Emmys 2019: Game of Thrones has created an open theatrical race

If the list of Emmy nominees of the series Outstanding Drama in 2019 seems to give up some familiar faces when it was announced Tuesday, July 16 in the morning, it is because it is the case.

The Emmys are known to name the same series again and again, often long after the expiry of the qualities of these series. But when the dramatic categories of 2019 will be filled with new nominees, it will not be because Emmy voters have suddenly developed a case of good taste. After all, the last season of Game of thrones, who was extremely divisive, should lead the nominations. That's because many of the Emmy favorites have just taken part in this year's race, for a variety of reasons.

The one – year eligibility period at the Emmys for a broadcast series at least half of a new season extends from June 1 to May 31. For the 2019 Emmys, only two of the seven series that have been nominated for Outrama Drama in 2018 – Game of thrones (who won last year) and This is us – made the cut on May 31st. (Another show, Americans, has completely finished its race in 2018.)

Four different shows – The crown, The servant's tale, Strange things, and Westworld – chose to completely miss the Emmys 2019. Both The servant's tale (the 2017 winner in the Exceptional Drama category) and Strange things even started new seasons within five weeks of the deadline, which strongly suggests that they could have been broadcast before the cutoff if they had really wanted it. (Creation dates for The crown and Westworld have yet to be announced; I guess the first one will be launched this fall and the last one next spring.)

Similarly, since it was not broadcast until June, the second season of Big little lies – who won many Emmys in 2017 in the Series Limited category, while it seemed like the show was going to be a one-and-done – will not be eligible for Emmys dramatic categories (where the Academy will place the season two seasons and all seasons ahead) until 2020.

Time will tell if staying out was a wise choice. Voters in the empire can forget about these shows when they are eligible next year (and the mixed critical reception of The servant's tale and Strange things probably not help their chances).

But if these shows wanted to avoid the presumed heavyweight Emmy which was the last season of Game of thrones or just could not be ready in time, do not be surprised when their names are not among the 2019 nominees when they are announced Tuesday morning.

There is only one exception: The servant's tale could still get some nominations, thanks to a quirk of Emmy rules.

How the Tale of the maid some more Emmy 2019 nominations, even though his current season is not eligible.

Hulu

Do not forget where I said above that to be eligible for the Emmys, a show must air in the middle of its last season before May 31? This rule is why The servant's taleThe third season of the series, which began in June, is not running for 2019.

But in the case of The servant's tale For the second season, the rule was that seven of the 13 episodes would be aired no later than May 31, 2018 to compete in the Emmys 2018, which the season handled full force (episode 7 aired May 30, 2018). He then won three awards on 20 nominations.

However, there is a different Emmy vote difference for the last three episodes of the second season, all of which were aired after the 2018 Emmy nomination deadline (June 24, 2018). Even though Hulu made these episodes available to Emmy voters as filter feeders, for an episode to receive nominations itself – in categories like writing, directing, and most technical races awards like the editing – it must be broadcast before voting for nominations. closed.

As a result, the last three episodes of The servant's tale The second season – including the well-known "Holly" showcase, beautifully written and directed for star Elisabeth Moss that aired on June 27, 2018 – is eligible for Emmys this year, but only in categories that distinguish individual episodes. These categories do not include exceptional drama series or four actor awards that recognize regulars in the series. But they include writing, performance, technique and honors.

So, The servant's tale could receive a number of nominations in 2019 while remaining ineligible for the best categories of Emmys drama. I do not know how much this is likely to be a result, given how critical notice has turned to the show's third season, but the Emmys love their favorites.

With so many famous playwrights outside the race, who will actually be named in 2019?

AMC

Beyond Game of thrones and This is usthere are some old candidates who could come back. You better call Saul missed the 2018 Emmy, missing the deadline of May 31 this year, but his fourth season is eligible in 2019 and is expected to come down again. Less likely but theoretically possible appointments would be possible. Room of cards'Sixth and last season (the show also failed the Emmy 2018) or the penultimate season of Orange is the new black. Both Room of cards and Orange is the new black are former candidates who are technically eligible in 2019, although their luster has long since disappeared.

Even more intriguing is FX American horror story, who tells new stories with new characters each season and is therefore eligible for the Outstanding Outstanding Series, but aired her first consecutive season in the fall of 2019 with apocalypse. Since apocalypse Emmy's rules dictate that she must now compete as a drama series because it is a serialized story in progress. (American horror storyThe next season, which apparently has nothing to do with previous seasons, will again compete in a limited series. Confused again?)

Plus, there's a series of shows that have just finished a successful first season – like HBO Succession, FX pose, Amazon Back homeand Netflix Bodyguard – or who has just won nominations for the drama series for their first seasons (ie Ozark and BBC America's Kill Eve) which will probably occupy most of the open slots of the category.

It may be even the year of critical favorites like Showtime Billions and CBS All Access The good fight, both of whom have been largely ignored by Emmy voters, to receive the recognition due to them.

But many, many shows come out voluntarily from Game of thrones& # 39; way. (Who could have predicted that the anger directed against Game of thrones"The last season would open a great path for the underdogs who will run a rewards campaign?) Combined with the May 31 Emmys deadline, this means that the 2019 Series Exceptional Series category is well into "Air" mentioned above made in the race, well, it will not be a surprise.