Three years after Bill Hader became a two-time consecutive Emmy Awards winner for “Barry,” his fellow “Saturday Night Live” alumnus, Jason Sudeikis, is looking to do the same as the star of “Ted Lasso.” Now that “Barry” has returned from its hiatus, Sudeikis may be directly challenged by Hader in defending his Best Comedy Actor title.
Sudeikis and Hader could also be joined in the 2022 Emmys lineup by current “SNL” cast member and “Kenan” star Kenan Thompson, who just lost to Sudeikis last year. Sudeikis could also once again face Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”), who has been nominated every year since 2015 but has yet to win. The remaining two 2021 contenders, Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”) and William H. Macy (“Shameless”), are out of the running since their shows concluded before last June.
Another likely candidate this year is 2017 champ Donald Glover, whose “Atlanta” has resumed after a four-year break. Former nominees who are in the hunt include Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”) and Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”). John Goodman also has an outside shot at scoring an eighth nomination as Dan Conner, a role he originated on “Roseanne” and currently plays on “The Conners.”
Actors seeking bids for new comedy series include John Cena (“Peacemaker”), Jake Johnson (“Minx”), and “Only Murders in the Building” pair Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Scroll through our photo gallery of 2022 Emmy predictions for Lead Actor (Comedy Series).
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Jason Sudeikis, ‘Ted Lasso’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Apple TV+ Network: Apple TV+
Role: Ted Lasso, a former American football coach who now manages an English Premier League team
Emmys history:
Won for Season 1 (2021) -
Steve Martin, ‘Only Murders in the Building’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Craig Blakenhorn/Hulu Network: Hulu
Role: Charles-Haden Savage, an agoraphobic actor who teams up with his neighbors to solve a murder mystery
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Bill Hader, ‘Barry’ – Season 3
Image Credit: Merrick Morton/HBO Network: HBO
Role: Barry Berkman, a hitman attempting to pursue an acting career.
Emmys history:
Won for Seasons 1-2 (2018-2019) -
Donald Glover, ‘Atlanta’ – Season 4
Image Credit: Rob Youngson/FX Network: FX
Role: Earn Marks, a college dropout who manages his cousin’s burgeoning rap career.
Emmys history
Won for Season 1 (2017)
Nominated for Season 2 (2018) -
Martin Short, ‘Only Murders in the Building’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Craig Blakenhorn/Hulu Network: Hulu
Role: Oliver Putnam, a theatre director who teams up with his neighbors to solve a muder mystery.
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Anthony Anderson, ‘Black-ish’ – Season 8
Image Credit: ABC Network: ABC
Role: Dre Johnson, an advertising executive who attempts to instill a sense of cultural identity in his children.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Seasons 1-7 (2015-2021) -
Nicholas Hoult, ‘The Great’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Hulu Network: Hulu
Role: Peter III, a Russian duke who eventually served as the country’s seventh emperor.
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Jake Johnson, ‘Minx’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Katrina Marcinowski/HBO Max Network: HBO Max
Role: Doug Renetti, a publisher who helps a woman create the first women’s erotic magazine in the early 1970s.
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Don Cheadle, ‘Black Monday’ – Season 3
Image Credit: Showtime Network: Showtime
Role: Mo Monroe, a Wall Street stockbroker recovering from the crash of 1987.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Seasons 1-2 (2019-2020) -
Larry David, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ – Season 11
Image Credit: HBO Network: HBO
Role: Larry David, a fictionalized version of himself who continually winds up in uncomfortable situations.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Seasons 3-5 and 7-9 (2003-2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2018) -
Ricky Gervais, ‘After Life’ – Season 3
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Tony Johnson, a news writer who takes a reckless approach to life following the death of his wife.
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John Cena, ‘Peacemaker’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Katie Yu/HBO Max Network: HBO Max
Role: Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, a DC antihero who is recruited to help save the world.
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Matt Berry, ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ – Season 3
Image Credit: FX Network: FX
Role: Laszlo Cravensworth, a lascivious vampire who was turned in the 1800s by his wife, Nadja.
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Will Arnett, ‘Murderville’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Terry Seattle, a detective who, in each episode, is tasked with solving a different murder case with a different celebrity guest sleuth.
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Kayvan Novak, ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ – Season 3
Image Credit: FX Network: FX
Role: Nandor the Relentless, an ancient Iranian vampire living in modern-day New York.
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Asa Butterfield, ‘Sex Education’ – Season 3
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Otis Milburn, the son of a sex therapist who starts a sex therapy clinic at his high school.
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Andy Samberg, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ – Season 8
Image Credit: NBC Network: NBC
Role: Jake Peralta, an over-confident detective working for the New York City Police Department.
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Kenan Thompson, ‘Kenan’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Casey Durkin/NBC Network: NBC
Role: Kenan Williams, a widowed father who hosts a morning TV show in Atlanta.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Season 1 (2021) -
Rhys Darby, ‘Our Flag Means Death’ – Season 1
Image Credit: HBO Max Network: HBO Max
Role: Stede Bonnet, a real-life aristocrat who decides to become a pirate.
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Sam Richardson, ‘The Afterparty’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Aaron Epstein/Apple TV+ Network: Apple TV+Role: Aniq, one of several former high school students whose reunion afterparty turns into a murder scene.
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Drew Tarver, ‘The Other Two’ – Season 2
Image Credit: HBO Max Network: HBO Max
Role: Cary Dubek, a struggling actor whose teenage brother experiences overnight success.
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William Zabka, ‘Cobra Kai’ – Season 4
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Johnny Lawrence, the central antagonist of 1984’s “The Karate Kid” who has since changed his ways.
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Rafe Spall, ‘Trying’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Apple TV+ Network: Apple TV+
Role: Jason Ross, a man going through the complicated process of adopting a child.
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Keegan-Michael Key, ‘Schmigadoon!’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Apple TV+ Network: Apple TV+
Role: Josh Skinner, a surgeon who becomes trapped in a magical, musical town with his girlfriend.
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Danny McBride, ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ – Season 2
Image Credit: HBO Network: HBO
Role: Jesse Gemstone, a debaucherous member of a family of megachurch pastors.
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More Emmy Predictions
Image Credit: A.T.A.S. Be sure to check out our other Emmy Awards predictions photo galleries:
Best Comedy Series
Best Comedy Actress
Best Comedy Supporting Actor
Best Comedy Supporting Actress
Best Drama Series
Best Drama Actor
Best Drama Actress
Best Drama Supporting Actor
Best Drama Supporting Actress
Best Limited Series
Best TV Movie
Best Movie/Limited Actor
Best Movie/Limited Actress
Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actor
Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actress
