The roster of reveals vying for prime honors at this yr’s Emmy Awards embrace loads of acquainted names, together with earlier champions like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Succession” and “Ted Lasso.”
However a crop of newcomers and first-time contenders — “Abbott Elementary,” “Solely Murders within the Constructing,” “Severance,” “Squid Sport” — might edge out these incumbents, thanks partly to a wave of cultural buzz and glowing evaluations.
Right here’s a have a look at the large races and different key storylines heading into the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, which airs Monday at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on NBC and the streaming service Peacock.
‘Squid Sport’ eyes historic victory in drama sequence race
Netflix’s “Squid Sport” is a certifiable worldwide phenomenon. The sequence, a dystopian drama about South Korean adults who compete in lethal youngsters’s video games to flee crippling debt, premiered final September to rave evaluations, web hysteria and big world viewership.
“Squid Sport” now has an opportunity to turn into the primary non-English language program to attain the perfect drama sequence Emmy — a win that may underscore the more and more various face of leisure within the period of continent-spanning streaming platforms.
The present earned a complete of 14 nods this yr, together with greatest drama sequence actor for Lee Jung-jae in addition to recognition for guiding and writing.
However the present nonetheless faces competitors from two different first-time nominees: Apple TV+’s company satire “Severance” and Showtime’s off-kilter “Yellowjackets.” The opposite contenders within the drama sequence race are “Higher Name Saul,” “Euphoria,” “Ozark,” “Stranger Issues” and “Succession.”
Freshman hit ‘Abbott Elementary’ appears to be like to dethrone ‘Ted Lasso’
ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” was one of many breakout favorites of the 2021-22 season. The rookie sitcom, a mockumentary about an underfunded public college in Philadelphia and the hard-working educators there, kicked off in December and shortly attracted a loyal following.
“Abbott Elementary,” created by Quinta Brunson (who can be nominated for her lead position), picked up a greatest comedy sequence nod this yr and may need sufficient momentum to conquer “Ted Lasso,” the feel-good soccer present starring Jason Sudeikis.
Emmy prognosticators consider “Abbott” has a stable likelihood of taking house gold as a result of it gained a key award for casting on the tv academy’s Inventive Arts ceremony originally of the month. The winner of that prize has gone on to nab prime comedy sequence honors on the Emmys for the final seven years.
The triumph of “Abbott” might support ABC, one of many “Huge Three” broadcast networks that used to rule the Emmy nominations however has these days been displaced by streaming platforms. (No different sequence that airs on conventional broadcast TV was nominated within the prime two classes.)
The opposite nominees within the comedy sequence race are “Barry,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Hacks,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Solely Murders within the Constructing” and “What We Do within the Shadows.”
Within the wake of ‘the slap,’ Kenan guarantees conflict-free ceremony
The Emmys shall be one of many first main televised awards reveals since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on the 94th Academy Awards. Hollywood needs to maneuver previous that incident, after all, however it’s potential at the least one presenter will joke in regards to the wildest evening in Oscars historical past.
“Saturday Night time Reside” veteran Kenan Thompson, who will make his debut as emcee of the Emmys, stated he expects the ceremony shall be freed from tense confrontations.
“It type of simply threw the whole world off guard, mainly, and that gained’t occur once more,” Thompson advised the Related Press, referring to the Oscars incident. “Even when I’m roasting [someone], it shouldn’t come throughout as any type of malice.”
Thompson stated he hopes the ceremony shall be a comparatively relaxed affair, with nominees and presenters centered on small-screen storytelling achievement as a substitute of behind-the-scenes drama.
“This must be an evening of appreciating artistry and creativity and eradicating the stress of all of it out. I get it — it sucks to lose, and everyone’s choosing outfits and making an attempt to do the crimson carpet factor,” Thompson advised the AP. “However on the similar time, it’s an superior factor to be within the room on Emmys evening, and I don’t need that to get misplaced within the stress,” he added.
The rankings recreation
In recent times, Nielsen rankings for televised awards reveals have plunged as extra folks ditch linear tv for streaming and black-tie Hollywood fetes lose a few of their luster within the age of Instagram and TikTok. Normally, viewership for the Oscars, the Tonys and the Grammys has trended downward.
However final yr’s Emmy Awards drew an estimated 7.4 million folks — a surprisingly stable quantity that represented an enchancment over the roughly 6.1 million individuals who tuned within the yr earlier than, when the ambitions of the present had been curtailed by Covid.
The tv academy’s recognition of wildly well-liked sequence like “Squid Sport” and significant darlings like “Succession” might herald a good viewers — and possibly even some 20- and 30-somethings who’ve largely deserted non-sports reside broadcast occasions.
Plus, there’s at all times the possibility that folk will watch simply to see if there are any Oscars-style reside TV fireworks.
