Emmy Nominations Analysis: Fresh Blood Livens Up The Race For TV Gold – Hammond

I often start analysis of the Emmy nominations by stating how predictable the nominations are, generally with the same shows dominating year after year after year. Well, this time around the overall list of nominees announced this morning was predictable, but it was because pundits were largely forecasting success for shows that aren’t always the same old-same old, chief among them was the startling fact that of the eight nominees for marquee category Best Drama Series, only one of them, The Crown was in the running last year and that is something that hasn’t happened in half a century when in 1974 The Waltons (which had won the previous year) was the only returning nominee. But keep in mind there were fewer named (6) in those days so this is pretty remarkable. This change is possible because last year’s winner Succession and perennial nominee Better Call Saul were in their final seasons, and five other nominated dramas did not have new episodes this time around.

Even in the Limited or Anthology Series category, usually full of one-off programs, there were more returnees with previous winners Fargo and True Detective back with new editions this time around.

The Comedy Series category as well doesn’t look very much like last year with only reigning winner The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and Only Murders In The Building once again in the race but now competing against five other shows they didn’t face last year including past nominees Curb Your Enthusiasm in its final season, Hacks, and What We Do In The Shadows, first-timers Reservation Dogs (in final season) and Palme Royale (in first).

And for the first time in my memory, recent at least, HBO is not one of the two leading network/streamers, coming in third to leader Netflix and runner up FX, the latter having a banner year led by the top 2 nomination getters, Shogun and The Bear. Add to all this a whopping 36 first-time performer nominees, and you have the potential for an Emmy ceremony that will be livened up by participants not necessarily as jaded as the usual years when the same faces are in the room. Last year it was in fact the same three shows – Succession, Beef, The Bear – that dominated the Emmys as well as every single other awards show including Globes, Guilds, Critics Choice that came around, making it appear that industry voters only watched those three shows. This year at least that won’t happen.

Well sure, in its second season The Bear could repeat in Comedy Series, but even with its leading (and record-breaking in Comedy) 23 nominations it is no sure thing, as last week’s complete TCA Awards snub of it indicated. The critics went with Hacks which came back with a highly praised and banner third season, and I would also say the final year for Curb – which has never won here – could be a factor here as well, making for a not entirely predictable outcome. Last year’s Bear dominance (it has 10 wins) was in part also due to FX’s/HULU’s shrewd scheduling move of debuting season 2 as voting for season 1 was in progress. This year they did the same with season 3, but some are questioning its viability as a comedy, at least compared to others in the category, so we could have a race.

I am also happy to note that this year also proves the old adage, ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try try again’. My favorite The Morning Show is among the newbies in the marquee program races, finally scoring a Best Drama Series nomination for its combustible third season with 16 noms overall, a barn-buning 10 of them going to its cast members, the most acting noms for any series. Reservation Dogs, The Gilded Age, and Slow Horses are others finally cracking the code after being around for a while and now getting their overdue.

I would say that all of this might add up to good news for the Television Academy since they are coming off record low ratings for the January 15 75th broadcast on Fox. Granted that one was plagued by having to move four months due to the SAG and WGA strikes, and by the time it aired people may have forgotten what was even nominated. It was a shame because it was one of the best-produced Emmy shows ever, and now smartly the Television Academy has invited the same team at Jesse Collins Entertainment to produce this year’s upcoming Primetime Emmys on September 15, just a scant 8 months since the last one, the first time ever that two Primetime Emmy ceremonies happen in the same calendar year. Certainly this varied and diverse list of nominees ought to add excitement because it definitely reflects what has been a vital and terrific TV year, this despite all the production headaches brought about due to the strikes. Who knew?

In fact I would say the problem was not lack of quality, but rather too much quality, particularly in the Limited Series category which had a wealth of magificent entries, but only five nominee slots to honor them, unlike Drama and Comedy Series which get eight. I could name many – All The Light We Cannot See, We Were The Lucky Ones, Expats, Franklin, Fellow Travelers, Apples Never Fall, The Sympathizer, Feud: Capote Vs The Swans – and many many more which all deserved nominations for Best Limited or Anthology Series but were edged out due to the fact that the Academy has not seen fit to expand the category. If Shogun’s last minute move from Limited to Drama Series elibility hadn’t ocurred it would be even more glaring. C’mon guys, let’s make a change. The same goes for the Limited/Anthology/TV Movie acting categories. In a year where the likes of superb performances from Annette Bening, Nicole Kidman and the cast of Expats, Jessica Lange in The Great Lillian Hall, and on and on don’t even make the cut, well, what a shame.

A few weeks ago I wrote a piece on the potential for some major Oscar crossover, and we got it. Robert Downey Jr. up for Supporting Actor Limited Series for The Sympathizer, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph Guest Comedy Actress for Only Murders In The Building could join Helen Hunt, Helen Mirren, and George C. Scott in the exclusive club of actors who won an Oscar and an Emmy in the same calendar year. And it doesn’t stop there. Jamie Lee Curtis and Olivia Colman, both recent Oscar winners will give Randolph a run for her money in that Guest Actress Comedy category. Plus this year’s Oscar nominees Lily Gladstone (Under The Bridge), Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country), and Ryan Gosling (SNL) also find themselves having to hit the red carpet at the Emmys too! It continues to show the power of that Oscar campaign visibility when it comes to recognition in the Emmy race which collides with Academy Award season. And let’s not forget the Oscar show itself which landed 7 nominations including Outstanding Variety Special (Live).

Finally congratulations to 91 year old Carol Burnett and 98 year old Dick Van Dyke who both have a boatload of Emmys already including one last year for Burnett for her 90th Birthday special, and a Daytime Emmy for Van Dyke this year for a Days Of Our Lives role. They both are up for Primetime Emmys this time around with Burnett for Supporting Actress Comedy Series for Palme Royale, and Van Dyke’s 98 Years Of Magic birthday special for Outstanding Variety Special (same category Burnett’s birthday won last year). Van Dyke got his first Emmy nomination in 1963, the same year Burnett won her second consecutive Emmy. Gotta love this stuff.

The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards airs Sunday September 15, 2024 on ABC.