Emmys face backlash after five awards leave live telecast
The Television Academy’s plan shifts acting, writing and directing races to Sept. 6, drawing fire from unions, studios and streamers.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
The Emmys are getting heat before a single trophy is handed out, after the Television Academy moved five categories off the Sept. 14 primetime telecast on NBC.
Variety reported that the Academy’s Board of Governors voted to hand out the affected awards on Sunday, Sept. 6, during the first weekend of Emmy ceremonies, the block once known as the Creative Arts Emmys.
The categories being moved are writing for a variety series, supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie, supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, directing for a limited or anthology series or movie, and writing for a limited or anthology series or movie.
The decision lands directly on some high-profile nominees. Variety said additional contenders who may now need to attend the earlier weekend include Jason Bateman, Charles Melton, Dakota Fanning, David Harbour, Nick Offerman, Lee Sung Jin, Steven Conrad, Megan Gallagher, Gabe Rotter and Daniel Pearle. Martin Short and Conan O’Brien were already expected to be involved across both weekends, according to the report.
The calendar is part of the headache. The Sept. 6 ceremony falls during Labor Day weekend, while the Venice and Telluride film festivals are also underway. By the time the main Emmys telecast arrives on Sept. 14, the Toronto International Film Festival will be running.
For studios and networks, Variety reported, the shift means two straight weekends of talent logistics, styling and event planning. The trade also reported that the two Creative Arts nights have recently been edited into a delayed FXX special, though talks about doing that again have not yet produced a confirmed plan.
The backlash has gone beyond private grumbling. The Directors Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America issued a joint statement criticizing the decision, saying the Emmys should celebrate television artists and that removing the categories from primetime “devalues” the work the Academy exists to honor.
Television Academy chair Cris Abrego defended the move to Variety, saying the Academy wants to make room for a more creative broadcast and a better viewing experience. He said the Academy tried to spread the changes across performers, writers and directors rather than placing the burden on one discipline.
“There’s no perfect solution because every category obviously represents extraordinary work,” Abrego told Variety, adding that the Academy aimed for a balanced approach across several peer groups.
Variety reported that the reaction from networks and studios has been sharp, with executives including Netflix’s Bela Bajaria and HBO’s Casey Bloys making pointed calls to the Television Academy. Multiple sources told the outlet the Academy is not planning to reverse course.
The move also echoes a fight the Oscars faced in 2022, when eight categories were presented before the live show and edited into the broadcast. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences later returned all categories to the live ceremony, according to Variety.
This year’s NBC Emmy telecast is set to be hosted by Mariska Hargitay. The Academy has more than 115 Emmy categories, making a single live ceremony for every prize unrealistic, but this cut has put the spotlight on which artists still get the primetime stage.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.