There probably isn’t a more likable group in the Golden Globes 2023 field than the nominees for Best Television Actress: Musical/Comedy Series.

Look at this.

Quinta Brunson: Abbott Elementary
Kaley Cuoco: The Flight Attendant
Selena Gomez: Only Murders in the Building
Jenna Ortega: Wednesday
Jean Smart: Hacks

Wow.

Honestly, I’ll take a deep breath and applaud after hearing any of these names, playing some of the best roles on television. All of them are also FTR approved shows.

But Jean Smart still did the best work here.

Brunson might be one of the best minds on television right now. And Janine Teagues still makes us smile on every episode of Abbott. But she’ll keep winning writing awards if the acting fields are this deep. It would still be great if she wins.

Cuoco is Smart’s biggest sample rival. She played about four different parts this season on a show where her character struggled to maintain its sanity in the fog of life threatening alcoholism and international espionage. It would still be great if she wins.

Gomez has to share the screen with two other legends in Steve Martin and Martin Short. She’s also still a hybrid superstar that has had her share of challenges in her personal life. It would still be great if she wins.

Ortega might be the public favorite. And why not? Wednesday is great. But the character of Wednesday Addams is limited in range just because of who she actually is. This hinders the work Ortega can do here. It would still be great if she wins.

But Smart, in season 2 of what was a roadtrip show this year, still has the best balance of all of the nominees. She’s scary. She’s warm. She’s funny. She’s sad. And with a simple expression, particularly that look in the booth of the restaurant, after Hannah Einbinder tells her the truth about everything, is really powerful.

I know she already has her share of trophies. But Smart still deserves it the most.

Its a cliche’ but I wish they all could win.