Steve Pond's Awards Beat: Expect an Emmy Bloodbath in the Overcrowded Drama and Comedy Series Races

Steve Pond's Awards Beat: Expect an Emmy Bloodbath in the Overcrowded Drama and Comedy Series Races No images? [Click here]( ID=167008;size=700x180;setID=347001;uid={EMAIL}5799068;click=template_awards_beat [Awards Beat with Steve Pond] June 3, 2022 [- - -] Expect an Emmy Bloodbath in the Overcrowded Drama and Comedy Series Races Between returning nominees, new shows and past series back in eligibility, these high-profile categories are unbelievably crowded [- - -] By Steve Pond [Emmys 2022] Illustration by Brian Taylor for TheWrap If you look at the shows in the running for the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, some things seem pretty obvious. “Ted Lasso” is the reigning champion, and of course it’ll be nominated again this year. “Hacks” won three Emmys in 2021 and will definitely be back. “black-ish” is a four-time nominee, and it’s hard to see its final season not getting in. And Emmy voters have always been creatures of habit, which is good news for last year’s nominees “Cobra Kai,” “Emily in Paris,” “The Flight Attendant” and “PEN15.” Of course, a couple of new shows have to break into the list. “Only Murders in the Building,” for sure. “Abbott Elementary,” ditto. “Reservation Dogs” and “The Afterparty,” possibly. And then there are the substantial shows that have been nominated before and are returning to the race after not being eligible last year: “Barry,” “Atlanta,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and maybe “What We Do in the Shadows,” “Insecure” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” All likely, right? But there’s a big problem with all those “obvious” nominees. I just mentioned 17 shows, which is more than twice as many as can be nominated in a category with only eight slots. ID=167008;size=300x250;setID=284833;uid={EMAIL}5799068;click=template_awards_beat Welcome to one of the most crowded seasons in Emmy history. With the COVID pandemic delaying production schedules and pushing many shows out of the eligibility period last year, it allowed a whole new group of shows into the mix. And now those shows are back, competing with a strong group of high-profile new shows as well as a lot of the nominees that sat out last year. And all of that is throwing the main comedy and drama series races into disarray. The majority of those 17 comedy series will be left out, and more if other shows like “The Great,” “Ghosts,” “Peacemaker” and “Minx” appeal to voters. On the drama side, the math is similarly forbidding. Granted, fewer of last year’s nominees are eligible, with “The Boys,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Lovecraft Country,” “The Mandalorian,” “Pose” and the Emmy winner “The Crown” all absent during the eligibility period. But that still leaves two convincing contenders, “Bridgerton” and the final season of “This Is Us.” Then there are the new shows that warrant attention, beginning with the Netflix phenomenon “Squid Game” as well as “Severance,” “Yellowjackets” and “Pachinko.” And there’s a ridiculous array of past nominees returning to the race, including 2020 winner “Succession,” “Ozark,” “Better Call Saul,” “Euphoria,” “Stranger Things” and “Killing Eve.” Plus, “Yellowstone” has gone from an Emmy oversight to a likely nominee. And that doesn’t even take into account “Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” “The Gilded Age,” “The Morning Show,” “The Good Fight” and many more.  What does that mean? It means a bloodbath when voters begin to cast their ballots on June 16, and some shocking exclusions when nominations are announced on July 12. At one point, the phrase “Peak TV” seemed like a celebration; these days, if you’re a voter, it sounds like a threat.  For Steve Pond’s early predictions of what shows he thinks will make the cut, [click here](. Read Steve Pond’s recent Awards Beat coverage [HERE](. [- - -] [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Follow us on Linkedin]( TheWrap 1808 Stanford Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90404 [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. If you are no longer interested you can [unsubscribe instantly](.