'The Bear,' 'Reservation Dogs,' Entire Lead Actress in a Comedy Category Among Our Favorite 2024 Emmy Nominations

by Tyler Glover & Julian Spivey

The ENTIRE Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series Category
When the nominations for this category were being read off, I kept getting more excited! When it ended, I realized I love and adore every actress nominated. Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri, Selena Gomez, Maya Rudolph, Jean Smart and Kristen Wiig. I have watched “Abbott Elementary,” “Only Murders In The Building,” “The Bear” and “Hacks.” I am not entirely caught up on “Abbott Elementary” or “The Bear,” but I know these are all deserving nominees. The two actresses for whom I have not watched the projects for which they are nominated are Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig. I, of course, LOVE them so much from “Saturday Night Live” and one of my favorite movies, “Bridesmaids.” I aim to get to “Loot” and “Palm Royale” before Emmy night, but I know from a personal perspective that I cannot be upset with any of these fantastic actresses winning. TG

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Reservation Dogs
After two years of being one of the best shows on television without being nominated for anything at the Emmy Awards, “Reservation Dogs” finally received a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series for its third and final season. The FX production on Hulu probably got in because some Emmy favorites in “Ted Lasso,” “Barry” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” all ended last year. Still, seeing the show about a group of Indigenous kids in Oklahoma finally get its due is a thrill. There were still many snubs from this show that make me want to scream into the void like Devery Jacobs not receiving a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy despite being better than most of those nominated, but for now, let’s focus on the fact that the nomination might get many who have never seen this gem of a series to watch. JS

Photo: FX/Hulu

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The Bear
“The Bear” is a show that I initially did not get into at all. I watched the first episode months ago and was reminded of all the trauma you experience working in the food industry. I have worked in the food service industry for 20 years and couldn’t believe how accurate it was ... almost too precise for me to enjoy. I decided to give the show another chance, and I’m so glad I did. It may start as rocky as many of my shifts have, but we slowly begin to see a family grow in this family of chefs. I love how the show portrays finding a family with people who aren’t family. I now have the best work experience, and we are a family. We have been there through the death of a co-worker, engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, pregnancies, births, and team outings. This show makes me smile now; the writing, directing and acting are top-notch. I am so glad it racked up the most ever nominations for a comedy series with 23. TG

Photo: FX/Hulu

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Hannah Einbinder
There is nobody on television better than Hannah Einbinder who hasn’t already won an Emmy for their current performances. Einbinder has been a revelation for three seasons on the Max comedy “Hacks” as Ava Daniels, a young writer who helps comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart, who has won two Emmys for the role) flesh out her material and make it more relevant to today’s world. Nobody on TV makes me laugh more than Einbinder as Daniels. Einbinder was nominated for the show’s first two seasons, losing to Hannah Waddingham of “Ted Lasso” in 2021 and Sheryl Lee Ralph of “Abbott Elementary” in 2022. I’m not sure I’d consider Einbinder the favorite in the category that includes legends Meryl Streep (“Only Murders in the Building”) and Carol Burnett (“Palm Royale), but she should be. JS

Photo: Max

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Baby Reindeer
It wasn’t a shock that Netflix’s limited series “Baby Reindeer” racked up 11 Emmy nominations in the limited series categories, as it’s probably the favorite in most of those categories. However, I’m still thrilled to see all the love the show has gotten. “Baby Reindeer” is based on the true story (though a fictionalized version) of how Richard Gadd, who wrote and stars as the lead, was stalked by a woman he met as a bartender in a London pub. The show's performances were terrific, resulting in nominations for Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau and Tom Goodman-Hill. It’s a tough watch but a well-made and told one that’ll likely see Gadd as one of the biggest stars come Emmy night. JS

Photo: Netflix

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The Morning Show
Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” received 16 Emmy nominations this year, including many acting nominations. I was thrilled to see many of the cast recognized (Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Jon Hamm, Nicole Beharie, Greta Lee, Karen Pittman, Holland Taylor and Marcia Gay Harden). I thought the third season of “The Morning Show” was its best yet and it seems the Emmys agree since this is the most nominations this show has ever received for a single season. What I loved about this season is that it took hot-button issues in the United States today and made us look at it from the perspective of: “What if this was our family?” You have your political beliefs and know what is right and wrong and what is reprehensible. How is your judgment changed when someone you love is entangled in something you don’t believe in? Do you abandon all of your beliefs because of your family, or do you stick to your guns about right and wrong? I can't entirely agree with the actions taken by some of the characters in this season, but it is intriguing to see how our moral compass can be changed and what sacrifices we can make for the ones we love. What made this worthwhile, though, is that the truth did come out. TG

Photo: Apple

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Christopher Storer & Joanna Calo  
“The Bear” already got some love in this piece. Still, I have to point out the nomination showrunner Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo received for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the episode “Fishes,” the sixth episode of the second season. There have been many perfect episodes of “The Bear” in the show’s first two seasons (I’m still currently watching season three, but season two is the one nominated), but “Fishes” might be the best. It’s a devastating flashback episode of a family Christmas dinner at the Berzatto residence that explains what we’ve come to know of Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) specifically. The episode has become known for its all-star-studded guest cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Jon Bernthal, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, John Mulaney, and Gillian Jacobs, most of whom had never been seen on the show. But the ridiculously awesome thing is how Storer and Calo have fleshed these characters out so much that you instantly feel you know them. It’s one of the most heart-pounding episodes of television I’ve ever seen. JS

Photo: FX/Hulu

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Late Show with Stephen Colbert & Late Night with Seth Meyers
This year’s Emmy ceremony will mark the second one since the academy broke up the variety series into talk and sketch, which moved HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” to the sketch category, thus opening up the chance for more traditional late-night variety shows to win Emmys. The first winner after that change was Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” for Trevor Noah’s final season as its host. I hope frequent nominees “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” which both have been doing a fantastic job for a decade now, will have the opportunity to see some Emmy love. However, with Jon Stewart returning to host an episode per week of “The Daily Show” this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Emmy voters revert to how they once filled out their ballots in the years before John Oliver began to dominate. JS

Photo: CBS

Photo: NBC

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Red, White, and Royal Blue
I was so excited that four of my Emmy wishes came true. I am beyond thrilled “Red, White, and Royal Blue” was nominated. The film about the son of the President of the United States and the Prince of England falling in love was such a sweet romantic comedy that I feel should be watched repeatedly. The chemistry between actors Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez was electric, and this film was so successful that a sequel was announced. Representation is so important in media. I know there are people in America who feel gay people should not be in films, but art should reflect the world we live in. Regardless of personal beliefs, people should be able to watch movies with characters that represent them. We all deserve to be seen and heard. TG

Jane Lynch 
In the early 2000s, I loved watching the original “The Weakest Link” show on NBC with host Anne Robinson. Her biting remarks and lack of emotion always made me laugh. When I heard it was getting rebooted with Emmy-winner Jane Lynch, I could not have been more thrilled. What a perfect replacement. Jane Lynch has carried over her Sue Sylvester persona from the Fox hit show, “Glee” and making America fall in love with her all over again. Lynch was also fantastic as the host of “Hollywood Game Night.” I love her so much and am thrilled to see her nominated here even though the show wasn’t nominated for Outstanding Game Show. That shows that the Academy recognizes her talent and how she elevates everything she is in. TG

Photo: Amazon Studios

Photo: NBC