Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay”
Apple TV
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Updated: Aug. 14, 2026): The official episode Emmy submissions could make a difference in this very tight race for the gold.
Dale Dickey, “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV) | “Beach Reads”
A first-time nominee after roughly 40 years in the Hollywood business, Dickey has been the go-to for hard-lived American women since “Winter’s Bone.” Is it her time to shine?
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks” (HBO Max) | “Hacks (Finale)”
The defending champion smartly (pun intended) puts forward the same episode as Jean Smart, which is the entire “Hacks” relationship distilled into one ballot line: Ava and Deborah. It could work.
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) | “No Homework”
Multiple nominations and zero wins. Ava Coleman remains the most quotable character on network television and the hardest to build a for-your-consideration case around because scene stealing does not always read as acting.
Kate O’Flynn, “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV) | “Beach Reads”
A first-time nominee and the biggest introduction of the comedy season. The British stage veteran could be set for a vote split with her co-star, but Patricia has been deemed the show’s secret weapon.
Michelle Pfeiffer, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” (Apple TV) | “Flamingos”
One prior Emmy mention for “The Wizard of Lies.” Pfeiffer is a highlight in the David E. Kelley dark comedy, using her star power to her ultimate advantage. She could be a solid way to honor the show.
Megan Stalter, “Hacks” (HBO Max) | “QuikScribbl”
Finally … a first-time nominee who submitted the same episode as Paul W. Downs, which is the smartest thing on this ballot. Kayla and Jimmy are a comically brilliant two-hander act. That counts for something.
Jessica Williams, “Shrinking” (Apple TV) | “Depression Diet”
Williams has been steadily building a body of work that the TV Academy keeps noticing but doesn’t reward, now on her third nom for the series. This category rewards volume of screen time, and she has it.
The final Emmy voting runs from Aug. 17-26, leading into the Creative Arts Awards and Governors Gala on Sept. 5–6, culminating with the Emmy Awards ceremony on Sept. 14 on NBC.
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