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The 74th Emmy Awards will announce its next round of winners in Los Angeles on Monday, capping an exciting year in television.
The forthcoming event, hosted by “Saturday Night Live” comedian Kenan Thompson and returning to its normal location after two years of pandemic-era changes, will be aired live from the Microsoft Theater.
This year’s ceremony promises a number of contentious Emmy winners, the prospective results of which have sparked concerns and predictions among forecasters since nominations were announced in early July. According to Variety, there was a significant rise in the number of contenders filed for Emmy consideration in 2022 as a result of production delays caused by COVID-19 restrictions that were later released, making for a very competitive season. Here are some of the races to look out for.
Outstanding Drama
Returning favourites will compete against a slew of acclaimed newcomers for some of the show’s most prestigious honours. “Succession,” which has won multiple awards in previous presentations and currently leads the total nominations with 25 nominations from the Television Academy, is nominated in several key categories, including outstanding drama. The HBO series’ recent triumph for best cast in a drama at the Creative Arts Emmys could foreshadow the same for Monday night, while reviewers have observed that the strength of the show’s competitors this year wouldn’t surprise them if the honour went to a different player show.
“Squid Game,” a futuristic horror series from South Korean creator Hwang Dong-hyuk that broke watching records when it launched last fall, is also a finalist for outstanding drama. If it wins, “Squid Game” will be the first non-English language programme to win a major Emmy prize. The same can be said for its lead, Lee Jung-jae, who won best actor in a drama.
Other well-known shows, both old and new, are competing for the award for best drama, alongside “Succession” and “Squid Game.” “Better Call Saul,” “Euphoria,” “Ozark,” “Severance,” “Stranger Things,” and “Yellowjackets” round out the list, with several also contending in other categories.
Best Actress in a Drama
The contest for best actress in a drama this year is likely to be close. It remains to be seen if the award will go to Zendaya, who was nominated for her lead role in “Euphoria” and became the youngest performer to get the honour in 2020, four-time Emmy winner Laura Linney for “Ozark,” or Melanie Lynskey for “Yellowjackets.” Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh are also nominated for their parts in “Killing Eve,” with Reese Witherspoon rounding out the field with her work in “The Morning Show.”
Outstanding Comedy
Comedy races are also competitive. The popular Apple TV+ sports comedy-drama “Ted Lasso,” which won seven breakout awards in 2021, is nominated in many categories this year, including six for lead and supporting performers. Meanwhile, newcomers such as Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” and ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” are among the frontrunners for the first time.
“Abbott Elementary,” which was named programme of the year by the Television Critics Association in August, earned the Creative Arts Emmy for best casting last weekend. Quinta Brunson, the sitcom’s writer and star, is the first Black woman to be nominated for three Emmys in a single year. Brunson created the series’ nominated pilot episode and also acts as an executive producer.
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
HBO Max’s summer ensemble drama “The White Lotus” is expected to make a significant splash at Monday’s awards ceremony after earning nearly as many nominations as its longer-established counterparts in other categories like “Succession” and “Ted Lasso. It is up against a spate of dramas adapted from true stories, including Netflix’s “Inventing Anna” and Hulu’s “Dopesick,” “Pam & Tommy” and “The Dropout” for best limited or anthology series.
Additional outcomes to watch are in categories for variety sketch and competition series, where “A Black Lady Sketch Show” will challenge “Saturday Night Live” and “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” contends with “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
The Emmy Awards take place Monday, Sept. 12, starting at 8 p.m. ET. It will be available to watch live on NBC and the network’s streaming service, Peacock.
“The White Lotus,” HBO Max’s summer ensemble drama, is anticipated to make a huge impact at Monday’s awards event after receiving nearly as many nominations as its more established peers in other categories such as “Succession” and “Ted Lasso.” It competes for best limited or anthology series against a slew of true-story dramas, including Netflix’s “Inventing Anna” and Hulu’s “Dopesick,” “Pam & Tommy,” and “The Dropout.”