By Michael Schwartz
After a well-deserved writing win at the 2019 Emmys, the buzz around HBO’s “Succession” seemed to hit a fever pitch – and that was just for the first season. As the darkly funny family drama entered season two last year, it miraculously avoided the notorious sophomore slump. Instead, “Succession” became a deeper show, exploring the complexities and intricates of the fictional Roy family and their media empire. Through razor-sharp writing and performances, “Succession” has developed into a series that takes us into the lives of the rich and famous while simultaneously scrutinizing them. It’s a piece of riveting theatre and the type of show that builds momentum as it moves along. A series win does not seem outside the realm of possibility. Two Netflix series, “The Crown” and “Ozark” returned for third outings this season. While “The Crown” is technically in its third year following the reign of Queen Elizabeth, an entirely new cast takes over, this time led by Oscar-winner Olivia Colman. We find Her Majesty living through the radical ‘60s and all the drama that comes along with a new era. Like previous seasons, there’s no reason to believe that the beloved series will miss the Emmy conversation. Less likely is a win for Colman, who faces stiff competition in Laura Linney from “Ozark”. The Emmy darling finds herself turning in a career-best performance as Wendy Byrde, the matriarch of a Missouri crime family. Linney commands the screen throughout all ten episodes this season. Her character finally comes into her own after a two-season buildup. “Ozark” is as good as it has ever been and is proving to be a popular binging choice in the COVID-19 era. Top-tier production qualities and a thrilling season arc not only make “Ozark” a compelling sell for acting awards, but other prestigious prizes as well. Returning for its penultimate season on AMC, “Better Call Saul” finds itself inching closer to “Breaking Bad” territory as Jimmy McGill transforms into Saul Goodman. While “Saul” has yet to capture the Emmy love of its predecessor, reviews and reactions suggest that season five is as good, if not better, than the Emmy-winning series that inspired it. Perhaps Bob Odenkirk will finally win a long-overdue Emmy for his iconic role. Even though “The Handmaid’s Tale” never officially returned for a full season last Emmy cycle, it still pulled in a handful of significant nominations, including wins for Cherry Jones and Bradley Whitford. The third season aired in full this year and looks primed to capture success yet again as Margaret Atwood’s story extends far beyond the page. New to the scene this year is Apple TV+, which debuted in November with “The Morning Show,” a drama starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell. Loosely based on the Matt Lauer #MeToo controversy at NBC News, the show follows a network in the midst of crisis. While not perfect, the performances and themes are thoroughly engaging. It’s so wonderful to see Aniston back on TV turning in a performance that ranks among her best. It’s yet to be seen how Apple TV+ campaigns with the Academy, but their presence this year will say a lot about the upcoming landscape. Though “Succession” may be their major player of the season, HBO also has two additional contenders to mount campaigns for. First up is “Big Little Lies,” which returns for a second season after sweeping as a limited series in 2017. While the reception to season two was chillier, performances from Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep garnered high praise that should be enough to keep it in contention (Though drama surrounding the role of director Andrea Arnold shouldn’t go ignored in how Academy members view the series). Additionally, HBO also has the third season of “Westworld” which took a major turn in this most recent season. Reactions were decidedly mixed, but the HBO machine and previous success are enough to keep the conversation moving. Three previous nominees, “Killing Eve,” “Pose,” and “Stranger Things” return to the conversation this year, albeit with less fanfare than in years prior. I’m not expecting all three to make the nomination cut, and there’s a solid chance that all miss for newer selections. But of the three, FX’s “Pose” had the most successful season as it continues to move in unique and interesting directions regarding New York ballroom culture in the ‘90s. If the Academy is committed to carrying forth a commitment to diverse voices, they can’t do better than a program that celebrates those of LGBTQ+ and Black communities. What are your favorite drama series of the season? What do you think will make the final cut? Let us know in the comments section below or on out Twitter account. You can follow Michael and hear more of his thoughts on the Emmys and TV on Twitter at @mschwartz95
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BEST PICTURE Nomadland (41) - AFCC, AWFJ, BAFTA, BOFCA, BSFC, CCA, CFCA, CIC, DFCS, DFWFCA, GALECA, GFCA, GG, GOTHAM, GWNYFCA, HFCS, IFCA, IFJA, IPA, KCFCC, LEJA, LFCC, LVFCS, MFCA, NDFS, NSFC, NTFCA, OFCS, PFCS, PGA, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, SFCS, SPIRIT, StLFCA, TFCA, TIFF, VENICE, VFCC, WAFCA, WFCC Promising Young Woman (10) - AACTA, COFCA, HCA, KCFCC, MCFCA, NFCS, OAFFC, SCA, SDFCS, WFCC Minari (7) - AFCA, NCFCA, NYFCO, OFCC, OFTA, PCC, UFCA Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (3) - BFCC, CIC, PFCC The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (3) - DFCS, HFCS, SAG Da 5 Bloods (2) - CIC, NBR First Cow (2) - FFCC, NYFCC Judas And The Black Messiah (2) - AAFCA, BRA Another Round - EFA Bad Boys For Life - NAACP Dwelling In The Fuchun Mountains - ICS Rocks - BIFA Small Axe - LAFCA The United States vs. Billie Holiday - AARP BEST DIRECTOR Chloé Zhao (52) - AACTA, AFCC, AWFJ, BAFTA, BOFCA, BFCC, BSFC, CCA, CFCA, COFCA, DFCS, DFCS, DFWFCA, DGA, FFCC, SALECA, GFCA, GG, GWNYFCA, HCA, HFCS, IFCA, IFJA, IPA, KCFCC, LAFCA, LEJA, LVFCS, MFCA, MSFCA, NCFCA, NDFS, NSFC, NTFCA, NYFCC, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFCC, OFCS, OFTA, PCC, PFCC, PFCS, SEFCA, SDFCS, SFBAFCC, SFCS, SPIRIT, StLFCA, TFCA, VFCC, WAFCA Regina King (4) - AAFCA, BFCC, BRA, UFCA Spike Lee (3) - CIC, HFCS, NBR Lee Isaac Chung - AFCA Emerald Fennell - NFCS Darius Marder - SCA Steve McQueen - LFCC Andrew Patterson - GOTHAM Gina Prince-Bythewood - NAACP Kelly Reichardt - ICS Aaron Sorkin - AARP Thomas Vinterberg - EFA Remi Weekes - BIFA BEST ACTRESS Carey Mulligan (29) - AACTA, AFCA, AFCC, CCA, COFCA, DFCS, DFWFCA, GALECA, GFCA, HCA, HFCS, KCFCC, LAFCA, LEJA, MCFCA, MFCA, NBR, NFCS, NTFCA, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFTA, PCC, PFCS, SCA, SDFCS, SPIRIT, StLFCA, WFCC Frances McDormand (25) - AWFJ, BAFTA, BOFCA, CFCA, DFCS, FFCC, GWNYFCA, HFCS, IFCA, IFJA, IPA, LFCC, LVFCS, NCFCA, NDFS, NSFC, OFCC, OFCS, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, SFCS, TFCA, UFCA, VFCC, WAFCA Viola Davis (6) - BFCC, BRA, CIC, NAACP, PFCC, SAG Andra Day (2) - AAFCA, GG Sidney Flanigan (2) - BSFC, NYFCC Maria Bakalova - IPA Paula Beer - EFA Nicole Beharie - GOTHAM Sophia Loren - AARP Rosamund Pike - GG Wunmi Mosaku - BIFA Isabel Sandoval - ICS BEST ACTOR Chadwick Boseman (29) - AACTA, AAFCA, AWFJ, BFCC, BRA, CCA, CFCA, CIC, DFCS, DFWFCA, GALECA, GG, IFCA, LAFCA, LEJA, LFCC, MFCA, MSFCA, NAACP, OFTA, PCC, PFCS, SAG, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, StLFCA, VFCC, WAFCA, WFCC Riz Ahmed (22) - 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HFCS Phylicia Rashad - NAACP BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Daniel Kaluuya (21) - AAFCA, AFCA, BAFTA, BRA, CCA, DFCS, DFWFCA, GALECA, GG, LEJA, LVFCS, MFCA, NFCS, OAFFC, OFTA, PCC, PFCS, SAG, SFCS, TFCA, VFCC Paul Raci (19) - AFCC, BOFCA, BSFC, CFCA, COFCA, FFCC, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HCA, HFCS, IFCA, NBR, NSFC, OFCC, SCA, SDFCS, SFBAFCC, SPIRIT, StLFCA Leslie Odom Jr. (9) - AWFJ, BFCC, HFCS, IFJA, KCFCC, NYFCO, OFCS, UFCA, WAFCA Sacha Baron Cohen (7) - AACTA, DFCS, MCFCA, NCFCA, NDFS, NTFCA, SEFCA Chadwick Boseman (5) - CIC, IPA, NAACP, NYFCC, PFCC Francisco Barreiro - ICS Demián Bichir - AARP D’angelou Osei Kissiedu - BIFA Shaun Parkes - LFCC Glynn Turman - LAFCA BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Nomadland (20) - AFCA, AWFJ, CCA, CFCA, COFCA, DFCS, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HFCS, IFJA, KCFCC, LFCC, NCFCA, OAFFC, OFCC, OFCS, OFTA, SEFCA, USC, WAFCA The Father (6) - BAFTA, BIFA, IPA, NFCS, SCA, SDFCS One Night In Miami (6) - AAFCA, HCA, LEJA, LVFCS, PCC, PFCS I'm Thinking Of Ending Things (5) - BOFCA, BSFC, FFCC, StLFCA, UFCA First Cow (4) - DFCS, ICS, PFCC, SFBAFCC Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2) - BFCC, CIC Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - WGA News Of The World - NBR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Promising Young Woman (27) - AFCC, AWFJ, BAFTA, CCA, CIC, COFCA, DFWFCA, GALECA, GFCA, HCA, HFCS, IPA, KCFCC, LAFCA, MFCA, NDFS, NFCS, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFCC, OFCS, OFTA, SFCS, SPIRIT, StLFCA, WAFCA, WGA Minari (11) - AFCA, BFCC, DFCS, FFCC, LEJA, NBR, NCFCA, SDFCS, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, TFCA The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (10) - AACTA, AARP, CIC, DFCS, GG, HFCS, MCFCA, PFCS, UFCA, VFCC Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always (7) - CFCA, GWNYFCA, IFJA, NSFC, NYFCC, OAFFC, WFCC The Forty-Year-Old-Version (3) - BRA, GOTHAM, NAACP Another Round - EFA Bacurau - ICS Fourteen - GOTHAM Judas And The Black Messiah - LVFCS BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Nomadland (36) - AFCA, AFCC, AWFJ, BAFTA, BOFCA, BSFC, CCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, DFWFCA, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HCA, HFCS, LEJA, LVFCS, MCFCA, MFCA, NBR, NCFCA, NDFS, NSFC, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFCS, OFTA, PFCC, PFCS, SDFCS, SEFCA, SFCS, SPIRIT, StLFCA, UFCA, WAFCA Mank (5) - ASC, FFCC, IPA, OFCC, SCA Tenet (4) - BFCC, HFCS, NFCS, NTFCA Small Axe (2) - LAFCA, NYFCC Dwelling In The Fuchun Mountains - ICS First Cow - SFBAFCC Hidden Away - EFA I'm Thinking Of Ending Things - PCC Malcolm & Marie - BRA Saint Maud - BIFA The Vast Of Night - KCFCC BEST COSTUME DESIGN Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (9) - BAFTA, CCA, CDG, CIC, HFCS, LVFCS, OFTA, PFCS, SFCS Emma. (3) - CFCA, LEJA, SDFCS The Personal History Of David Copperfield (2) - HCA, IPA Hidden Away - EFA Jingle Jangle - BRA Misbehaviour - BIFA Mulan - CDG Promising Young Woman - CDG BEST FILM EDITING Nomadland (11) - AFCA, AWFJ, BOFCA, GWNYFCA, LEJA, NDFS, OFCS, SFBAFCC, SFCS, SPIRIT, StLFCA The Trial Of The Chicago 7 (10) - ACE, CCA, CIC, COFCA, HCA, HFCS, IPA, MCFCA, PFCS, UFCA Sound Of Metal (5) - BAFTA, CCA, LVFCS, MFCA, OFTA The Father (2) - BIFA, LAFCA I'm Thinking Of Ending Things (2) - BSFC, CFCA The Invisible Man (2) - MCFCA, SDFCS Once More Unto The Breach - EFA Palm Springs - ACE Tenet - WAFCA The Wasteland - ICS BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (6) - BAFTA, CCA, CIC, HCA, LEJA, MUAHS Birds Of Prey (2) - MUAHS, OFTA The Endless Trench - EFA Mank - HFCS Misbehaviour - BIFA Pinocchio - MUAHS BEST ORIGINAL SCORE Soul (33) - AFCA, AFCC, BAFTA, BOFCA, BRA, CCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, DFCS, FFCC, GFCA, GG, GWNYFCA, HCA, HFCS, HMMA, LAFCA, LEJA, LVFCS, MFCA, NCFCA, OFCC, OFCS, OFTA, PCC, PFCS, SCL, SFBAFCC, SFCS, StLFCA, UFCA, WAFCA Tenet (4) - HMMA, IFJA, MCFCA, SCA Mank (3) - DFWFCA, HFCS, NDFS David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2) - HMMA, IFMCA Minari (2) - BSFC, HMMA Berlin Alexanderplatz - EFA Blizzard Of Souls - SCL The Call Of The Wild - IFMCA Fukushima 50 - IFMCA The Invisible Man - HMMA The Midnight Sky - IPA News Of The World - HMMA Nomadland - IFCA The Personal History Of David Copperfield - IFMCA Preparations To Be Together For An Unknown Period Of Time - ICS Wolfwalkers - IFMCA Wonder Woman 1984 - IFMCA BEST ORIGINAL SONG One Night In Miami (12) - BRA, CCA, CIC, DFCS, GFCA, HFCS, HFCS, IFCA, LEJA, MCFCA, OFTA, PFCS The Life Ahead (3) - GG, HMMA, IPA Eurovision (2) - HCA, SCL Giving Voice - HMMA Judas And The Black Messiah - LVFCS The Outpost - HMMA Over The Moon - NDFS Trolls: World Tour - HMMA BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Mank (22) - ADG, BAFTA, CCA, CFCA, CIC, FFCC, GFCA, HCA, HFCS, IPA, LAFCA, LVFCS, MCFCA, NDFS, NFCS, OFTA, PFCS, SDFCS, SDSA, SFCS, StLFCA, WAFCA Tenet (2) - ADG, SDSA Birds Of Prey - MFCA Da 5 Bloods - ADG First Cow - SFBAFCC His House - BIFA Jingle Jangle - BRA Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - LEJA The Personal History Of David Copperfield - EFA Promising Young Woman - SDSA A Portuguesa - ICS Soul - ADG BEST SOUND Sound Of Metal (9) - BAFTA, CAS, DFCS, HFCS, ICS, IPA, LEJA, MFCA, OFTA Greyhound - MPSE Little Girl - EFA The Reason I Jump - BIFA BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Tenet (13) - BAFTA, CCA, DFCS, HFCS, HFCS, IPA, MFCA, NCFCA, NFCS, PFCS, SDFCS, SFCS, StLFCA The Invisible Man (6) - CFCA, CIC, HCA, LEJA, LVFCS, OFTA Mank - VES The Midnight Sky - VES Mulan - VES The One And Only Ivan - VES The Platform - EFA Possessor - FFCC Project Power - VES Soul - VES BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Soul (38) - AAFCA, AFCC, ANNIE, AWFJ, BAFTA, BFCC, CCA, CIC, DFCS, DFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC, GFCA, GG, HFCS, IFCA, IFJA, LEJA, LVFCS, MSFCA, NAACP, NBR, NCFCA, NDFS, NFCS, NTFCA, NYFCO, OFCC, OFCS, OFTA, PCC, PFCC, PFCS, PGA, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, StLFCA, WAFCA Wolfwalkers (17) - AFCA, ANNIE, BOFCA, CFCA, COFCA, GWNYFCA, HCA, IPA, KCFCC, LAFCA, MFCA, NYFCC, OAFFC, SDFCS, SFCS, TFCA, UFCA Josep (2) - EFA, ICS The Wolf House - BSFC BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM Another Round (18) - AFCC, AWFJ, BAFTA, CFCA, EFA, GFCA, IFJA, KCFCC, LFCC, LVFCS, MCFCA, NCFCA, PFCS, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, StLFCA, UFCA, WAFCA Minari (15) - AFCA, CCA, COFCA, DFCS, DFWFCA, GALECA, GG, GWNYFCA, NTFCA, NYFCO, OFCS, OFTA, PCC, SFCS, VFCC La Llorona (6) - BSFC, HCA, IPA, LEJA, NBR, WFCC Night Of The Kings (4) - AAFCA, BFCC, BRA, NAACP Bacurau (3) - BOFCA, NYFCC, TFCA Collective (2) - AARP, NSFC The Life Ahead (2) - HFCS, SDFCS And Then We Danced - NDFS A Sun - HFCS Beanpole - LAFCA His House - CIC Identifying Features - GOTHAM Jumbo - PFCC Los Fuertes - FFCC Martin Eden - OFCC Quo Vadis Aida? - SPIRIT BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Time (14) - AFCC, BFCC, BRA, DFWFCA, GFCA, GOTHAM, GWNYFCA, LAFCA, NBR, NYFCC, OFTA, PFCC, SDFCS, SEFCA Collective (10) - BSFC, CEHA, EFA, IPA, LFCC, OAFFC, SFBAFCC, StLFCA, TFCA, VFCC Dick Johnson Is Dead (9) - CCA, CFCA, COFCA, DFCS, IFCA, IFJA, NCFCA, OFCS, UFCA Boys State (8) - AFCA, CIC, DFCS, LVFCS, OFCC, PCC, PFCS, WAFCA All In: The Fight For Democracy (5) - AAFCA, AWFJ, HCA, NDFS, NTFCA My Octopus Teacher (3) - BAFTA, HFCS, PGA The Dissident (2) - KCFCC, NFCS The Painter And The Thief (2) - AWFJ, BOFCA Crip Camp - (2) IDA, SPIRIT Beastie Boys Story - HFCS Class Action Park - HCA Disclosure - GALECA The History of the Seattle Mariners: Supercut Edition - SFCS Mucho Amor - LEJA John Lewis: Good Trouble - NAACP The Reason I Jump - BIFA A Secret Love - AARP The Social Dilemma - MCFCA Stuntwomen: The Untold Holywood Story -WFCC A Thousand Cuts - GOTHAM The Way I See It - NYFCO Welcome To Chechnya - GALECA The Year Of The Discovery - ICS You Don't Nomi - FFCC AuthorsNicole Ackman Archives
April 2021
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