Emmys 2023: Guest Actress In A Comedy Series — Our Dream Nominees!

Pop Emmy quiz: What current comedy series is providing one of the best showcases for guest star performers? The correct answer is (duh) Poker Face.

Not only has Peacock's Natasha Lyonne-fronted mystery procedural been a magnet for actors and actresses with XL awards chests, but Rian Johnson has given many of those A-listers roles to die for (in some cases, literally). As a result, you can expect Poker Face to dominate Emmy's comedy guest races, beginning with Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

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 so-and-so?!"

For the record, 2023 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 15-26, and unveiled on July 12. The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Monday, Sept. 18 on Fox.

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

WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: It takes a formidable actress to play the onetime love of irascible Susie Myerson's (Alex Borstein) life, and Tony winner Arianda more than fit the bill. In her three episodes as Hedy Ford, the Billions and Goliath vet was cool, cutting, sexy and a smidge terrifying — in other words, the perfect romantic foil for Borstein. But Arianda's most satisfying moment came in the series' penultimate episode when Hedy sauntered into her "hubby" Gordon Ford's office and, without breaking a sweat, emasculated the sexist pig to within an inch of his life.

WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: Baker has reliably filled the TV mom role for years, and her turn on Ted Lasso was especially effective. As Ted's mother, Dottie, Baker brought the same folksy charm that Ted so often showcased, delivering Dottie's warmth with such lived-in familiarity, we almost couldn't believe this was Baker's first time on the show. And when it came time for Ted and Dottie to level with each other, unpacking all sorts of emotional baggage in just a few minutes, Baker anchored the scene with a steady, sobering calmness that made way for one of Season 3's finest dramatic sequences.

WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: Poker Face served as a fantastic showcase for guest stars, and none shined brighter than Barkin, who grabbed the spotlight and refused to let go as Kathleen, a has-been actress stuck doing small-town dinner theater. The Animal Kingdom alum was positively Norma Desmond-esque, rattling off flowery monologues and chewing scenery left and right with her savage insults and world-weary bitterness. Kathleen might not be anywhere close to winning an Emmy... but Barkin sure should be.

WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: Frankly, she had us at "...but it's not where you thiiiink." Guggenheim proved to be one of the Marvel series' true (and unexpected) heroes, by taking what could have been a stock party girl-with-vocal fry character and turning her into an instant fan favorite — helped in part by her winning chemistry with Benedict Wong's "Wongers." Case clo-o-o-osed!

WHY THEY DESERVE NODS: We don't usually pair up nominees like this, but we couldn't bear to split up these two esteemed TV veterans, who made a killer duo together on Peacock's throwback mystery series. They charmed us at first as Joyce and Irene, a pair of unruly seniors who delighted in making mischief at their retirement home, and then they chilled our blood when we realized the type of violent acts these former hippies were capable of. Light and Merkerson both already have Emmys on their shelves, but after this, we're thinking they should clear off some space for more.

WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: Look, it's always fun when an athlete or a musician exceeds expectations and does a decent job of hosting SNL. But when you're talking Emmy-worthy performances, you often need an honest-to-goodness comedian, and Plaza has been grinding for nearly 20 years. Her Jan. 21 episode found her treading familiar terrain — including a reprisal of her Parks and Recreation character, April Ludgate, with co-star Amy Poehler — but it also placed her into a host of highly specific genre pieces, and she proved as adept at playing a grating Avatar humanoid as she was a scheming '40s femme fatale and a gay, clubbing version of M3GAN's android.