Emmy Nominations Analysis: Trio of Presumed Frontrunners May Face Stiffer Competition Than Anticipated

As a long-time television critic with a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling and acting, I’m always eagerly anticipating the Emmy Awards nominations each year. This year was particularly exciting for me as I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable growth and evolution of streaming platforms like Netflix and Apple TV+.

As a dedicated gamer immersed in the world of television, I can’t help but feel thrilled by the latest announcements from the Primetime Emmy Awards. The nominations unveiled on Wednesday morning have once again proven that three shows have been reigning supreme in their respective categories among the 22,000 members of the TV Academy. FX’s drama series “Shogun” with its impressive 25 nominations, my personal favorite “The Bear” from FX, boasting a record-breaking 23 nods for a comedy, and Netflix’s limited series “Baby Reindeer,” which has earned an impressive 11 nominations. The support for these shows is simply tremendous!

However, it’s important to note that the ratings data for those three shows might have led pundits, including myself, to make an erroneous assumption about their dominance in the market. Some of their competitors could actually be stronger than we initially thought.

In the world of dramas, Netflix’s “The Crown” came in second place for the Emmy Awards with a total of 18 nominations during its sixth and final season. Despite receiving negative reviews, with only a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it managed to secure recognition in each of the lead or supporting categories – an achievement no other drama could claim. Amazon’s “Fallout” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” as well as Apple’s “The Morning Show,” all tied for third place with 16 nominations. Notably, these series received recognition for Walton Goggins in “Fallout,” co-stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” and Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, along with five other performers in “The Morning Show.”

In the comedy category, Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” earned almost as many nominations as “The Bear” for its third season. Notably, Steve Martin and Martin Short received acting nods, joined by first-time performing nominees Selena Gomez and Meryl Streep. In the limited/anthology series category, “Baby Reindeer” was outshined by three other shows: “True Detective: Night Country” from HBO/Max with eight more nominations, FX’s “Fargo” with four more, and Netflix’s “Ripley” with two more.

In addition, although The Bear received 10 acting nominations (half of all comedy guest acting slots) and Shogun earned five, both shows failed to secure nominations in several other acting categories they were hoping for. Notable absences were The Bear’s supporting actors Oliver Platt and Matty Matheson, as well as its supporting actresses Abby Elliott and Molly Gordon. Shogun missed out on co-lead actor Cosmo Jarvis, supporting actor Tokuma Nishioka, supporting actresses Moeka Hoshi and Fumi Nikaido, and guest actress Yuko Miyamoto. While some of these names may not be widely recognized, the same was true for several performers who were nominated for shows like When They See Us a few years ago. The voters tend to recognize and nominate actors associated with shows they love, but they did so to a lesser extent than anticipated for The Bear and Shogun.

Regardless of the outcomes for “Shogun,” “The Bear,” and “Baby Reindeer,” it’s important to acknowledge the successes of their respective platforms. In the past two years, Netflix has dominated with a total of 107 nominations across various categories, surpassing all other platforms. Even with underperforming shows like “3 Body Problem,” “The Gentlemen,” and “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA,” Netflix still managed to secure the most nods. FX came in a strong second place, earning 93 nominations, which is a significant improvement from their previous record of 56 nominations in 2016. Notable mentions include “Shogun” and “The Bear,” as well as surprise nominations for “Fargo” (limited/anthology series), “Reservation Dogs” (drama series), and “What We Do in the Shadows” (drama series).

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that HBO/Max amassed an impressive 91 nominations this year, fueled by hits like “True Detective: Night Country,” “The Gilded Age,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “Hacks.” However, despite this remarkable number, it ranks third – a position lower than its finish in any other year during the 21st century. Apple TV+ outshone us all with a record-breaking 72 nominations and is now in the running for every major award, including best drama (“The Morning Show” and “Slow Horses”), comedy (“Palm Royale”), and limited/anthology series (“Lessons in Chemistry”). It’s worth mentioning that network TV demonstrated a revitalized energy this season. ABC and CBS secured 38 nominations each, a significant improvement from the previous year’s 28 and 20 nominations, respectively. NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” took the lead with an impressive 17 nominations for our favorite network programs.

I was taken aback by the omission of “The Curse” from the best drama series, best drama actor (Nathan Fielder), and best drama actress (Emma Stone) nominations at the awards, despite it being an unusual show that some voters might not have finished watching past the pilot episode. Conversely, I was surprised to see “Reservation Dogs” and “What We Do in the Shadows” recognized for best comedy series, along with their stars, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Matt Berry, for best comedy actor.

I was thrilled to discover the widespread acclaim for the exceptional Disney+ documentary special, “Jim Henson: The Idea Man,” which earned an impressive eight nominations and for the talented Maya Rudolph. She was nominated in several categories including best comedy actress for “Loot,” best guest actress on “SNL,” best character voice-over performance in “Big Mouth,” and for the original music/lyrics “Maya Rudolph’s Mother’s Day” on “SNL.”

I was disappointed that “The Gilded Age” and its actors Morgan Spector (best drama actor) and Nathan Lane (supporting actor), as well as “Fargo” and Jennifer Jason Leigh (supporting actress in a limited series), were overlooked in this year’s nominations. Similarly, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” missed out on a nomination for Jerry Seinfeld in the comedy guest actor category, but he did receive a nod for his Netflix movie “Unfrosted.” Lastly, neither Kate McKinnon and Sydney Sweeney from “Saturday Night Live” made it to the best comedy guest actress list, despite Ruddoph and Kristen Wiig earning nominations.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel elated when I hear about the Emmy nominations, especially when they recognize the talents of legends like Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke. Carol, with her brilliant performance as a comedy supporting actress in “Palm Royale,” and Dick, whose pre-recorded variety special “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic” showcases his timeless charm – these are nominations that make me proud to be part of the entertainment community.

As we approach the concluding stage of voting (August 15-26), and prepare for the highly anticipated awards broadcast on September 15, ABC, let’s get this show on the road!

2024-07-17 21:25

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