Emmys 2025: Lead Actor In A Comedy Series — Our Dream Nominees!

Will Jeremy Allen White's stranglehold on Emmy's Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series race continue into a third year?

The Bear star — coming off two consecutive wins for his role as tortured chef Carmen "Carmy" Anthony Berzatto — will undoubtedly be back in the running when nominations are announced next month. Given the race's increased competition, however, we'll venture to guess the Shameless vet will go home empty-handed in September.

That begs the question: If not him, then who? As luck would have it, we have eight sterling possibilities for you to consider.

Scroll down to check out all of our Dream Nominees (remember, these aren't predictions; they're wish lists) and then tell us if our picks warrant a "Hell, yes!," "Um, no" or "How could you leave off so-and-so?!"

For the record, 2025 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 12-23, and unveiled on July 15. The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Sunday, Sept. 14, on CBS.

Scroll down for links to our previous Dream Emmy categories:

Outstanding Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — Our Dream Nominees
Outstanding Comedy Series — Our Dream Nominees
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — Our Dream Nominees

Who He Plays: Microbrewery owner and unintentional dog dad Gordon Crapp

His Best Performance This Season: "Wawam" (Season 2, Episode 7)

What We Thought About It: "Paramount+'s absolute gem of a romantic comedy is back for Season 2, and that gives us a chance to celebrate its stars/co-creators for crafting hilariously imperfect but ultimately relatable characters in lovebirds Gordon and Ashley. ... Brammall took the spotlight in Episode 7, with Gordon channeling his repressed grief over his father's death into becoming a ridiculously obsessed stage mom for his dog Colin before finally letting the tears come out." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, Sept. 28, 2024]

Who He Plays: Hot rabbi Noah Roklov

His Best Performance This Season: "Bat Mitzvah Crashers" (Season 1, Episode 10)

What We Thought About It: "[Brody and co-star Kristen Bell] really shone in the finale, which played to their strengths: Bell's ability to jump between comedy and drama with ease, and Brody's innate likability and sensitivity. ... Noah couldn't argue with Joanne's logic that there was no way for their relationship to work, and Brody conveyed all those torn emotions and conflicted feelings about wanting the impossible as Noah took in Joanne's words." [Performer of the Week winner, Oct. 5, 2024]

Who He Plays: Retired professor-turned-novice P.I. Charles Nieuwendyk

His Best Performance This Season: "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" (Season 1, Episode 8)

What We Thought About It: "[Danson] shined all season long, but he outdid himself in the finale as Charles solved the case of the missing necklace, deducing that the unwitting culprit was Gladys, who was suffering from dementia. Danson was heartbreakingly gentle as Charles sat down with Gladys, charming her into returning the necklace without ever accusing her of a crime. Danson later gave us one of the most emotionally wrenching scenes of his entire career as Charles cleaned out his late wife's belongings with his daughter Emily. ... It all added up to a triumphant victory lap for one of the greatest TV performers of our time." [Performer of the Week winner, Nov. 30, 2024]

Who He Plays: Curmudgeonly St. Denis doc Ron

His Best Performance This Season: "Weird Stuff You Can't Explain" (Season 1, Episode 3)

What We Thought About It: Grier's Ron has built up quite a cynical exterior, having worked in the health care field for a long time. In turn, comedy vet Grier regularly brings some of St. Denis' biggest laughs, delivering Ron's sardonic comments with such perfect timing and cadence, we don't even want the character to soften too much. Still, the NBC freshman's third episode allowed Grier to showcase Ron's tender side, too, as the typically unflappable physician navigated a sudden surge of nerves while assisting on a high-stakes surgery. Ron might be St. Denis' resident grump, but the reliably great Grier manages to keep him lovable. — Rebecca Luther

Who He Plays: Clueless vampire Nandor the Relentless

His Best Performance This Season: "Sleep Hypnosis" (Season 6, Episode 3)

What We Thought About It: "Novak showed off his full comedic range in this week's episode: Colin used sleep hypnosis to remind Nandor he is a fierce warrior, and Novak gleefully tapped into his primal side as Nandor reasserted his violent warlord status. Then he topped himself when Colin sleep-hypnotized Nandor into thinking he's Richard Nixon, with Novak employing a surprisingly spot-on Tricky Dick impression. The actors on Shadows are so consistently funny that it's easy to take them for granted, but we want to make sure to shine a bright light (though not sunlight, of course) on Novak's inspired slice of comic lunacy." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, Oct. 26, 2024]

Who He Plays: Forever-stressed Continental Studios head Matt Remick

His Best Performance This Season: "The Pediatric Oncologist" (Season 1, Episode 6)

What We Thought About It: "The comedian had us in stitches as [Matt] went full Larry David, battling doctors at a cancer benefit. ... Once they ridiculed his poop joke-heavy satire, the gloves were officially off. Rogen allowed the character's temper to rise during key cringeworthy moments, as the back-and-forth turned hilariously vicious with cutting insults and loads of disrespect on both sides. The actor then delivered a pratfall John Ritter would've been proud of, taking out an entire table with him and disrupting the whole event." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, April 26, 2025]

Who He Plays: Widowed therapist Jimmy Laird

His Best Performance This Season: "The Drugs Don't Work" (Season 2, Episode 11)

What We Thought About It: "The actor's best work came when Jimmy finally hit rock bottom and called one of his former sex workers to distract him from his sorrow. Without words, Segel showcased the character's suffering and deep-seated hatred for himself, as he knew all too well that he was slipping. ... When he finally reached out to Paul for help, we prepared ourselves for emotional annihilation. 'I'm not OK, Paul,' Jimmy whimpered. In a show that often leads the way with heart and humor, Segel hit all of the high notes as his character plummeted to the depths below." [Performer of the Week winner, Dec. 21, 2024]

Who He Plays: Closeted collegian Benny Scanlon

His Best Performance This Season: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" (Season 1, Episode 5)

What We Thought About It: You could throw a dart at any episode of the Prime Video series that Skinner created and hit one in which he earns his breakout-star status. But our favorite has to be the (ahem) outing in which Benny was so excited about his Halloweekend plans with crush Miles that he confided in his poster of Megan Fox. The way that Skinner played — or, rather, radiated — his on-screen counterpart's unbridled joy wasn't just adorable, it was infectious. So when Miles hooked up with a girl instead of Benny, Skinner left us feeling... well, like our heartbroken protagonist looks above. — Charlie Mason