Palisadians are in their primetime as the 71st annual Emmy Awards draw near, with several notable locals gunning for top prizes.
In order to compete at this year’s awards, series must air within the eligibility window of June 8, 2018 to May 31, 2019, precluding several drama titans from the running like HBO’s “Westworld,” and Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and “The Crown.”
Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was able to sneak some episodes into the eligibility window this year, and will likely see some nominations in certain categories.
The door is left wide open for other series to sweep drama, including AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” NBC’s “This is Us,” Netflix’s “Ozark,” Amazon’s “Homecoming,” FX’s “Pose” or BBC’s “Killing Eve,” though critics, including LA Times TV and film writer Glen Whipp, predict last year’s winner, “Game of Thrones,” will edge out the competition.
There are some peripheral contenders in the category, including Netflix’s “Bodyguard” and “House of Cards,” ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” HBO’s “Succession,” CBS’ “The Good Fight,” Showtime’s “Ray Donovan,” Amazon’s “Jack Ryan” and Paramount’s “Yellowstone.”
Fringe threats also include shows like HBO’s “The Deuce,” starring Palisadian Don Cheadle, Amazon’s “Hanna,” Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico,” and Showtime’s “The Chi” and “Billions.”
This year, FX series “American Horror Story: Apocalypse” will also qualify as a drama instead of a limited series, along with USA’s “The Sinner.”
Multiple Emmy-winning “Big Little Lies,” starring Palisadian Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon, as well as former Palisadian Nicole Kidman, is airing outside the window of eligibility for this year’s awards, and will in the future qualify as a drama series rather than a limited series.
The category of Outstanding Comedy Series is also a bloodbath this year, with Amazon’s returning champ “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” vying again for top spot along with HBO’s “Barry” and “Veep,” Netflix’s “GLOW,” “Russian Doll,” and “The Kominsky Method,” and ABC’s “Black-ish.”
With air dates for next seasons still to be determined, FX’s “Atlanta” and HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”—starring long-time Palisadian Larry David—and “Silicon Valley” are out of the running.
Other contenders include NBC’s “Will and Grace” and “The Good Place,” Hulu’s “Shrill,” Showtime’s “Shameless,” and Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie,” “After Life,” and “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”
Underdogs, including Comedy Central’s “Broad City,” HBO’s “Insecure” and Hulu’s “Ramy,” might also get more attention than expected.
After taking a year off to recover from breast cancer, Palisadian Julia Louis-Dreyfus, preeminent queen of the Emmy Awards, will return to scoop up more statuettes for “Veep.”
Meanwhile, Palisadian Bill Hader, who stars in, directs, and produces “Barry,” which also stars Palisadian former Henry Winkler, presents a serious threat.
In the category of Outstanding Limited Series, FX’s “Fosse/Verdon,” HBO’s “Sharp Objects,” Netflix’s “When They See Us,” Hulu’s “Catch-22” and Showtime’s “Escape at Dannemora” lead the pack, with Hulu’s “The Act,” Amazon’s “A Very English Scandal,” National Geographic’s “The Hot Zone,” and HBO’s “True Detective” and “Chernobyl” also likely prospects.
Others, including Hulu’s “Castle Rock,” TBS’ “Miracle Workers,” and Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Black Earth Rising,” starring Palisadian John Goodman, might also take home some accolades.
Hader and Don Cheadle are likely to square off as frontrunners for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series against the likes of Jim Carrey (“Kidding”) and Ted Danson (“The Good Place”), while Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series is a likely win for Louis-Dreyfus, who faces stiff competition from Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”), Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”) and Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll”).
Palisadian Anthony Hopkins might also make a run at Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series for his performance in Amazon’s “King Lear,” though he’ll have to beat out Mahershala Ali (“True Detective”), Benicio Del Toro (“Escape at Dannemora”) and Jared Harris (“Chernobyl”).
Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series looks like it may go to Amy Adams (“Sharp Objects”), who got her start at the Pierson Playhouse in Pacific Palisades, though Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”) and Patricia Arquette (“Escape at Dannemora”) present a challenge to her stake at the title.
Though a less likely candidate for this year’s Outstanding Variety Talk Series winner, Palisadian Conan O’Brien might see some recognition for his revamped format on “Conan,” though frontrunners Trevor Noah (“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”), Stephen Colbert (“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”) and Bill Maher (“Real Time with Bill Maher”), could take home that laurel.
The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will vote for contenders June 10 to 24, with nominations announced Tuesday, July 16. The awards ceremony, broadcasted by Fox, will be held Sunday, September 22, at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
It remains to be determined whether this year’s awards will include a guest host after February’s host-less Oscars set a new precedent. After a banner year of television, this year’s Emmys will be a tug-of-war of talents to stay tuned for.
