Who wants a Best Actor in a Comedy Series nomination? Seriously. Who wants one? Last year’s winner, Seth Rogen, isn’t eligible because “The Studio” won’t return for a second season this voting window. Does that mean the 2023 and 2024 winner, “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White, will return to the winner’s podium? We’re not so sure he’s even a lock as a nominee.
To be fair, White is a likely nominee, but Martin Short and Jason Segel, of “Only Murders in the Building” and “Shrinking,” respectively, are better bets as nominees. Short has been recognized for every “Murders” season and won this equivalent honor at the SAG Actor Awards in 2024. Segel was nominated for the previous “Shrinking” season, and the program has only increased in popularity and notoriety since.
Steve Carell is a six-time nominee for “The Office,” and his “Rooster” is a certified hit for HBO. Steve Martin has earned two nominations in this category for “Only Murders,” but didn’t make the cut last year. “Nobody Wants This” star Adam Brody was recognized last year and, unlike his co-star Kristen Bell, also earned back-to-back Actor Awards nominations. “The Chair Company’s” Tim Robinson is a three-time Emmy winner, including an acting honor for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series in 2023. An Oscar nominee earlier this year, Ethan Hawke has never landed an Emmy nomination and may (or may not) face confusion over “The Lowdown” being qualified in the Comedy Series field. “Wonder Man’s” Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is a deserving nominee, but it’s unclear if enough Television Academy members have (or will) watch the critically acclaimed Disney+ and Marvel Studios hit.
Can former Emmy champ Dan Levy make a comeback with “Big Mistakes”? Can Emmy legend Ted Danson land his 19th nomination overall? Will voters take Matthew Rhys seriously in a comedy? Domhnall Gleeson is campaigning, but did enough actors’ branch members enjoy “The Paper”? Is Glen Powell a party crasher for “Chad Powers”? He might be! Whatever the case, this is one category that may feature some genuine surprises when nominations are revealed on July 8.
May 6, 2026
Locks
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jason Segel, “Shrinking”
Almost There
Steve Carell, “Rooster”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jeremy Allen White, “Only Murders in the Building”
Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
Tim Robinson, “The Chair Company”
Ethan Hawke, “The Lowdown”
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, “Wonder Man”
Longshots
Ted Danson, “A Man on the Inside”
Glen Powell, “Chad Powers”
Dan Levy, “Big Mistakes”
Matthew Rhys, “Widow’s Bay”
Domhnall Gleeson, “The Paper”
More contenders and predictions:
Comedy Series
Drama Series
Limited or Anthology Series
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