Emmys: Lead Actress (Comedy) — Will Jean Smart Take Home Her Sixth Career Statuette for ‘Hacks?’

By Clayton Davis

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

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Weekly Commentary (Updated: May 9, 2024): The third season of HBO/Max’s “Hacks” has hit the ground running and, dare I say, is sprinting well ahead of its competitors. Creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky have crafted a narrative arc for Jean Smart and her co-star Hannah Einbender that’s so compelling that it might just catapult them both (as well as the series) to the top of their categories this Emmy season. And as for Smart, after pausing production in February 2023 for a heart procedure, the resurgence and adoration for the acting veteran is not just expected—it feels like a guarantee. With five Emmys sitting on her mantle, Hollywood does love a comeback, after all.

Turning to Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” the spotlight is brightly on Selena Gomez, who, after being egregiously snubbed by the Television Academy for two long years, now stands her strongest chance yet at an acting nod (C’mon Academy, don’t do her dirty again). Her precarious standing—surrounded by heavy hitters like Steve Martin, Martin Short, Paul Rudd, and Meryl Streep, one does wonder: Will the TV Academy dare to overlook her again? With friends like these, who needs an Emmy… or do they?

Meanwhile, over at “The Bear,” Ayo Edebiri shifts her campaign gears into the lead category for the show’s second season, already basking in the glow of Golden Globe and SAG awards. Is she setting up a comedic showdown with last year’s Emmy darling, Quinta Brunson, from “Abbott Elementary”? It looks like a comedic collision course is on the horizon!

And let’s not overlook the comedy stalwarts. Kristen Wiig of “Palm Royale” might just rendezvous with her “Saturday Night Live” sister-in-arms, Maya Rudolph, who’s eyeing an Emmy for “Loot” on Apple TV+. It’s shaping up to be a battle of the network stars, so keep your eyes on the prize.

Emmy submissions are due Thursday, May 9. The eligibility deadline for all series concluding their runs is May 31. The nominations-voting-round is open from June 13 to June 24.