Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (2024)

A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.

Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (1)

It is getting down to Emmy voters’ moment of truth as we are now less than a week away from the start of Emmy nomination voting on June 13, with all ballots due to be completed by 10 p.m. PT on Monday, June 24. Nominations will be announced on July 17. In fact, the TV Academy just sent their first warning shot to voters, urging them to “GET READY TO VOTE!”

The 76th Emmy Awards airs September 15 on ABC, exactly eight months since the strike-delayed previous Primetime Emmy show in January, and it seems just like yesterday doesn’t it? I can’t swear on it, but I believe this is the first year ever to have two Primetime Emmys in the same calendar year, and certainly the first to have two so close to each other. Of course the reason was the dueling actors and writers strikes that forced the Television Academy to move its September 2023 date out of harm’s way into January 2024. The delay, plus the fact that it was on Fox (generally the network in the Emmy broadcast network wheel that draws the lowest numbers), probably could be blamed for abysmal ratings. Voting ended in August 2023, a full five months before the envelopes would be opened. You can forgive viewers for forgetting which shows even were nominated. As an Academy member, I honestly couldn’t remember what I voted for.

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The fact is just about every awards show and guild contest voted the same three shows for program, acting, writing and directing in their respective categories — Succession for Drama Series, The Bear for Comedy Series, Beef for Limited Series — so the Emmys just had nothing new to add. This kind of across-the-board sweep in tandem for the same three shows was unprecedented. I think this year will be different because Succession and Beef are gone, and The Bear, fine as it is, is facing really stiff competition in Comedy from genuine comedies. The gloves are off, and it could be anybody’s ballgame.

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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: FYC EVENTS

You certainly can tell that from the enthusiastic turnouts of voters to the infinite numbers of FYC events — just off the charts, not to mention the special installations, like mini-Smithsonians that the streamers have once again been out doing in force, spending the kind of cash Oscar campaigners only dream of being able to do. It would be hugely disappointing to see my fellow TV Academy voters fall back on the same-old-same-old voting patterns. We have a real chance to shake things up, so let’s hope we do just that and make the Emmys great again (though I must say I thought the Anthony Anderson-hosted presentation of the 75th Emmys was Emmy worthy itself, full of welcome nostalgia for a better time, even if the winners were so predictable).

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Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (5)

So because I am a member (and a longtime member and former Writers branch governor) of the Television Academy, I definitely can attest to the tsunami of emailed invites to various FYC events we get during the “season” that come directly from the TV Academy. Everyone uses the Academy’s list — for a price — to get this stuff out there to the membership. All have a notice at the bottom that these are not hosted by the Television Academy but rather the studios and networks who pay to have the invites sent through the mailing house. As far as I could tell, the first one I got for this season was a Hulu and 20th Television invite to a star-filled Only Murders in the Building FYC at Paramount. Since then I count 293 more emails for just about any show and network and streamer and whatever else came with the Television Academy’s digital fingerprints.

EMMY VOTERS UNDER SIEGE

This week alone there have been FYC opps offered for Understanding Autism, The Formula 1 Opening Ceremony for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Carol & The End of the World, The Express Way with Dulé Hill, Billy Joel: The 100th – Live at Madison Square Garden, an invite to a taping of CBS’ After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, a virtual event from YouTube for Good Mythical Morning with Rhett & Link and First We Feast’s Hot Ones, more virtual events for The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and separate reminders to watch every single show on Apple TV+, ESPN, ABC, Peacock, PBS’ Great Performances, Starz, National Geographic, Netflix and the Onyx Collective. Then there was an invite to an evening with all the creatives of the BET Media Group, a Mary & George panel discussion and on and on.

And this was all before Thursday when more arrived, including FYC viewing links for Freeform, Native America, AMC Networks, Pepito’s America Mamadas and Jim Henson Idea Man. None of this covers the countless individual emails from the studios and streamers I get detailing all of it with “Post Event Alerts” or to events sent on their own.

Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (6)

CHUCK LORRE IS OFF TO THE RACES!

Most amusing invite of the week came directly from Max/WBTV for their self-described “out of the box” FYC event for their Chuck Lorre series Bookie, a terrific show if you haven’t seen it yet. Sometimes Emmys are compared to a “horse race”; In this case, this series is taking that literally. The invite notes that “instead of the usual theater/Q&A set-up, this unique and thematically on-brand FYC event will take place at the amazing Santa Anita Park Racetrack! On Saturday, 6/8, there will be a 3pm PT screening of an episode of Bookie followed by a panel with cast and filmmakers, and then a reception right on the track! It’s also a race day, so join us for a wonderful afternoon of horse racing in conjunction with our FYC event.” How about that for thinking “out of the box”? No word yet if voters will be able to place their bets with series stars Sebastian Maniscalco and Omar J. Dorsey, but at the very least they are placing their own bet on the first-season series doing well in the race for Emmy.

Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (7)

THE DAILY SHOW SHOWS OFF ITS HOSTS

Today there is a more conventional attempt to gain attention. Comedy Central is inviting press to a “intimate” luncheon with talent from The Daily Show, including Ronny Chieng, Desi Lydic, Jordan Klepper, and Michael Kosta in West Hollywood. That is followed later by the show’s “Emmy official event” (words that won’t make the Academy happy) with clips and Q&A and reception at Paramount Studios, with Monday host Jon Stewart joining the aforementioned stars for that one aimed directly at voters, and sure to be packed. Of course this season, and specifically election season, the show has thrived with the weekly return of multi-Emmy winner and iconic longtime host of the series, Stewart, along with rotating host gigs for the regular cast. Coming off January’s Emmy win against all the late-night talk shows, and the last hurrah for Trevor Noah, Comedy Central is aiming to do it again with this unique shakeup of the single-host format. It clearly is made possible by Stewart’s willingness to return to the desk, for at least one day a week a la Rachel Maddow, who also turned her MSNBC gig into a Monday-only spot for this politically charged year.

RELATED: ‘The Daily Show’s Desi Lydic Steps Up To The Desk

Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (8)

TALK SHOW COMPETITION MAKING CAMPAIGNERS SWEAT

The format change for Daily Show, which had conducted a well-publicized but so far unrealized search for a permanent host, really has worked, putting it in a strong position to return to the winners circle. Competitors in the talk category are sweating because of the much smaller number of shows being entered, meaning as few as only three nominees instead of the usual five, per Academy rules. HBO’s John Oliver had dominated this category until being moved last year into the Scripted Variety Series category and winning there against perennial champ Saturday Night Live. Regarding that category, the TV Academy this week just put out a call for volunteer judges who agree to watch all of the entries and vouch that you saw all seven before deciding which would be Emmy worthy. This will all be concluded before the end of the month.

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Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (9)

But back to the talk shows: Each one is jockeying for those spots, even late entry John Mulaney, whose weeklong seat-of-your-pants Netflix talker gained a lot of attention, yet another threat to the more conventional broadcast network talkers, primarily Kimmel, Fallon, Colbert and Meyers. All have hit the circuit for the campaign in one way or another. Should be interesting, all deserving — but puhleeeez, anyone but Gutfeld!

Until next week.

Emmy Voters Under Siege; Talk Show Freakout; Place Your Bets On ‘Bookie’ – Notes On The Season (2024)

FAQs

What does Emmy stand for? ›

The first Emmy Awards ceremony was held in 1949. The name of the award derives from the term immy, short for image-orthicon, a camera tube used in early television production. It was changed to the name Emmy since the statuette is in the form of a winged female figure meant to depict one of the Greek Muses of art.

Who won the most Emmys in 2024? ›

2024 Daytime Emmys Winners: Dick Van Dyke Makes History, 'General Hospital' Wins Leading Four Awards. The 98-year-old actor became the oldest winner of the daytime TV trophy for his guest performance in 'Days of Our Lives.' See the full winners list.

Who votes on the Emmy winners? ›

Who can vote for the Emmy Awards? The Emmy Award is a symbol of peer recognition. The Academy has over 24,000 members, divided into 31 peer groups of specialized fields. The National Active members of each peer group vote on the nominees and winners for categories pertaining to their area of specialty.

What is the difference between Emmy and daytime Emmy? ›

The Emmy® is awarded in various categories, including acknowledgements for series, performers and all other technical and creative areas. The Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards season culminates with a show that pays tribute to the exceptional work of daytime broadcasting's elite.

What is Emmy a nickname for? ›

Emmy is a feminine name of Latin and German origins. Often regarded as an affectionate nickname for Emmas and Emilys, it may come as no surprise that Emmy means "powerful," "strong," "whole," "exalted," "rival," and "equal." For most, however, the name conjures images of award shows and superstar elites.

Who owns Emmy's? ›

The Emmy name and the Emmy statuette are the trademarked property of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“NATAS”) and The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“ATAS”).

What female actor has won the most Emmys? ›

Most successful Emmys actresses 2023

Joint top of the ranking of female performers with the most Emmy wins ever are Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus with eight wins each as of August 2023.

What male actor has won the most Emmys? ›

He is the most honored male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, having won seven. Asner served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild. Edward Asner was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1996. Asner died August 29, 2021, in Los Angeles, California.

Who has the most Emmys in history? ›

As a result of Saturday Night Live's success, the most decorated individual in the history of the Emmy Awards is its creator Lorne Michaels, also the show's producer from 1975 to 1980 and from 1985 to the present day.

Does Taylor Swift have an Emmy? ›

Taylor Swift

Swift is a multi-Grammy winner, but she is also an Emmy recipient, per Entertainment Weekly. In 2015, she took home outstanding creative achievement in interactive media — original interactive program for her AMEX Unstaged: Taylor Swift Experience, which she starred in and executive produced.

Has a Disney show won an Emmy? ›

The Walt Disney Studios received four awards: one for Prey, marking 20th Century Studios' first-ever Emmy Award; one for Lucasfilm Ltd.'s The Mandalorian; one for Lucasfilm Ltd.'s Star Wars: Visions; and one for Marvel Studios' Ms. Marvel.

How much does it cost to submit to the Emmys? ›

Program entries have a processing charge of $200 per submission. In addition to the $200 processing charge, each entrant included with the submission is charged a $100 entry fee, e.g., the entry fee for a program entry (comedy series, limited series, documentary, etc.)

What is higher than an Emmy? ›

EGOT, an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards, is the designation given to people who have won all four of the major American performing art awards. Respectively, these awards honor outstanding achievements in television, audio recording, film, and Broadway theatre.

Why is Emmy called Emmy? ›

Recent News. Emmy Award, any of the annual presentations made for outstanding achievement in television in the United States. The name Emmy derives from Immy, a nickname for image orthicon, a camera tube used in television.

Is it Emmy worth money? ›

How much is the Emmy Award worth? For winning an Emmy, an actor gets no prize money. Instead, recipients receive the Emmy statuette, which is a symbol of recognition for their outstanding contributions to the television industry.

What is an Emmy and a Tony? ›

EGOT, an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards, is the designation given to people who have won all four of the major American performing art awards. Respectively, these awards honor outstanding achievements in television, audio recording, film, and Broadway theatre.

Is Emmy a biblical name? ›

Emmy is a christian girl name and it is an English originated name with multiple meanings. Emmy name meaning is One who is complete ; a universal woman and the associated lucky number is 2.

What is an egot Emmy? ›

One of the most highly coveted honors in Hollywood is becoming an EGOT — one of those rare performers who's won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. Cinching these major awards in TV, music, film and Broadway isn't easy and only 19 people have done it so far.

What is a synonym for Emmy? ›

type of: accolade, award, honor, honour, laurels.

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