Key Points
- Multiple Winners Possible: The Outstanding Variety Series Emmy category could allow for more than one winner this year.
- Category Merge: This decision comes after the merging of Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series, with some adjustments.
- Judging System Change: Nominees are now judged individually instead of competing against one another.
And the Emmy goes to… all five of you?! This outcome might be expected at the upcoming Emmys for Outstanding Variety Series, featuring contenders like The Daily Show, which has won 13 times, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, with 10 wins, and Saturday Night Live, with 8 wins.
New Category Structure: In January, the Television Academy combined Outstanding Talk Series and Outstanding Scripted Variety Series. This was necessary due to a declining number of late-night shows. The number of nominees is now based proportionally on submissions to maintain a balance between talk and sketch categories.
Changes in Voting Mechanism
- Area Award Classification: Now, nominees are evaluated individually rather than in direct competition. Voters respond with a “yes” or “no” to whether a nominee deserves an Emmy.
- Winning Criteria: A nominee must achieve at least 90% “yes” votes to win. If none meet this threshold, the one with the highest approval percentage takes home the award.
Last year, Last Week Tonight won for scripted series for the third consecutive time, while The Late Show With Stephen Colbert won the talk category. Due to Colbert’s recent success, many expect it to secure a win this year, especially after victories in the Creative Arts Emmys.
Questions Remain
- Will any other show join The Late Show in winning?
- Will voters adapt to the new system, potentially leading to multiple wins in this category?
Jimmy Kimmel Live and its controversial past may influence voter sentiment, while Saturday Night Live stands out among the politically charged options.
Tune In
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
For further insights, check out The Awardist for interviews and analyses on the year’s best in entertainment.
Let’s hope the ceremony doesn’t lead to an awkward situation with multiple winners and one “loser.”
