Emmys 2025 Outstanding Comedy Contenders: Do Not Underestimate Uzo Aduba or ‘The Residence’

Megan McLachlan breaks down the Emmys 2025 Outstanding Comedy Series contenders.

Now that Hacks Season 4 has premiered, it’s time to look at where the Emmys 2025 Outstanding Comedy contenders race stands.

This year, it looks like there will be plenty of returning favorites (The Bear, Only Murders, Abbott Elementary), new kids on the block (The Studio, The Residence), and shows signing off (What We Do in the Shadows, Somebody Somewhere). Plus, there are also series yet to premiere, like The Four Seasons and Poker Face Season 2. We have a wealth of comedies to choose from, so it will be interesting to see how it shakes out!

Have We Fallen Out of Love with The Bear and Hacks?

First things first, let’s discuss the elephant, err, bear in the room: The Bear Season 3. For many, it was a bear to get through (I, a huge Bear fan, admittedly did not finish it!).

At this year’s SAG Awards, Martin Short surprised everyone when he beat Jeremy Allen White in the Male Actor in a Comedy Series category, and then Only Murders in the Building shocked everyone (including a clearly aghast Selena Gomez) when it took Comedy Ensemble. This seems to mark a shift in name-checking, especially for this third divisive season. For that reason, I don’t think The Bear is necessarily in the pole position.

But perhaps neither is last year’s Emmy Comedy winner, Hacks.

Joey Moser gave the Jean Smart comedy a strong review, writing,”Hacks‘ fourth season remains decidedly vicious in its comedy, but what’s surprising is how it gives space to the injuries of the heart.” And most critics agree, with a 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes right now (it’s also never gone below a 98% in all its seasons).

But there have been some rumblings of devoted fans not as into this season as past seasons. I would still put it at No. 1 ahead of The Bear at this point, but even last year, it beat the Hulu comedy (?) by the skin of its teeth.

The Studio Could Be the Next Hacks

If that’s the case, then Hacks should have no problem beating The Bear this year on its weaker third season, right? Not so fast!

Apple TV+’s The Studio is kind of the new Hacks with its blistering take on Hollywood. The Seth Rogen comedy has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, an A List cast, a one-er episode that has film bros blowing their loads, and it comes out in a year when we all want to rally behind rebuilding Hollywood. Plus, it’s pretty effing funny (the Kool-Aid/Martin Scorsese gag is genius).

People might also be clamouring for a true, honest-to-god comedy, and the hijinks of The Studio (mixed with a little high-brow Robert Altman) delivers.

Apple+’s other comedy Shrinking — starring another Judd Apatow buddy — should look to repeat in the comedy race, but if voters want to spread the wealth and don’t want to vote for two Apple shows, I’m giving The Studio the edge.

The Netflix Comedy Conundrum: Nobody Wants This, The Residence, & The Four Seasons

Netflix has three — count’em, THREE — outstanding Outstanding Comedy Series contenders.

Last fall’s romantic comedy Nobody Wants This made a splash when it premiered and certainly could make it into the final nominations list, but is it more of a vehicle for the acting performances? There’s certainly love for the show as a whole, but I feel like the series is something voters will single out in acting categories over the series, specifically for Adam Brody and Kristen Bell.

Then, there’s The Residence. I think we are completely underestimating this show. Uzo Aduba gives one of the best comedic performances of the year as Detective Cordelia Cupp, and the woman has three — count’em, THREE — Emmys (having been nominated five times). The Academy loves her (how could you not?), and this is an unforgettable lead performance with a strong supporting cast (they’re all fabulous) and crafts coming out the wazoo. It’s a murder mystery, but also a history lesson on the inner-office dynamics of The White House. It’s the perfect escape in this hellish political landscape.

Finally, there’s The Four Seasons, the series adaptation of Alan Alda’s 1981 film by the same name — only this one stars Tina Fey (she’s a co-creator), Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Will Forte, and Kerri Kenney-Silver. Certainly, this show has bonafide comedic chops (Fey’s longtime collaborator Tracey Wigfield is also a co-creator) and stars (Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo?!?!), but will it connect with audiences or go the way of other shows based on IPs, like Saved By the Bell and Four Weddings and a Funeral? I’m not entirely sure people know The Four Seasons film (I don’t). Maybe it won’t matter.

What’s Coming Back and Staying Put?

Abbott Elementary and Only Murders in the Building should stay firmly in the lineup, especially after the latter’s SAG win. Peacock’s Poker Face starring Natasha Lyonne returns for Season 2, and while we should look for Lyonne in the Actress race, the comedy failed to receive an Emmy nomination for its first season, so I’m not sure whether it can break in for Season 2.

Say Goodbye to These Shows in Their Final Seasons

Emmy voters are not sentimental, but there are a few comedies in their final seasons this year: FX’s What We Do in the Shadows and HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. Definitely look for WWDITS to get a comedy series nomination (it rarely misses)! Bridget Everett is beloved, and she and the cast made the rounds during the final season, so hopefully fans remember this gem of a comedy come voting time.

2025 Outstanding Comedy Series Breakdown

So where do we stand? Here’s where I would put all of the comedy series contenders as of today.

1. Hacks
2. The Studio
3. Only Murders in the Building
4. The Bear
5. Abbott Elementary
6. The Residence
7. Shrinking
8. What We Do in the Shadows

Could break in: Nobody Wants This, The Four Seasons, Somebody Somewhere, Poker Face.