On Sunday, September 20th, the world will watch as primetime television’s best and brightest stars and shows compete for the gold winged statue we all know as the Emmy. First held in 1949, the Emmy Awards recognize excellence in dramatic and comedic television. We’ll be there front and center as funnyman Andy Samberg hosts the 67th Annual Emmy Awards.
There are some strong contenders this year in all categories. Many sports betting sites are now offering odds on the contenders. We are going to take a look at the favorites and underdogs in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. Let’s check out the odds:
Veep – First up, and with the strongest odds, is HBO’s political comedy show Veep, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. The critically acclaimed show has won numerous awards, including the Screen Actors Guild and the Writer’s Guild of America. Dreyfuss has won three Emmys for the show in the past. With just over a year to go before the next presidential election, the show is timely and resonant, and is the favorite to win the Emmy. With odds of 4 to 5, it will yield a lesser return. If you bet $50, you would win $40, for a total of $90.
Modern Family – Tied for second place (with Transparent) is the ABC sitcom Modern Family. Set in Los Angeles, the show follows the misadventures of Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) and his family. The show is filmed in a fake-documentary style and features a strong ensemble cast that includes Sofia Vergara and Ty Burrell. The show has a wide audience and has dominated the Outstanding Comedy Series category for the past 5 years. Critical reception was very positive for the first few seasons, but over the past few years the show has met with mixed reviews. Also, having won this category for so many years, it might be time for another show to take home the statue. Even so, at 7/2, the odds are still very much in Modern Family’s favor. A $50 bet would win you $175. The stake plus the winnings means you’d take home a total of $225.
Transparent – Also with odds of 7/2 is the comedy-drama Transparent, starring Jeffrey Tambor as Mort, a late-middle-aged transgender woman living in Los Angeles with her family. The show centers around Mort’s family and the way they deal with her transition. The show won Golden Globes for Best Musical or Comedy Series as well as Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series. The show is a huge critical favorite, with a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The show also has the timeliness factor on its side, with Caitlyn Jenner bringing transgender issues into the mainstream spotlight as of late. If you wager $50 on Transparent, you will win $175, bringing your total to $225.
Louie – Next up is Louis C.K.’s eponymous, autobiographical comedy series. The show is a hit with critics and has a substantial cult following, but C.K.’s confessional, Woody Allen-esque comedy style could prove to be too self-deprecating for mainstream viewers. The show’s modest 10 to 1 odds make it somewhat of a long shot. If you bet $50 on Louie, you would win $500 for a total of $550.
Silicon Valley – Tying Louie for 3rd place, also with odds of 10 to 1, is HBO’s comedy series Silicon Valley. The show focuses on a group of young computer programmers who found a startup company in the titular tech haven of Silicon Valley, California. The show has garnered widespread critical acclaim, and co-creator Mike Jude is a cult favorite, being the brains behind shows like King of the Hill and movies like Office Space. Silicon Valley has been criticized by software engineers like Elon Musk, who point to the supposed inaccuracy of the show. At 10 to 1, the show would pay out $500 on a $50 bet, which is a fairly long shot.
Parks and Recreation – Nearer the bottom is Parks and Recreation, the satirical comedy show. The very definition of cult, it stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, head of the Parks and Recreation Department. The series is set in the Pawnee, Indiana (a fictional town). The show has a huge following and a jaw-dropping ensemble cast, including Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza and, literally, Rob Lowe. Critical reception was initially not very good, but as the seasons progressed, the show started to find its audience. Unfortunately, the show has always struggled to find a mainstream audience. At 25 to 1, the odds are against Parks and Recreation. Should it win, though, you will win a bucket of gold. A $50 wager will win a whopping $1250 for a total of $1300.
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – The longest shot in the Outstanding Comedy Series category is The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Created by Tina Fey for Netflix, the show follows the 29-year-old title character as she adjusts to life in New York City after having been part of a religious cult. The show has received positive reviews from critics. Having only been on for one season, the show may be too new to have garnered enough attention yet. The odds are very, very slight, at 33 to 1. This means that if you place a $50 bet on Kimmy, you’ll hit the jackpot with winnings topping $1700.
No matter who wins or loses, the 67th Annual Emmy Awards should be tons of fun. Nothing is set in stone. There could be some major upsets, so now is the time to wager with the best sportsbooks for USA players. And remember, every now and then, a longshot pays off. So invite your friends over, make your wagers, have some great food, and enjoy the party!