Emmys 2021: Outstanding Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees!

Schitt's Creek presided over a clean sweep of all the major comedy categories at the 2020 Emmys, winning nine trophies for its final season on Pop TV. While it's unlikely any of this year's contenders will dominate to that extent, one show is entering awards season with buzz to spare.

We're referring, of course, to Apple TV+ breakout Ted Lasso, which since its debut last summer has amassed an impressive kudos haul. The U.K.-based, Jason Sudeikis-fronted sports satire will undoubtedly snag a slew of major nominations, beginning with a much-deserved Best Comedy Series nod — and it's made our list of Dream Emmy Nominees, too.

Scroll through the list below to review all seven of our Dream Nominees (remember, these aren't predictions; they're wish lists) and then tell us if our picks warrant a "Hell, yes!," "Um, no" or "How could you leave off so-and-so?!"For the record, 2021 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 17-28, and unveiled on July 13. The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Sunday, Sept. 19 on CBS.

Scroll down for links to our previous Dream Emmy categories:

Outstanding Drama Series — Our 7 Dream NomineesOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — Our 7 Dream NomineesOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — Our 8 Dream NomineesOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Our 8 Dream NomineesOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Apple TV+'s literary comedy got wilder and weirder in its second season, with Emily facing the daunting prospect of (gasp!) celebrity after her poems were published. (Plus, there were ghosts, we think?) Season 2 still delivered plenty of laughs — Anna Baryshnikov, in particular, was a riot as Emily's rebellious sister Lavinia — but passion won out, as Emily's obsession with her brother's wife Sue culminated in a steamy scene that fans had been waiting what feels like a century to witness.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: As fun and catchy as the bubblegum pop hits it savagely skewered, Peacock's girl-group comeback comedy was a well-oiled joke machine, with rapid-fire punchlines in the vein of executive producer Tina Fey's 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The cast was fantastic — especially Renée Elise Goldsberry as resident diva Wickie — the songs were hilarious, and the singers' battle against the music industry's ageism and misogyny was actually genuinely moving, too.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Jean Smart's turn as a Vegas stand-up in HBO Max's freshman comedy is everything we hoped it would be, providing the TV legend with a role that's bitingly sarcastic and fiercely feminist. Deborah's flailing career is helped and hindered by a new partnership with twenty-something writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) whose mere presence causes the comedian to constantly lash out with zingers. The writing is sharp, the insults are fire and watching the two funnywomen go toe-to-toe delivers nonstop humor and awkward situations.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: A series about a woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a sociopathic tech mogul might not seem like a comedy, but that's the challenge for which Cristin Milioti & Co. signed up. The actors brought heaps of levity to the screen, from Milioti's manic delivery to Ray Romano's jittery interactions with Herbert's synthetic partner Diane. While Hazel's fight to get her life back was certainly spattered with drama and sci-fi elements, the HBO Max series' over-the-top premise and carefully crafted tone gave its actors the perfect playground to flex their funny.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Hulu's middle school throwback is a sophomore now... but luckily, Anna and Maya aren't growing up anytime soon. Stars/co-creators Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine once again transformed themselves into awkward teens with terrifying accuracy, forming one of TV's top comedy duos. Plus, Season 2 threw some unexpected hurdles at them, with a pathologically lying new pal and a big school play to freak out over, adding a distinct streak of melancholy to the girls' wacky antics.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Is a Syfy comedy about an alien posing as a human doctor while plotting to destroy the world too niche for the Emmys? Perhaps. But Alan Tudyk delivered a master class performance, blending Harry's quirky alien attributes with his ignorance of humanity. The ensemble cast was not only charming, but capable of matching wits and adding their own comedic prowess to this absurd, yet smartly written tale. Add in a whodunit mystery and a double-scoop of heart, and you get one of the best and most surprising comedies to land this year.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Arriving in the dog days of not just summer but the emotionally taxing pandemic, Ted Lasso was the feel-good TV we desperately needed. Whether you know a pitch from a field, Apple TV+'s Jason Sudeikis-led sports comedy effortlessly coaxed you into its quirky corner of the U.K. and introduced a lineup of odd, sometimes angry birds that were each comedically unique. Over 10 gone-too-soon episodes, we and AFC Richmond came to appreciate that Ted had a heart big enough to fill the holes in his football knowledge.