Jedi, dragons, and zombies – an unexpected trio of fantasy, science fiction, and horror – have muscled their way from the fringes to center stage at this year’s 75th annual Emmy Awards, upturning traditional favourites and injecting fresh energy into the awards show. Amid lingering uncertainty regarding the ceremony’s scheduling, these genre-defying contenders have created a notable buzz due to industry strikes and actors’ potential walkouts.
HBO stole the limelight with a bold presence, boasting half of the best-drama nominees and a whopping 127 overall bids – the highest by any network or streaming service. Among its nominations were the powerhouse debuts of “House of the Dragon” and “The Last of Us”, alongside farewell nods to “Succession” and the black comedy “Barry.” “House of the Dragon” carries forward the awards legacy of its predecessor “Game of Thrones,” whereas “The Last of Us”, a video game adaptation, marks a groundbreaking achievement for its genre.
In a similar vein, Disney+ and Lucasfilm secured 22 nominations with their trio of “Star Wars” series: “Andor,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi”, and the latest season of “The Mandalorian.” The genres traditionally sidelined at award shows were also represented, with entries like the chilling “Yellowjackets” and “Wednesday” featuring Jenna Ortega in an appealingly youthful role.
Even the gruesome world of serial killers found favour among Emmy voters. The rebranded “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” and its leading actor, Evan Peters, have entered the limited-series competition, along with Dominique Fishback from Amazon Prime’s “Swarm.”
However, balancing old and new proved a complex task for the Emmys, particularly this year as high-profile shows approached their series finales. Farewell nominations went to “Succession,” “Barry,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Ted Lasso,” and “Better Call Saul.”
Trevor Noah also earned a nomination for his concluding season of “The Daily Show,” following the re-categorization of “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” a show that dominated the late-night segment for seven consecutive years.
In a surprising turn of events, Amazon’s under-the-radar Freeview channel’s “Jury Duty,” a reality-comedy hybrid, snagged the best series nomination. This year’s nominations focused intensely on several shows, leading to many co-stars vying for the same categories, exemplified by three “Succession” stars competing in the lead-drama category.
However, the exact schedule of the Emmys remains a mystery due to potential industry disruptions. During the announcement of the nominations, Television Academy chair Frank Scherma was cautious about the ceremony’s planned broadcast date of September 18 on Fox, referencing previous delays only seen in response to the September 11 terror attacks in 2001.
In an era of ever-increasing genre diversity and innovation, this year’s Emmy nominations reflect a noticeable shift away from traditional favourites toward the intriguing realms of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. However, when the spotlight will truly shine on the Emmy stage remains shrouded in mystery due to looming industry uncertainties. As fans and the industry eagerly await clarity, the nominations have generated excitement and stirred conversations. This year’s Emmy promises to celebrate TV’s creativity and evolution regardless of when or how the event unfolds.
