Steve Pond: Stop Squeezing the Limited Series Category, Emmys

There’s something wrong when the hottest, most competitive category on the show is only allowed five nominees [Fellow Travelers]( [Stop Squeezing the Limited Series Category, Emmys]( By Steve Pond The limited series format is a monster. And that has created a problem for the Television Academy. Year after year, limited series are among the buzziest shows on television and the ones that attract the biggest stars. Contenders this year in those acting categories include one 2024 Oscar winner, Robert Downey Jr., and a formidable array of other luminaries that includes Jodie Foster, Lily Gladstone, Brie Larson, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Austin Butler, Michael Douglas, Jon Hamm, Ewan McGregor and Laura Dern. (Granted, the drama series acting categories can counter with Emma Stone and Gary Oldman, but still.) And in a year in which the roster of drama and comedy series contenders has been depleted by 2023’s strikes, limited series supplied a full slate of high-profile new shows to grab viewers: “Lessons in Chemistry” in October, “Fargo” in November, “True Detective: Night Country” and “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” in January, “The Regime” in March, “Ripley” and “Baby Reindeer” in April … Let’s face it: When FX announced that “Shōgun” would be entered in the drama series categories rather than the limited series ones, the move turned the show from a strong contender in a fiercely competitive category to a clear favorite in a significantly weaker one. Limited series are ideal for streamers, drawing new subscribers in the way that another season of a long-running drama or comedy series wouldn’t do. And they’re ideal for actors who get to play a character through a longer, more satisfying storytelling arc without committing to a series that could last years. The format even appeals to filmmakers who have brought the idea into cinemas: In May, Kevin Costner went to the Cannes Film Festival to premiere “Horizon: An American Saga,” part one in a planned four-movie epic, while Sam Mendes announced what is essentially a miniseries about the Beatles bound for theatrical release and consisting of separate movies for John, Paul, George and Ringo. So why is this good news about the format a problem for the Emmys? Because there’s something wrong when the hottest, most competitive category on the show is only allowed five nominees, while two other categories (Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series) get eight nominees each because they’re supposed to be the prime Emmy races.  [Read the rest of the Awards Beat column.]( [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [WrapPRO logo] Discover why entertainment executives and professionals rely on the WrapPRO platform daily for exclusive coverage, analysis, deeper reporting, and access to VIP events & screenings throughout the year. [Subscribe Today]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( TheWrap | 2034 Armacost Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [LiveIntent Logo]( [AdChoices Logo](