2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Talk Series:

Part of the issue with what is now referred to as the Outstanding Talk Series category is too much of the same thing. Now that there will only be four nomination slots (nominations are meant to be proportional to how many shows are submitted), the lack of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” the winner the last seven years in a row, likely just means the other four shows nominated against it last year will come back.

And to be fair, there are still some exciting aspects of the race if that were to be the case. NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” only made it into the category for the first time last year, after nine seasons on the air, so there could be enough momentum for the show to be the new category favorite.

But that would be like David defeating Goliath. “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” has had a chokehold on this category for nearly two decades, even after it ended. Since 2003, only Stewart and his former correspondents Oliver and Stephen Colbert have won it. However, the latter won for his Comedy Central satire “The Colbert Report,” not yet for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Given he is the most familiar choice to win, he has been deemed the frontrunner.

Still, if the Comedy Central show itself is the brand voters are more likely to flock to, Stewart’s replacement Trevor Noah could win for his final season hosting “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.” Both the comedian’s exit, and the way the show has handled the absence of a permanent host has been one of the central news stories surrounding late night TV this year.

“The Late Late Show with James Corden” also came to an end this TV season, but given his success as a television producer in other categories, voters may skip over Corden and still vote “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” back in. Especially with the good will Kimmel has accumulated hosting the 2023 Oscars without a hitch.

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