Just putting this out there: Emmy voters didn’t see all the shows eligible this year.
Otherwise, why would a handful of series wind up with SO MANY nominations in the acting categories?
“The Studio,†in fact, got 10 nominations and all but one of the nods in the Best Guest Actor/Comedy category (for most actors playing themselves). “Severance†got nine acting nominations; “The White Lotus†landed eight; “The Bear,†seven; “The Last of Us,†five.
Isabela Merced, left, and Bella Ramsey star in "The Last of Us."Ìý
That’s not really spreading the love. Series like “The Handmaid’s Tale,†which was an Emmy darling not that many years ago, got one nomination. “Yellowjackets,†“English Teacher,†“St. Denis Medical,†“Black Doves†and “Squid Games†were shut out of the acting categories.
But why?
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Part of the answer could lie in what studios and networks promote. If they’re not pushing a show with “for your consideration†ads in trade papers, those shows probably won’t get seen. Hundreds of series, specials and movies make it impossible for voters to see everything, soÌýmany viable programs fly under the radar.
Screenings in California and New York also “suggest†possible nominees.
If, like last year, a series like “Shogun†does extremely well, the gamble paid off. If, like this year, a series is cancelled, a win would be a miracle. (Sorry, “What We Do in the Shadows†and “Andor.â€)
In the early days of the Emmys, there wasn’t as much product so it was quite possible someone could see the bulk of contenders. Now, many names don’t even register.
Jeremy Allen White as Carmen “Carmy†Berzatto and Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu in "The Bear."Ìý
When the network releases a series also could play a role in nominations. Season Three of “The Bear†was released while voters were considering Season Two. Did they mistakenly vote for someone based on the wrong season? Or were they just as savvy about both years and wisely nominated the right actor in the right year?
Then, what about others in the cast in a show that did get nominations. Did Martin Short deserve a Best Actor in a Comedy nod but Steve Martin didn’t? Did voters only see Jeff Hiller in “Somebody Somewhere†but missed the star, Bridget Everett? “The Pitt†featured a “White Lotus†list of contenders but only got two nominations. Kathy Bates got a nomination for “Matlock,†but her co-stars (and her show) weren’t considered.
Friends Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan find insights into their lives in the third season of "The White Lotus."Ìý
Traditionally, networkÌýshows don’t do as well against cable or streaming series. This year, “Abbott Elementary†is the one to carry the torch. Again. Does that mean voters aren’t watching broadcast channels? Or are they just viewing the screeners from the streamers?
Apple TV+ reeled in 27 nominations for “Severance†and 23 for “The Studioâ€; HBO topped all companies with 142 nominations spread across a handful of series (like “White Lotus†and “The Pittâ€); Netflix got 120 nominations, led by “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story†and “Black Mirror.â€
CBS, which is airing this year’s Emmy Awards, got one acting nod (for Kathy Bates) and mentions for “Amazing Race,†“Survivor†and the recently canceled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.â€
See a trend?
When the awards are handed out Sept. 14, don’t be surprised if several shows dominate. It’s too hard to spread the wealth.
