Apple TV+ has emerged victorious at the 5th Annual SDSA Awards, showcasing its strength in both drama and comedy categories. With major wins for ‘Severance’ and ‘The Studio’, the streaming service is poised for a promising Emmy season.
Apple TV+ Dominates at the 5th Annual SDSA Awards
Is this the start of an Apple TV+ Emmy landslide? The boutique streaming service emerged as the big winner at the 5th Annual SDSA Awards, held by the Set Decorators Society of America. Apple TV+ took home three awards — the most of any platform — when the winners were unveiled on Monday. Two of those wins were for the streamer’s marquee shows Severance and The Studio, which happen to be the most-nominated drama and comedy series, respectively, at this year’s Emmys.
Recognition for Severance
The Severance team of set decorator David Schlesinger and production designer Jeremy Hindle were recognized for Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a One-Hour Contemporary Series, beating out its fellow Apple TV+ series Your Friends & Neighbors, as well as Black Mirror, Poker Face, and The White Lotus.
A Win for The Studio
Meanwhile, The Studio notched the win for a half-hour single camera series for its duo of set decorator Claire Kaufman and production designer Julie Berghoff. The Seth Rogen-created Hollywood satire topped its closest Emmy rival, Hacks, in addition to The Righteous Gemstones, Only Murders in the Building, and What We Do in the Shadows.
Apple TV+ Limited-Series Victory
Apple TV+ also claimed the limited-series crown with its Natalie Portman-starring Lady in the Lake, featuring set decoration by Karuna Karmarkar and production design by JC Molina. The seven-episode mystery won over a Netflix-heavy list of nominees that included The Four Seasons, Monsters, and Sirens, as well as Hulu’s Interior Chinatown. However, Lady in the Lake was notably shut out of all categories at the Emmys.
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Emmy Prospects for Severance and The Studio
Rest assured that both Severance and The Studio are present and accounted for in their Emmy-equivalent races — and their SDSA wins make them the clear frontrunners. The former is nominated alongside The Last of Us, The Penguin, The Residence, and The White Lotus for Best Production Design for a one-hour narrative contemporary series. The Studio is competing with Hacks, Mid-Century Modern, Only Murders in the Building, and What We Do in the Shadows among the half-hour Best Production Design candidates.
Looking Ahead to the Emmys
According to Gold Derby’s leaderboards, Severance and The Studio are tipped to win many of the major Emmy races, including Best Drama Series and Best Comedy Series. This would mark the first such double victory for Apple TV+ in the streamer’s young history; Ted Lasso claimed the comedy crown in 2021 and 2022, but an Apple-streamed drama has yet to win the big prize. Securing the support of guilds like the SDSA is a crucial step on Apple’s path to a successful Emmy night.
Complete List of SDSA Awards Winners
- Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a One-Hour Contemporary Series
Severance (Apple TV+): Set Decoration by David Schlesinger with Production Design by Jeremy Hindle - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a One-Hour Fantasy or Science Fiction Series
The Last of Us (HBO/HBO Max): Set Decoration by Jonathan Lancaster and Lisa Lancaster with Production Design by Don Macaulay - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a One-Hour Period Series
1923 (Paramount+): Set Decoration by Carla Curry with Production Design by Cary White & Lisa Ward - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Television Movie or Limited Series
Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+): Set Decoration by Karuna Karmarkar with Production Design by JC Molina - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Half-Hour Single Camera Series
The Studio (Apple TV+): Set Decoration by Claire Kaufman with Production Design by Julie Berghoff - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Half-Hour Multi-Camera Series
Mid-Century Modern (Hulu): Set Decoration by Peter Gurski with Production Design by Greg J. Grande - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Short Format: Web Series, Music Video, or Commercial
Sabrina Carpenter: Taste: Set Decoration by Kelsey Fowler with Production Design by Grant Armstrong - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Variety, Reality, or Competition Series
Saturday Night Live (NBC): Set Decoration by Kimberly Kachougian, Danielle Webb, Sara Parks, Kimberly Fischer, Jessica Templin-King with Production Design by Andrea Purcigliotti, Kenneth MacLeod & Mark Newell - Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Daytime Series
The Young and the Restless (CBS): Set Decoration by Jennifer Haybach, Justine Mercado, Maria Dirolf & Monica Lowe with Production Design by David Hoffmann
