In the column Straight Nonsense, columnist Moises Mendez II takes a queer eye to the insanity of straight culture. This piece was updated after Jean Smart and Lisa Kudrow secured Emmy nominations in July.
As a gay man, I was wrecked emotionally by the ending of my two favorite shows to ever be released: HBO's Hacks and The Comeback, which both wrapped up earlier this year. With both of them making their exits from my life, all I can think about is how the two leads of the show, Jean Smart and Lisa Kudrow, are going to force Emmy voters to make the tough decision of choosing between their brilliant comedic performances for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the awards ceremony later this year. Smart's co-star, Hannah Einbinder, perfectly encapsulated my feelings on the ending of both shows by collapsing at an Emmys FYC screening in May.
Hacks slotted perfectly into the eligibility period by airing its finale just three days beforehand, ending the series with a perfect season of television. Fans got everything they could’ve asked for: Deborah and Ava finally kissing (!!!!), a stellar final scene, and even a lesbian Leslie Bibb (that one was more of a didn’t know we needed but glad we got sort of thing). Throughout it all, Smart delivered a genius performance (and earned Emmys) season after season. And if she wins again, she could make history as the first actress to win in this category for every season of her show.
Over the years, Smart been up against some stiff competition, and 2026 is no exception: She's up against Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary, Ayo Edebiri for The Bear, and Elle Fanning for Margo's Got Money Troubles. But this year might be the first year she’s not a shoo-in for the award, given that Kudrow, who was also nominated for The Comeback, has a pretty good chance at coming in to break her streak for her work as the emotionally complex Valerie Cherish, where she is just firing on all cylinders throughout the series.
There are so many beautiful layers to The Comeback, and in an age of uncertainty for the arts amid the AI boom, this show offers a glimmer of hope for creatives who may fear Sam Altman could take their jobs. The HBO series proudly takes a stance against using the technology to replace not only writers but also actors. The amazing thing about Kudrow and her performance is how seamlessly she blends into the character of Valerie. There are so many parts of that role that feel like a direct reference to her as an actress. The Comeback, many times, feels like a confessional of how a former star of a wildly popular sitcom like Friends might navigate the entertainment industry's ebbs and flows through the birth of modern reality television, the nature of prestige television, and the Hollywood machine exploring the use of AI.
If you're a faithful reader of this column, you know my feelings on AI — especially something like an "AI actress." Hacks also touched on AI this season with a phenomenal monologue from Einbinder. (I feel like The Comeback had a stronger voice on this topic, given that it dedicated an entire season to this issue and not just a plot point.)
This year’s Emmys are going to be a tough race, especially in the comedy category. Smart is the definite frontrunner in the race, but Kudrow has legs. Whatever happens, as the celebrity they get to announce this year's winners reads out the nominees, my heart will be pounding out of my chest and I'll be holding my breath until they name a winner. Whoever it is, I'll jump out of my seat and act as if my team just scored the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl.
Moises Mendez II is a freelance culture writer based in Brooklyn, New York. Follow him on Instagram @moisesfenty.
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