The 74th Emmy Awards Ceremony is just a couple of months away, and I can’t wait to find out the winners. As always, the competition is pretty intense in the Comedy Series category. The nominees’ list looks pretty intriguing because each show is so different from the other. So without further ado, let’s jump right into it.
The Emmy nominees for the Outstanding Comedy Series in 2022 are:
- Ted Lasso
- What We Do in the Shadows
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Barry
- Only Murders in the Building
- Hacks
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Abbott Elementary
1Ted Lasso
While Season 1 of Ted Lasso won this award last year, it’d be interesting to see if history repeats itself. Like with most shows, Season 2 didn’t feel as good as Season 1. The narrative wasn’t moving forward, and the episodes seemed disjointed.
However, Season 2 had a significant amount of emotional depth. The writers built up the different characters by depicting their various layers. So, overall, the show deserves to be a nominee this year as well.
2What We Do in the Shadows
What We Do in the Shadows is perhaps the most hysterical show on this roster. The vampiric mockumentary seems to never run out of absurd premises, which somehow make sense to us on a comedic level. Here are a few of them:
What if a vampire was so naive he joined a dark cult?
Can a vampire truly find ‘eternal’ love?
What will a realistic vampires vs. werewolves scenario look like?
If these premises piqued your interest, you should check out the eccentric FX show. Produced by Taika Waititi, the show’s writing is ingenious. In fact, it’s also got a couple of nominations in the writing category.
3Barry
Barry Season 3 was astounding. The climax of the dark comedy left us wondering if there could be anything bleaker for the characters than what we witnessed. Don’t worry; I’m not going to give any spoilers here.
Here’s a one-line description if you haven’t started the show. A hitman starts taking acting classes and finds a new purpose in his sad and lonely life. Bill Hader helms this series, and there couldn’t have been anyone better to play the role of Barry.
4The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Season 3 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel received its fair share of praise and criticism. While our protagonist is as good as she gets, the supporting cast and the subplots seemed to weaken the show’s impact on its audience. This year, Season 4 had a similar challenge, and people wondered if the writers were trying too hard.
Nevertheless, the series is a visual treat. The opulent sets and the costumes bring to life the golden age of comedy. Watch this show for the fantastic first two seasons. There’s comedy and drama in equal amounts, and you’ll find yourself immersed in the world that this show creates.
5Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is yet another offbeat show on this list. The series almost feels like an Agatha Christie book set in the current times, blended with a few strokes of satire and meta humor.
The show’s take on true crime podcasts, the new age of voyeurism, and so many other societal subjects, is incredible. While it is profound, it is subtle and doesn’t take away from the show’s main plot. The characters are a treat to watch. After all, who wouldn’t want to see Steve Martin and Martin Short together?
6Hacks
What happens when a has-been comedian and a budding comedian come together to rebuild and build their career? Well, that’s the basic premise of the show. It is currently one of the most underrated HBO Max shows that can make you laugh, cry, cringe, and more within a few moments.
The character work, the plotline, and the sheer wit in writing are some of the biggest pros of this comedy-drama. The writers also give us a tiny glimpse of what the comedy industry looks like, and as you all have guessed, it’s a dystopia shrouded with a thin veil of utopia. But there are definitely a few holes in this metaphorical veil, and Hacks doesn’t fail to explore them.
7Curb Your Enthusiasm
If you thought Hacks and Only Murders in the Building was meta, wait till you watch Curb Your Enthusiasm. The protagonist plays a quasi-fictionalized version of himself as a retired television writer and producer as the show follows various events in his daily life. The show is a blend of Seinfeld and The Office and, in many ways, possesses the best of both those worlds.
While the older seasons might seem a bit dated now, they’re pretty hilarious for the most part. The later seasons have mixed reviews amongst the audience. While some people seem to be tired of the format, others praise the same for standing the test of time. Why don’t you check it out and see if it’s something you like?
8Abbott Elementary
With shows like Abbott Elementary, the mockumentary sitcom format is not going out of fashion anytime soon. The show follows the lives of a few teachers working at an underfunded school called Abbott Elementary.
The show is witty and grounded in realism. It depicts the mindset of the average school staff and its impact on an educational institution. The character work is strong, and the punchlines are stronger. Interestingly, the show came in as a mid-season entry in the upcoming Emmys and got seven nominations.
So, these are all the nominees for the Outstanding Comedy Series. While certain predictions say that Ted Lasso might win again, I feel Barry is most deserving of the award this year. Who do you think is going to win?
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