2024 Emmys Predictions: Outstanding 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.

The State of the Race

Unlike dramas, Outstanding Comedy Series and its associated Emmy categories has tons of returning contenders. Coming off of such a winning winter awards season for the FX show, it may be hard to see past “The Bear” getting back-to-back wins, but right now, it does not look like the Chicago set series can do much campaigning.

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What really helped “The Bear” last year was launching the even more critically acclaimed Season 2 right as Emmy nomination voting commenced. With no specific release date for Season 3 announced yet, and the cast busy with the fourth season already, it does not yet look like “The Bear” can deploy the same strategy, meaning some other shows that have been waiting in the wings for the big award for years now have a chance to really push for the win.

Specifically, “Abbott Elementary” and “Hacks” are both shows that have won in the acting and writing categories before, but have left the ceremony as an also-ran in this main Emmy category. Should either show find a way to capture TV Academy members’ attention right as they are voting, there is hope that their third time nominated is the charm.

Both “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Only Murders in the Building” have also been perpetually nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, and therefore would be safe bets. Especially the former, which just ended after 12 seasons spread out over two and a half decades.

In the spirit of longevity, Paramount+ hopes to score its first nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series with its reboot of “Frasier,” which holds the category record for most wins. Though it should be noted that overall, this will be a tougher year for comedies on streamers. “The Gentlemen” and “Gen V” are genuinely hits for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, respectively, but will have trouble finding traction in categories with less nomination slots. Apple TV+, which really broke through in the Comedy categories with “Ted Lasso,” probably has the best shot of voters flocking to its main freshman offering, as the Kristen Wiig-led “Palm Royale” boasts one of the starriest casts of the bunch.

Current Contenders (In Alphabetical Order):
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
“The Bear” (FX)
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
“Frasier” (Paramount+)
“The Gentlemen” (Netflix)
“Gen V” (Prime Video)
“Ghosts” (CBS)
“Girls5eva” (Netflix)
“Hacks” (Max)
“I’m a Virgo” (Prime Video)
“Loot” (Apple TV+)
“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
“Palm Royale” (Apple TV+)
“Reservation Dogs” (FX)
“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 76th Emmy Awards click here.

Last Year’s Winner: “The Bear”
Still Eligible: Yes.
Hot Streak: There are already an assortment of shows that have won Outstanding Comedy Series at least two times in a row, so “The Bear” winning this year would just put it in the same company as some of the greats. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” receiving a nomination though would allow for the HBO series to tie for most nominations in the category. And, long shot, but if “Frasier” on Paramount+ wins, the Kelsey Grammer series would break its own record for most category wins of all time (a record it currently shares with “Modern Family”.)
Notable Ineligible Series: “Ted Lasso” (ended); “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (ended); “Barry” (ended); “Jury Duty” (Season 2 is not eligible); “Wednesday” (Season 2 is not eligible)

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