Category Analysis: Are Three Nominees a Charm for 'Ted Lasso' in Comedy Directing?
Monday, August 9, 2021 at 10:41AM Team Experience takes a look at the episode submissions for all the major Emmy categories.
Apple TV+'s "Ted Lasso" earned three nominations for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.
How do you beat a frontrunner? Ted Lasso submitted four episodes for directing and three of them earned nominations. The freshman Apple TV+ series is the odds on favorite across nearly all comedy categories. Yet, this category is prime for an upset. The last two times Veep had three directing nominees, they all lost. Granted, Modern Family prevailed in 2011 when it had three nominations in this category.
So who else is nominated? There are three other pilots in contention - B Positive, The Flight Attendant and Hacks. Past pilots that have won directing over the past decade include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Glee. Mom is also in contention for an episode from its eighth and final season. So what stands the best chance to win Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series? Let’s dive into the nominees...
“Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1) from B Positive, directed by James Burrows
Description (from ballot): Drew, a recently divorced father, discovers he needs a kidney and finds his donor in the last person he ever would've imagined.
How do you make kidney transplants funny? CBS answered this question with B Positive, one of their new comedies from this past season. The pilot episode does a fine job setting up the complicated central premise with speed, gusto and charm. Thomas Middleditch gives Drew a misanthropic charm as a curmudgeon who has to come to terms with his mortality following a serious medical diagnosis. The real standout is Annaleigh Ashford, who brings a delightful energy to Gina, a party girl acquaintance who offers her kidney up to Drew. The whole episode felt decidedly old-fashioned, playing to the back of the house with every punchline. Such is the nature of a multi-cam show. For what it is, B-Positive looks and feels like the best version of itself. However, most of that has to do with the actor’s ability to sell the premise, rather than anything particularly extraordinary happening in the episode.
James Burrows is a legend in the TV Academy. The multi-camera director has earned 47 Emmy nominations, including an Emmy nomination every year between 1980 and 2005 (except 1997). Just last year, he won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Live In Front Of a Studio Audience: ‘All in the Family’ and ‘Good Times’. Still, Burrows has not won in this specific category since Frasier in 1994. Name recognition may have gotten him into the category, but it won’t catapult him to a surprise win, especially since this is the only nomination for B-Positive.
“In Case of Emergency” (Season 1, Episode 1) from The Flight Attendant, directed by Susanna Fogel
Description (from ballot): Flight attendant Cassie Bowden has an extravagant, romantic, and very drunk night in Bangkok. When she wakes up in a horrific mess, Cassie must keep her wits to make it back to the U.S. - where more trouble is waiting.
Watching The Flight Attendant is like going on a short Southwest flight with two drink tickets. It’s quick, lots of fun, and evaporates relatively quickly. It starts on its highest note with the pilot, where snappy editing and an engaging lead performance by Kaley Cuoco. Director Susanna Fogel has a kinetic directing style, selling us on the glitz and glamour of Cuoco’s jet setting, party-hard lifestyle. Calling the show a comedy is a fair bit of a stretch. Yet, there is a sense of humor that Fogel taps into the setup. Cassie just keeps going and going until she has cold water figuratively dropped on her when she wakes up to Alex’s (Michael Huisman) dead body. It’s an impressive start to a fun series, thanks largely to Fogel’s style.
The Flight Attendant is definitely the flashiest of the episode submissions. When in doubt, always go with the episode that has the “MOST” direction. The show also sticks out as the only “comic-thriller” of the group. This could work both for and against the show. It pays to be different than the other nominees, but voters tend to go more towards traditional comedies for the wins. While the show was a water cooler success in November/December 2020, it seems to have faded from the conversation entirely. If voters are rewatching the episodes, they may rediscover their love for the show. Yet, it seems like the passion for it burned bright and fast, flaming out too soon.
“There Is No Line (Pilot)” (Season 1, Episode 1) from Hacks, directed by Lucia Aniello
Description (from ballot): Legendary Vegas comedian Deborah Vance is in danger of losing her residency. Meanwhile in LA, Ava, a young writer is desperate for a job. Their mutual manager Jimmy sets them up on a meeting, much to their chagrin.
The vision of Hacks is so perfectly communicated from the pilot episode, directed by creator Lucia Aniello. She perfectly defines the entertainment industries of both Las Vegas and Los Angeles and how it informs our two leads - Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbender). Deborah’s luxury estate is so well adorned with fancy paintings and artifacts accumulated from her decades long career. Meanwhile, Ava’s life in LA is sparsely populated. She’s bought a house that she can’t pay the mortgage on. Her stuff isn’t unpacked. Even though she feels like she’s arrived at her final destination, she’s very much in transition. Deborah is the big fish in a small pond and Ava is the small fish banished from the ocean. Hacks smartly dramatizes the differences between the highbrow pretension of LA and the populist empire Deborah has cultivated in Las Vegas. The final scene where Deborah chases Ava to workshop the joke that got her cancelled is brilliant. Hacks starts out fully formed and only continues to get better. Much of that is due to Aniello's strong direction.
Pilots often do well in directing because their job is to set the visual tone for a show. Hacks has a uniquely polished look to it that sets it apart here. It’s large nomination haul also makes it poised to be the potential upset to Ted Lasso. Plus, Aniello co-created the show with her husband, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky. Even if they are going to give Ted Lasso Outstanding Comedy Series, this could be a place voters feel they can reward one of the creators.
“Scooby-Doo Checks And Salisbury Steak” (Season 8, Episode 16) from Mom, directed by James Widdoes
Description (from ballot): Bonnie decides to get to the bottom of why her therapist has been so distracted. Jill and Andy find themselves in a life-or-death situation.
Directing 101: Point the camera at Allison Janney. She knows how to sell even the dopiest storylines. Bonnie (Janney) turns the table on her therapist (Rainn Wilson), literally, when she notices something is off. Widdoes knows how to use staging between the two of them to show the shift in their therapist-patient dynamic. Janney knows how to physically embody the space, but she and Wilson feel in different scenes. Meanwhile, Jill (Jamie Pressley) and Andy (Will Sasso) are exes who run into each other at the bank while it gets robbed. It’s light fun that pushes them back together, but feels very predictable. The two storylines are anchored by the strongest subplot of the episode, Tammy’s (Kristen Johnston) anxiousness celebrating her third sober anniversary. Her final speech about the new lease on life sobriety has granted her is poignant. Mom can be clunky in many respects, but they know how to bring it around and show a well-rounded portrait of sobriety.
A multi-cam comedy has made it into the Comedy Directing lineup the last three years. It almost seems like a rite of passage. Mom has earned Allison Janney six nominations and two wins, but the show never broke out into other categories besides Janney. With this being Mom’s final season, this nomination feels like more of a parting gift than anything. We should always expect a multi-cam series or two to show up among the directing nominees, as many voters likely hail from mutl-cam shows of the past. Yet, it remains to be seen if they can take the win anytime soon.
“Biscuits” (Season 1, Episode 2) from Ted Lasso, directed by Zach Braff
Description (from ballot): It’s Ted’s first day of coaching, and fans aren’t happy. He makes little headway but remains undeterred as the team plays its first match.
It’s hard to avoid the sophomore slump. Pilots will draw in the audience by selling the essential hook of the season. Second episodes often are a bit of a comedown as a show tries to define its rhythm. Ted Lasso smartly amps up the dynamics set up in the pilot. The titular biscuits that Ted (Jason Sudeikis) brings in to Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) act as olive branches between this odd couple. Much like the biscuits, Rebecca slowly realizes she can’t hate Ted, as much as she wants to. It’s funny that Zach Braff directed this episode, because it functions as a workplace comedy. There are plenty of setpieces around the locker room and press booth. It’s also the first flexing of the side characters, who start to pop up more in the background of the frame. The episode proves that the pilot wasn’t a fluke, there is a lot of fun to have in the world of AFC Richmond.
Weirdly, “Biscuits” is the only one of the three directing nominees from Ted Lasso that was not submitted as part of their six Comedy Series submissions. Likely, Zach Braff’s name stuck out on the ballot which helped garner some votes for it. Yet, if a Ted Lasso episode is going to win here, it looks like it will be one of the other two.
“Make Rebecca Great Again” (Season 1, Episode 7) from Ted Lasso, directed by Declan Lowney
Description (from ballot): Rebecca celebrates her first anniversary as a divorcée as the team plays a match in Liverpool.
Ted Lasso became comfort food for all of us during the pandemic. It didn’t just resonate with audiences because it was about a cheery mustachioed man. It’s because it understands how even the happiest of us have great wells of sadness. “Make Rebecca Great Again” takes its characters on the road for an away game and subsequently out of their comfort zone. Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is looking to distract herself from her post-divorce anniversary and leans on Keeley (Juno Temple) and her friend, Sassy (Ellie Taylor), for support. In pulling out of her marriage, Rebecca also realizes she has pulled away from her closest friends. While Rebecca sits in her feelings of anger post-divorce, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) is only starting to get to that point with his divorce. The hotel and subsequent nightclub setting are all dim locations where the players have fun, but our magnetic leads are miserable. Everything is well staged and lit to explore new sides of these characters. Even in their darkest, most interior moments, these characters need to rely on each other to get through. Rebecca comes out of her funk by delivering a rendition of “Let It Go” at the club. Ted continues to sit in his sadness, but manages to send Rebecca a sweet text thanking her for her help with him. Life, like soccer, is a team sport.
Of the three Ted Lasso episodes, “Make Rebecca Great Again” has the most citations. It is also nominated for Comedy Writing (none of the others were) and was submitted for Comedy Series and Supporting Actor (Nick Mohammed). Voters, fans and Apple TV+ all clearly believe in the episode. Thus, it seems like the frontrunner of the three episodes to win the prize. Yet, vote splitting could kill its chances.
“The Hope That Kills You” (Season 1, Episode 10) from Ted Lasso, directed by MJ Delaney
Description (from ballot): Richmond plays a climactic match that will determine the fates of Ted and his club
Ted (Jason Sudeikis) has spent the whole season inspiring his players to be better, kinder people. It makes sense the season finale, and final game, would lean into all the inspirational sports movie cliches. Yet, the smart direction and storytelling choices make the finale feel fresh, fun and deeply involving. The soccer scenes are well-staged and filmed, spending as much time setting up character specific conflict as running plays. For example, Roy Kent’s (Brett Goldstein) sacrificial move against Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) is heartbreaking to watch. Immediately following his injury, we see him sulking in the empty locker room, with Keeley (Juno Temple) arriving to comfort him. Delaney does a good job using dead space in the locker room to heighten the feelings of loneliness. Meanwhile, the stadium stands feel energized and electric. The direction makes one feel actually at the game. How can you not get swept up when Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) finally gets around to cheering for AFC Richmond. “I love it when you give a shit,” Keeley squeals. Frequently cutting to the hometown pub only further underscores what it means to love and root for a team. This episode understands what is infectious about sports and Ted Lasso in particular.
In terms of its chances of winning, there are a few things that are working in its favor. It is the season finale and fans of the show will likely remember it as sticking the landing for a freshman favorite. Additionally, it is structured around a climactic soccer match, so it can win style points for some inventive sports directing. Therein lies the problem with Ted Lasso’s chances in this category. There isn’t a clear frontrunner of the three. It is very likely that voters may choose different episodes and split their support.
Nathaniel walked through a very similar scenario in the comedy writing category. I think that line of thinking is only stronger in directing. There are more episodes for Ted Lasso to split support. Additionally, the pilots of Hacks and The Flight Attendant are flashy and expensive, something that benefits them more in this category. Ted Lasso is unlikely to lose both writing and directing (personally, I think it will win writing and lose directing). Yet, there is a definite upset brewing in one of the two categories. Definitely look out.
Predictions
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“There Is No Line (Pilot)” - Hacks
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“In Case of Emergency” - The Flight Attendant
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“Make Rebecca Great Again” - Ted Lasso
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“The Hope That Kills You” - Ted Lasso
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“Biscuits” - Ted Lasso
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“Pilot” - B Positive
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“Scooby-Doo Checks and Salisbury Steaks” - Mom
Personal Ranking
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“There Is No Line (Pilot)” - Hacks
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“Make Rebecca Great Again” - Ted Lasso
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“The Hope That Kills You” - Ted Lasso
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“In Case of Emergency” - The Flight Attendant
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“Biscuits” - Ted Lasso
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“Pilot” - B Positive
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“Scooby-Doo Checks and Salisbury Steaks” - Mom
Who do you think will win Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series? Who would you vote for?
PREVIOUS PREDICTIONS
- Limited - Supporting Actress
- Limited - Supporting Actor
- Limited - Directing
- Limited - Writing
- Comedy - Supporting Actor
- Comedy - Guest Actress
- Comedy - Guest Actor
- Comedy - Directing
- Comedy - Writing
- Drama - Supporting Actress
- Drama - Supporting Actor
- Drama - Guest Actress
- Drama - Guest Actor
- Drama - Directing
- Drama - Writing
- Outstanding Editing
- Outstanding Unstructured Reality
- Outstanding Main Title Design
B Positive, Emmys, Emmys Category Analysis, Hacks, Mom, Ted Lasso, The Flight Attendant
Reader Comments (10)
Tough call. The "Ted Lasso" episodes are all so good in their own ways. My personal favorite of the three is "Make Rebecca Great Again, " and I think it'll squeak by the other two to win. Watching it the first time was when I feel the show transcended its already outstanding early episodes. The blend of comedy and pathos was well-earned.
"Flight Attendant" and "Hacks" would be outstanding runners-up. I liked both more than I thought I would.
Should be HACKS but I suspect THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT takes this - its lone win of the night.
My ranking (of those I've seen):
The Flight Attendant (pilot)
Ted Lasso (“Rebecca”)
Hacks (pilot)
Ted Lasso (season finale)
Ted Lasso (“Biscuits”)
My prediction:
Ted Lasso (season finale)
The Flight Attendant's breathless mixture of suspense and humour is probably the most skilful of those I've seen, but I think the 'Make Rebecca Great Again' episode of Ted Lasso rather expertly manages its various emotional peaks whilst also providing unexpected punctuations such as Ted snapping at Nate, or Rebecca's Frozen number. I definitely feel like the Hacks pilot is strong, but that the show got much much better as it went along.
This award tends to go to episodes that are the flashiest visually or ones that are laugh riots. When an episode does both, it's a shoe in (e.g., Maisel pilot and Fleabag's win).
I think this is a three-way race between the Flight Attendant (flashy and well done), Hacks (self-assured from the jump), and The Hope that Kills You.
I think the Hope that Kills You will take it. It's an incredibly strong episode filled with heart, and the impressive to see how the director manages to balance the humor, the drama, and film the soccer game so beautifully.
Another note, while I love Hacks, I'm a bit surprised this is their episode. Is it the only one they submitted? I'm surprised that "I Think She Will" isn't here.
Joe G -- i think Hacks only submitted their pilot (a common awards tactic) but i *might* be wrong
Christopher -- now you have me thinking i was right in my gut feeling but for the wrong category (about the Ted Lasso upset)
@Nathaniel, that makes sense. Especially since Lucia Aniello directed both episodes.
I believe it's a rule now that one multi-cam comedy must be nominated.
"For the first time in seven years at the Emmys, a multi-camera comedy will be nominated for Best Comedy Directing — because a new rule mandates it. One slot is now reserved for the multi-camera contender that receives the most votes. The revised rule book that the Emmys published last month actually states that nominees will be proportional to the number of single-camera versus multi-camera submissions, with at least one slot reserved for each type, but it has been at least a decade since there have been enough relative multi-camera submissions to theoretically unlock a second slot."
That would be why there's two.
That's an awful rule. The best should be the best, no matter what format.
@Morgan: I didn't know about that rule. That makes sense! Thank you for highlighting it!