Emmys 2022: Outstanding Comedy Series — Our Dream Nominees!

Will Ted Lasso make it two-for-two?

The Apple TV+ phenom walked off with Emmy's Outstanding Comedy Series prize last year and, despite the somewhat polarizing reception Season 2 was met with, kudos forecasters believe the Jason Sudeikis-led charmer is heading for a repeat.

Scroll through the list below to review 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 such-and-such?!"For the record, 2022 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 16-27, and unveiled on July 12. The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Monday, Sept. 12 on NBC.

Scroll down for links to our previous Dream Emmy categories:

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

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: At a time when streaming and cable comedies are dominating the conversation, the ABC workplace sitcom has proven there's still plenty of clever laughs to be found on broadcast TV. Creator and star Quinta Brunson has crafted a series that explores the difficulties facing underfunded public schools while still offering up heartwarming optimism and extremely quotable jokes. With whip-smart writing and an all-around stellar ensemble, featuring this season's breakout character in Janelle James' Principal Ava, Abbott Elementary is the type of school that one would never think of ditching.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: As great as The Great was in its freshman season, Hulu's sumptuous alt-history comedy got even greater in Season 2. The stakes were high as Catherine battled for control of the Russian empire with her husband Peter — and the verbal fireworks between the two were off the charts, too. (The razor-sharp dialogue crackles so much, we don't even care that it's wildly anachronistic.) Plus, Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult are truly one of TV's very best acting duos, infusing Catherine and Peter's love-hate relationship with hilarious zest and heartfelt emotion. Can we get a "Huzzah!"?

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Star Issa Rae created this beloved romantic comedy to spotlight two rarely shown dark-skinned Black women in South Los Angeles as the besties looked for love and established their careers. Not only did Insecure deftly accomplish this mission and more during its talked- and tweeted-about five-season run, but it exited stage left on a high note with Rae's eponymous alter ego tearfully hugging and celebrating her soulmate Molly on the attorney's wedding day. Rae and showrunner Prentice Penny even reunited Issa with Lawrence, the man she never stopped loving. Now, how's that for a happy ending?

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: We were happy to follow this highly underrated gem from Comedy Central to HBO Max, and it rewarded us with an even better sophomore season that saw siblings Brooke and Cary rise from celebrity hangers-on to power players in their own right. (Well, ones with very little power, anyway.) The savage showbiz satire was absolutely on point, skewering everything from Cameo to celebrity churches, and the cast was stacked with comedic performances to savor, like Josh Segarra's hilariously dense Lance. Let's give Brooke and Cary the ultimate thrill and invite them to the Emmys, huh?

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: We'll just let the show speak for itself. "I refuse to believe that @Pepethefrog89 is lying to me for no reason." "Having a lesbian haircut doesn't make you an ally." "Walking scrotum here doesn't like egg foo young." "You can't house-train an eagle, dude. Not without stealing its soul." "Just because that child is unattractive doesn't mean I want to kill it." The f—ing —-s from Riverdale!" "What separates us from other killers is that we only kill bad people. Usually. Unless there's a mistake." "I'm no rat, but the first chance I get, I'm spilling everything." "It's the most important toe on the human body!" "You're late, you f—king d—kheads."

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Sterlin Harjo's series about Indigenous teens trying to escape rural Oklahoma was one of the year's best surprises. The off-kilter coming-of-age tale followed the kids as they wheeled-and-dealed their way through petty crimes and schemes to raise money for their move. Filled to the brim with quirky characters, the series subverted stereotypes while simultaneously jabbing at Native American caricatures. Its smart humor and zany antics were supported by heaps of heart, adding even more dimension to its unique (and occasionally absurd) style and tone. Without question, the Rez Dogs quickly became one of our favorite new TV ensembles.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: We were a little worried that Natasha Lyonne's Netflix comedy would be stuck in its own time loop by coming back for another season, but it wowed us by finding a fresh time-tripping conundrum for Nadia to solve in Season 2. Lyonne gave one of the most entertaining performances anywhere on TV as Nadia, and the new season's mystery delved even deeper into Nadia's family issues while adding a fun time-travel twist. A sophomore season that actually exceeds our very high expectations? What a concept!

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: It's a testament to Season 1's strong character development that Season 2 — a high-risk endeavor that frequently veered toward more dramatic storytelling — worked on just about every level. Take, for instance, how the series delicately dissected Ted and Rebecca's respective father issues, or how it slowly steered Nathan toward the dark side. None of this is to say that Season 2 didn't deliver on feel-good moments. The Rolling Stones-soundtracked montage that followed Roy to Nelson Road was just splendid, and the Christmas episode was the equivalent of a warm hug. Suffice it to say, we're full-blown rom-communists now.