Emmy Race: Best Writing in a Comedy Series

The Emmy Award nominations are fast approaching, and this year looks to be quite competitive in all the major categories, even with the notable addition of an extra nominee in each category. This year, there will be six, rather than five, nominees in the regular acting categories and series categories, but not in the directing and writing categories. At this point, I’d like to offer a rundown of the potential nominees.


Last year’s nominees:
Flight of the Conchords, “Yoko”
The Office, “Dinner Party”
Pushing Daisies, “Pie-lette”
30 Rock, “Cooter” (winner)
30 Rock, “Rosemary’s Baby”

This category is particularly tough to predict because there are so many contenders. I went through the ballot in this category and narrowed it down to a whopping 25 possibilities representing 11 shows. I’ve slimmed it down to ten contenders below, but it’s possible that any of the other 15 could easily be nominated.

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, “Prime Minister” (James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie)
FOTC surprised here last year with a nomination for the episode “Yoko,” and this year’s sole submission may well get nominated too. It’s wise to submit only one installment, because unlike “The Office” or “30 Rock,” if you want to support a show, here’s how. Vote for FOTC in the writing category, and it will likely get a nomination. The episode itself contains some very funny insinuations about the backwardness of New Zealand through the character of the prime minister, including some quite hilarious “The Matrix” jokes. Consider this one strongly in the running.

THE OFFICE, “Broke” (Charlie Grandy)
This episode wraps up the Michael Scott Paper Company arc, and therefore may be the perfect episode to score a writing nomination. “The Negotiation” scored a writing nomination two years ago, and this is an extremely similar episode that showcases Michael’s surprisingly impressive negotiating skills. The difference here is that there’s actually dramatic content in this season’s installment, and it’s very effective. I think this is probably the show’s best shot.

THE OFFICE, “Dream Team” (B.J. Novak)
This episode, not submitted in the directing category, features Michael assembling his “dream team” of employees for his new Michael Scott Paper Company. It’s a good usage of smaller supporting characters like Pam and Ryan, and a nice insight into a business that operates entirely outside of the office. Writer B.J. Novak stars as Ryan, and it’s helpful that he’s the one writing the episode that brings him back into the fold. It’s a top contender for the final five, though Novak has yet to score an individual writing nomination from Emmy voters, despite two mentions from the WGA over the show’s history.

THE OFFICE, “Lecture Circuit, Parts 1 & 2” (Mindy Kaling)
It’s always good to have a two-part episode in the mix, and “Lecture Circuit,” which aired over the course of two weeks, is this season’s best fit for that description. Kaling, another one of the show’s stars, follows Michael around the various Dunder Mifflins as he shares what he knows best. The dramatic surge in the middle of the two-parter when Pam suggests Michael go tell Holly how he feels might impress and enthrall voters. This episode wasn’t that strong, and may have trouble standing out from the pack of other “Office” offerings.

THE OFFICE, “Two Weeks” (Aaron Shure)
This is the “Office” episode that follows Michael’s shocking decision to quit his job after David Wallace makes his feel useless by placing another boss (Idris Elba) in between the two of them. It’s the beginning of the arc that was the Michael Scott Paper Company, and its title is very significant and may remind voters of what they liked best about “The Office” this year, and the episode that pretty much started it all off in the right direction. Shure is a past nominee as part of the writing team for the “Everybody Loves Raymond” series finale.

PUSHING DAISIES, “Bzzzzzzzz!” (Bryan Fuller)
There are probably more reasons this episode won’t be nominated than reasons it will. The show, which received a mediocre welcome at last year’s Emmy awards but was snubbed in the Best Comedy Series category, was unceremoniously cancelled with a small number of episodes produced this season, and this season premiere aired all the way back in the fall. Additionally, it’s the episode that sent Olive to the nunnery, an unpopular plotline among many. But it’s also the last way to realize recognize the series beyond its stars, and to honor creator Bryan Fuller, nominated last year for penning the pilot, who’s contributed a lot to TV in the past decade.

30 ROCK, “Christmas Special” (Kay Cannon & Tina Fey)
If there’s one thing that will assure a “30 Rock” episode a nomination, it’s a writing credit by Tina Fey. Fey was cited for writing “Tracy Does Conan” in the show’s first year, and last year went home with the trophy for the season finale “Cooter.” The third season’s Christmas installment wasn’t actually anything terribly special, but having Fey’s name attached to it, and the three episodes I mentioned as directing contenders (The Bubble, The Fun Cooker, Gavin Volure) being absent in this category, should give it an extremely good shot.

30 ROCK, “Kidney Now” (Jack Burditt & Robert Carlock)
The wacky comedy’s season finale wasn’t a great episode, and featured performances by musical stars for somewhat inexplicable reasons. The episode, however, was written by two Emmy veterans who have each earned a nomination for writing a “30 Rock” installment – Burditt for “Rosemary’s Baby” last year and Carlock for “Jack-Tor” the first year. They could very well figure into the race, especially with a dearth of strong “30 Rock” episodes submitted in this category.

30 ROCK, “Mamma Mia” (Ron Weiner)
Now, here’s a strong episode of “30 Rock” that can really contend based on its content. The penultimate installment of the season features Liz’s efforts to find Jack’s father by inviting three possible candidates to meet him. It’s a fresh and funny episode, with a guest turn by Alan Alda and plenty of musical-referencing punchlines. It’s probably the frontrunner when it comes to “30 Rock” episodes in this category.

THE UNITED STATES OF TARA, “Work” (Diablo Cody)
I’m placing this episode here because it strikes me as the most likely freshman series contender for two reasons. The Showtime dramedy received good reviews and a second season pickup, and for some odd reason didn’t submit its pilot episode for consideration in this category. The main factor driving its potential is the name of its scribe – Diablo Cody, recent Oscar winner for penning “Juno.” I don’t think the show will make it onto Emmy radar this year, but with the help of star Toni Collette and votes for this hip new screenwriter, it very well could.

Also watch out for the pilots of “Better Off Ted” and “Parks and Recreation,” dark horse installments of “The Big Bang Theory,” “Family Guy,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “Scrubs,” as well as additional episodes of “The Office” and “30 Rock.”

The roundup:
This category could look exactly like the directing category, with two “30 Rock” episodes, two “Office” episodes, and the lone “Flight of the Conchords” submission. I don’t think “Pushing Daisies” or Oscar winner Diablo Cody can break into that mold, and the “Scrubs” finale would have had a shot only if it really was the finale. It’s now a question of what ratio of “30 Rock” to “Office” episodes will occur, and which episodes from each show will be honored.

Current predictions:
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, “Prime Minister”
THE OFFICE, “Broke”
THE OFFICE, “Dream Team”
30 ROCK, “Christmas Special”
30 ROCK, “Mamma Mia”

Next Up: Best Drama Series