Best Emmy-Winning Comedy Actress
The Emmy Awards, which celebrate the best in television each year, have a tendency to favor the Drama categories – often seen as the more “sophisticated” or “prestige” projects. But from our perspective, the Emmy winners in the Comedy series are every bit as deserving, and in many cases, have contributed just as much to the cultural conversation as their more dramatic counterparts. That is especially true when it comes to the Emmy winners in the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy categories. Winners of those trophies, both Lead and Supporting, have become absolute legends, and the characters they played, literally iconic. So join the Great Pop Culture Debate as we look back on some of the very best women to win for funny business as we debate the Best Emmy Winner for Oustanding Actress in a Comedy Series.
Winners discussed: Betty White (“Golden Girls”), Laurie Metcalfe (“Roseanne”), Estelle Getty (“Golden Girls”), Bea Arthur (“Golden Girls”), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”), Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”), Jean Smart (“Hacks”), Megan Mullaly (“Will & Grace”), Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”), Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Jean Stapleton (“All in the Family”), Lucille Ball (“The Lucy Show”), Mary Tyler Moore (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”), America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Seinfeld”), Rue McLanahan (“Golden Girls”).
Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Amma Marfo, Kevin Dillon, and Trey Radu-Blackburn as they discuss 16 of the most legendary actresses to take home the Emmy in a comedic role.
Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!
For the warm-up to this episode, in which we discuss even more Emmy-winning actresses we love that didn’t make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today.
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Round 1 Match-Ups:
Not a Patreon subscriber? Here’s a primer on how we came up with the bracket.
Match-Up 1: Betty White “The Golden Girls” (1) vs. Laurie Metcalfe “Roseanne” (4)
Match-Up 2: Estelle Getty “The Golden Girls” (3) vs. Bea Arthur “The Golden Girls” (2)
Match-Up 3: Julia Louis-Dreyfus “VEEP” (1) vs. Rhea Perlman “Cheers” (4)
Match-Up 4: Jean Smart “Hacks” (3) vs. Megan Mullaly “Will & Grace” (2)
Match-Up 5: Catherine O’Hara “Schitt’s Creek” (1) vs. Tina Fey “30 Rock” (4)
Match-Up 6: Jean Stapleton “All in the Family” (3) vs. Lucille Ball “The Lucy Show” (2)
Match-Up 7: Mary Tyler Moore “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1) vs. America Ferrera “Ugly Betty” (4)
Match-Up 8: Julia Louis-Dreyfus “Seinfeld” (3) vs. Rue McLanahan “The Golden Girls” (2)
Want to play along at home?
Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Episode Credits
Host: Eric Rezsnyak
Panelists: Amma Marfo, Kevin Dillon, Trey Radu-Blackburn
Producer: Bob Erlenback
Editor: Eric Rezsnyak
Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch
