Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Jerrod Carmichael as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Jerrod Carmichael / Gunna)
For the first time in a decade, Carmichael is the lone host nominated from the long-running variety series, which has offered up at least three nominees each year over the past three years. He’s also up for writing his variety special “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel.” He does joke in his monologue that he’s the least famous person to ever host the show, but he also reveals a lot of heart and an eagerness to be all in for the sketches. His personality and likeability may help him, but I don’t know if that will be enough, especially considering the absence of fellow hosts in this race.

Bill Hader as Igor, Gregor, and Timor, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Igor, Grigor, and Timor)
Hader has an extensive Emmy record, with additional bids this year alone for starring in, producing, directing, and writing “Barry.” He has two wins for playing that part, as well as two previous nominations in this race for hosting “Saturday Night Live.” It’s good to have him here for this trio of performances since it makes this show not feel like just an add-on to the Best Comedy Series lineup. He truly commits to portraying three men with identical accents who claim not to be related, and a win for that feat would not be out of the question.

James Lance as Trent Crimm, Ted%20Lasso (Inverting the Pyramid of Success)
It’s fun to see the deadpan journalist who often gives Ted a hard time but in season two found a warmer relationship with him recognized here. This is Lance’s first Emmy nomination, and I think that, if he had been nominated last year, he might have had a chance at winning because of the show’s dominant popularity. But it’s not the most substantial role, and though Lance is good, I can’t see him winning.

Nathan Lane as Teddy Dimas, Only Murders in the Building (The Boy from 6B)
This is the seventh nomination for Lane, and interestingly, he’s only ever been cited for guest acting. With one bid for drama for “The Good Wife,” he’s also been mentioned for “Frasier,” “Mad About You,” and three times for “Modern Family.” I think he could finally win this time around for an entertaining turn that also includes some serious material with his onscreen son in his submitted episode. The show has been very well-received and Lane has been a solid recurring part of it.

Christopher McDonald as Marty Ghilain, Hacks (The One, The Only)
Like costar Carl Clemons-Hopkins, this mention for McDonald caught me by very pleasant surprise. McDonald has been working for decades and so rarely gets any recognition, so this is a nice treat. His role as Deb’s ex and rival Marty gives him plenty of snappy and amusing material, and he shows up a few times over the course of season two, including in his submitted episode, where he and Deb find themselves on more equal footing than usual. I can’t see him winning, but I also wouldn’t have expected him to get nominated in the first place either.

Sam Richardson as Edwin Afuko, Hacks (Midnight Train to Royston)
It’s good to see Richardson here, even if he really deserves accolades this season for his starring role in “The Afterparty.” But Richardson is doing something different with this turn, which finds him donning an accent and dialing up the ego to portray a wealthy man used to always getting his way. He could ride a wave of enthusiasm for his show and his other roles to a win, but I’m not sure that’s likely.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Lance or Hader
Who will win: It’s possible Carmichael or Hader could win, but I think Lane takes this.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/6

I overestimated the wrong people from a show that has historically dominated this category, with only Jerrod Carmichael (Saturday Night Live) showing up from the long-running variety series. That made room for two actors from this year’s most popular comedy series, James Lance (Ted Lasso) and Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), and an unexpected recurring player who’s been severely underappreciated for most of his career, Christopher McDonald (Hacks). I’m happy to see Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building) and the great choice of Bill Hader (Curb Your Enthusiasm), his show’s only acting bid this year.

Who should win? I haven’t seen Carmichael’s episode yet, but from this list, I’d choose Hader or Lane.
Who will win? I think Lane can win this.

Emmy Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 12th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Alec Baldwin, Dave Chappelle, Morgan Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Dan Levy

The competition: SNL dominated this category last year with four out of five slots, and the last time the variety sketch series got just one nomination in this race was way back in 2012. This year’s eligible slate includes Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live), Jerrod Carmichael (Saturday Night Live), Kieran Culkin (Saturday Night Live), Will Forte (Saturday Night Live), and John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live), the only member of this crowd to be previously nominated for SNL. Though the show has only produced four nominees over the course of ten seasons, this year could be good for Bill Hader (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Josh Gad (Curb Your Enthusiasm), or Albert Brooks (Curb Your Enthusiasm). Watch out also for James Lance (Ted Lasso), Anthony Head (Ted Lasso), Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), Matt Walsh (Ghosts), Robert Ray Wisdom (Barry), Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building), James Caverly (Only Murders in the Building), Christian Clemenson (Julia), and James Cromwell (Julia). It doesn’t seem right, but what are the chances that two white guys - Alexander Skarsgard (Atlanta) and Liam Neeson (Atlanta) - get nominated for a show that’s so explicitly not about white people?

The predicted nominees: Kieran Culkin, Bill Hader, Nathan Lane, Alexander Skarsgard, Jason Sudeikis, Matt Walsh

The predicted winner: I see Lane winning this.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump, Saturday Night Live (Host: Dave Chappelle)
This is Baldwin’s third time contending for playing Trump on NBC’s long-running variety series. He won in 2017 and was nominated again in 2018, both times in the supporting race. He also won twice previously for “30 Rock.” Yes, theoretically the episode where Trump officially lost the election should be gold for Baldwin, but he’s done this so often before that I think voters might want to send him home just as much as they do the real Trump. Having the episode’s host nominated too doesn’t help.

Dave Chappelle as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Dave Chappelle)
Last time Chappelle was nominated for hosting this show – four years ago – he had yet to win an Emmy. Since then, he’s picked up four trophies, for that hosting job and for writing and producing variety specials. He’s also in contention for writing, directing, and producing one this year, “8:46.” He’s so at home and comfortable on stage, fully going into his own material and a serious take on the implications of another election and systemic racism in America. I think he’s likely to repeat.

Morgan Freeman as Himself, The Kominsky Method (Chapter 20. The round toes, of the high shoes)
The eighty-four-year-old actor has been nominated twice before, as a narrator in 2018 and an informational series producer in 2016. Now he’s cited for his acting, playing himself, first as an actor on a highly expected procedural and then as an old friend and potential rival for acting teacher Sandy Kominsky. It’s an entertaining if forgettable turn, and Freeman’s best odds probably come from being on a different show than the other four nominees.

Daniel Kaluuya as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Daniel Kaluuya)
This is Kaluuya’s first Emmy nomination. He had a great year, winning an Oscar for “Judas and the Black Messiah,” and it’s very impressive to see the comedic range he displays in all of the skits in his hosted episode. He’s likeable and would be a fun choice, but he’s not all that showy, which might give some of his fellow nominees an edge.

Dan Levy as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Dan Levy)
Levy won a staggering four Emmys last year as writer, director, producer, and star of the celebrated “Schitt’s Creek. Now, he’s back for a different comedic effort, one that finds him feeling right at home as a variety performer. It’s possible that residual love for his character and general personality could net him another trophy this time around.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Kaluuya or Levy
Who will win: I’m going with Chappelle.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/5

One show continues to dominate here, earning a full four-fifths of the nominations. I thought voters would be done with Alec Baldwin (Saturday Night Live), but he’s back, along with past winner Dave Chappelle (Saturday Night Live) and new nominees Daniel Kaluuya (Saturday Night Live) and Dan Levy (Saturday Night Live). I don’t think that the only performer not from that show to be included needed to be Morgan Freeman (The Kominsky Method), but he was endearing enough in a short appearance.

Who should win? I have a lot of watching to do as I don’t regularly watch SNL, so comments to come!
Who will win? Without having seen the episodes yet, I’ll bet on Levy.

Emmy Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 13th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Adam Driver, Luke Kirby, Eddie Murphy, Dev Patel, Brad Pitt, Fred Willard

The competition: It’s worth first looking at past nominees in this category to see if they’re eligible in any capacity. While Adam Driver (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) is on the ballot, it’s worth noting that this category has very sparingly rewarded variety performers from a show other than “Saturday Night Live,” with “Portlandia” and “Inside Amy Schumer” as the only recent examples. It’s best instead to look to that series and start with past nominees and winners. Just from that, we have Alec Baldwin (Saturday Night Live), Dave Chappelle (Saturday Night Live), John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live). Then there are comedy legends like Jim Carrey (Saturday Night Live) and Chris Rock (Saturday Night Live), and stars with other major projects, like Dan Levy (Saturday Night Live), Daniel Kaluuya (Saturday Night Live), and Regé-Jean Page (Saturday Night Live). Another past Emmy nominee, now classified as a guest for his show’s long-delayed return, is Aziz Ansari (Master of None), and there are also familiar Emmy players like Louie Anderson (Search Party), Michael Angarano (Pen15), Beau Bridges (Mr. Mayor), and Joe Morton (The Politician) contending for new roles. Older voters might go all in for Morgan Freeman (The Kominsky Method) or Barry Levinson (The Kominsky Method). Other roles could help Stephen Colbert (Girls5eva), Harvey Guillen (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), and Bowen Yang (Girls5eva) net a nomination here. There’s also Anthony Head (Ted Lasso), who benefits from being the only major male guest on an ultra-popular show.

The predicted nominees: Chappelle, Head, Page, Levy, Rock

The predicted winner: I think this goes to Rock.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

AFT Awards: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

This is the fifteenth category of the 14th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2019-2020 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Luis Guzman, Jake Lacy, Zachary Levi, Rufus Sewell, Tyrel Jackson Williams

Emmy nominees: Adam Driver, Luke Kirby, Eddie Murphy, Dev Patel, Brad Pitt, Fred Willard

Finalists: David Corenswet (The Politician), Griffin Gluck (Love Life), Freddie Fox (The Great), Skyler Gisondo (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Chris Williams (Upload)

The nominees:

Timothy Olyphant (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Justin Kirk (Kidding)
Matt Lauria (Dickinson)
Zachary Levi (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

The winner:

Jon Hamm (Curb Your Enthusiasm) managed to mock his own persona as a nice guy who enjoys overacting by becoming something else entirely, mimicking Larry to a terrifyingly accurate degree.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Adam Driver as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Adam Driver)
Driver has three previous nominations in the supporting actor category for “Girls,” earned from 2013 to 2015. After back-to-back Oscar nominations and a banner year that included a starring role in the final chapter of the latest “Star Wars” trilogy, Driver is a hot commodity right now. He does a good job of poking fun at himself and his public image, showing that he can have fun, in hosting the famous variety series and participating in a number of sketches. He doesn’t have the pedigree of the other men nominated from his show, but he’s very popular right now.

Luke Kirby as Lenny Bruce, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (It’s Comedy or Cabbage)
Kirby won this award last year on his first Emmy nomination. For the second year in a row, his show is the most-nominated comedy series, and that buzz helps considerably. In his submitted episode, he once again goes toe-to-toe with series star Rachel Brosnahan as Lenny Bruce, and it’s a very natural performance that isn’t always funny but is consistently captivating. Last year he had internal competition and now he doesn’t, so a repeat win is definitely possible.

Eddie Murphy as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Eddie Murphy)
Murphy actually earned two Emmy nominations – in a catch-all supporting actor category one year and a variety performer race the next – for his original stint on this show back in 1983 and 1984, and also contended as part of the writing staff. He was nominated again for producing an animated show in 1999, and now he’s back for his triumphant return to the show that made him famous. It’s a very comfortable, respectable effort, one that should earn him plenty of deserved nostalgic votes. That didn’t help Adam Sandler last year, but Murphy might be able to pull it off.

Dev Patel as Joshua, Modern Love (When Cupid Is a Prying Journalist)
No one quite knew what to expect from Amazon’s anthology series, which weirdly submitted certain performers like Anne Hathaway as supporting stars despite them substantially appearing in just one episode. Patel turned out to be the lone representative of the series, earning his inaugural nomination for playing the lovestruck creator of a dating app. As usual, Patel is endearing, and it’s nice to see him recognized even if the performance itself isn’t his strongest work.

Brad Pitt as Dr. Anthony Fauci, Saturday Night Live (SNL at Home #2)
In addition to a producing win for “The Normal Heart” in 2014, Pitt has one previous acting nomination – in this category for “Friends” back in 2002. His inclusion here is indicative of how voters will simply check off names they know since, like Robert De Niro as Robert Mueller last year, there’s nothing noteworthy at all about his somewhat decent mimicry of the main face of the U.S. coronavirus response is the cold open of his show. Pitt is a likeable presence but this isn’t Emmy-worthy work in quality or quantity.

Fred Willard as Frank Dunphy, Modern Family (Legacy)
This marks Willard’s fifth nomination in this category after a bid for this show in 2010 and three earlier nominations for “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Sadly, Willard died in May, and this episode is even more bittersweet because it features his final appearance as the father who modeled all of his son Phil’s best traits for him. Posthumous Emmy wins are rare but not unheard of, and the fitting content of Willard’s episode could help him achieve it.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Kirby or Murphy
Who will win: I’m going to go with Murphy though I’m well aware that it could easily be Kirby again or Willard.

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 3/6

I didn’t do too well in this race last year either, though these nominations aren’t especially surprising. Brad Pitt (Saturday Night Live) follows Robert De Niro last year in getting nominated for impersonating a public figure connected to Donald Trump in a small role in another guest host’s episode, while last year’s nominee John Mulaney didn’t show up again. Eddie Murphy (Saturday Night Live) earns his first acting Emmy nomination in thirty-six years, joined by another past nominee, Adam Driver (Saturday Night Live). I’m surprised that Jon Hamm (Curb Your Enthusiasm) didn’t show up, especially when he’s been here before and his show, which did land a bid for Best Comedy Series, usually produces nominees in this race. Instead, Dev Patel (Modern Love) managed the only nomination for his anthology series, and last year’s winner Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) is back for another shot at a trophy. Rounding out the category is the late Fred Willard (Modern Family), back ten years after his only nomination for this role and his fifth overall.

Who should win? I’ve only seen Patel and Kirby’s work so far, so I have some catching up to do.
Who will win? It could be Willard or Kirby again, but I think Murphy takes it.

AFT Awards: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

This is the eleventh category of the 13th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2018-2019 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Bryan Cranston, Colin Ferguson, Jason Mantzoukas, Joel McHale, Navid Negahban

Emmy nominees: Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Luke Kirby, Peter MacNicol, John Mulaney, Adam Sandler, Rufus Sewell

Finalists: None

The nominees:

Tyrel Jackson Williams (Brockmire)
Zachary Levi (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Rufus Sewell (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Jake Lacy (Ramy)

The winner:

Luis Guzman (Shameless) really was a fitting companion for William H. Macy’s Frank, ready to go lower at any moment to prove his dedication to depravity.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Matt Damon as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Matt Damon)
This is the Damon’s third acting nomination following a bid in 2013 for “Behind the Candelabra” and in this category in 2011 for “30 Rock.” In his hosting gig, he demonstrates a truly affable and likeable attitude in the episode he hosts, opening up with a warm monologue and gamely playing along in each of the sketches. The most agreeable turn isn’t always the one that wins, but Damon would be a fantastic and worthy victor.

Robert De Niro as Robert Mueller, Saturday Night Live (Host: Sandra Oh)
This is the second nomination for De Niro, who was previously up for “The Wizard of Lies” in 2017. He also contends this year as a producer for limited series “When They See Us.” De Niro is the only performer recognized for his show who either isn’t a host or a series regular, and his inclusion is somewhat puzzling. In his first appearance as Robert Mueller, there were decent jokes and he seemed into it, but there’s so little effort in his dry reading of the report that this mimicry hardly seems deserving of any sort of award.

Luke Kirby as Lenny Bruce, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (All Alone)
This is the first nomination for Kirby, who plays legendary comic Lenny Bruce on the popular Amazon series. Kirby’s role was more prominent in his multiple season two appearances than in his also memorable contributions to season one. In the season finale, Kirby gets to play Bruce as a sympathetic ear and mentor for Midge and also to do some performing of his own. He fits in very well with the show around him, and could very well ride a wave of support for his highly-respected series.

Peter MacNicol as Jeff Kane, Veep (Oslo)
This is the fourth career nomination for MacNicol, who won in 2001 on this third bid for “Ally McBeal.” He was technically nominated in this category in 2016 before it was rescinded due to his having appeared in too many episodes that season. Now, MacNicol is back for a typically scathing performance as the unkind political operator whose first instinct was to laugh maniacally at a funeral. It’s a memorable performance that, despite the shortness of its length, could result in a win for the veteran comic actor.

John Mulaney as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: John Mulaney)
This is actually Mulaney’s first acting bid, though he’s been nominated and won before, mostly for writing. This year, he’s up for three other Emmys, for writing “Saturday Night Live” and for writing and music and lyrics for “Documentary Now.” In his second shot as host of NBC’s long-running variety series, Mulaney seems completely at home, using a microphone to perform a stand-up routine rather than do some sort of bit or sketch for the opening monologue. He seems totally into all of the sketches throughout the episode, and despite having a less prominent acting profile than the other nominees in this category, he may still be able to earn some votes.

Adam Sandler as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Adam Sandler)
This is the first acting nomination for Sandler, who was previously nominated three times as part of the “Saturday Night Live” writing team and also contends this year for penning his own variety special. His hosting appearance makes a nostalgic return to the variety series from which, as he sings about during the opening monologue, he was once fired. Familiarity is what works best for Sandler, and his Opera Man news recap during Weekend Update is a particular highlight.

Rufus Sewell as Declan Howell, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Look, She Made a Hat)
This is the first nomination for Sewell, who likely came close to a bid a few years ago for the first season of “The Man in the High Castle.” Here, he keeps his accent and gets to play a drunken painter who has a surprising chemistry with the marvelous title character. It’s a great performance and one that serves a true purpose in his episode. He would be a fine and respectable choice that may just be what Emmy voters want, even if it’s a less traditional comedy turn.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Damon or Sewell
Who will win: It’s possible that it could be Kirby or Sewell or even Mulaney, but I’m betting on Sandler.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/7, picking only MacNicol and Sandler

Well, this is probably my worst category. SNL broke its own record, dominating with four nominations here for Adam Sandler (Saturday Night Live), Robert De Niro (Saturday Night Live), Matt Damon (Saturday Night Live), and John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live). I’ve only seen a bit of De Niro’s work, and I’ll look forward to seeing the comedians’ monologues and the actors’ political impressions. After his nomination was rescinded because he appeared in too many episodes a few years ago, Peter MacNicol (Veep) made the cut again. I thought they might do well, and it turns out that they both scored: Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Rufus Sewell (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), two actors who very memorably connected with Rachel Brosnahan’s title character this season.

Who should win? I’ve only seen three of these performances. I’d love to see Sewell, a consistent standout on “The Man in the High Castle,” honored.
Who will win? I’ll have to watch, but I think Sandler will win.

Emmy Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 16th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Sterling K. Brown, Bryan Cranston, Donald Glover, Bill Hader, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Katt Williams

The competition: There’s just one actor from last year who might return this year, and it would be quite a feat. Lin-Manuel Miranda (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) could manage three consecutive bids for three different shows. Past winner Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory) may return for his show’s final season, while Peter MacNicol (Veep), who had his nomination three years ago rescinded for appearing in too many episodes to be eligible for this category, is a good bet for a memorable appearance in his show’s final season. Two actors from what may well be TV’s most popular variety series have been nominated each year for the past six years, and so it’s a good bet that will happen again this year, with contenders including Adam Sandler (Saturday Night Live), Ben Stiller (Saturday Night Live), Robert De Niro (Saturday Night Live), John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live), Paul Rudd (Saturday Night Live), Adam Driver (Saturday Night Live), Seth Meyers (Saturday Night Live), and Jason Momoa (Saturday Night Live). Other possibilities include Danny DeVito (The Kominsky Method), David Schwimmer (Will and Grace), Matt Bomer (Will and Grace), Matthew Broderick (Better Things), Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Rufus Sewell (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel).

The predicted nominees: Bomer, MacNicol, Miranda, Newhart, Sandler, Schwimmer

The predicted winner: I’d bet on MacNicol.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

AFT Awards: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

This is the eleventh category of the 12th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2017-2018 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Todd Robert Anderson, Jemaine Clement, Peter Gallagher, Allan McLeod, Tim Robinson

Emmy nominees: Sterling K. Brown, Bryan Cranston, Donald Glover, Bill Hader, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Katt Williams

Finalists: None

The nominees:
Bryan Cranston (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Colin Ferguson (You're the Worst)
Joel McHale (Santa Clarita Diet)
Navid Negahban (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

The winner:

Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place) was instantly excitable and unflappable, beyond thrilled to have been created and eager to make the most of his limited existence.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Sterling K. Brown as Philip Davidson, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (The Box)
Brown has won Emmys the past two years, first for “The People vs. OJ Simpson” and then for “This Is Us,” for which he’s nominated again this year. I thoroughly enjoyed this hilarious episode, and Brown is definitely entertaining as a dentist being interrogated by Andre Braugher and Andy Samberg for his alleged role in a murder. Brown’s popular enough, but I think the fact that the show isn’t nominated anywhere else means that his chances are very slim.

Bryan Cranston as Dr. Lionel Templeton, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Running with the Bulls)
Cranston has ten previous acting nominations, for “All the Way,” “Breaking Bad,” and “Malcolm in the Middle.” He won three times. In his submitted episode, he plays a therapist who finds his own vacation plans and other details spilled to other people as a violation of his so-called “patient-doctor confidentiality.” I found it to be very funny, and Cranston, who used to be considerably more exaggerated in his comedy performances, plays this one perfectly. If voters like him enough and can’t pick an SNL host, he could win.

Donald Glover as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Donald Glover)
Glover won an Emmy for starring in and directing “Atlanta” last year, and he contends for those and a writing trophy again this year. Glover is hot, and getting to be the musical guest, Childish Gambino, for the same episode he’s hosting boosts his chances considerably. Though he’s hardly the funniest host that SNL has ever had, I think that he’s popular enough that he might win. He’ll just have to beat…

Bill Hader as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Bill Hader)
Hader was nominated twice, in 2012 and 2013, in the supporting race when he was a regular cast member, and then again in 2015 in this category. He’s up for three additional individual Emmys for writing, directing, and starring in “Barry.” His latest stint hosting the show that helped make him famous is a lot of fun, and the fact that he goes straight into a sketch during his opening monologue shows his strengths. I think he has a great shot, though he’s going to have to beat Glover.

Lin-Manuel Miranda as Himself, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Fatwa!)
This is Miranda’s second consecutive nomination in this category, though he’s contending this year for a different show after hosting SNL last year. He won an Emmy in 2014 for writing a song for the Tony Awards. On HBO’s long-running comedy, Miranda plays a version of himself who really doesn’t get along with Larry David as they put on a big production. I didn’t love Miranda here, and I’m not sure if playing himself instead of a handful of characters in sketches will encourage voters to check off his name more or less.

Katt Williams as Uncle Willie, Atlanta (Alligator Man)
Williams was a nominee I really didn’t expect this year, moderately memorable from the season premiere of FX’s hit dramatic comedy as Uncle Willie, who nearly got arrested as part of a domestic disturbance and used an alligator to try to make his getaway. Him showing up here is victory enough, and if he ended up taking home this award, I would be truly shocked since he’s not even likely to ride a wave of support for his show to a win.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Cranston
Who will win: I think it’s a competition, as it is in three other categories, between Hader and Glover. I’m going with the former because I think voters are endeared to him because of his past on the show. Miranda could sweep in and take it, but I’d be surprised.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/6, picking only Hader and Glover

I only managed to select the two men also nominated for comedy lead actor: Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live) and Donald Glover (Saturday Night Live), missing the man also nominated for drama lead actor, Sterling K. Brown (Saturday Night Live). I would not have expected Katt Williams (Atlanta) to be the guest actor from his show to land a nomination here, but he did it. I’m very pleased with both Bryan Cranston (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Curb Your Enthusiasm), back for the second year in a row for a different show, since both of them were very funny and instrumental to their show’s success.

Who should win? I haven’t seen half of these performances. Cranston gets my vote so far.
Who will win? I think it might actually be Miranda.

Emmy Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, July 12th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Riz Ahmed, Dave Chappelle, Tom Hanks, Hugh Laurie, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Matthew Rhys

The competition: Just one of last year’s nominees might return again this year, and it’s for a different gig: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Curb Your Enthusiasm). He’ll face still competition from other guest stars from his show, including F. Murray Abraham (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Bryan Cranston (Curb Your Enthusiasm), and Steven Weber (Curb Your Enthusiasm). As usual, hosting one of television’s most popular variety series helps you get votes, with a slew of contenders this year, led by Chadwick Boseman (Saturday Night Live), Robert De Niro (Saturday Night Live), Will Ferrell (Saturday Night Live), Donald Glover (Saturday Night Live), Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live), and John Mulaney (Saturday Night Live). There are three past nominees reprising guest spots on TV’s most beloved revived show - Bobby Cannavale (Will and Grace), Alec Baldwin (Will and Grace), and Leslie Jordan (Will and Grace), and both Harry Connick Jr. (Will and Grace) and Ben Platt (Will and Grace) could also join them this year. They’ve all been nominated before for these roles, and so Jon Hamm (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Nathan Lane (Modern Family), Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory), and Fred Willard (Modern Family) could all be back this year. Watch out for Christopher Lloyd (Roseanne) or Emmy favorites Beau Bridges (Black-ish) or Sterling K. Brown (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) to show up as well.

The predicted nominees: Baldwin, De Niro, Glover, Hader, Newhart, Platt

The predicted winner: I think that Newhart wins.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

AFT Awards: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

This is the eleventh category of the 11th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2016-2017 season. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Peter Gallagher, Jake Lacy, Dermot Mulroney, Stephen Tobolowsky, Steven Weber

Emmy nominees: Riz Ahmed, Dave Chappelle, Tom Hanks, Hugh Laurie, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Matthew Rhys

Semi-finalists: Andrew Leeds (The Great Indoors), Billy Magnussen (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Bobby Cannavale (Master of None), Brett Dier (Jane the Virgin), Brett Gelman (Making History), Chris Williams (Silicon Valley), Erik King (The Detour), Fred Melamed (Casual), Graham Rogers (Silicon Valley), Haley Joel Osment (Silicon Valley), James Cromwell (The Detour), Jason Dohring (iZombie), Julian McMahon (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency), Matt Oberg (Veep), Michael Torpey (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Michal Hogan (You, Me, Her), Ricardo Chavira (Santa Clarita Diet), Scott Adsit (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Thomas Lennon (Santa Clarita Diet)

Finalists: Adam Scott (The Good Place) definitely had a great time playing the embodiment of hellish obnoxiousness. Brad William Henke (Orange is the New Black) committed strongly to being a vigilant enforcer with no sympathy for anyone who got in his way. Mamoudou Athie (The Detour) was the quieter of two investigating agents, always at the ready to take the next leap. Riz Ahmed (Girls) was at ease and very peaceful in his affable portrayal of a surfing instructor. Josh Charles (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) got to be as immature and revolting as he could be, taking his place in his absurdist universe.

The nominees:

Peter Gallagher (Grace and Frankie) was suave and charming in the most aggressive way, making him a fantastic fit for Grace. Jemaine Clement (Divorce) was very hilariously not French, a somewhat dim-witted player in a game he didn’t know all that much about. Allan McLeod (You're the Worst) and Todd Robert Anderson (You're the Worst) have spent most of their time on their show in the background and had a great chance to shine when the hapless husbands were featured.

The winner:

Tim Robinson (Making History) was a superb Al Capone, a mobster who was very into his jokes and being included in plans, probably the most definitive aspect of how his short-lived show worked well.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Riz Ahmed as Paul-Louis, Girls (All I Ever Wanted)
I’m a big fan of Ahmed’s from “Four Lions” and “Nightcrawler,” and it’s great to see him as a double Emmy nominee this year, for his lead role in the miniseries “The Night Of” and for his two-episode guest spot as a surfing instructor on HBO’s recently-wrapped dramedy. Ahmed is refreshingly three-dimensional as a character that could have fallen flat but turns out to be very memorable. I don’t think he can compete against the comics in this category, but I’m sure he’ll get a few votes.

Dave Chappelle as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Dave Chappelle)
Chappelle has three previous Emmy nominations for writing and producing, but this is pretty much the first thing he’s done on television or film in about a decade. I can’t imagine that he knew he’d have to steer the ship right after Donald Trump won the election, but he managed to do a great job and be both poignant and funny in the process. Some of the humor is a bit specific to his past projects, so I’m not sure how broadly appealing it is, but he has a good shot at the win.

Tom Hanks as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Tom Hanks)
Hanks has been nominated fifteen times previously for producing, directing, and writing, winning seven times. This is his first bid for acting, and what a marvelous one it is. Hanks feels very comfortable on stage, marking his ninth time hosting this show. He’s used very well in sketches, particularly parodying his “Sully” performance and acting as America’s dad. I honestly think that he could win, given that he does have two Oscars and he’s still one of the most beloved actors working in Hollywood.

Hugh Laurie as Tom James, Veep (Blurb)
Despite winning three Golden Globes, Laurie has yet to win an Emmy. He was nominated six times for “House” and then again last year for “The Night Manager.” I thought that Laurie should have been nominated - and I gave him an AFT Award - for his role on this show two seasons ago, and so now he’s finally here for his lone appearance in this season in a far less charming context, beating Selina to the punch in revealing that she and Tom had sex in the White House. I don’t see this winning voters over, especially considering the stacked competition, but it could be a good way to reward him after passing him over so many times.

Lin-Manuel Miranda as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live (Host: Lin-Manuel Miranda)
Lin-Manuel Miranda has three Tonys and two Grammys, and it turns out that he has an Emmy too, for writing a song performed during the 2014 Tony Awards. Now he’s here on his own merit for hosting the variety sketch series. His sketches are mostly a rehash of his “Hamilton” fame and his enthusiasm for rapping. He’s popular and could well win, but given that he didn’t even win the Tony for acting - losing to his costar - suggests that the same may happen here.

Matthew Rhys as Chuck Palmer, Girls (American Bitch)
Rhys was first nominated for “The Americans” last year and is back again this year, now as a double nominee. I think Rhys is here mostly because of voters’ affinity for his regular series role, but I suppose that he did make an impression as an author Hannah interviews for the duration of an episode facing some severe allegations. He’s not likeable at all, and so I don’t see Rhys really being a contender in this particular contest.

Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who should win (based on individual episodes): I like Hanks, but I’d be fine with Ahmed also.
Who will win: I’m really not too confident, but I’m going to pick Hanks over Chappelle.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/6, picking just Hanks and Laurie

Here’s my worst category, where a few things happened. Two actors - Riz Ahmed (Girls) and Matthew Rhys (Girls) – picked up bids for memorable turns on the final season of a show no longer widely recognized in other categories mainly because they’re also nominated this year for more well-received productions, replacing the man who the Emmy last year for the same show, Peter Scolari. Hugh Laurie (Veep) missed out when he should have been nominated in the supporting race, so now he’s here, ousting expected nominee Peter MacNicol. And then we have three hosts from the ultra-popular late-night sketch series, all of whom aren’t quite in the spotlight as much as they used to be: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Saturday Night Live), Dave Chappelle (Saturday Night Live), and Tom Hanks (Saturday Night Live). All I know is that I have a lot of SNL to watch.

Who should win? I’ve only seen half of these. I’d probably choose Ahmed.
Who will win? My guess is Miranda, though who the hell knows?