The Film Experience

By Abe Friedtanzer

It’s one of the most enlightening days of Emmy season – all the ballots are now officially available. I’ve spent a good chunk of time perusing all the program and performers submitted, and you should feel free to do the same here. There’s plenty to unpack and so much that I’m sure I’ll realize I missed later on (including how many nominees there will now be per category based on math), but for now, let’s go through some highlights of what’s been confirmed, what’s changed, and what’s worth noting…

First off, a few things that caught my eye. I’m not sure where I expected Apple TV+’s Little Voice, which I had almost forgotten all about, to be competing, but I think maybe I would have considered it a comedy/musical and placed it there instead of drama. That said, it’s more about people singing than structured by song, unlike, say, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, a series that, despite its recent cancellation, still has a shot at the Comedy lineup. There are a number of international programs like The Capture and Stateless that are nowhere to be found, presumably because they weren’t co-produced by American companies, but I am happy to see Roadkill, starring Hugh Laurie and the late Helen McCrory, on the ballot for both of those performers. I’m pleased that season two of The Twilight Zone, which was cancelled back in February by Paramount+, is submitted as a limited series rather than a drama, which season one was two years ago, though I do wish that the admittedly great Jimmi Simpson, Jurnee Smollett, and Billy Porter weren’t the only actors entered.

It was coincidental to find Solos and Soulmates, two anthology series that I felt were similar in nature, next to each other alphabetically on the ballot, and I was most surprised by the many films I hadn’t anticipated being eligible for Best TV Movie. Boss Level, 7500, and Superintelligence are just a few of the bigger blockbuster-ish flicks in consideration that I’m not sure anyone would deem Emmy-worthy (I haven’t seen them), and Psych 2: Lassie Come Home is also in the running. I was equally delighted and shocked to see Pink Skies Ahead, a film starring Jessica Barden, on the list, though it makes sense that its post-AFI Fest MTV premiere would technically make it a contender.

Moving on to category placements, there are a few I flagged as unexpected, even if most aren’t at all consequential. For instance, Cheyenne Jackson (Call Me Kat), Andy Garcia (Rebel), Harry Lawtey (Industry), Finn Wittrock (Ratched), and Gwyneth Paltrow (The Politician) have all been designated as leads, while Billy Magnussen (Made for Love) and Dwayne Johnson (Young Rock) are in supporting, contrary to what I had written in my predictions for comedy lead actor. Guest contenders that I could have seen go the other way towards supporting include Alec Baldwin (Saturday Night Live), Harvey Guillén (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Ian Hart (The Mosquito Coast), Corey Stoll (Ratched), Carl Weathers (The Mandalorian), Patti Harrison (Shrill), and Sophie Okonedo (Ratched), along with three high-profile actresses from The Handmaid’s Tale, past winner Alexis Bledel, plus Amanda Brugel and McKenna Grace.

The biggest change I saw that could impact nominations is that Justin Hartley (This Is Us), who I feel is one of the strongest actors on his occasionally-appreciated show, has switched from the leading race, which he unsuccessfully entered last year, back to the supporting category. I think that ups his chances tremendously, especially since he has much more screentime than past nominee Chris Sullivan. I don’t consider it category fraud since it’s hard to assign status on that show, and I hope this means he can finally make it in.

Another correction to make to my own Emmy predictions is that Asia Kate Dillon is not, in fact, eligible and Billions is nowhere on the list, which I probably should have realized since a quick look at its episode airings indicates only two installments aired at the very beginning of the eligibility period and likely counted last season. On first pass, I thought that Euphoria wasn’t included anywhere, but for some reason it does show up exactly one place: Lauren Weedman in guest actress for playing Jules’ therapist. Why she could be honored and not Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, or Colman Domingo is baffling. Gina Carano is on the ballot for The Mandalorian, not that her chances are high at all, and that just reminded me how amazing it would be to see Timothy Olyphant, Rosario Dawson, and Katee Sackhoff earn guest nominations for that show.

A few final notes. A West Wing Special To Benefit When We All Vote has been submitted as a pre-recorded variety special, the category where, if nominated, it will be up against Hamilton, but that means that Emmy favorites Martin Sheen, Sterling K. Brown, Dulé Hill, Richard Schiff, and Bradley Whitford are all on the ballot in the limited series acting races, where performances from variety specials can compete. Similarly, Ziwe is a variety sketch series and its star of the same name will compete for Comedy lead actress. Claire Foy could be nominated again for The Crown, this time as a guest actress. Paul Bettany is one of several actors potentially competing against himself in one category, eligible for Leading Actor for both Uncle Frank and WandaVision. Daveed Diggs is another, for Hamilton and The Good Lord Bird. And after being on the ballot two years ago in the supporting actress race, Elliot Page is now a potential drama lead actor nominee for The Umbrella Academy.

I’m most disappointed by the omission of Alice Englert for her recurring/guest turn as Nurse Dolly on Ratched, a show that plentifully submitted the rest of its performers, which makes me even sadder to see left her out. The names I was most excited to see were Louie Anderson and Shalita Grant, who guest-starred as equally hapless lawyers in the third season of Search Party. While the also eligible fourth season took an extremely dark turn, season three and its trial focus was a lot of fun, and I found myself cracking up all over again thinking about how the words “murdered” and “pancaked” sound very similar (only fans of the show will get the reference).

Pouring over these ballots, what inclusions got you remembering what you enjoyed most on TV last season? And who are you most upset to see omitted or submitted, in your opinion, incorrectly?

more on the upcoming Emmys