2024 Emmy Predictions: Best Comedy Guest Actor
Less than a year after Sam Richardson (“Ted Lasso”) won his first Best Comedy Guest Actor Emmy on his second consecutive try, Jon Bernthal (“The Bear”) is poised to do the same. Whereas the category’s 2023 lineup included an even mix of veteran and rookie nominees, Bernthal is the sole returning contender this time and has thus emerged as quite a strong frontrunner.
Bernthal currently faces opposition from fellow “The Bear” actors Bob Odenkirk and Will Poulter as well as Emmys newcomer Ryan Gosling (“Saturday Night Live”) and former TV movie acting nominee Matthew Broderick (“Only Murders in the Building”). Rounding out his list of challengers is Christopher Lloyd (“Hacks”), who poses a distinct threat in that he triumphed on all three of his previous Emmy bids.
In order to determine if this is truly Bernthal’s race to lose, let’s take a closer look at each nominee. Be sure to make your predictions in this and 30 other Creative Arts Emmy categories by September 7.
Jon Bernthal as Mikey Berzatto (“The Bear”)
Episode: “Fishes”
Following his brief Emmy-nominated performance in the first season finale of “The Bear,” Bernthal returned in the middle of season two to deepen the backstory of his deceased character. In his lengthiest appearance on the show so far, Mikey partakes in a family Christmas dinner that devolves into chaos as he and the other attendees struggle to maintain their civility toward one another.
Matthew Broderick as himself (“Only Murders in the Building”)
Episode: “CoBro”
After Nathan Lane, with whom he starred in the stage and film versions of “The Producers,” Broderick would be the second man to win a guest Emmy for this mystery series. Whereas his potential predecessor prevailed by embodying a fictional character, Broderick is recognized for playing a version of himself, albeit one who greatly annoys his theatre colleagues by committing to method acting.
Ryan Gosling as himself and various sketch characters (“Saturday Night Live”)
Episode: “Host: Ryan Gosling”
Hot off his Oscar nomination for “Barbie,” Gosling headlined “SNL” for the third time ever and first time in over six years. In addition to reprising his role of alien abductee Todd opposite surprise guest Kate McKinnon, he performed a musical monologue with Emily Blunt and created an unexpectedly viral moment as one of a pair of Beavis and Butt-Head lookalikes. His potential win would be the eighth for a male “SNL” host, after those of Eddie Murphy (2020) and dual champs Justin Timberlake (2009, 2011), Jimmy Fallon (2012, 2014), and Dave Chappelle (2017, 2021).
Christopher Lloyd as Larry Arbuckle (“Hacks”)
Episode: “The Deborah Vance Christmas Spectacular”
At 85, Lloyd is the fifth oldest nominee in this category’s history and could surpass Bob Newhart (“The Big Bang Theory,” 2013) as its oldest champion. The former comedy supporting (“Taxi,” 1982-1983) and drama lead (“Road to Avonlea,” 1992) winner appears in a single “Hacks” episode as a reclusive relative of silent film star “Fatty” Arbuckle who schedules a Christmas Day meeting to discuss the idea of a prospective late night host playing his ancestor in a biopic.
Bob Odenkirk as Lee Lane (“The Bear”)
Episode: “Fishes”
Odenkirk has now been nominated 21 times in five different Emmy categories. His seventh acting bid and first for a show other than “Better Call Saul” comes for his portrayal of Mikey Berzatto’s quasi-stepfather who greatly contributes to the unpleasantness of their family’s holiday feast. Not counting sketch programs, this is the first time since 2008 (Will Arnett and Rip Torn, “30 Rock”) that two guest actors are nominated for the same episode of a comedy series.
Will Poulter as Luca (“The Bear”)
Episode: “Honeydew”
Former “Dopesick” nominee Poulter gave a single performance during the sophomore season of “The Bear” in an episode helmed by past acting and current directing contender Ramy Youssef. As master pastry chef Luca, he primarily shares the screen with supporting cast member Lionel Boyce, whose character serves as Luca’s trainee in Copenhagen. After Timberlake (2009) and Dev Patel (“Modern Love,” 2020), the 31-year-old is the third youngest man to ever compete for this award.
So, who will win the 2024 Emmy for Best Comedy Guest Actor? Bernthal is an extremely safe bet due to the obvious popularity of his show, which could easily make history by sweeping all six of this year’s comedy acting categories. Of course, the same logic helps Odenkirk and Poulter, but Bernthal has a leg up due to his category veteran status.
Bernthal should also benefit from his inclusion in a trio of costar nominees, given that someone from six of this category’s previous seven such groups took the gold. One shouldn’t discount the broad appeal of Gosling’s buzzworthy performance or Lloyd’s potential to pull off a surprise victory in the vein of 2022 “Hacks” guest Laurie Metcalf, but it’s fairly evident that Bernthal’s time has come.
PREDICT the Creative Arts Emmy winners through September 7
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