From left to right: “Lowdown,” “Young Sherlock,” “Spider-Noir,” “Panes,” “Wednesday,” and “Elsbeth”FX / Amazon Prime / Peacock / Netflix / CBS

According to the CinemaDrame news agency, in 1999 the one-hour legal comedy-drama series “Ally McBeal,” created by David E. Kelley, won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, competing against four half-hour comedies — “Friends,” “Frasier,” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” (all multi-camera), and “Sex and the City” (single-camera). Since then, the debate has repeatedly resurfaced over whether hour-long comedy-dramas should be allowed to compete in the comedy category.

This discussion has faded and re-emerged over the years, but this year it is likely to return with renewed intensity, as a significant number of hour-long shows are competing in the Emmy comedy category—some with strongly dramatic tones.

The latest series to opt into the comedy category is Amazon Prime Video’s “Young Sherlock,” starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin. This mystery-action drama with comedic undertones, depicting a version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous character before he became the legendary detective, is directed by Guy Ritchie, a filmmaker known for his stylized comedic approach. Ritchie’s other series, Netflix’s “The Gentlemen,” previously competed in the comedy category as well.

“Young Sherlock” joins a growing list of recent hour-long productions with substantial dramatic elements that have been submitted to the Emmys as comedies. These include FX’s noir series “Lowdown,” starring Ethan Hawke; the Cold War spy thriller “Panes” from Peacock, starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson; and the upcoming noir comic adaptation “Spider-Noir” from MGM+ and Amazon Prime, starring Nicolas Cage. Most of these series were originally developed as dramas; “Lowdown” even competed in the drama category during the winter awards season.

CBS’s “Elsbeth” has also joined this trend, moving from the drama category after two seasons to the comedy category for Emmy consideration. The quirky crime series starring Carrie Preston successfully convinced the Television Academy earlier this year to reclassify it.

Alongside these, Netflix’s popular “Wednesday” also continues its run—a supernatural mystery-comedy that was previously nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series for its first season. It competes alongside more traditional half-hour comedies such as “Hacks,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Shrinking,” “Nobody Wants This,” and FX’s half-hour series “The Bear,” which has itself sparked debate over whether it should be considered a comedy or drama.

Both “Hacks” and “The Bear” have previously won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. Aside from “Ally McBeal,” the only other hour-long comedy to ever win the award is Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

The issue remains controversial, as there is no official “dramedy” category, and classification is largely subjective. Hour-long series such as ABC’s “High Potential” and HBO’s “The White Lotus,” which contain significant comedic elements and feature well-known comedic performers like Kaitlin Olson (“High Potential”) and Jennifer Coolidge and Natasha Rothwell (“The White Lotus”), still compete in the drama category. (However, “The White Lotus” has been submitted in the comedy category in some guild awards such as the DGA.)

In 2015, the Television Academy implemented a rule to simplify submissions, automatically placing hour-long series in drama and half-hour series in comedy.

This rule itself sparked further controversy. Hour-long series could request category changes. Under this system, in 2015 Fox’s “Glee” and Showtime’s “Shameless” were allowed to compete in comedy, while Netflix’s request for “Orange Is the New Black” was denied—drawing strong criticism from the platform. This time-based classification rule was ultimately removed ahead of the 2022 season.

Choosing the comedy category is often a strategic decision, as lighter hour-long series risk being overshadowed in drama by heavier, more serious shows, while in comedy they may have a better chance of recognition.

CBS’s “Elsbeth” has already benefited from this shift, earning its first major nominations at this year’s Critics Choice Awards, including Best Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy for Carrie Preston.

Under current Emmy rules, hour-long series do not require prior approval to enter the comedy category (but they do require approval to switch categories). Shows submitted as comedies must be “primarily comedic in nature,” regardless of runtime. The Academy also “reserves the right to review category placement through an industry-specific committee.”