The 2020 Emmy Awards take place virtually on Sunday, September 20, and will celebrate the best in television across every genre, from comedy to drama. This year, eight hilarious series are nominated for the prestigious Outstanding Comedy Series award. Each has a unique plot and is funny in its own way.
Interestingly, all but one of the series ranks above an 8.0 according to IMDb reviewers. That's a good barometer for how great each of these shows is. But, the question is, which one comes out on top?
Insecure – 7.9
Issa Rae created and stars in this comedy-drama that is based, in part, on her web series Awkward Black Girl. Insecure, which airs on HBO, has four seasons under its belt and has been renewed for a fifth.
The show has been lauded for its portrayal of Black people as being relatable, showing them in everyday typical scenarios. At the heart are two female protagonists and best friends living in Los Angeles and navigating their love lives and careers.
Dead to Me - 8.0
Starring TV veterans Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, this Netflix dark comedy is about a widowed woman who loses her husband in a hit and run accident. After she's befriended by another woman in a grief counseling group, she discovers the woman isn't exactly who she claims to be.
Despite the rocky and twisted start, the two become quick friends who lean on one another for support but soon find themselves mixed up in all kinds of drama. Dead To Me has streamed two seasons to date with the upcoming third set to wrap up the story. The strong acting and amazing chemistry between the two leads has helped make this a multi-Emmy-nominated show.
The Good Place – 8.2
With a cast that includes talented actors like Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, it's no surprise that this fantasy comedy is not only nominated for Best Comedy but also has high marks from fans. Bell is Eleanor, an immoral woman who accidentally gets sent to a Heaven-like place after death and must prove she belongs there – which means hiding her true self - in order to stay.
NBC's The Good Place, which also streamed on Netflix, ended earlier this year after four seasons. Aspects like the writing, acting, originality, creative use of ethics, and focus on philosophy, have been praised by critics.
The Kominsky Method – 8.2
A Netflix original, this popular comedy-drama has a star-studded cast that includes Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Sarah Baker, and Nancy Travis. The third and final season is coming up to continue the story of Sandy Kominsky (Douglas), a once-famous actor who is now working as an acting coach.
As they say, those who can't do, teach. On The Kominsky Method, Kominsky had a brief fling with fame but has found far more success in teaching a new generation of actors.
Schitt's Creek – 8.4
This Canadian sitcom flew under the radar for several years before it somehow got noticed, especially after being picked up for streaming by Netflix. Schitt's Creek stars comedy legends Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara as a wealthy couple who, after suddenly losing everything, is forced to move to a small town they once purchased as a joke, since it remains their only asset.
Created by Levy and his son Dan, who also stars, the show ended after six seasons, much to the disappointment of fans who hadn't really gotten into it until seasons three and four. The show is a favorite to win, having picked up 19 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. It's not only totally hilarious, but it has also been lauded for the realistic and open portrayals of those within the LGBTQ community.
What We Do in the Shadows – 8.5
Based on the 2014 film of the same name, this series is about four vampires who live in modern-day New York and must balance their lives as vampires with mundane, everyday challenges. The vampires include the leader and eldest vampire, Nandor, Laszlo, the English nobleman who is obsessed with sex and married to Nadja. A Romani vampire, Nadja keeps having an affair with the same reincarnated knight even though he gets decapitated every time. There's also Mark, an energy vampire who lives in the basement and drains people of their energy by being boring. Unlike the others, he is a "daywalker" who isn't harmed by sunlight.
FX's What We Do In the Shadows is dubbed a comedy horror and takes a typically scary topic and makes it downright hilarious. There have been two seasons to date with a third coming up.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – 8.7
The period comedy-drama became an instant hit for Amazon Prime Video and turned Rachel Brosnahan into a bona fide breakout star. She stars as the title character, a late '50s housewife who, after her husband leaves her for his secretary, discovers a hidden talent for stand-up comedy. The manager of the bar Midge Maisel sees her delivers her drunken routine and notices her talent before vowing to make her a star.
The highly touted The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows the pair's journey to not only create the next big stand-up star, but also get people to believe in the fact that a pretty young housewife is worth listening to, and funnier than any male comic out there. The show takes some notes from history, with fictional characters who resemble or were at least inspired by, real ones as well as fictional versions of real-life characters.
Curb Your Enthusiasm – 8.7
He created Seinfeld, after all, so it's no surprise that Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm ranks highest among the nominated shows. The show takes a fictional look at David's life as a semi-retired TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles. There are guest appearances from many other actors who play fictionalized, often exaggerated, versions of themselves. The mockumentary-style show also stars Cheryl Hines as his wife and Jeff Garlin as his manager and best friend.
HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm aired for nine seasons from 2000 through to 2017 then returned for a 10th season in January 2020, with plans for another. Through its run, the show has already earned 38 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.