The countdown to the 2021 Emmys is underway as September 19 draws closer and with a huge range of performers, shows and specials nominated for the prestigious awards.
Disney scored the most nominations this year with a staggering 146 nods, while streaming giant Netflix, which is known for splashing out huge sums of money to acquire and create content, earned a total of 129 chances to win.
WarnerMedia — which owns HBO and HBO Max — garnered 138 total nominations thanks to the two platforms.
This year, the comedy race is wide open, given that last year’s runaway winner — Schitt’s Creek — ended its glorious six-season run in January 2020. The beloved Canadian sitcom swept the 2020 ceremony, taking home every award it was nominated for and making history for winning every award in the comedy category including Best Comedy, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy — Annie Murphy, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy — Dan Levy and Best Actress in a Comedy — Catherine O’Hara, among others.
This year, the fan favourite looks to be Ted Lasso starring Jason Sudeikis, which has earned 20 nominations. The heartwarming series broke records by becoming the most nominated comedy series this year, and the most nominated freshman comedy series in history.
We could all use a laugh right about now, so we thought we would fill you in on every TV series nominated in the Outstanding Comedy Series category and where you catch watch them. Enjoy!
Black-ish
What’s it about?
This very clever comedy, from the mind of creative genius Kenya Barris, follows the Johnson family as they navigate life while trying to find their cultural identity in a predominantly white neighbourhood.
Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown and Marsai Martin star in this funny, yet subversive show, which explores themes of racism, identity, class, relationships and privilege through a comedic lens.
How many seasons are there?
7
Where can I watch it?
Cobra Kai
What’s it about?
It’s the Karate Kid! Only 34 years later.
The series sees old rivals Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) come head to head once more after Johnny decides to reopen the Cobra Kai karate dojo.
This move reignites his rivalry with Daniel, who is now a successful businessman and happily married but is missing an essential balance in life since the death of his mentor, Mr Miyagi.
This time around, there is a new cast of teenagers to train, which breathes fresh life into the franchise, but the older generation will love it just as much for its nostalgia element, too.
How many seasons are there?
3, with a fourth coming later in 2021.
Where can I watch it?
Emily in Paris
What’s it about?
Love it or hate it, Emily in Paris has been nominated for a fair few awards since it premiered so it can’t be that bad, can it?
Created by Darren Star who brought us Sex and the City and Younger, Emily in Paris is about a girl named Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) who lands a dream marketing role in the French capital, even though she can’t speak French.
Her new colleagues don’t like her much but all of the men in Paris do for some reason so she has a great time flirting, eating and drinking through the city while trying to prove to her boss she is not some crass American.
How many seasons are there?
One, with filming on the second currently underway.
Where can I watch it?
The Flight Attendant
What’s it about?
The Flight Attendant follows Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco), who gets thrust into a massive conspiracy after falling for a passenger named Alex Sokolov (Michiel Huisman) on one of her transatlantic flights…and waking up next to his bloody corpse in Bangkok.
Afraid to call the police, she cleans up the crime scene, then joins the other airline crew travelling to the airport. In New York City, she is met by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents who question her about the layover in Bangkok. Still unable to piece the night together, and suffering intermittent flashbacks and hallucinations about it, she begins to wonder who the killer could be.
So yeah, this one is more a comedy-drama but we love a bit of dark humour.
How many seasons are there?
One so far, but a second is coming in 2022.
Where can I watch it?
The Kominsky Method
What’s it about?
Michael Douglas plays an actor who made it big a long time ago and who now is an acting coach at his studio named after himself, “The Kominsky Method.”
The legendary Alan Arkin co-stars as Norman Newlander, Sandy’s agent and friend who is struggling to make sense of his life after the death of his wife.
Together, they navigate the highs and lows of life, love, career and ageing with hilarious and heartwarming results.
How many seasons are there?
3
Where can I watch it?
Pen15
What’s it about?
Cringe-comedy at its best, Pen15 “depicts middle school as it really happened” as it follows best friends Maya and Anna (played by 31-year-old comedians Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle) who are teenage outcasts in the year 2000, during a time when the best day of your life can turn into the worst with the stroke of a gel pen.
Adult Maya and Anna, as their younger selves, are surrounded by actual teenagers as they re-experience some of the ups and downs of middle school life.
How many seasons are there?
2
Where can I watch it?
Ted Lasso
What’s it about?
It’s about the nicest guy in the world, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), who gets a job as the coach for a flailing UK football (soccer) team which is being run by new owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), who is determined to destroy the club to get revenge on her cheating ex-husband.
Although his cheery American persona goes down like a lead balloon at first, Ted slowly starts to win over all of his new English friends with charm, kindness and lots of homemade biscuits.
How many seasons are there?
2 so far, with a third already confirmed.
Where can I watch it?
Hacks
What’s it about?
Hacks sees Jean Smart play Deborah Vance — a legendary stand-up comedian who has a Las Vegas residency but is struggling to remain relevant as she gets older.
She teams with a young Gen Z comedy writer (who is suffering from being #cancelled after posting a Tweet that was deemed insensitive) in order to try to freshen up Vance’s act and give them both a second shot at professional success.
How many seasons are there?
Just one so far, but it’s been renewed for a second.
Where can I watch it?
The 2021 Emmys will air on FOXTEL’s Arena as well as FOXTEL Go and FOXTEL Now, live at 10am and then again at 7.30pm, Monday, September 20 on FOX ARENA.
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