One of the weird moments for me--as a person who pays to subscribe to a TV criticism newsletter--is I had no idea the Emmy's were happening until they were about halfway through. I couldn't tell you who or what was nominated (besides some obvious guesses) but this year came and went without me noticing. A lot of this is probably timing--the delay because of the strike and new seasons not airing yet--and my own interests at the moment. (I'm from Michigan and a football fan--I've had a great week!) But it was a weird cultural moment for me to realize it didn't register at all. Even the folks I normally discuss awards with didn't register the Emmy's. Maybe next year will bring us back in because of the weirdness you mention, Myles, or maybe it will pass by unnoticed by me again.
I had the exact same experience -- was just flipping through the channel guide and was like "shit, the Emmys are on?" It's like I heard nothing about it in the run up
I’m not sure why they aired opposite the NFL playoffs either. Probably just logistics and timing (it’s all football all the time until mid-February) but it was a sure fire way to go unnoticed and get walloped in the ratings.
I kinda assume that the Academy needed to find a day where nominees would be able to attend, which a 3-day weekend seems like a good bet. Otherwise, you risk asking people to attend when they're all deep into post-holiday break production. The Monday airdate seems like a demand Fox would have rather than the Television Academy.
Ironically (or is this literally the opposite of irony?) the Emmys normally are aired opposite Sunday Night Football, anyway. So flipping back and forth between a game and the awards show was not too different for me.
I was wondering if it was some poorly thought out attempt at counter programming where all of the tv nerds and celebrity fans and the like are assumed to not watch football so they'd all tune into this instead? But yeah, seems like an obviously dumb move.
I wonder how much oversaturation is impacting the Emmys as well. With so many different streaming services that all have their own prestige shows, there's a very real chance viewers may not have seen the shows that were nominated. I know my parents, for instance, haven't even heard of The Bear, Succession, or Beef, but they sure do love whatever the hell they watch on Paramount+.
In addition, the sheer volume of award-worthy TV has increased so much that I'm not sure we can expect Emmy voters to have seen enough in a given year to make an informed decision. I think there's a very real possibility that we saw three shows end up with so many awards simply because those are the shows that the most voters had actually seen. I admittedly don't know a ton about the behind-the-scenes of the Emmys, but it feels like we're all increasingly watching different things and that makes it harder to recognize what's "the best." (And honestly, it might be cool to move away from those sorts of quality judgments in general, and instead frame discussions around "what do you like" vs "what's objectively the best")
There's still way more music released in a year than anything else yet the Grammy's are generally seen as the most relevant and popular Awards Show I think? They do this by simply giving awards to whatever was most popular
Is there some way we can game the next Emmys to get Rhea Seehorn the award she's earned over and over? Maybe a special secret episode of Succession that's Oops All Seehorn? Digitally insert her into the background of every episode of The Bear and then push for her nomination? Anything?
I thought it was well run and produced, minus some early hiccups with the editing (If I recall there was stuff happening before it came back from commercial and later the nominees title cards was all glitchy). I also just taped it on my DVR to watch after football so missed some of the cultural cache splitting it into two parts later that night and the next day. Oddly enough I didn't have to try very hard to not be spoiled about anything which I think speaks to the greater lack of impact of the Emmy's this year. I will never forgive them for stiffing Better Call Saul over the years, an absolute disgrace.
My only comment about "genre fraud" questions is that it was MORE noticeable simply because one of the shows that was highlighted for nostalgia was Ally McBeal - an hour long show that won the Emmy for best comedy. And was always clearly comedic (dancing baby hallucinations people....). David E. Kelley's double win in 1999 wouldn't be an option now. Time limits don't determine tonal qualities of shows.
Or may it was just a mini hallucination theme for the evening with Katherine Heigl back on stage for Grey's....
I mean, nothing is stopping hour-long shows to submit as comedies or half-hour shows to submit as dramas. They've mostly accepted all the appeals except for Orange is the New Black (since they were sending Netflix a message).
A little late to this conversation here. Probably apropos given that my interest in the Emmies (sic) is approximately zero. The only reason it’s not exactly zero is because of the “Better Call Saul” situation which for me hovers between a chortle and agreeing with Sepinwall’s postulation that going 0-53 will ultimately serve the show’s legacy well.
It’s ironic because it was the 2010 Emmy’s (sic) that pushed me to check out “Breaking Bad” which was my entryway into “prestige TV” and ultimately why I subscribe here. I probably would have jumped on the BB bandwagon at some point anyway, but I digress (from a digression). If I recall correctly, I was just bored on that particular Sunday evening and flipped to the ceremony as Cranston (or Paul) was winning, and then stuck around to see the other one win. I immediately bumped S1 of the show up in my Netflix queue and by the end of the following (Labor Day) weekend, I had binged Seasons 1-3. (This involved me running around Philadelphia to find S2 DVDs and was my first foray into streaming with S3 in Amazon Prime).
As a kid I would go out of my way to watch both the Emmez (sic) and the Oscars. The gold (e.g. David Letterman 1995) was worth sifting through the trash.
All that said, I guess I do need to check out both “Succession” and “The Bear”.
The 2021 Emmys had a near complete turnover in Comedy Series. Only Black-ish was a returning nom, and it hadn't been a nominees for a few years. So next year, I expect some previous nominees returning -- looking at you SNL performers. I'll also play with series guesses -- based on the general laziness and repetition of Academy voters.
I don't watch Will Trent. Do you really think it has the legs to be the broadcast show that breaks through? From every commercial I've seen it sure doesn't seem like This is Us.
I don't think it's a stellar series, but if a broadcast series does break through, I think it's that one -- unless one of the new spring shows is a standout. It has a procedural element but the character arcs are well above the typical broadcast standard.
One, I think the way that TV (and culture) are siloed more and more with streaming services is really fascinating. It seems highly possible to just totally miss out on a show that dominates the awards because you don't have that service. Really interesting times we live in, regarding the nature of the internet and culture (as typed on a newsletter-style forum I subscribed to in order to reward great writing and find community).
Two, I just totally don't get Succession at all. It's one of those cultural phenomenon shows I totally missed. I watched one episode and just couldn't abide by those assholes! Everyone was so aggressively shitty, and I just couldn't imagine spending a ton of time with those characters. It felt icky.
Succession is the kind of show you need to watch several episodes of to get hooked, I think. But even though it is very high in my "best series of all times" list, I can totally get that some people might not like this particular type of story.
In my case, I have the same kind of disconnect with the general opinion with Mad Men. I tried watching the first season and never got what was so incredible about it 🤷
One of the weird moments for me--as a person who pays to subscribe to a TV criticism newsletter--is I had no idea the Emmy's were happening until they were about halfway through. I couldn't tell you who or what was nominated (besides some obvious guesses) but this year came and went without me noticing. A lot of this is probably timing--the delay because of the strike and new seasons not airing yet--and my own interests at the moment. (I'm from Michigan and a football fan--I've had a great week!) But it was a weird cultural moment for me to realize it didn't register at all. Even the folks I normally discuss awards with didn't register the Emmy's. Maybe next year will bring us back in because of the weirdness you mention, Myles, or maybe it will pass by unnoticed by me again.
I had the exact same experience -- was just flipping through the channel guide and was like "shit, the Emmys are on?" It's like I heard nothing about it in the run up
I’m not sure why they aired opposite the NFL playoffs either. Probably just logistics and timing (it’s all football all the time until mid-February) but it was a sure fire way to go unnoticed and get walloped in the ratings.
I kinda assume that the Academy needed to find a day where nominees would be able to attend, which a 3-day weekend seems like a good bet. Otherwise, you risk asking people to attend when they're all deep into post-holiday break production. The Monday airdate seems like a demand Fox would have rather than the Television Academy.
Ironically (or is this literally the opposite of irony?) the Emmys normally are aired opposite Sunday Night Football, anyway. So flipping back and forth between a game and the awards show was not too different for me.
True. I’m more likely to not watch SNF (/MNF) if I don’t care about the matchup. Playoffs are a different beast though. I’m usually locked in on that.
for sure.
I was wondering if it was some poorly thought out attempt at counter programming where all of the tv nerds and celebrity fans and the like are assumed to not watch football so they'd all tune into this instead? But yeah, seems like an obviously dumb move.
Same. Totally missed it was happening.
I wonder how much oversaturation is impacting the Emmys as well. With so many different streaming services that all have their own prestige shows, there's a very real chance viewers may not have seen the shows that were nominated. I know my parents, for instance, haven't even heard of The Bear, Succession, or Beef, but they sure do love whatever the hell they watch on Paramount+.
In addition, the sheer volume of award-worthy TV has increased so much that I'm not sure we can expect Emmy voters to have seen enough in a given year to make an informed decision. I think there's a very real possibility that we saw three shows end up with so many awards simply because those are the shows that the most voters had actually seen. I admittedly don't know a ton about the behind-the-scenes of the Emmys, but it feels like we're all increasingly watching different things and that makes it harder to recognize what's "the best." (And honestly, it might be cool to move away from those sorts of quality judgments in general, and instead frame discussions around "what do you like" vs "what's objectively the best")
There's still way more music released in a year than anything else yet the Grammy's are generally seen as the most relevant and popular Awards Show I think? They do this by simply giving awards to whatever was most popular
Is there some way we can game the next Emmys to get Rhea Seehorn the award she's earned over and over? Maybe a special secret episode of Succession that's Oops All Seehorn? Digitally insert her into the background of every episode of The Bear and then push for her nomination? Anything?
Provided Gilligan eventually gets that show off the ground, no reason to think she won't be able to compete if it's good.
Gets what show off the ground?
He’s doing a slight sci-fi drama with Seehorn. Apple TV+. No plot details yet.
Seehorn could get a nomination for Cooper's Bar, whose 2nd season is eligible for the current Emmy cycle. She was nominated (and lost) for season 1.
I thought it was well run and produced, minus some early hiccups with the editing (If I recall there was stuff happening before it came back from commercial and later the nominees title cards was all glitchy). I also just taped it on my DVR to watch after football so missed some of the cultural cache splitting it into two parts later that night and the next day. Oddly enough I didn't have to try very hard to not be spoiled about anything which I think speaks to the greater lack of impact of the Emmy's this year. I will never forgive them for stiffing Better Call Saul over the years, an absolute disgrace.
My only comment about "genre fraud" questions is that it was MORE noticeable simply because one of the shows that was highlighted for nostalgia was Ally McBeal - an hour long show that won the Emmy for best comedy. And was always clearly comedic (dancing baby hallucinations people....). David E. Kelley's double win in 1999 wouldn't be an option now. Time limits don't determine tonal qualities of shows.
Or may it was just a mini hallucination theme for the evening with Katherine Heigl back on stage for Grey's....
Whatever. Bygones. ;)
I mean, nothing is stopping hour-long shows to submit as comedies or half-hour shows to submit as dramas. They've mostly accepted all the appeals except for Orange is the New Black (since they were sending Netflix a message).
Can they send FX a message now???
A little late to this conversation here. Probably apropos given that my interest in the Emmies (sic) is approximately zero. The only reason it’s not exactly zero is because of the “Better Call Saul” situation which for me hovers between a chortle and agreeing with Sepinwall’s postulation that going 0-53 will ultimately serve the show’s legacy well.
It’s ironic because it was the 2010 Emmy’s (sic) that pushed me to check out “Breaking Bad” which was my entryway into “prestige TV” and ultimately why I subscribe here. I probably would have jumped on the BB bandwagon at some point anyway, but I digress (from a digression). If I recall correctly, I was just bored on that particular Sunday evening and flipped to the ceremony as Cranston (or Paul) was winning, and then stuck around to see the other one win. I immediately bumped S1 of the show up in my Netflix queue and by the end of the following (Labor Day) weekend, I had binged Seasons 1-3. (This involved me running around Philadelphia to find S2 DVDs and was my first foray into streaming with S3 in Amazon Prime).
As a kid I would go out of my way to watch both the Emmez (sic) and the Oscars. The gold (e.g. David Letterman 1995) was worth sifting through the trash.
All that said, I guess I do need to check out both “Succession” and “The Bear”.
Would ou like to buy a monkey?
The 2021 Emmys had a near complete turnover in Comedy Series. Only Black-ish was a returning nom, and it hadn't been a nominees for a few years. So next year, I expect some previous nominees returning -- looking at you SNL performers. I'll also play with series guesses -- based on the general laziness and repetition of Academy voters.
Comedy Series:
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Girls5eva
Hacks
Only Murders in the Building
Shrinking
What We Do in the Shadows
Drama Series:
Ahsoka
The Boys
Bridgerton
The Crown
The Morning Show
Slow Horses
Tokyo Vice
Will Trent
I’m skeptical Shrinking makes it by the end of spring.
I don't watch Will Trent. Do you really think it has the legs to be the broadcast show that breaks through? From every commercial I've seen it sure doesn't seem like This is Us.
I don't think it's a stellar series, but if a broadcast series does break through, I think it's that one -- unless one of the new spring shows is a standout. It has a procedural element but the character arcs are well above the typical broadcast standard.
Two thoughts:
One, I think the way that TV (and culture) are siloed more and more with streaming services is really fascinating. It seems highly possible to just totally miss out on a show that dominates the awards because you don't have that service. Really interesting times we live in, regarding the nature of the internet and culture (as typed on a newsletter-style forum I subscribed to in order to reward great writing and find community).
Two, I just totally don't get Succession at all. It's one of those cultural phenomenon shows I totally missed. I watched one episode and just couldn't abide by those assholes! Everyone was so aggressively shitty, and I just couldn't imagine spending a ton of time with those characters. It felt icky.
Succession is the kind of show you need to watch several episodes of to get hooked, I think. But even though it is very high in my "best series of all times" list, I can totally get that some people might not like this particular type of story.
In my case, I have the same kind of disconnect with the general opinion with Mad Men. I tried watching the first season and never got what was so incredible about it 🤷
I had a very similar experience with Mad Men!
i’m not sure about the next Emmys but i just want to say i got 23/25 of my picks for Monday correct.