Back in early June, a few days before the Emmy nomination vote began, I wrote a column that included a wish list of what I would like to see in the nominations. It was a modest list, only four articles, built around the idea that what I really wanted was a slate that was a little less predictable than in recent years.
So now that we are halfway between the announcement of the nominations and the beginning of the final vote, it is time to look back at that list and see how many of my wishes have been realized.
Spoiler Alert: Not many.
Wish 1: “Nice surprises of some kind”
This was aimed at the Enastanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Drama Series, where I was worried that most of the nominees were completely locked in. And yes, all these locks received nominations: I mentioned seven top competitors in the drama category, all of which were nominated, and three opportunities for the last castle, one of which “Paradise” – did in and were close surprisingly. Nice, yes. But not very surprising.
In the comedy category it was more of the same. The programs that seemed likely to come in did. Those who seemed to be potential upsets did not.
Fortunately, voters delivered some fun turns in the actress categories, mainly among those nominations of Uzo Aduba for “The Residence” and Jeff Hiller for “Somebody somewhere” in comedy and Sharon Horgan for “Bad Sisters” in drama. But in the best program categories, not so much.
Wish 2: “An impressive display of Broadcast Networks”
Well, this did not happen – especially in drama, where I pointed out that the one -off network dominance in the upper category had long ago been deleted by streamers and cable outlets that routinely address all available slots. I was hoping that “Matlock” could lead a minor revival: “It would be nice if the networks that have given us actors from” Matlock “,” Elsbeth, “” High Potential “, Will Trent” and others can get some love from voters this time, “I wrote.
Well, here is your resuscitation: a nomination for “Matlock”, for star Kathy Bates; one for “will trent” for choreography; Nothing for “elsbeth” or “high potential”; And for the fourth year in a row, nothing for any broadcast show in the category of drama series. “This is us” remains the only broadcast show that breaks into the category over the past 14 years.
The broadcast network is still doing well in reality, variety and comedy categories, but you would not call their show impressive.
Wish 3: “A slightly crazy mix in the category TV movie”
The strangest Emmy category is known for Pittat Weird Al Yankovic against shit drama and Dolly Parton Christmas movies, but this year’s lineup is not quite as daffy as it often is. There is “Rebel Ridge”, a dirty action thriller in a small town from the indie filler Jeremy Saulnier; “Nonnas”, a drama from Stephen Chbosky based on the true story of a restaurant in the state of Island that manages its kitchen with grandmother chefs; “The Gorge”, a sci-fi thriller with a hint of romance; And “Mountainhead”, “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong’s satirical comedy of four billionaires handling a global crisis from a mountain hut. The biggest rate change may be “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy”, the fourth Bridget Jones movie and the first to have no premiere theatrical.
It is a modest mix of genres and tones, but you probably wouldn’t call it crazy.
Wish 4: “Actors from more than five programs in the supportive actors”
A mixed them here. In recent years, supporting categories have often not been filled with several nominees from the same handful of exhibitions. Last year, five exhibitions were responsible for all 14 supportive nominees in the drama categories, and six shows provided all 12 of the supportive comedy nominees.
My guess was that if anyone invested in the number of shows that would give all the nominees of the year, over/below about 5.5 in drama and a little higher than in comedy. “I wouldn’t necessarily bet on,” I wrote, “but I really wish for it.”
If I had invested in over, I would have lost money in drama and won it in comedy. The drama categories had even more category hogging than last year, with only four shows that took all 14 nominees: seven for “The White Lotus”, four for “Severance”, two for “Paradise” and one for “The Pitt.” However, comedy doubled that, with the “studio” and “shrinking” which earned three supportive nominations each but the other eight noms that come from another six shows.
