The Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series race this year will have many new faces on nomination morning, as four out of the eight of last years nominees aren’t in contention for the 2020 race. Last years nominees included Olivia Colman (Fleabag), Sian Clifford (Fleabag), Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live), Betty Gilpin (GLOW), Marin Hinkle (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Sarah Goldberg (Barry), and Anna Chlumsky (Veep). Clifford, Colman, Chlumsky and Goldberg won’t be returning. Who’s taking their spots?
Without hesitation, Kate McKinnon and Maisel actresses Marin Hinkle and Alex Borstein are guaranteed to return, in which Borstein will be going for her third consecutive win, which hasn’t been done in this category since Doris Roberts from 2001-2003 for Everybody Loves Raymond. The actress who managed three consecutive wins before Roberts was Laurie Metcalf from 1992-1994 for Roseanne, who coincidentally may show up here again for her same role on The Conners. Metcalf may have missed a nomination last year after being nomination for the reboots first season in 2018, but she’s an Emmy darling and seems to earn nominations when you least expect it (like her 2016 trifecta of Getting On, The Big Bang Theory and Horace & Pete). She could be back!
My remaining four predictions are purely hopes and wishes that I can see 95% coming true: Yvonne Orji (Insecure), Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek) and Hiam Abbass (Ramy). All four actresses are vying for their first Emmy nominations and all are well-deserved to earn one. It also helps that all four women are on shows that are on the cusp of breaking out at the Emmys in a big way. Both Insecure and Schitt’s Creek have been players at the Emmys in the past, but each only getting a handful of nominations in total, and only earning acting nominations for their leads. This year, Insecure was at its creative and cultural peak with Orji’s Molly at the center of the her friendship with Issa (Issa Rae) dissolving week after week. Schitt’s Creek delivered one of the best comedy series finales in recent memory, and I personally think Schitt’s Creek is going to be one of the most nominated comedy series this year. With that shows critically-acclaim it’s amassed this year for its humor, heart, inclusivity, and warmth, I believe it will give Murphy and Hampshire the visibility they need to breakthrough in the supporting category.
I also think Ramy is a going to be a big player at the Emmys this year, despite failing to earn any nominations for its first season last year. I’m predicting Ramy Youssef in the lead actor category, Mahershala Ali in the supporting actor category, and it’s high on my list to crack the best comedy this year. I don’t know if many are predicting Abbass, but I’m going out on a limb and doing so. She was great in season one, but her performance in season two catapulted to new heights. Her tender journey on the road to citizenship, along with the short speech and metaphoric middle finger she gives to the President while reciting the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, pure television gold. Subtle but still delivering furious punch, Abbass gave me pure chills and had me grinning from ear to ear. Abbass is 100% an Emmy contender!
Major threats include Jane Lynch, who’s jumping from guest to supporting actress this season for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Regina Hall is once again overlooked in her role on Showtime’s Black Monday. Emmy favorite Jessica Lange may prove to be a shock and earn a nomination for Netflix’s The Politican. Could Julie Bowen sneak back in for the final season of Modern Family? Even though Betty Gilpin often receives the lone acting for GLOW, I’m keeping her from my frontrunner status this year. It would also be wonderful if Emmy voters took a long look at HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, with an emphasis on Robin Thede and Quinta Brunson – if the women from Saturday Night Live can earn nominations here, so can the women from ABLSS.
My frontrunners for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
- Alex Borstein – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Marin Hinkle – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Annie Murphy – Schitt’s Creek
- Emily Hampshire – Schitt’s Creek
- Yvonne Orji – Insecure
- Jane Lynch – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- Haim Abbass – Ramy
- Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live
My threats for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
- Laurie Metcalf – The Conners
- Jessica Lange – The Politician
- Betty Gilpin – GLOW
- Julie Bowen – Modern Family
- Robin Thede – A Black Lady Sketch Show
- Quinta Brunson – A Black Lady Sketch Show
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