Emmys 2023: Outstanding Comedy Series — Our Dream Nominees!

Is Ted Lasso vulnerable?

While the mixed reviews the Apple TV+ comedy received for its third and (seemingly) final season will not prevent Jason Sudeikis and Co. from securing an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination this year, it could very well stand in the way of the two-time champ taking home the top prize.  

A more pressing question, of course, is whether Ted made our Emmy short list.

Scroll through the list below to review all 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 such-and-such?!"

For the record, 2023 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 15-26, and unveiled on July 12. The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Monday, Sept. 18 on Fox.

Scroll down for links to our previous Dream Emmy categories:

🏆 Outstanding Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
🏆 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
🏆 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
🏆 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
🏆 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: In its second season, the breakout workplace comedy only got better, strengthening the bonds between the school's staff and deepening the characters' personal arcs all while continuing to deliver consistent laughs and quotable zingers. With thoughtful but funny storylines — like the introduction of Janine and Melissa's messy family dynamics, and Barbara's school-fire meltdown — Abbott Elementary more than successfully avoided the dreaded sophomore slump. And did we mention the delicious romantic tension between Janine and Gregory? Because that deserves an award of its own.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Yes, chef! Hulu's engrossing peek inside the frenetic kitchen of a humble Chicago sandwich shop was one of those shows that snuck up on us from out of nowhere — and we were so sad once our binge was done. Jeremy Allen White absolutely cooked as an accomplished, if embattled, fine-dining chef who returned home to the Windy City to run the family business after his brother's death, and the tightly paced episodes made us feel like we were right there in that cramped kitchen during the lunch rush. Stuffed with dark humor, imperfect characters and raw emotion, it was a delicious treat that ranked as our No. 1 show of 2022.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: This has to be one of the most unlikely Emmy contenders in years, but very few shows made us laugh as much as this gleefully chaotic prank comedy, which placed an unsuspecting guy named Ronald on a jury in a completely fictional court case, where everyone was in on the joke but him. The case grew increasingly bizarre — James Marsden had a ball playing himself as a spoiled actor-slash-reluctant juror — but there was a touch of sweetness here, too, as Ronald and his fellow jurors became close pals in the courtroom trenches. Our verdict: It was a delight.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: An occasionally uneven final season does not mask the simple truth: The Amazon comedy went out with a bang. Not only did Season 5 produce some of the finest episodes in Maisel's entire run — we're looking at you, Episode 6's hilarious and heartbreaking Susie-centric "The Testi-Roastial" — but Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino delivered the period-appropriate goods when it mattered the most (i.e. via the immensely satisfying series finale).

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Max's showbiz satire has been funnier than ever in its current third season, skewering everything from Jeff Bezos' personality to Disney's famously tepid approach to LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Stars Heléne Yorke and Drew Tarver have respectively taken Brooke and Cary to new, cringe-worthy lows, as Brooke makes a half-hearted attempt at do-gooding and Cary's desire for fame becomes even more insatiable. Plus, The Other Two has proven it can still surprise us, wading into occasionally dramatic waters (like Brooke and Lance's breakup fight) that are just as effective as the show's nonstop punchlines.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Natasha Lyonne brought her raspy-voiced charm to this throwback mystery as amateur sleuth Charlie Cale, who has a knack for knowing when someone is lying. Its mystery-of-the-week format allowed for lots of great guest stars, and director/EP Rian Johnson established a cool retro style that evoked TV classics like Columbo and The Rockford Files. The key to its success, though, was Lyonne's Charlie, whose sassy one-liners and keen eye for clues made her an unlikely but thoroughly appealing hero. We're looking forward to cracking many more cases with her.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Drama sizzled throughout the Rez Dogs' second at-bat, as the kids worked through lingering pain following their friend's suicide. But even such heavy matters couldn't stifle the big belly laughs that erupted as we followed the crew's lives (plus oddballs like Uncle Brownie and William Knifeman) on the res. Balancing its beating heart with loads of witty humor, the show continued to serve top-notch dialogue and bizarre storylines that had us humming Kansas tunes and yearning for more "sacred tater tots" all season long.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Who knew a show about a grieving, depressed therapist could be so funny? Jason Segel shined as a widower struggling to keep it all together and parent his teenage daughter. When his character's major life change led to an avant-garde approach to his work, he was off the rails personally and professionally, as the impeccable supporting cast — including Harrison Ford, Christa Miller and Jessica Williams — landed beautifully executed quips and touching moments. Poignant and funny, Shrinking showed that silver linings do exist, even during our darkest days. We just need an open heart to see them.