2022 Emmy predictions: Can ‘Abbott Elementary’ take back the network comedy series crown?

Comedy has slowly become the most competitive categories at the Primetime Emmys, with so many coming on each year that it has become difficult to keep up with all of them. As the 2022 Emmys approach, it’s time to take a look at each of the comedy categories to see who could be taking home an Emmy this year.

When it comes to Lead Actor, there are three previous winners (Donald Glover, Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis) with two comedy legends (Steve Martin and Martin Short) all in the category. So, who to pick? Bill Hader had a great season in Barry, but will voters think his performance is too dark in the comedy category? That could lead more votes to Jason Sudeikis, last year’s winner, who could very well take home his second Lead Actor Emmy this year. Martin Short and Steve Martin will both be stark competition, both turning in great performances in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. Outstanding Lead Actress seems easy to predict, as Jean Smart could (and should) win her second Emmy for her performance on HBO Max’s Hacks. If anyone can compete with Smart this year, it would be Quinta Brunson for the first season of Abbott Elementary, a series that has quite a bit of support going into the ceremony. Brunson seems poised to win in another category, though, so the Television Academy might opt to spread the love. It seems that supporting actor is going to come down to the two men from Barry (Anthony Carrigan and Henry Winkler) and last year’s winner, Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso). Supporting actress is going to be a bigger competition with last year’s winner, Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), now facing off against newcomer Janelle James from Abbott Elementary. James received much acclaim for her performance so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if she were to win.

It’s never safe to be 100% sure about something, but if there is any category to be sure about this year, it is Directing for a Comedy Series. Bill Hader will surely take home this award for his direction of “710N” from the third season of Barry, even with other shows being represented by well-directed episodes. Writing could be more up in the air, with the trio of Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (last year’s winners) returning for another episode of Hacks.

Quinta Brunson could find herself being rewarded in this category for the pilot episode of her series Abbott Elementary, a win that would be totally deserved. Outstanding Comedy Series is going to be a tougher race as it comes down to which series voters liked the most (and possibly made them laugh the most?), which could be any of these series. Abbott Elementary, Hacks, Ted Lasso and Only Murders in the Building would be the series to watch to bring home this award. At last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards, all but Ted Lasso found some love. Hacks won Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Laurie Metcalf (her fourth win overall), Guest Actor in a Comedy Series went to Nathan Lane (finally winning on his 7th nomination) for Only Murders in the Building and Abbott Elementary won for Casting. A bellwether, perhaps? The eventual Comedy Series winner has won this category for the last seven years in a row.

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards airs live starting at 8pm. ET/5pm PT on NBC and Peacock, is hosted by Kenan Thompson and will feature John Legend performing his new song “Pieces” during the In Memoriam segment of the show, with as Zedd as the evening’s DJ and comedian Sam Jay as announcer.

My final predictions for the comedy categories at the 2022 Emmys:

Outstanding Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (ABC) – PREDICTED WINNER
Barry (HBO)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Hacks (HBO Max)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Donald Glover – Atlanta (FX)
Bill Hader – Barry (HBO)
Nicholas Hoult – The Great (Hulu)
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+) – PREDICTED WINNER

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Rachel Brosnahan – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Elle Fanning – The Great (Hulu)
Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max) – PREDICTED WINNER

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Carrigan – Barry (HBO)
Brett Goldstein – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+) – PREDICTED WINNER
Toheeb Jimoh – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
Nick Mohammed – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
Tony Shalhoub – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO)
Bowen Yang – Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO Max)
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC) – PREDICTED WINNER
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Sarah Niles – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Juno Temple – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

“New Jazz” – Atlanta (FX)
“710N” – Barry (HBO) – PREDICTED WINNER
“There Will Be Blood” – Hacks (HBO Max)
“Baby Daddy Groundhog Day” – The Ms. Pat Show (BET)
“True Crime” – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
“The Boy from 6B” – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
“No Weddings and a Funeral” – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

“Pilot” – Abbott Elementary (ABC) – PREDICTED WINNER
“710N” – Barry (HBO)
“starting now” – Barry (HBO)
“The One, The Only” – Hacks (HBO Max)
“True Crime” – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
“No Weddings and a Funeral” – Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
“The Wellness Center” – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
“The Casino” – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)