The Emmys Love Middle-Aged Men — At Least Statistically

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The Emmys Have an Age Bias. Just Not the One You’d Think

In a remarkable turn of events this month, Kathy Bates, who starred in Matlock, broke Emmy records at the age of 77 by being the oldest actress ever nominated for lead roles in a drama series. However, when you consider some of this year’s other nominees, she appears quite young. Scott Glenn from The White Lotus is 86 years old. Harrison Ford, starring in Shrinking, is 83. And Martin Scorsese, nominated for his role in The Studio, is a sprightly 82!

So, this must be the grayest Emmys yet, right?

In this particular year, the typical age of the acting nominees is approximately 48 years old. This includes the young talent, Owen Cooper from Adolescence who is 15, as well as many others. This places 2025 as just the second most mature Emmy year of the last decade, following closely behind 2018 when Cicely Tyson’s guest actress nomination at the age of 93 pushed the average to 50.4 years old.

It’s worth noting that when we analyze the data, it appears that Emmy voters, unlike many others in Hollywood, show a consistent preference for middle-aged performers. Over the last decade, the typical nominee has been between 44 and 50 years old, with only small changes from year to year. Granted, some of this could be random fluctuations. Many years have a wide range of ages represented – young breakout stars alongside veteran legends in their eighties – and when averaged out, the results often fall within the age group typically associated with Centrum Silver. However, even though some variation is expected, it’s clear that there’s a noticeable trend indicating that the Emmys tend to favor actors of a particular age range.

One type of actor commonly seen in awards ceremonies is the male actor, while female contenders often encounter an age barrier that their male counterparts do not. Over the past ten years, the average nominee age for actresses has been significantly lower than that of actors, by almost six years. This suggests that although age is valued at the Emmys, there are still age restrictions for women. A notable example is Bates, who holds the record as the oldest woman ever nominated in her category, but she is still younger than several male nominees this year.

Tina Turner’s Wig: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

As a dedicated Tina Turner fan, I must admit that she’s “simply the best,” but the $1,000 wig her estate marketed online recently left me feeling less than impressed. To my eyes, it didn’t seem to resemble the iconic, wildly teased hairstyles she was known for in the world of rock ‘n’ roll.

One user jokingly remarked that she resembles Little Orphan Annie, while others compared her hair to Olivia Newton-John’s curls from the 1978 movie Grease.

Man, the online response to that wig was brutal, and within a day, BMG took it down from their site without any explanation. Yet, Arthur Jones, Turner’s longtime hairstylist, stands firm in his belief that this wig, made with 100% Remy human hair and even featuring a certificate of authenticity signed by him, is being unfairly criticized.

Tina was sporting that hairstyle,” Seth Abramovitch shares with the Rambling Reporter. “A quick investigation reveals that the style was quite trendy during the ’90s and the early 2000s.” He attributes some of the criticism to marketing, particularly the choice of model used to promote the wig on BMG’s site. “Apparently, some people were disappointed because the model wasn’t Black,” Jones explains. “The girl we selected was half-Asian and half-Black… however, she didn’t resemble Tina at all.” – Rambling Reporter

Will McG and John Mayer Give Kermit the Boot?

It’s being whispered that the well-known Henson Studios, which may soon undergo a change, could be referred to as a pre-rebranding instead. Insiders close to its new proprietors – pop star John Mayer and director McG, who purchased the iconic property in November for approximately $60 million – hint that they are considering reviving the studio’s original name: Chaplin Studios.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a connection to that legendary studio on La Brea Avenue. Way back in 1917, it was Charlie Chaplin who put down roots here and created some of his most memorable silent films like “The Gold Rush” and “City Lights”. In the groovy ’50s, it became a hub for classic TV shows such as “The Red Skelton Show” and “Perry Mason”. Then, in the swinging ’60s, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss turned it into recording studios for their hotshot A&M label. Fast forward to 1999, and Jim Henson, the master of Muppets, took ownership, renamed it Henson Studios, and even put up a 12-foot statue of Kermit the Frog, dressed as Chaplin’s Little Tramp. It’s like stepping into a piece of Hollywood history every time I pass by!

Prior to acquiring a share, Mayer had a connection with the property – he produced his 2021 “Sob Rock” album there and maintained an office within its premises. Similarly, McG, who previously worked as a record producer and later directed films such as “Charlie’s Angels” and “Terminator Salvation,” might have also visited the property. It is said that Mayer and McG joined forces in purchasing the property following whispers that the Church of Scientology could be potential buyers.

Rambling has contacted Mayer and McG regarding a potential name change, which would presumably need approval from the Chaplin estate, but hasn’t received a response yet. As for the 12-foot Kermit statue, there’s no update so far, although individuals who’ve recently visited the studio mention that a basketball court with the initials JB (representing Justin Bieber) is still present. Apparently, certain items hold special significance and aren’t easily altered.

The article you’re reading was published in the July 23 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. If you’d like to read more such stories, consider subscribing to our magazine.

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2025-07-23 20:25