Emmys: The Comedy Masterminds Behind This Year’s Nominated Series Shed Light on Their Creative Process

As a dedicated follower of television and its intricate tapestry of storytelling, I find myself utterly captivated by the current state of comedy series. Each of these shows – Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, Palm Royale, Reservation Dogs, and What We Do in the Shadows – embodies a unique flavor that resonates with viewers across the board.

As a longtime fan of comedy series and someone who has spent years studying the art of storytelling, I find it fascinating to delve into the creative processes behind some of this year’s Emmy-nominated comedies. Having worked in the industry myself, I know that bringing a season to life is no easy feat, and these nominees have truly outdone themselves with their highly lauded seasons. It’s always enlightening to hear directly from the minds behind these shows about the struggles, triumphs, and secrets that went into making the comedy gold we see on our screens today.

Abbott Elementary

For the third season of “Abbott Elementary,” created by Quinta Brunson and her team, a unique challenge was presented: Craft a comprehensive, captivating narrative with eight fewer episodes than typical. Originally airing 22 half-hour segments, this reduction was due to writers’ and actors’ strikes, as well as timing conflicts with the show’s tradition of following the school year in real time. Brunson shares, “I knew immediately I didn’t want to save anything for season four, and that I wanted to safeguard the finale ending we had planned.”

The Bear

As a dedicated TV enthusiast with a passion for both cooking and comedy, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement as this year’s Emmy contenders are announced. With my years of experience in the culinary world, having worked in various kitchens from humble beginnings to high-end restaurants, I have always found solace in shows that delve into the complexities and challenges of the industry.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The series finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” concluded with a court case and a surprising twist that served as a decisive punctuation mark on the show, according to its creative team. This final episode of the long-running HBO comedy, which starred and was created by Larry David, cleverly revisited and inverted the ending of “Seinfeld” for “Curb’s” last hurrah. As Jeff Schaffer, David’s partner on the show, remarks to The Hollywood Reporter, this plotline has been over two decades in the making. “It’s just cool that you can stick around long enough to execute a 26-year-old joke,” Schaffer says. Although “Curb” has concluded as a series, Schaffer hints that David continues to be vexed by humanity – a sign that fans of improvisational comedy might not have seen the last of this show. “The show is done in its current form, but Larry’s not,” Schaffer suggests, alluding to potential future projects. “We’re discussing discussing things.” – Jackie Strause

Hacks

When season three of the comedy series “Hacks” debuted on May 2nd, it had been two years since a new episode aired on Max. The break wasn’t unusually long – consider shows like “Severance” – but it posed a possible dilemma for the showrunners: how to enhance the season enough to re-engage viewers while maintaining the core essence of the show. However, according to the team behind “Hacks” (comedy veterans Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, and Lucia Aniello), they were confident they had overcome this hurdle during production. As Downs explains, “One of our benchmarks is Jean Smart, given her extensive career. So when she tells us, ‘This is the best episode we’ve ever done,’ it’s quite astonishing.” Adds Aniello: “We value her opinion; it’s always, ‘What does Jean think?'” Continue reading. – Seija Rankin.

Only Murders in the Building

In the current year, the television show “Only Murders in the Building,” co-created by John Hoffman and Steve Martin, garnered 21 Emmy nominations, among them one for best comedy series. This recognition, says four-time Emmy winner Hoffman to The Hollywood Reporter, is a validation of his work — a feeling he finds affirming. Keep reading for more details. — Scott Feinberg.

Palm Royale

Sylvia Abe, the mind behind Apple TV+’s “Palm Royale,” has long aspired to create a series set in Palm Beach. After years of attempts, he successfully achieved this with the Kristen Wiig-headed comedy that follows a determined woman’s efforts to join the elite ranks of Palm Beach society. The show’s compelling writing, A-list cast (which includes Carol Burnett, Allison Janney, Laura Dern, and Ricky Martin), along with its vivid production and costume design, struck a chord with Academy voters, earning it 10 Emmy nominations, including the top comedy prize. Sylvia shares insights on filming in LA, the adjustments made to the script when Burnett joined the team, and why multiple seasons were the ultimate goal. Read more from Beatrice Verhoeven.

Reservation Dogs

In its first two television seasons, the highly praised series Reservation Dogs garnered only one Emmy nomination. However, it gained significant recognition during its third and final season with a total of four nominations, including one for best comedy series. Co-creator and showrunner Sterlin Harjo discusses the final season with THR, shedding light on why they decided to bring the show to an end. Read more — by Rick Porter.

What We Do in the Shadows

Following five seasons of “What We Do in the Shadows” on FX, showrunner Paul Simms is now openly admitting his lack of interest in vampires, which is what gives the show’s humor its enduring and universal appeal. In Simms’ words, the series revolves around a fundamental concept: diverse characters with conflicting objectives, resulting in entertaining clashes. The storyline follows a band of vampires who attempt to conquer modern-day Staten Island but fail due to their collective foolishness. For more insights, click here. — Tyler Coates’ analysis

2024-08-19 22:55