Fearless Emmy Nomination Advice, 2019 Edition:  Comedy Series

The following are my suggested nominees in the Comedy Series categories, along with a few pertinent notes.  Drama Series and Limited Series and Made-for-Television Movie nominees follow.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Barry (HBO)  This isn’t one of my favorite comedies, but its second season included my favorite episode of series television this year to date: “Ronny/Lily,” in which Barry’s latest gig goes radically wrong … and then the intended victim’s scary teenage daughter shows up.  A savage good time.

Better Things (FX)  Much to my surprise, the departure of disgraced co-creator Louis C.K. made a very good show even better in its third season.

black-ish (ABC)  The only broadcast comedy that I think will receive a nomination, and the only one brave enough to consistently take on topical issues with the boldness of a Norman Lear sitcom.

The Kominsky Method (Netflix)  Doesn’t stand a chance against Mrs. Maisel or Veep, but this humorous meditation on aging among those in Hollywood who do not have to worry about health-care costs makes clear that broadcast sitcom master Chuck Lorre can do equally fine work on streaming platforms.  More please.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)  Only a fool would suggest that Amazon's  Maisel or HBO's Veep (pictured above) will not walk away with the top prize come September.  But which one will it be?  That’s impossible to call.  I’m leaning toward the former, because the latter was a little too toxic for my taste, especially at the last, while Maisel was mostly magical throughout.

Schitt’s Creek (Pop)  The most underappreciated comedy on television finally picked up steam (and significant buzz) during its fifth season – just in time for the announcement that’s its sixth season (likely to debut in 2020) will be it’s last.  Dang!

Veep (HBO)  See Maisel above.

Don’t count out The Good Place (NBC),Russian Doll (Netflix) or GLOW (Netflix).

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson – black-ish (ABC)

Don Cheadle – Black Monday (Showtime)

Ted Danson – The Good Place (NBC)

Michael Douglas – The Kominsky Method (Netflix)

Bill Hader – Barry (HBO)

Ramy Youssef –Ramy (Hulu)

Don’t count out William H. Macy (Shameless, Showtime) or Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Pamela Adlon – Better Things (FX)

Christina Applegate – Dead to Me (Netflix)

Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)

Allison Janney – Mom (CBS)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep (HBO)

Natasha Lyonne – Russian Doll (Netflix)

Don’t count out Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish, ABC) or Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Amazon)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Alan Arkin – The Kominsky Method (Netflix)

Tony Hale – Veep (HBO)

Dan Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)

Andrew Rannells – Black Monday (Showtime)

Keenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO)

Don’t count out Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix), Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek, Pop), James Marsden (Dead to Me, Netflix) or Tony Shaloub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Alex Borstein –The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)

Anna Chlumsky –Veep (HBO)

Leslie Jones –Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Kate McKinnon –Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Laurie Metcalf –The Conners (ABC)

Rita Moreno –One Day at a Time (Netflix)

Don’t count out Aidy Bryant(Saturday Night Live, NBC), Olivia Colman (Fleabag, Amazon) or Betty Gilpin (GLOW, Netflix)

Click the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleagues.

The opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author and/or subject(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage.com/MyersBizNet, Inc. management or associated writers.