“Documentary Now” premieres tonight on IFC. The sketch comedy series spoofs famous documentaries such as “Grey Gardens” (above), “The Thin Blue Line” and “Nanook of the North.” It was created by “Saturday Night Live” alums Bill Hader, Fred Armisen and Seth Meyers and Emmy-magnet Lorne Michaels is an executive producer. Are they bound for Emmys next year?
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CHATS: Seth Meyers & Fred Armisen
It used to be almost impossible for a new variety program to break through at the Emmys, with the category dominated by talk shows like “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report,” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” But this year, the Emmys introduced a new category, Best Variety Sketch Series, that could be a boon to shows like “Documentary Now.”
This show certainly has the right pedigree. Armisen is a five-time Emmy nominee for writing, producing and starring in another IFC sketch series, “Portlandia,” which is up for Variety Sketch Series this year. Meyers has also racked up multiple Emmy noms as a writer for “SNL,” and he won once as a songwriter for Justin Timberlake‘s musical monologue in 2011. He contends this year for writing the Golden Globes telecast and for the 40th anniversary “SNL” special. And Hader is a three-time Emmy contender for “SNL” – twice as Best Comedy Supporting Actor (2012, 2013) and this year as Best Comedy Guest Actor for hosting the show. He won an Emmy as producer of “South Park” in 2009.
Our forum posters have been buzzing about their Emmy chances. Read some of the sample comments from these Hollywood insiders below, and join the “Documentary Now” discussion now.
Macbeth: It’s hilariously brilliant, and if the Emmy voters see it, it will be hard for them not to nominate at least Hader.
KyleBailey: This looks fabulous. Looks like a strong contender in Variety Sketch
Atypical: Nothing’s going to replace “Key and Peele” in Variety Sketch Series with the stellar episodes airing right now that will be eligible at next year’s Emmys in its final season. “Drunk History” would be the most vulnerable next year if it returns.
“Documentary Now” won’t be eligible until next year’s Emmys, but use our drag-and-drop menu below to predict the winner of this year’s race for Best Variety Sketch Series.
Make your predictions and you could win one of our three prizes ($500, $300 and $200 Amazon gift certificates) as well as a place of honor on our leaderboard and a starring role in next year’s Top 24 Users (the two dozen folks who do the best predicting this year’s Emmys).
Meet the guy who won our contest to predict the Emmys last year — and learn how he did it and how you can be our next Gold Derby superstar.
Last year, our Experts had an accuracy rate of 58.62% when it came to predicting the Emmy winners. That score tied them with both Gold Derby’s Editors and the Top 24 Users (those two dozen folks who did the best at predicting last year’s Emmys). Our Users scored 51.72% (Click on any of these groups to see what they got right and wrong last year.)
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As some of our Users turn out to be our smartest prognosticators, it’s important that you give us your predictions. Your picks influence our Users racetrack odds, which also factor into our official combined odds.
Photo: Fred Armisen and Bill Hader in “Documentary Now.” Credit: Tyler Golden/IFC
