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

Jean Smart is so gonna four-peat, it's not even funny. The Hacks star is the odds-on favorite to take home Emmy's Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series trophy for the fourth time in five years.

The race has the potential to be a lot closer, though, especially if Emmy voters heed a few of TVLine's Dream suggestions.

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

Who She Plays: Unconventional detective Cordelia Cupp

Her Best Performance This Season: "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" (Season 1, Episode 8)

What We Thought About It: "Oddball sleuths may be a dime a dozen on TV these days, but the unforgettable performance Aduba brings to The Residence is uniquely priceless, particularly in the whodunit's 90-minute season finale. Her wry sense of humor, entrancing quirks and bold theatricality are on full display as she makes a meal — nay, a feast — out of the killer reveal, culminating with a sobering monologue about the victim, a makeshift eulogy that reminds viewers of the gravity behind this otherwise screwball comedy." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, March 29, 2025]

Who She Plays: Agnostic podcaster Joanne

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

What We Thought About It: "As the episode began, Bell was in funny mode, with Joanne cheerily declaring that she's going to convert to Judaism like she's picking up a new hobby. ... When Joanne later broke up with Noah, telling him that she wasn't ready to convert (possibly ever) and she would never make him choose between his faith and her, Bell crushed our hearts right along with sweet Noah's." [Performer of the Week winner, Oct. 5, 2024]

Who She Plays: Med school student Ashley Molden

Her Best Performance This Season: "Waterfall" (Season 2, Episode 5)

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. Dyer's best moments came in Episode 5, putting on a masterclass in physical comedy as Ashley lost her phone and faced an arduous trek back home, suffering the indignity of being caught by the cops using a neighbor's mail to... well, we'd rather not say." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, Sept. 28, 2024]

Who She Plays: Sam, a 40-something woman navigating life changes after her sister's death

Her Best Performance This Season: "As Much As I Like Not Feeling" (Season 3, Episode 6)

What We Thought About It: "As Sam readied herself for her date with Iceland, Everett wordlessly conveyed her character's deepest fears and insecurities with irregular breathing, visible meekness and a few tears, making us want to reach out and hug her through the screen. ... Everett later went for the TKO when Sam admitted to Joel that the kiss [with Iceland] triggered her negative feelings toward herself. 'I just keep thinking about what if he got to know me. How could he want that?' she asked with a quivering voice. The actress' delivery slayed us." [Performer of the Week winner, Dec. 7, 2024]

Who She Plays: Devious witch Agatha Harkness

Her Best Performance This Season: "Darkest Hour/Wake Thy Power" (Season 1, Episode 5)

What We Thought About It: "As Agatha faced her trial on the Witches' Road, Hahn seized every opportunity to remind us of her comedy chops (in a hilarious scene where Agatha pretended to be possessed by the late Mrs. Hart) and her subtle dramatic skill (as Agatha asked her mother's vengeful ghost, with almost an embarrassed sadness in her eyes, why the woman hated her so much). But our favorite Agatha moments are the ones when Hahn leans way in to her character's delightfully diabolical flair; it's why, days later, we're still thinking about the way Hahn savored every ominous syllable when Agatha told Teen, 'You're so much like your mother.' Bewitching indeed!" [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, Oct. 12, 2024]

Who She Plays: Sam Arondekar, communicator with the dead

Her Best Performance This Season: "A Very Arondekar Christmas" (Season 4, Episodes 8 and 9)

What We Thought About It: "It was a hilarious delight to watch McIver's Sam get possessed by rough-around-the-edges basement ghost Nancy in the Christmas special. The actress nailed the spirit's gruff voice and distinctive posture, throwing herself into Nancy's mannerisms with the same level of gusto that the ghost exhibited while chowing down on guacamole. Every sentence that McIver delivered as Nancy, especially her outburst about 'tiny foot prisons,' had us in stitches." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, Dec. 21, 2024]

Who She Plays: Emotionally stunted Gemstone sibling Judy

Her Best Performance This Season: "He Goeth Before You Into Galilee" (Season 4, Episode 4)

What We Thought About It: "We never have any clue what crude and oddly specific insult is going to tumble out of [Judy's] mouth next, but we do know Patterson's delivery will give us some of the week's funniest TV. Such was the case in Sunday's episode, when Judy tried to sabotage her dad's relationship with Lori Milsap by intimidating Lori with a one-on-one chat. Judy's plan was totally ineffective (duh), but we were blessed in the meantime with some of Patterson's most go-for-broke physical comedy and unrivaled line readings." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, April 5, 2025]

Who She Plays: Brazen stand-up comedian Deborah Vance

Her Best Performance This Season: "A Slippery Slope" (Season 4, Episode 9)

What We Thought About It: "Bob Lipka gave Deborah an ultimatum: Fire Ava for leaking company info or the late-night show was done. Smart infused what became the comedian's final monologue with so much heart and heartbreak as her character explained to her audience why she was walking away. At the top of the speech, Smart's comedic timing was as sharp as ever. But when she finally dropped the hammer, the actress so naturally pivoted, taking a solemn tone and choking back tears as Deborah said goodbye to the dream she worked so hard to achieve." [Performer of the Week Honorable Mention, May 24, 2025]