building, starring the inspired trifecta of Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. The show follows a trio of amateur sleuths that begin a podcast where they try to solve the murder of a fellow tenant in their prestigious Manhattan building.
Hulu's Only Murders in the Building received acclaim, particularly for Martin, Short, and Gomez's performances. The show returns for season 2 on June 28, meaning it will be streaming again during Emmy voting. Its chances of securing a nomination are stronger than ever.
3 Barry
Three years after season 2, HBO's Barry returned for a third entry, perhaps its best effort to date. Created by, starring, and primarily written and directed by Bill Hader, the show follows a former hit man who joins an acting class in Los Angeles.
More a tragicomedy filled with dark humor than a laugh-out-loud comedy, Barry might be the dark horse of the category. Praised for its subversive blend of heavy and unsettling themes with dark humor, Barry will have one of the strongest showings out of any show at this year's ceremony, and it could have a chance at victory.
2 Hacks
Television icon Jean Smart stars alongside Hannah Einbender in HBO Max's Hacks. The show follows a legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedian who must reinvent her act to avoid losing her residency, forcing her to join forces with a young and struggling writer.
Hacks season 1 earned rave reviews and won Smart the Lead Actress Emmy at last year's ceremony. Season 2 received further acclaim, cementing its position as a leading contender for this year's Outstanding Comedy Series. Should the love for Ted Lasso wane, Hacks could be a viable option to claim the night's top comedy prize.
1 Ted Lasso
Going into Emmy season, the question on everyone's minds is: can any show stop Ted Lasso? Apple TV+'s hit about an optimistic yet inexperienced college football coach trying to lead an English soccer team was a success from the get-go. Ted Lasso received acclaim for the performances of its cast, tone, writing, and warmth; its second season delivered more of the cheery humor that made it famous, attracting further critical acclaim.
Ted Lasso is the overwhelming favorite to claim the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy in what would be its second consecutive victory in the category. And while there are several other worthy contenders, none might be strong enough to rain on Ted's parade.
Many comedy series are in contention for this year's Emmys, but only a few will get the coveted nomination in the next ceremony.David Caballero