2024 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

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 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.

Click on for more of our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

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The State of the Race

Not only are Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series contenders Lionel Boyce and Ebon Moss-Bacharach on the current reigning Outstanding Comedy Series winner, instantly putting them on voters’ radars, they also both got memorable episodes spotlighting their characters in the second season of the FX series.

To go even further, it can be argued that because Season 2 aired as Emmy nomination voting was happening last year, Moss-Bacharach’s iconic Taylor Swift singalong (among other scenes) are what really helped him win this category earlier this year on behalf of his Season 1 performance.

As we saw year after year with “Ted Lasso,” if voters love a show, it’s all hands on deck nominations-wise, but the only other truly conceivable “The Bear” contender is Oliver Platt, mostly because he’s already had five Primetime Emmy nominations already. Co-star Matty Matheson is great too, but seems happy to just be along for the ride rather than vying for some acting trophies.

Among the category contenders, “Abbott Elementary” star Tyler James Williams and “Saturday Night Live” star Bowen Yang stick out as candidates who have been previously nominated, and have grown even more into their roles since. Chris Perfetti and Kenan Thompson, their respective co-stars, are not to be counted out as well, but it’s the former who has more to point to as far as why they should be nominated for their most recent season.

“Only Murders in the Building” has never had one of its stars nominated in this specific category, and aired nearly a year ago, so star Paul Rudd has a bit of an uphill battle. And “Hacks” has been nominated before, but its third season pulled back from Marcus, the character that earned Carl Clemons-Hopkins, the actor that made it into this category for Season 1, and put more of a focus on Jimmy, show co-creator Paul W. Downs’ role that has yet to earn him an acting Emmy nomination.

Predicted Nominees:
Lionel Boyce, “The Bear” (FX)
Ebon Moss-Bacharach, “The Bear” (FX)
Chris Perfetti, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Oliver Platt, “The Bear” (FX)
Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Contenders:
Paul W. Downs, “Hacks” (Max)
Paul Rudd, “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
J.B. Smoove, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)

Also Consider This:
Tom Bateman, “Based on a True Story” (Peacock)
Eugenio Derbez, “Acapulco” (Apple TV+)
Brandon Scott Jones, “Ghosts” (CBS)

More Comedy Category Predictions:
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

View IndieWire’s full set of predictions for the 76th Emmy Awards.

Last Year’s Winner: Ebon Moss-Bacharach, “The Bear”
Still Eligible: Yes.
Hot Streak: Should Ebon Moss-Bacharach win, it would not set any records, but if “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson were nominated, it would extend his record as the most nominated star of the late night comedy series in this category. If Thompson were left off, but co-star Bowen Yang still got a nomination, it would tie said record.
Notable Ineligible Series: Brett Goldstein and Phil Dunster, “Ted Lasso” (ended); Henry Winkler and Anthony Carrigan, “Barry” (ended); James Marsden, “Jury Duty” (Season 2 is not eligible)

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