Last Minute Decisions on Emmy Submissions Alter the Landscape

Jalal Haddad looks at the recent round of last-minute Emmy submissions changes and analyzes their impact on the 2017 Emmy race.

With just over a month left in this Emmy season’s eligibility window, studios are making their final decisions on where to submit actors for consideration. Strategic Emmy submissions have the power to help actors stay clear of competitive categories and prevent costars from going head to head. This year in particular, there is a lot of last-minute decision making centered around actresses competing in the Limited Series/TV Movie races after the Lead Actress race became the most competitive and star stuffed race in years.  On top of that, there are networks making decisions on the barren Supporting Actress in a Drama race and a last minute inclusion from Netflix.

Big Little Lies

Earlier this month, HBO announced the category placement of the Big Little Lies ensemble although they continued to mull over their options for Shailene Woodley. In the large ensemble Woodley is clearly one of the more integral members however HBO is clearly worried about her having to go up against Oscar-winning costars like Kidman and Witherspoon. In the end HBO made the decision to submit her as a supporting actress putting her up against costar Laura Dern but with much more wiggle room for voters to include both. With the overwhelming success of the series, there are endless rumors that HBO is considering a second season, but nothing has been confirmed. As a result, the series remains in the Limited Series race. Although, a second season doesn’t seem to impact Emmy submissions anyway (see: The Young Pope).

Westworld

Instead of submitting the ensemble in the supporting races, HBO made the decision to single out Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood as the leads of the sci-fi thriller. Prior to this announcement, we speculated that both female stars would compete against each other in the lead race. Now, Thandie Newton will have an easier path to the first major award of her career in the supporting race. The supporting actor race, on the other hand, will be stacked with four major contenders: Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden, and Jimmi Simpson.

Bloodline

Until this week, we believed that the final season of Bloodline wouldn’t be released until after the Emmy eligibility window. However, those tricky folks at Netflix earlier this week dropped the season’s first trailer and announced the final episodes would stream on May 26. The Florida-set drama has never been a major contender besides acting nominations for Kyle Chandler and a shocking supporting win for Ben Mendelsohn. There is no word yet from Netflix on Mendelsohn’s role in the upcoming season, specifically if he will continue his supporting status or be bumped down to guest.

Michelle Pfeiffer

The one and only time Michelle Pfeiffer won an major Hollywood award was a Golden Globe back in 1990, so when it was announced that she would star as Ruth Madoff in the upcoming HBO film The Wizard of Lies, the conversation about a Pfeiffer comeback quickly began. After it became evident that the Lead Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie category was becoming overly competitive, HBO made the decision to instead submit Pfeiffer in the supporting race, adding more new life into her first Emmy campaign.

Gilmore Girls: A Year in The Life

Netflix has managed to convince the television academy that the recent mini season of Gilmore Girls is a limited series instead of a direct continuation of the dramedy that premiered on the WB/CW in the early 2000s. In a normal year this would open up the awards possibilities for a cult hit especially Lauren Graham but but with tepid reviews and stiff competition in the limited series and lead actress races the show will probably continue being left out.

The Young Pope

Originally conceived by writer and director Paolo Sorrentino as a Limited Series, rumors swirled on what categories The Young Pope would be considered for Emmy submissions. Without any confirmation from HBO, producers confirmed that Season 2 is almost written, although both Sorrentino and Law are signed on to other projects. With that, HBO recently announced the show would be submitted in the Limited Series races at the upcoming Emmy awards. Whether or not the Vatican-set drama comes back for a second season, the Emmy chances of stars Law and Keaton increased immensely.

Alfred Molina 

It’s all in the (sub) title. The classic Hollywood limited series seemed to focus squarely on Bette and Joan or at least that’s what everyone first believed. However, Alfred Molina’s Robert Aldrich received increasing screentime throughout the season. As the Lead Actor in a Limited Series race felt less competitive, rumors started to spread that FX was considering a lead run for Alfred Molina’s portrayal. FX has yet to release an official submission decision, but it seems they are leaning once again towards supporting putting him in direct competition with costar Stanley Tucci.

Regina King 

Fresh off of her second Emmy win, the American Crime team seemed to be gearing up to promoting King to the lead status she deserves. With a prominent character in the third season, ABC had the opportunity to submit the 2-time Emmy winner into the lead race for the first time, but with the worry she would be forgotten next to a long list of Oscar winners, they decided to submit her in supporting once again against the rest of the female cast (except for Felicity Huffman).

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 

The initial word on the upcoming HBO adaptation of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was that the key supporting actor up for Emmy consideration was none other than Emmy winner Courtney B. Vance. Instead, HBO decided to submit a different supporting actor for consideration, Emmy winner Reg E. Cathey who portrays one of Henrietta Lacks’ sons. Reviews backed that decision up as Vance’s role appears reduced to a 5-minute cameo.