The road to the end of the very long Emmy season takes place over most of your Labor Day holiday weekend with the two-night presentation of what were formerly called the Creative Arts Emmy Awards but now are simply being called the Emmy Awards. There’s no difference between the some 97 or so categories handed out this weekend and the glitzy NBC telecast where the final 19 categories will be dispersed on Monday, September 14.
This year it got a little controversial when the Television Academy Board approved the move of four key Limited Series categories plus one for Variety off the usual perch on the primetime telecast and on to the preceding weekend’s crafts-dominated ceremonies. These always have been part of the main show and are some of the highest profile and most prestigious categories, the supporting awards featuring a who’s who of past winners and nominees returning to the contest, plus some newcomers including an Oscar winner who could make more history if she wins. I had anticipated this all would blow up and the Academy would have to reverse course, as has happened in the past when startling moves like this were made. But although the studios, networks and in particular the streamers — since they were the most affected — may have complained privately and grumbled to pundits like me, there was no big public outcry. So the show goes on with a promise to reassess this decision going forward, when the Emmys could well have a new TV deal in place (they don’t yet, even though this is the last year of the current contract with the four broadcast networks’ rotating wheel).
As a longtime member of the TV Academy and a former governor of the Writers Branch, I would have opposed this move, though I understand it is difficult to squeeze added entertainment segments into the main show when you have to hand out 25 awards and do a death reel. Still, the Limited Series/Anthology/Movie categories offer the opportunity to showcase new and often quite famous faces over the inevitable repetitive regular series contenders, which remain untouched but likely will see a parade of familiar winners again since shows like The Pitt and stars like Jean Smart are posed to return as champs again (Smart is going for a record with a fifth consecutive win for all five seasons of Hacks).But I jump ahead of myself. That part of the puzzle I will hold for next week’s set of predictions in advance of the BIG Emmy show.
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Here then are some select highlighted categories of special interest and the way I see them going both Saturday and Sunday night, ceremonies that can give more than a big clue as to what we will also see come Monday the 14th and perhaps even influence my final overall predictions for the final Emmy ceremony. The dual events at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles will be edited into a single broadcast airing at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, on FXX.
In addition to a multitude of crafts awards, there are several program categories being handed out from Reality to Variety to Documentary to Game Shows.
BEST GAME SHOW
Jeopardy!
What else? Because it always wins.
BEST STRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
Shark Tank
Because that is what I voted for.
BEST UNSTRUCTURED REALITY PROGRAM
Welcome to Wrexham
Again.
BEST SHORT FORM COMEDY, VARIETY OR DRAMA SERIES
SubwayTakes
Because You Tubers are hot and this thing campaigned more than anything else.
YouTube
BEST SHORT FORM NON-FICTION OR REALITY SERIES
Inside The Pitt
It should ride the coattails of the mother ship.
BEST VARIETY SPECIAL LIVE
Super Bowl LX Music Halftime Show
No one is beating this year.
BEST VARIETY SPECIAL (PRE RECORDED)
Taylor Swift The Eras Tour: The Final Show
Swifty has this in the bag.
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John Shearer/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY OR NON-FICTION SPECIAL
Marty: Life Is Short
The beloved Short is up in three categories and this seems a likely winner, though this category is full of possibilities and any of the five — My Mom Jayne, John Candy: I Like Me, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man, Ocean with David Attenborough –– easily could win.
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY OR NON-FICTION SERIES
The American Revolution
Picking this over Mr. Scorsese, which also has a shot because Emmy voters, unlike Oscar voters, like showbiz stories.
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Here are some performer predictions for Saturday:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST
Jimmy Kimmel Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
He won last year, but this will really be a worthy repeat considering the year he has had.
OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM PERFORMER
Desi Lydic, The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains
Again.
OUTSTANDING NARRATOR
David Attenborough, Ocean with David Attenborough
Because he is 100 and his name is in the title.
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR REALITY OR REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
Alan Cumming, The Traitors
He is on a roll, and voters tend to latch on to a winner and repeat for a few years.
A whole lot of crafts to honor including casting, makeup, music, editing, sound, visual effects, etc., but all eyes will be on the actors in between with six categories on this night, including the aforementioned Limited Series contenders crashing the party.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR FOR A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY, OR MOVIE
David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
Stranger things have happened, but Harbour’s career turn was unforgettable enough to edge out co-stars Jason Bateman and Richard Jenkins, as well as the rest of the talented field.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS FOR A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY, OR MOVIE
Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
Could be a tighter race, with veterans including Constance Zimmer, South Korean Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung or even Dakota Fanning as possible spoilers here.
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OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY, OR TV MOVIE
Steve Conrad, DTF St. Louis
Unless there is a big sweep for Beef like its first season had.
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY, OR TV MOVIE
Steve Conrad, DTF St. Louis
Beef‘stwo nominations in this category could cancel each other out.
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rob Reiner, The Bear
Sentiment for the late great Mr. Reiner should prevail, but I can give you reasons for Michael J. Fox, or even Connor Storie’s SNL hosting gig but don’t count on it).
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OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kaitlin Olsen, Hacks
She was so great in the Amazing Race episode, and the final season for Hackshas five nominees here, though those all could split and hand it to Widow’s Bay’s Betty Gilpin. But really it should have been the not-nominated K Callan from that finale episode. Both Leslie Bibb and Cherry Jones deserve a two-fer for the Hacks Montecito episode but will probably split the vote here.
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Colman Domingo, Euphoria
Jeff Hiller was last year’s shocker at the Emmys and here he is again, but his nominated Pluribus role was literally 7 minutes. Still does Hiller’s not-nominated Widow’s Bay gig also have influence in this category?
OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age
She is an Academy favorite, so I never bet against her)
OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE
Remarkably Bright Creatures
OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM
South Park
OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE OVER PERFORMANCE
Pamela Adlon, King of the Hill
OUTSTANDING STUNT PERFORMANCE
Palm Royale
It’s the first all-female stunt team ever nominated.
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