Will "Hacks" win 0 or 1 awards at the Emmys?

Analysis

Hacks enters its farewell Emmy night with 24 nominations, the most any comedy has ever earned in a single year. That breadth gives the show multiple live paths to a trophy. Multiple paths rarely add up to zero or just one win. Jean Smart is the clearest floor. She has four prior wins for lead comedy actress and remains the heavy favourite again this year. That track record alone likely secures one win. The show then needs only a single additional success in supporting acting, writing or directing to clear the zero-or-one bracket entirely. Given its depth in those categories, that second win looks more probable than not. The genuine risk is a rival series that has built momentum in the outstanding comedy race and several acting categories. If that show sweeps the marquee prizes, Hacks could be squeezed into a thin night. Even a thin night likely means Smart's win plus one more, not a total shutout. Departing prestige comedies with this level of nomination support typically leave with a moderate haul of two or three trophies, not a blank slate. Expecting Smart to lose and every other category to go against Hacks at once is the tougher call. One thing to watch: whether the writing or supporting acting categories go to Hacks early in the September 14 broadcast, which would confirm the multi-win path.