HBO’s Succession tops Emmy nominations with 27
LOS ANGELES, USA (AP) — HBO dominated Wednesday morning’s Emmy nominations with the elite trio of Succession, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us combining for a whopping 74, but the dominant theme darkening the scene is the ongoing writers strike and the looming possibility that actors may join them in as little as a day.
Succession and its deeply dysfunctional dynasty of one-percenters led all Emmy nominees in its fourth and final season with 27, including best drama, which it has won two of the past three years. It got three nominations for best actor in a drama, with Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin all getting nods for playing men of the Roy clan, and Sarah Snook getting a best actress nomination. It also got four nominations for best supporting actor in a drama.
Ted Lasso was tops among comedies with 21 nominations, including best comedy series and best actor for Jason Sudeikis. The Apple TV+ series won both awards for each of its first two seasons, but its three-peat prospects depend on whether Emmy voters favour other contenders.
The nominations suggested that HBO — which got the most overall nominations by far with 127 — can still dominate even as streaming-only outlets have taken over so much of elite TV. The distinction is increasingly blurred, however, with a huge segment of viewers watching Succession and the cable channel’s other offerings on the streaming service now known as Max.
Actors joining movie and television writers on strike would further shut down the industry and be the first time since 1960 that two Hollywood unions were simultaneously striking. While show and film releases will continue, work on upcoming projects will cease — as would actors’ interviews and appearances to promote the projects.
The possibility of an industry debilitated by strikes could dampen any joy for the new nominees, and could put the damper on the ceremony scheduled for September 18 on the Fox network.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, who provided the emotional high point of last year’s ceremony with her half-sung victory speech for her best supporting actor Emmy in Abbott Elementary, said she is a “puddle of emotions” after getting nominated again amid the strife.
“Change is hard. Change is difficult. And in the midst of once again of a great moment in my life, I am surrounded by a difficult moment,” Ralph told The Associated Press. “This is a fight for artistry, this is not a fight to make people rich.”
The nominations were announced by Community star Yvette Nicole Brown and Television Academy CEO Frank Scherma, who referenced the labour disputes before at the top of Wednesday’s livestream.
“We hope the ongoing guild negotiations can come to an equitable and swift resolution,” Scherma said.
But the announcements, while low-key, proceeded as though a show will go on in the fall.
It was not a strong year for Emmy diversity, with the lead categories dominated by shows with largely white ensembles. Pascal, the first Latino nominated as lead actor in a drama in more than two decades, was the only minority nominee in any of the drama series categories.
Representation was stronger in the comedy categories, where Jenna Ortega of Netflix’s Wednesday was nominated for best actress. The black actors of ABC’s Abbott Elementary were again a high point for Emmy diversity, and for the otherwise largely absent broadcast networks. Creator Quinta Brunson was nominated for best actress, while Ralph and Janelle James were nominated for best supporting actress, as was Ayo Edebiri for The Bear.
Netflix led streamers with 103 nominations, but its showing was meager in many of the top categories. The Crown received its nearly annual deference for best drama and, along with Ortega, Christina Applegate was nominated for best supporting actress in a comedy for the third and final season of Netflix’s Dead to Me. Applegate, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, has said the role may be her last.