The Nominees Ranked By Which Should Win:
- Eugene Levy for Pop's Schitt's Creek - "The Pitch"
- Ted Danson for NBC's The Good Place - "Whenever You're Ready"
- Ramy Youssef for Hulu's Ramy - "You Are Naked in Front of Your Sheikh"
- Anthony Anderson for ABC's Black-ish - "Love, Boat"
- Michael Douglas for Netflix's The Kominsky Method - "Chapter 12: A Libido Sits in the Fridge"
- Don Cheadle for Showtime's Black Monday - "Who Are You Supposed to Be?"
As I've been saying in a number of these comedy races, The Good Place and Schitt's Creek had daunting tasks in their final seasons but managed to pull off some stunning final episodes. The cast contributed so much to that success as well. The viewer could tell that Eugene Levy was beaming with pride over everything he and his family got to do together on the Pop comedy. But it was also fun to watch his character's insecurities come out as he passionately pitched a business plan that could ensure better days ahead for his family. That was always Johnny's main goal. It took a lot of time with many starts and stops. However, his appreciation for the friends he made along the way was so endearing and heartwarming. Similarly, it was so much fun to watch Ted Danson embark on a journey of true enlightenment over the little things that make each of us human. The Good Place asked a number of big and profound questions. It could still be silly a lot of the time. The actors were always asked to delicately balance those tonal differences. They did so while creating characters who desperately needed some happy endings in the afterlife. That extended to the demons who were forced to challenge their world views of what was possible. Danson started as an angel, became a demon and finished as a human. He brought gravitas to the project but he was also just as shocked by every development that happened along the way. His fight to make the world a better place provided the show with its core structure despite the numerous mishaps the team encountered.
The Nominees Ranked by Which Will Win:
- Eugene Levy for Pop's Schitt's Creek - "The Pitch"
- Ramy Youssef for Hulu's Ramy - "You Are Naked in Front of Your Sheikh"
- Ted Danson for NBC's The Good Place - "Whenever You're Ready"
- Michael Douglas for Netflix's The Kominsky Method - "Chapter 12: A Libido Sits in the Fridge"
- Don Cheadle for Showtime's Black Monday - "Who Are You Supposed to Be?"
- Anthony Anderson for ABC's Black-ish - "Love, Boat"
In many of the comedy races, Schitt's Creek and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are the top contenders. It's reasonable to assume that they will be battling it out for many of the major comedy prizes. Here, Mrs. Maisel doesn't have a nominee. That could make Eugene Levy the obvious winner. It would be an award to honor the entire character journey across the show and not just one specific episode. It would also be a career acknowledgement for entertaining people for so many years. Schitt's Creek is a legacy project that could honor people across the generations should it have a big night at the Emmys. That seems completely plausible and even rewarding too. However, a case can absolutely be made for Ramy Youssef as well. The two most recent winners in this category - Atlanta's Donald Glover and Barry's Bill Hader - starred in series where they have their hands in many different departments. Glover and Hader wrote, acted in and directed several episodes of their shows. Youssef does the same with his Hulu series. Them winning for one of those things essentially becomes a recognition for all that they do to contribute to their great series. Ramy is an extension of Youssef's view on the world. It's a unique perspective that has created a compelling series. It received more Emmy love for its second season. That surge could boost him over the top in this race. Ted Danson also exists as a spoiler. He is no longer the lone acting nominee from The Good Place. That shows broader support than ever before. Will it be enough for him or any of his co-stars to prevail? It's possible.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my predictions? Let me know in the comments below!
