Emmys 2021: Supporting Actor In A Comedy — Our 7 Dream Nominees!

It's not a question of if anyone from Ted Lasso will be nominated for Supporting Actor in a Comedy at this year's Emmys. It's more a question of how many of the show's performers will make the cut. In our Dream Emmy scenario, we put the number at around three.

Meanwhile, we're also stumping hard for a certain Mythic Quest duo, as well as one of Saturday Night Live's newest, funniest stars.

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 NomineesOutstanding Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream NomineesOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream NomineesOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream NomineesOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees

F. MURRAY ABRAHAM, MYTHIC QUEST

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: The Oscar-winning actor brings so much life to his turn as C.W. Longbottom, the oldest and most inappropriate coworker at Mythic Quest's central game company. But his best Season 2 work is yet to come: In Episode 7 (dropping Friday, June 11), we further discover just why C.W. is the way he is, as he visits an old friend and romantic rival (played by guest star William Hurt). With every barb, slight and sip of liquor, Abraham displays his character's emotional frailties, proving that forgiveness is a gift we must give ourselves.

JOHN EARLY, SEARCH PARTY

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: In a world full of self-entitled narcissists, Early's character is perhaps the most likable a–hole. Thanks to the actor's comedic timing and pitch-perfect delivery, Elliot remained the best part of the show's latter half as he joined a conservative talk show to recap his friends' murder trial, and later, led a fumbling search for a missing pal. Early's sky-high energy led to uproarious laughs and awkward situations that not only upped the show's absurdity level, but provided some much-needed levity to Season 4's darker tone.

BRETT GOLDSTEIN, TED LASSO

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: Ah, Roy Kent. You're a gruff and ornery SOB, someone who was loath to acknowledge that his healthiest days on the pitch are behind him. But with Ted Lasso's arrival (and as one of the acclaimed comedy's writers), Goldstein showed us how the tightly wound team captain gradually loosened up, making way on the pitch for promising upstarts and making room in his cold heart for — surprise, surprise — Jamie's ex, Keeley. Does the midfielder's graying career still have legs? Time will tell. But we hope against all hope that Goldstein is around every bit as long as Ted Lasso is.

NICK MOHAMMED, TED LASSO

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: When Nate arrived for work in the Season 1 finale only to find his kit man duties had already been tackled — not because he had been sacked, but because he was promoted to assistant coach! — viewers were as exuberant as AFC Richmond, and that is due to the sweetness and genuine love for the club with which Mohammed imbued his soft-spoken character. Whether he was educating Ted on football slang or offering keen insight into the team, Mohammed made Nate one of the main characters to root for.

DANNY PUDI, MYTHIC QUEST

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: Pudi has done a great job turning Brad into the office cad. But in Season 2, he's brought a greater sense of depth and vulnerability, proving that much of Brad's bravado is an act. Nowhere was this more apparent than during his reunion with his brother Zack (guest star Parvesh Cheena): Suddenly, Pudi showed us, with his face and posture, that he was a little kid again, trying to protect his 4-H pig from the harshness of Zack and the world.

JEREMY SWIFT, TED LASSO

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: When you think of the Ted Lasso character who most gives the Apple TV+ comedy its gigantic heart, you might jump to Ted himself. But Swift's lovable performance turned Leslie Higgins into an equally crucial part of the Ted Lasso team, bringing a mild-mannered affability to the character without ever making him a pitiful punching bag for Rebecca. As Swift consistently nailed some of the season's most unexpected punchlines, he also gave a well-rounded portrayal of a man who'd once betrayed Rebecca, but spent these 10 episodes trying to be a better man.

BOWEN YANG, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

WHY HE DESERVES A NOD: A staff writer for SNL since 2018, Yang has proven he's just as indispensable in front of the camera, particularly during the sketch series' 46th season. Yang's commitment to every line reading, no matter how absurd, made him a welcome addition to any sketch (and even turned potential duds, like last December's USO skit, into memorable standouts). Plus, he showcased terrific versatility on Weekend Update, from the fever dream that was the Titanic iceberg's appearance (pictured above), to his moving-yet-funny acknowledgment of the recent rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.

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