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Peak TV may have peaked, but the television landscape is far from stagnant. This Emmy season has showcased a vibrant mix of nominees spread across an array of platforms, delivering one of the most diverse lists in TV history. The contenders range widely from the epic “Shōgun” to the intense “Slow Horses” and the surprise hit “Baby Reindeer.”
Nominations for the 76th annual Emmy Awards, unveiled on July 17, ventured beyond traditional norms. 2024 marks a unique year for the Emmys, with two ceremonies occurring within the same calendar year. The September 15 show breaks with tradition in another notable way: for the first time in five decades, the top drama series category features only one returning nominee, Netflix’s “The Crown.”
Following the announcement of this year’s Emmy nominations, the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast team quickly analyzed the results, offering their initial thoughts on the emerging competition. You can listen to the detailed discussion below!
Netflix leads the pack with 107 nominations, driven significantly by “The Crown,” with 18 nods, and the debut success “Baby Reindeer,” which nabbed 11 nominations. FX follows closely with 93 nominations, largely through the strength of “Shōgun” with 25 nods and “The Bear” with 23.
Among FX’s other standout shows are “Reservation Dogs” and “What We Do in the Shadows,” both of which exceeded expectations, and the celebrity-filled “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.” Notably, Netflix spread its nominations across 35 programs while FX’s were concentrated in just nine.
For the first time in decades, HBO/Max, which typically holds the top two spots, has dropped to third place, securing 91 nominations. HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” earned the fourth-most nominations overall and topped the limited series category with 19 nods.
Apple TV+ celebrates its best year yet, with 72 nominations, up from last year’s 54, even in the absence of “Severance.” Contributions from new comedy “Palm Royale,” dramas “The Morning Show” and “Slow Horses,” and limited series “Lessons in Chemistry” propelled the platform to fourth position.
Broadcast networks made a comeback into the top five after a long hiatus, with ABC and CBS each garnering 38 nominations, driven primarily by “Abbott Elementary” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”
Here are some key insights from this year’s Emmy nominations:
Upping the Drama
“The Crown” remains the only conventional nominee in the drama category, securing its place despite mixed reviews for its latest episodes. “Shōgun” transitioned from a limited series to drama after FX announced its renewal, marking it as a strong contender. Amazon’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and Netflix’s “3 Body Problem” similarly moved categories due to renewals. Both “The Gilded Age” and “The Morning Show” received their first drama series nominations, while Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses” carved a spot in the coveted drama category.
Has Down-the-Line Voting Changed?
Typically, Television Academy voters favor a single show across multiple categories. While “The Bear” and “Shōgun” secured numerous acting nominations, the numbers were not as high as expected. However, down-the-line voting persists, as evidenced by “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” landing five guest actor nominations.
Double Trouble
Maya Rudolph stands out this year with nominations spanning several categories, including lead comedy actress for “Loot” and multiple nods for “Saturday Night Live.” Numerous individuals are multiple nominees, such as Richard Gadd, Quinta Brunson, and Donald Glover, for their respective contributions to “Baby Reindeer,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
Other notable multiple nominees include Jon Hamm, Paul Rudd, Jonathan Pryce, and Kristen Wiig, each earning recognition for performances across different shows and genres.
The 76th Emmy Awards will be broadcast live from the LA Live Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, September 15, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/5 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT on ABC. The broadcast will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day. The host for the ceremony has yet to be announced.
Source
variety.com