OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Marcos Siega for (“Hitchcock Double”), The Flight Attendant

Paul W. Downs for (“1.69 Million”), Hacks

Sam Zvibleman for (“Opening Night”), Pen15

Craig Johnson for (“Why Is No One Ready?”), Special

Declan Lowney for (“Make Rebecca Great Again”), Ted Lasso

AND THE WINNER IS:

PAUL W. DOWNS FOR ("1.69 MILLION"), HACKS

This is the first win and four nomination for Paul W. Downs. He was previously nominated for producing Broad City (2014-2015) & writing Broad City (2015).

I cannot express how thrilled I am that Downs who was such an integral part of the great comedy Broad City has been able to follow up that special series with Hacks an equally as great show which is getting more mainstream acclaim than his previous series ever did. Hacks sounds like a brilliant series from the one sentence description alone and thankfully as the series progressed it managed to get better and better. The eight episode which I'm highlighting as the best directing of this year is a great example of how wonderful the show is. This episode features the great moment of Deborah during a comedy set ending the career of a truly disrespectful man. This scene is especially well shot as the entire time you are unsure what Deborah is trying to accomplish while the show also holds you comfortably prepared for some satisfying ending. This balance of shock and expectations displays why Downs work was the best directing of comedy this season.