As we dive into Phase 2 of the Emmy season, excitement builds around the nominees and upcoming events. This article explores the latest developments and predictions.
Phase In
We are now nearly two weeks into Phase 2 of the Emmy season. Following the initial excitement of Emmy nominations, the industry has entered a quieter period where studios are working diligently behind the scenes to get their stars back from summer vacations and onto the campaign trail. Expect a flurry of activity next week as interviews, roundtables, and FYC events rapidly fill the calendar.
The TV Academy is joining the Phase 2 FYC efforts for the first time with the launch of Televerse, a three-day event scheduled for Aug. 14-16, featuring officially sanctioned contender panels. The guidelines for these panels are strict, including a 60-minute time limit, a maximum of eight talent participants plus a moderator, and the location at Televerse HQ, the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live. Any other venue will not allow you to bill yourself as such to Academy members or invite them directly. For example, Josh Horowitz has just announced a live episode of Happy Sad Confused featuring Ben Stiller and Seth Rogen.
We are very curious to see if Televerse will be a game-changer or merely an awards-season headache. If you have thoughts, feelings, or experiences to share, please reach out to us at our new mailbox, [email protected].
Apple of Our Eye
It is now abundantly clear that Apple TV+ made a significant impact on Emmy nominations morning. While HBO Max took the lead in overall nomination counts, Apple TV+ proudly boasts having the most-nominated drama series with Severance and the most-nominated comedy series with The Studio. Both shows are leading our predictions charts ahead of their closest competitors, Hacks and The Pitt, which are both HBO Max series. The last time a network took home both Best Comedy Series and Best Drama Series statuettes in the same year was in 2016 when HBO achieved this with Veep and Game of Thrones. If Apple TV+ manages to replicate this feat nearly a decade later, it would solidify its reputation as the “new HBO” and validate its focus on boutique programming over sheer streaming volume. Now, it just needs another show with Ted Lasso-sized ratings.
Netflix and Thrill
Can you guess which network recently completed the trifecta of winning Best Comedy Series, Best Drama Series, and Best Limited Series? If you guessed HBO, you are correct. This occurred exactly ten years ago in 2015 when HBO swept the awards with Veep, Game of Thrones, and Olive Kitteridge. Apple TV+ is unlikely to match that record a decade later, largely due to Netflix’s influence. The blockbuster four-episode phenomenon Adolescence is leading our leaderboard, overshadowing HBO Max’s The Penguin. This will mark Netflix’s third consecutive win in this category, following Beef in 2023 and Baby Reindeer in 2024, indicating that the streaming giant excels in short-run series. However, Netflix has faced a longer drought in its dramatic offerings; its first and only Best Drama Series win was for The Crown’s fourth season back in 2021, and it has yet to crown a Best Comedy Series winner.
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To the Max
With 142 nominations, HBO Max has the most to gain at this year’s ceremony. Although its most-acclaimed offerings are trailing in the “best in show” categories, the network is poised for a strong performance in the major acting races. Hacks’s dynamic duo of Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are favorites in their comedy categories; White Lotus guests Carrie Coon and Walton Goggins are aiming for supporting actress and actor wins in drama; The Pitt’s Noah Wyle is currently leading a competitive lead actor race against Severance’s Adam Scott; and limited series acting stars Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti can begin rehearsing their Penguin acceptance speeches. While it may not be another hat trick year for the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network, a multitude of acting wins is certainly a commendable achievement.
What’s Next?
Final voting begins on Aug. 18 and runs through Aug. 27. However, remember that the real beginning of the end starts when Emmy host Nate Bargatze takes the stage at the Peacock Theater on Sept. 14.
