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« Showbiz History: Maya Rudolph, Presumed Innocent, and Lindsay's Last | Main | Review: "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" »
Thursday
Jul262018

Blueprints: Emmy Nominees for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special

Jorge has been taking a look at the Emmy history for this year’s writing nominees.  

Let’s take a look at the various shows that made up the six nominees for Writing in a Limited Series, TV Movie, or Dramatic Special. Even with the longest title in the writing categories, which aim to include made-for-TV films or broadcast theater performances, all of the nominees are from a limited series with multiple episodes (even Black Mirror, where every episode is self-contained, is part of a larger anthology). Some series submitted the entirety of their episodes, while others only a single standout episode (I ignore the specific rules, but I assume it has something to do with overall series length).

Since we’re huge fans of statistics here, let's take a look the elevator pitches and Emmy history stats after the jump…

American Vandal
“Clean Up”
Season 1, Episode 8 

Written by: Matthew McManus & Kevin McManus

The elevator pitch: In the season one finale, Peter is forced to reckon with his actions and attempts to learn lessons in the aftermath of the documentary. But the investigation might not be over.

Emmy History: First Emmy nomination for both Matthew and Kevin McManus.

 

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
House by the Lake
Season 2, Episode 4 

Written by Tom Rob Smith.

The elevator pitch: Minneapolis architect David Madson is forced to go on the run with Andrew Cunanan.

Emmy History: First Emmy nomination for Tom Rob Smith. (The first season of this anthology series "The People vs OJ Simpson: American Crime Story" won this category in 2016.)

 

 

Black Mirror
“USS Callister”
Season 4, Episode 1 

Written by:William Bridges & Charlie Brooker

The elevator pitch:  In the first episode of season four, a woman wakes up on a Star Trek-esque ship where the crew praise their all-knowing and fearless captain.

Emmy History: First writing nomination for William Bridges. Charlie Brooker won in this same category last year for the season 3 episode “San Junipero,” which also won Outstanding Television Movie. (Black Mirror had received no Emmy attention prior to "San Junipero," but now the series has momentum. It went from 3 nominations for "San Junipero" to 8 nominations for "USS Callister") 


Godless

Written by: Scott Frank

The elevator pitch: In the 1880s American West murderous outlaw gang leader Frank Griffin hunts for ex-protege Roy Goode. Frank's chase leads him to La Belle, New Mexico - a town inhabited, after a mining disaster, almost entirely by women.

Emmy History: First writing nomination for Scott Frank, who is also nominated in the Directing category for this limited series.

 

 

Patrick Melrose

Written by: David Nicholls

The elevator pitch: Following the death of his father in the 1980s, Englishman Patrick Melrose attempts to overcome his addictions and demons rooted in abuse by his father and negligent mother.

Emmy History: First writing nomination for David Nicholls.

 

 

Twin Peaks: The Return

Written by:Mark Frost and David Lynch

The elevator pitch: Picks up 25 years after the inhabitants of a quaint northwestern town are stunned when their homecoming queen is murdered.

Emmy History: Third writing nomination for Mark Frost, who was nominated in this same category in 1984 for the Hill Street Blues episode “Grace Under Pressure” and for the pilot of the original Twin Peaks in 1990, alongside David Lynch. This is Lynch’s second writing nomination and he's nominated this year for directing, as well.

Who are you rooting for in this category?

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Reader Comments (8)

It's a crime that AMERICAN VANDAL didn't get more Emmy love so I'll be rooting for that or BLACK MIRROR to win.

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterRyan T.

Twin Peaks must win this and directing. The lack of The Tale is ludicrous.

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterSTFU

Unfortunately I haven't watched anything but 'American Vandal', but it was great writing and would be a nice win. (aka I agree with Ryan T.)

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterRebecca

House by the Lake was an amazing episode!

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterBhuray

My understanding is that series like CRIME STORY have different writers on different episodes whereas others like TWIN PEAKS have the same writer across all episodes. Hence some full series get nominated and others get singular episodes? I mean, I assume that's the case.

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterGlenn Dunks

Twin Peaks: The Return. Heck, I just watched episode 18 again last night. That series will always stay with me.

That said, the House by the Lake episdode was great, so if not Twin Peaks ...

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterScottC

House by the Lake, because it filled in the gaps plausibly while making some very, very insightful observations about the closet and gay life.

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered CommenterJuan

Twin Peaks bitch!

July 27, 2018 | Unregistered Commenterthevoid99
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