The hilarity of Black women on television has been sorely missed and ignored by the Television Academy over multiple decades. However, with this year’s slate of outstanding comedy series as robust as ever, it’s presented an incredible amount of worthy Black women to land Emmy recognition in the lead and supporting comedy categories. With freshman outings such as “Abbott Elementary” (ABC), “The Afterparty” (Apple TV+) and “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video) and the farewell seasons of “Black-ish” (ABC) and “Insecure” (HBO), there’s plenty of chances in categories that have sorely lacked Black winners.
In lead actress comedy, only six Black women have been nominated since its inception in 1966 — Diahann Carroll (“Julia”), Isabel Sanford (“The Jeffersons”), Nell Carter (“Gimme a Break!”), Phylicia Rashad (“The Cosby Show”), Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”) and Issa Rae (“Insecure”). Sanford was the only Black woman to win the category in 1981.
Read more: Variety’s Awards Circuit Emmys Predictions Hub
In supporting actress comedy, we’ve seen a minor increase in the representation of Black talent but still not enough compared to the presence in the industry. Ten individual women have been recognized in this category — Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”), Paula Kelly (“Night Court”), Lisa Bonet and Keisha Knight Pulliam (“The Cosby Show”), Jackee Harry (“227”), Alfre Woodard (“Desperate Housewives”), Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”), Niecy Nash (“Getting On”), Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”), Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”) and Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”). Harry is the only one ever to win.
In 2020, we saw history made with the first two Black women, Ellis and Rae, nominated for outstanding comedy series and lead actresses in a comedy.
With the submission deadline for this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards looming on May 12 and ahead of nomination voting opening on June 16, Variety is listing the Black women that demand the TV Academy’s consideration down below.
To see where the list of women stands among this year’s Emmy contenders, go to Variety‘s Awards Circuit prediction pages to see the current rankings. The nomination round of voting runs from June 16-27. The official nominations for the 74th Emmy Awards will be announced Tuesday, July 12.
Honorable mentions: Nicole Byer (“Grand Crew”), Regina Hall (“Black Monday”), Ziwe (“Ziwe”)
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Zazie Beetz ('Atlanta')
Image Credit: ©FX Networks/Courtesy Everett Collection Network: FX
Season: 3
Character: Vanessa (“Van”)Category: Supporting actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: The death ceremony (Episode 2).
Season 3 has proven to be “Atlanta’s” most ambitious, and it’s not by coincidence that it has also allowed Zazie Beetz’s character Vanessa more mystique than she’s ever had. In a world of Earns (Donald Glover), Alfreds (Brian Tyree Henry) and Dariuses (LaKeith Stanfield), Van has always been the reliable one, but now, she leaves her parental and financial duties behind, shocking everyone when she joins the boys in Europe. It’s a smart way to comment on the roles Black women play in their social spheres and lets Beetz show off her chops as the hilarious and haunting presence she executes so well.
-Selome Hailu
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Danielle Brooks ('Peacemaker')
Network: HBO Max
Season: 1
Character: Leota AdebayoCategory: Supporting actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: Leota trying to apologize to Peacemaker
Stepping into the DCEU, Danielle Brooks — an Emmy and Tony nominee and Grammy winner — is easily the best part of the superhero television series on HBO Max. Aside from having a keen fashion sense for dressing up her dogs, the talkative daughter of Amanda Waller, played by Viola Davis, offers an inclusive lens (her scene with Keeya, played by Elizabeth Ludlow, is divine) and shows the depth of talent the Georgia native continuously commands in Hollywood.
-Clayton Davis
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Quinta Brunson ('Abbott Elementary')
Image Credit: ABC Network: ABC
Season: 1
Character: Janine TeaguesCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: “I’ve been dating my boyfriend since eighth grade.”
Alongside Quinta Brunson, the creator, writer, executive producer and star of “Abbott Elementary,” this list can easily include her co-stars Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James (both very competitive for noms in supporting actress comedy). With her multiple duties on the series, Brunson has three shots at nominations that can include outstanding comedy series, lead actress comedy and writing for a comedy series. If recognized in all three, she would be the first Black woman to receive three Emmy noms for the same comedy series (notably, Michaela Coel received four noms for the limited series “I May Destroy You” in 2021). A big hit with critics and audiences, “Abbott” has extended broadcast television’s life for at least several years (seasons).
-Clayton Davis
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Ariana DeBose ('Schmigadoon!')
Network: Apple TV+
Season: 1
Character: Emma TateCategory: Supporting actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: “With All of Your Heart”
Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) is doubtlessly the best part of “Schmigadoon!” — which is no easy feat in a cast featuring Cecily Strong, Keegan-Michael Key and Kristin Chenoweth. She parodies the straight-laced nature of Marian, the librarian from “The Music Man,” without compromising on sincerity, all while tap dancing on a desk. It’s hard not to picture the recent Oscar winner EGOT-ing someday soon.
-Selome Hailu
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Renée Elise Goldsberry ('Girls5eva')
Image Credit: Courtesy of Peacock TV Network: Peacock
Season: 2
Character: WickieCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: “Dawn and Wickie vie for the same solo on the album.” – Episode 206: “B.P.E.”
Meredith Scardino’s “girl power”-ful series has been a subtle force for streamer Peacock, standing as its best original series so far. One of those key reasons is the comedic timing and fearless nature of Renée Elise Goldsberry, who is coming off her first Emmy nom for “Hamilton” (which was surely helped by her turn as Wickie). The Tony winner has excellent chemistry with her castmates (Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps) and showcases some impressive vocal chops. Hopefully, Peacock can expand on its sole nom last year for writing with an acting mention or two, including Goldsberry.
Click on the image above to watch an exclusive clip.
-Clayton Davis
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Meagan Good ('Harlem')
Image Credit: Sarah Shatz/Amazon Prime Video Network: Amazon Prime Video
Season: 1
Character: CamilleCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: Camille and Ian’s kiss: “You already broke my heart five years ago”
Amazon Prime Video’s freshman comedy dropped ahead of the holidays to glowing reviews for its sharp writing and the performances of its ensemble, particularly California native Meagan Good. From the creative mind of producer Tracy Oliver, Good plays an adjunct professor at Columbia University who finds support from three skillful and uproarious friends (supporting actress comedy hopefuls Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson and Shoniqua Shandai) and executes a character (and story) that highlights the beauty and love between Black women. The actress has displayed impressive work for over two decades, inching closer to her big awards breakout moment. As the series doesn’t land every thematic landing it attempts, a promising second season ahead will indeed offer more opportunities to give these women a chance to nab some statuettes. Members of the Television Academy should make time to revel in Good’s fine work.
-Clayton Davis
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Tiffany Haddish ('The Afterparty')
Image Credit: Apple TV Plus Network: Apple TV+
Season: 1
Character: Detective DannerCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: “The person who was most upset with how their life turned out.”
Tiffany Haddish could have performed a cartoon-like parody of a detective trying to solve a murder case in Christopher Miller’s directed comedy series. However, the talented comedian creates a real character with Danner, an ambitious and savvy investigator assembling the pieces to solve the murder of Xavier (Dave Franco). The Apple TV+ show is one of the best-executed inaugural shows, and for her to stand out among this large, sprawling ensemble speaks to her precision with wit and timing.
-Clayton Davis
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Jasmine Cephas Jones ('Blindspotting')
Image Credit: Patrick Wymore / Starz Network: Starz
Season: 1
Character: Ashley RoseCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: Ashley Rose finds the ring (Episode 1)
“Blindspotting” asks a lot of its cast members, who bring humor and spectacle to a rather dark premise about incarceration and blended families. But, as Ashley Rose, Jasmine Cephas Jones is the glue that makes the show work. She earnestly delivers spoken word poetry straight into the camera, then falls back into heavy scene work without losing the air of fantasy, then transitions again into jokes about smoking weed and child-rearing like it’s nothing. “Blindspotting” is proof that the Broadway darling is also a bonafide TV star.
-Selome Hailu
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Ego Nwodim ('Saturday Night Live')
Network: NBC
Season: 47
Character: Various charactersCategory: Supporting actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: Parent-teacher conference (Jason Sudeikis hosts)
Coming in with her fourth season on the long-running “Saturday Night Live,” Ego Nwodim has only continued to grow each subsequent year. This year has featured plenty of outstanding breakout moments, including portraying conservative commentator Candace Owens (to which she responded grossly by saying she was “much better looking”) and her tummy-hurting take as a very forward wife during a parent-teacher conference (alongside the funny Kyle Mooney). Unfortunately, for a variety series that’s been around for the last 47 years, “SNL” alum Leslie Jones is the only Black woman to receive an Emmy nom while being a current cast member on the show (Maya Rudolph’s Emmy noms and wins have been in guest actress comedy after her exit). The statistic is disappointing despite talented veterans such as Danitra Vance (the first Black woman to become a featured player) and Ellen Cleghorne (the first Black woman to go beyond a single season) coming through the Studio 8H halls. While we are seeing progress within the sketch series, including Punkie Johnson among its ranks, it’s about time we see more Black women join the list of nominated comedians.
-Clayton Davis
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Issa Rae ('Insecure')
Image Credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace Network: HBO
Season: 5
Character: Issa DeeCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: “Thank you so much for everything … just for being you. And for loving me when I was being me.”
In its fifth and final season, “Insecure” followed its complicated — and sometimes messy — everywomen protagonists Issa Dee (Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji) as they navigated toward their happy ending. Rae wrote the series finale episode titled “Everything’s Gonna Be, Okay?” which shows the women finding their romantic partners while making space to focus on the show’s true love story — Issa and Molly’s friendship. As Issa helps Molly out of her wedding dress, the two best friends share a comedic and heartfelt exchange that sums up the depth of their bond. It’s the type of relatable (and understated) moment that “Insecure” has become known for, but is rarely seen on TV and only rings true when actors infuse characters with lived-in energy.
-Angelique Jackson
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Tracee Ellis Ross ('Black-ish')
Image Credit: ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection Network: ABC
Season: 8
Character: BowCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: Dre and Bow looking back on the fond memories
With six Emmy nominations to her credit and potentially two more coming her way in lead actress comedy and outstanding comedy series, Tracee Ellis Ross has extended herself as an actress and presence in the Hollywood space. Saying goodbye to her beloved Bow in the final episode of ABC’s beloved series was one of the emotional moments of the television year. The “Homegoing” episode will surely keep the comedy in the conversation during the phase one voting period.
-Clayton Davis
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Robin Thede ('A Black Lady Sketch Show')
Image Credit: Tina Thorpe/HBO Network: HBO
Season: 3
Character: Various charactersCategory: Lead actress in a comedy series
The scene that proves it: Ashy Sunday
The nature of a sketch show is to play a wide array of characters, and Robin Thede has played more than 100 over the comedy’s three seasons. From a trickster track coach in “Track Girl Magic” to a newly adopted adult hustler in “What Up I’m Three” to a gossiping disciple in “The Res-herrection,” Thede’s Season 3 characters require a range of accents, an affinity for physical comedy and a face that can pull off any wig. But in “Ashy Sunday,” she takes on her most famous character yet — playing the devil. Thede’s take comes with a Southern accent and a head-to-toe red pantsuit, with a wig and lashes to match, and her jokes are as sharp as she is silver-tongued. But, as the sketch explains, the devil’s in the details.
-Angelique Jackson