2024 Comedy Directing Emmy predictions: Will ‘Frasier’ break into the multi-cam slot?

The Best Comedy Directing category has 107 submissions on the 2024 Emmy ballot, once again giving us six nominees this year. Analyzing the likely directing contenders is to remember the shows that made the cut last year, which were “Barry” (“wow” by Bill Hader), “Ted Lasso” (“So Long, Farewell” by Declan Lowney), “Wednesday” (“Wednesday’s Child Is Full Of Woe” by Tim Burton), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (“Four Minutes” by Amy Sherman-Palladino), “The Ms. Pat Show” (“Don’t Touch My Hair” by Mary Lou Belli), and the winner “The Bear” (“Review” by Christopher Storer).

It is a widespread belief at the moment that “The Bear” may repeat its domination at the Emmys like it did for its first season, and that is evident especially in this category as it is the only returning single-camera show from last year’s bunch. This year, they doubled their submissions by entering both of their episodes nominated at the Directors Guild of America Award: “Honeydew” by multiple Emmy nominee for “Ramy,” Ramy Youssef, and DGA winner “Fishes” by Storer. Both episodes are standouts, in particular the one from the reigning Emmy champion, featuring numerous guest stars and an exploding dinner sequence.

“Hacks” is also back in the race again, this time opting for their finale “Bulletproof” when in seasons prior they went for their premieres. Lucia Aniello has been a consistent nominee in this category, winning for the pilot three years ago, and is guaranteed to return for this showdown episode between the two lead characters.

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As for the other continuing shows, they are looking to get back in the race after being left off in previous outings, which include “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which hasn’t been nominated since its eighth season in 2012 for Robert B. Weide, but is on its last hurrah, and Weide is back again for his final directed episode, “The Colostomy Bag,” as well as Jeff Schaffer for the series finale. “Only Murders in the Building” is also looking to rebound after being snubbed last year, and this time entered half the amount it did before, with only the premiere and the eighth episode, both having scenes on a theater stage and a character collapsing.

Three seasons in, “Abbott Elementary” is still looking for its first notice in this category. Similarly, after submitting a handful last year, they cooled down to just the season finale with a party sequence ending with a passionate kiss, giving veteran comedy director Randall Einhorn his best shot at a first nomination with the lower volume of shows.

We should furthermore be on the lookout for the new series which include “The Gentlemen,” “I’m A Virgo,” “Colin from Accounts” and “Palm Royale,” all of which submitted their pilots, with the last two comedies putting up additional episodes.

Finally, per Emmy rule, there must be a spot reserved for a multi-camera series and while “The Ms. Pat Show” has been the beneficiary for the last two years – now going for their first two episodes of the fourth season, the premiere directed by perennial nominee Mary Lou Belli – it has to compete with the revival of “Frasier,” a show that dominated this category undefeated with three wins during its original run. The reboot also went for double submissions by title star Kelsey Grammer for the finale and legendary sitcom director James Burrows for the pilot.

Here are some of the top contenders to consider when making your 2024 Emmy predictions for the Best Comedy Directing category:

“The Bear” season 2
“Fishes” (Christopher Storer)
“Honeydew” (Ramy Youssef)

“Hacks” season 3
“Bulletproof” (Lucia Aniello)

“Only Murders In The Building” season 3
“The Show Must…” (John Hoffman)
“Sitzprobe” (Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman)

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” season 12
“The Colostomy Bag” (Robert B. Weide)
“No Lessons Learned” (Jeff Schaffer)

“Abbott Elementary” season 3
“Party” (Randall Einhorn)

“Palm Royale” season 1
“Maxine Goes to Palm Beach (Pilot)” (Tate Taylor)
“Maxine Rolls The Dice” (Abe Sylvia)
“Maxine Takes A Step” (Stephanie Laing)

“Colin From Accounts” season 1
“The Flash” (Trent O’Donnell)
“The Good Room” (Matthew Moore)

“I’m A Virgo” season 1
“You a Big Muthaf*cka” (Boots Riley)

“The Gentlemen” season 1
“Refined Aggression” (Guy Ritchie)

“Frasier” season 1
“The Good Father” (James Burrows)
“Reindeer Games” (Kelsey Grammer)

“The Ms. Pat Show” season 4
“I’m The Pappy” (Mary Lou Belli)
“The Book of Denise” (Jordan E. Cooper)

PREDICT the 2024 Emmy nominees through July 17

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