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How are Unorthodox and NP ahead of Unbelievable in Directing, when Unbelievable is top 3 and a lock for a Miniseries nod?
We’ve seen already that series that are locks for a Limited Series nod that aren’t competitive for the win sometimes miss Directing and Writing nods to series that aren’t locked for the Limited Series nod or don’t get nominated for the Limited Series nod. A Very English Scandal is a very good example of that. Considering Unorthodox is being pushed heavily by Netflix and Normal People has been a breakout hit that has Lenny Abrahamson’s name attached to it, I’d say it is ahead of Unbelievable.
I think people are (unsurprisingly) underestimating Lisa Cholodenko for Unbelievable. She won this category in 2015 and Unbelievable is somewhere in the top 3 for limited series. Yes, she missed DGA, but all her competition (WTSU, Chernobyl and F/V) isn’t eligible at the Emmys, which should help her.
Hmm. I feel like that’s the same argument people (me included) used to say Jean Marc-Vallée (who won this category in 2017 and got snubbed in 2019) was a lock last year. The only difference is that Vallée got nominated at DGA.
I love Unbelievable but it seems that Cholodenko’s snub was a deliberate one. She shouldn’t have missed when she was in a show that arguably had one of the (if not the) highest viewership of WTSU, Chernobyl and F/V and especially not to an episode of Fosse/Verdon that wasn’t even nominated for directing at the Emmys or even to When They See Us which we already know in some places was in a weaker position than Unbelievable awards wise. With Watchmen submitting two, if not three nominees and Mrs. America likely getting Boden/Fleck and Asante both in there is only one slot left. With Stephen Frears’s name attached to Quiz, Lenny Abrahamson’s name attached to Normal People plus its breakout success, the breakout success of Unorthodox and the tragic news of Lynn Shelton’s passing I don’t see any room for her. She could be ahead of or joint with Damien Chazelle but I don’t see her getting past any of those mentioned.
Writing in a Comedy Series: 1. The Good Place “Whenever You’re Ready” 2. Schitts Creek “Happy Ending” 3. The Good Place “Patty” 4. Sex Education “Episode 1” 5. Dead to Me “It’s Not You, It’s Me” 6. Ramy “” 7. Space Force “” 8. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel “It’s Comedy or Cabbage” Directing in a Comedy Series: 1. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel “It’s Comedy or Cabbage 2. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel “Marvelous Radio” 3. The Good Place “Whenever You’re Ready” 4. Schitts Creek “Happy Ending” 5. Silicon Valley 6. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel “It’s The Sixties Man” 7. Will and Grace 8. Dead to Me 9. Space Force 10. Curb Your Enthusiasm
The third Maisel directing slot is solidly ahead of The Good Place, Silicon Valley and Schitt’s Creek and it’s not even close. It got three slots at DGA over both The Good Place and Silicon Valley whilst Russian Doll, Veep and Barry were in contention so I don’t see how it is not even a lock for a directing nomination. We know Jeff Schaffer is known within the directors branch and that Curb Your Enthusiasm has been nominated for directing multiple times in recent years (apart from the last time it was eligible in 2017 when it was competing in a more crowded field) so I would say he is solidly ahead of Paul King for Space Force (who is in with an outside chance) and Dead to Me (which is being heavily overestimated on here).
Also considering Maisel clung on at WGA I wouldn’t be surprised if Daniel Palladino was also in the top 10 and if “It’s Comedy or Cabbage” was easily ahead of Ramy, Dead to Me and Space Force.
ReplyCopy URLFYC: Better Call Saul, The English and The Good Fight in all categories including Emily Blunt, Bob Odenkirk, Christine Baranski and Rhea Seehorn.
It is because Unbelievable remains Sharp Objects, trajectory-wise. Both were directed by recent Emmy winners in the category, but whether they barely got a DGA nomination or not, they were not close to winning, so they were not strong enough to hold on several months later for the Emmys. Only Watchmen and Mrs. America are ahead of it in series, but unlike When They See Us and Chernobyl, each is coming for multiple directing nominations. Just transferring over the series lineup, Unbelievable starts in the lower half of this category and once you factor in the quirks and biases unique to the directors’ branch, I see it being pushed out. I do wonder though if Vince Gilligan’s surge in the drama directing race will cost him his nomination here. I feel like when people get nominated twice, they are usually win-competitive for one of them, which is not the case here. I have him in a better starting position than Lisa Cholodenko because he actually got DGA.
Very convincing argument, Riley. I completely forgot about Gilligan. I’m still keeping hope out for Cholodenko, but I should lower my expectations.
ReplyCopy URLHmm. I feel like that’s the same argument people (me included) used to say Jean Marc-Vallée (who won this category in 2017 and got snubbed in 2019) was a lock last year. The only difference is that Vallée got nominated at DGA.
I love Unbelievable but it seems that Cholodenko’s snub was a deliberate one. She shouldn’t have missed when she was in a show that arguably had one of the (if not the) highest viewership of WTSU, Chernobyl and F/V and especially not to an episode of Fosse/Verdon that wasn’t even nominated for directing at the Emmys or even to When They See Us which we already know in some places was in a weaker position than Unbelievable awards wise. With Watchmen submitting two, if not three nominees and Mrs. America likely getting Boden/Fleck and Asante both in there is only one slot left. With Stephen Frears’s name attached to Quiz, Lenny Abrahamson’s name attached to Normal People plus its breakout success, the breakout success of Unorthodox and the tragic news of Lynn Shelton’s passing I don’t see any room for her. She could be ahead of or joint with Damien Chazelle but I don’t see her getting past any of those mentioned.
But when Vallee was nominated at DGA, he was nominated alongside 2 other eligible nominees from his upcoming Emmy cycle (Stiller for Dannemora & Fukunaga for Maniac), the latter of which completely imploded and was forgotten about by the time the Emmys came around.
He missed at the Emmys because he had to compete with three absolute giants (Chernobyl, WSTU & Fosse/Verdon).
Cholodenko’s missing DGA is a result of competing against the exact same three behemoths as Vallee did at the Emmys (plus El Camino).
Her not getting DGA shouldn’t be a strike against her, if anything it should help her because she won’t have to compete against the aforementioned three shows and is now instead part of this years top 3.
ReplyCopy URLThe third Maisel directing slot is solidly ahead of The Good Place, Silicon Valley and Schitt’s Creek and it’s not even close. It got three slots at DGA over both The Good Place and Silicon Valley whilst Russian Doll, Veep and Barry were in contention so I don’t see how it is not even a lock for a directing nomination. We know Jeff Schaffer is known within the directors branch and that Curb Your Enthusiasm has been nominated for directing multiple times in recent years (apart from the last time it was eligible in 2017 when it was competing in a more crowded field) so I would say he is solidly ahead of Paul King for Space Force (who is in with an outside chance) and Dead to Me (which is being heavily overestimated on here).
Also considering Maisel clung on at WGA I wouldn’t be surprised if Daniel Palladino was also in the top 10 and if “It’s Comedy or Cabbage” was easily ahead of Ramy, Dead to Me and Space Force.
I think Amy Sherman, Daniel Palladino and Dan Attias episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are easily the top 3 in Comedy Directing, if all three get in then it’s a proof of what a technical juggernaut the series is. Their best bet for Writing will be the brilliant and impeccable It’s Comedy or Cabbage, but I honestly think a Daniel Palladino-episode is possible, which will most probably be what his Directing submission episode is.
The Good Place could get Whenever You’re Ready in both Directing and Writing for Michael Schur. It’s their finale anyway. However, I’m a little skeptical if Schitt’s Creek will get Happy Ending in Directing as I really don’t think the show was a directorial stand out as its Writing.
I think we are overestimating Dead to Me. I tried watching the premiere last night and I actually fell asleep halfway through. I will rewatch it again and give it a try as I recognize its merits. But the show only got in for Applegate last year and its critical acclaim though better than the first season, is not over the roof as one could hope.
Maybe it’s just the excitement behind the reunion of Carell and Greg Daniels but aside from being a sight unseen, it’s premature to predict Space Force at this point. Though I think the strength of the cast that will be the one to propel it into the race.
My soft spot will go to GLOW. It was robbed of a series, directing, writing, lead actress and supporting actor last year. And though there is no way Gilpin would win over Borstein, I love her in her episode submission and thought it deserves a directing nod. This year, it maintains its quality across the board even if it’s not better than the second season. I really hope this returns at the Emmys given the open slot for the bottom half of the Comedy category. Personal picks for writing and directing are Desert Pollen, and Outward Bound, and Freaky Tuesday, but I think the first two are the only submissions. I can’t believe they are not submitting Desert Pollen helmed by Jesse Peretz who received the only directing nod of the series in the category. But I prefer for the late Lynn Shelton to get nominated for A Very GLOW Christmas instead of her work for Little Fires Everywhere.
It’s unbelievable that Curb Your Enthusiasm is still kicking after 10 seasons. It deserves to still be around anyway and will probably get a directing nod for either Happy New Year or The Spite Store.
And finally, I just watched the first two episodes of The Great the other day and wow, Tony McNamara for an instant Writing nod for the premiere! I also thought if the Emmy voters would eat it up despite its at times uncomfortable yet witty and funny tone, then a Directing nod for the pilot wouldn’t be impossible. It’s very The Favourite (obviously with McNamara behind it) yet feels so different and all its own! Very impressive start and looking forward to seeing the whole series.
ReplyCopy URLI think we are overestimating Dead to Me. I tried watching the premiere last night and I actually fell asleep halfway through. I will rewatch it again and give it a try as I recognize its merits. But the show only got in for Applegate last year and its critical acclaim though better than the first season, is not over the roof as one could hope.
Someone finally said it.
ReplyCopy URLFYC: Better Call Saul, The English and The Good Fight in all categories including Emily Blunt, Bob Odenkirk, Christine Baranski and Rhea Seehorn.
OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES:
1. The Good Place: Michael Schur, “Whenever You’re Ready”
2. Schitt’s Creek: Daniel Levy, “Happy Ending”
3. Dave: Saladin K. Patterson, “Hype Man”
4. Sex Education: Laurie Nunn, “Episode 1″
5. The Good Place: Megan Amram, “Patty”
6. Dave: Dave Burd & Jeff Schaffer, “The Gander”
7. What We Do in the Shadows: Stefani Robinson, “On the Run”
8. What We Do in the Shadows: Paul Simms, “Ghosts”
9. Silicon Valley: Alec Berg, “Exit Event”
10. The Great: Tony McNamara, “The Great”OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES:
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1. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Amy Sherman-Palladino, “It’s Comedy or Cabbage”
2. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Daniel Palladino, “Marvelous Radio”
3. Schitt’s Creek: Daniel Levy, “Happy Ending”
4. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Dan Attias, “It’s the Sixties, Man!”
5. One Day at a Time: Phil Lewis, “Boundaries”
6. Dave: Greg Mottola, “The Gander”
7. Will & Grace: James Burrows, “We Love Lucy”
8. Curb Your Enthusiasm: Jeff Schaffer, “Happy New Year”
9. Silicon Valley: Mike Judge, “Artificial Lack of Intelligence”
10. Dave: Tony Yacenda, “Jail”I know it’s unlikely since it takes a lot of work to put it together, but considering we’re in a pandemic, would it be possible to predict the writing and directing nominations this year? The ballots are huge and not published yet, but I’m sure people here wouldn’t mind a small base of options to start with.
ReplyCopy URLOUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES: 1. The Good Place: Michael Schur, “Whenever You’re Ready” 2. Schitt’s Creek: Daniel Levy, “Happy Ending” 3. Dave: Saladin K. Patterson, “Hype Man” 4. Sex Education: Laurie Nunn, “Episode 1″ 5. The Good Place: Megan Amram, “Patty” 6. Dave: Dave Burd & Jeff Schaffer, “The Gander”
To me it’s very unlikely that both The Good Place and Dave will have two episodes for writing.
ReplyCopy URLMaybe they nominate Dead to Me, but I think that the writers’ branch is a bit more sophisticated or eclectic than that, like how they consistently avoided Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, even as it popped up in series and at WGA.
I know it’s unlikely since it takes a lot of work to put it together, but considering we’re in a pandemic, would it be possible to predict the writing and directing nominations this year?
I have not heard anything about them, so I am not saying that they will happen, but I imagine that if any more categories are added, they would sooner be the ones that we have gotten before for reality and variety.
To me it’s very unlikely that both The Good Place and Dave will have two episodes for writing.
Only one comedy was double-nominated last year, but we had three straight years before that of two comedies being double-nominated. We would have had it again last year, but so many major contenders stuck to single submissions: Barry, Fleabag, PEN15, Veep. I feel apprehensive with The Good Place because WGA dropped it while holding onto The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, but there is precedent for the writers’ branch not only welcoming back one of their favourites for the series, but also an additional final episode. They snubbed the penultimate season of 30 Rock, then nominated both halves of its series finale. They snubbed Mad Men twice, then also double-nominated its final run. The Good Place was never loved as much as those two, but it compensates with the inertia of actually being an incumbent nominee.
This is a weird year for the category that is reminiscent of 2012 and it is why Dave can get double-nominated even if it misses series. In 2012, the writers were over nominating Modern Family and 30 Rock, kind of like how they seem to be over The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel even as it cleans up elsewhere. They were not about to nominate The Big Bang Theory just as they are not about to nominate The Kominsky Method now. Curb Your Enthusiasm contended both then and now, but they are ineligible in writing. So the writers’ branch resorted to double-nominating Parks and Recreation, a show that was snubbed in series and a show that the writers never nominated before and never nominated again. This was even before the unlimited ballot, so this was despite vote-splitting. They also gave Community a one-time nomination.
ReplyCopy URLThis is new! I am losing faith in there being much passion for it. I had thought a couple of years ago when it came back after its longest hiatus that the Emmys would treat it the way that they had been treating all of the other HBO comedies that it had spawned (Barry, Silicon Valley, Veep), with multiple nominations across the board in casting, cinematography directing, editing and sound, but it missed all of them. The academy instead treated it like later-seasons Modern Family where it can still easily get a series nomination and something in acting, but there is no longer that need to recognize it in the individual-achievement categories. As much as people enjoyed this season, this is also a show that has been on for ten seasons and twenty years and I am becoming concerned that we are turning into those fans of former favourites like Mr. Robot or Will & Grace who think that they have a chance in whatever category because they had an episode that the remaining fans enjoyed. I might have to take out Jon Hamm for Jason Alexander.
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