Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large ABC and Vice tied with the most wins, at 8 each, on night one as the news portion of the 43rd Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards were handed out at the Palladium Times Square in New York City. Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of “PBS NewsHour” was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented by Robert MacNeil, co-creator and former co-anchor of the NewsHour. “Tonight’s Emmy winners exemplify broadcast journalism at its best, reporting that values fact over fiction, accountability over advocacy, and that champions the advance of truth in the interest of the communities we all serve”, said Terry O’Reilly, Chairman, NATAS. “America has never needed its journalists more than today. We congratulate tonight’s honorees and thank them for the indispensable service they provide to our nation.”
As the TV Academy Evolves, Can We Hope for More Emmy Night Surprises?
09.09.2022 - 22:17 / variety.com
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large But the Television Academy is evolving — and so, too, might be the way its members vote. We used to assume that they liked to reward the same old, same old, every year. And we used to add the caveat that voters were older, and presumably more attracted to the safe, predictable choice. But that thinking is outdated. Since 2020, the Academy has been vetting its members, making sure that they meet their peer group’s active membership requirements — which usually includes current or recent work experience in their field — in order to qualify to vote for the Emmys. (Anyone who hasn’t had multiple credits in recent years, or a legacy of work, becomes a nonvoting associate member.)
According to TV Academy president and COO Maury McIntyre, that first phase of vetting is almost complete. Membership declined in recent years due to work stop- pages related to COVID-19, but the organization is building back its roster. McIntyre says it had 17,000 voting members this year, “so we’re seeing steady growth after the 2020 decline.” The TV Academy also recently hired marketing vet Linda Swain as VP of membership and outreach, a new position designed to bolster its ranks — particularly when it comes to goals of diversity, equity and inclusion. I must admit: This all makes me a bit excited. Could it be that we’re in for some fun, unexpected winners on Sept. 12? I’m really hoping members decide to spread the wealth and not just vote a straight ticket. “Ted Lasso” and “Severance” are indeed fantastic, but so are some of this year’s other breakouts. What if “Abbott Elementary” wound up winning outstanding comedy? It’s a show that I see even execs at the streamers secretly rooting for — a broadcast
Small Town Georgia Mayor Killed In 'Freak Accident' At Motocross Event
The mayor of a small northwest Georgia town has died in what’s being described as a freak accident.
‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ Promotes Matt Lappin to Co-Executive Producer
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” has promoted Matt Lappin to serve as co-executive producer of the late night show. In his new role, Lappin will help oversee the show’s daily creative direction; his promotion was announced on Tuesday by executive producers Stephen Colbert and Tom Purcell. Lappin was most recently senior supervising producer. As co-executive producer, he’ll be part of a team that also includes co-EPs Denise Rehrig and Tanya Michenvich Bracco. Together, they’re all helping Colbert and Purcell run the ship in the absence of former executive producer Chris Licht, who departed “The Late Show” earlier this year to take over CNN as its CEO.
NATAS Announces 43rd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards Presenters
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “The Rescue” filmmakers and Oscar winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin are among the presenters set to appear at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 43rd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The news ceremony will take place on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET and the documentary ceremony takes place Thursday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET, both at the Palladium Times Square in New York City. Presenters set to appear at the news ceremony include Linsey Davis (ABC News), Margaret Brennan (CBS News), Omar Jimenez (CNN), Morgan Radford (NBC News), Julio Vaqueiro (Noticias Telemundo), Teresa Rodrigues (Univision) and Paola Ramos (Vice News).
An Epic Emmy Traffic Jam Is Brewing as ‘House of the Dragon,’ ‘Rings of Power,’ Others Set Their Sights on 2023
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large It’s clear TV Academy voters still tend to fall back on previous winners — which is why this month’s 2022 victories for “Ted Lasso” in comedy and “Succession” in drama were not a surprise. But things are getting even more crowded as a new TV awards season is already well under way. HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon” and Amazon Prime Video’s epic “Lord of the Rings” precursor “The Rings of Power” have already made a splash with their premieres, and have settled in as properly fine performers. Neither are necessarily smash hits just yet, but they’re also not bombs. In this TV environment, where it’s nearly impossible to knowingly manufacture a hit, that’s probably still a win.
‘The Goldbergs’: How Jeff Garlin’s Murray Was Written Off In Season 10 Premiere
Like The Conners and Two And a Half Men, ABC’s The Goldbergs dealt with the controversial exit of a lead actor by killing their character off screen.
‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Renewed For Three More Years, Through Season 23, on ABC
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAs he prepares to celebrate two decades in late night, Jimmy Kimmel has agreed to stick around for at least three more years. Kimmel announced on Tuesday that he would continue his run as host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” through the show’s 23rd season, extending his contract — which was set to expire in the next year. Kimmel has fronted “Jimmy Kimmel Live” as host and executive producer since 2003. “After two decades at ABC, I am now looking forward to three years of what they call ‘quiet quitting,’” he quipped in a statement.News comes as Kimmel prepares to return to Brooklyn next week for the show’s sixth visit to the borough. This marks the first time “Jimmy Kimmel Live” has been back in New York since 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic put such trips to a halt, of course). The late night talk show will once again tape in front of a live studio audience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House.
Sheryl Lee Ralph on the ‘Abbott Elementary’ Character She Originally Wanted to Play, and the Director’s Note That Led Her to an Emmy
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large When Sheryl Lee Ralph first read Quinta Brunson’s pilot script to “Abbott Elementary,” she knew exactly which character she wanted to play: Ava Coleman, the inappropriate principal who only seems to have her own best interests at heart. But Brunson had another idea. “She was just short of [saying,] ‘Oh, hell no!’” Ralph says. “She said, ‘We need a queen for Barbara Howard. And you are that queen!’ And I was just like, ‘Baby, if you put it that way, How do I say no? What else do I need to know about that? I’m going to be the queen. I love it. Yes, I’m ready.’” Janelle James wound up being cast as Ava, and landed an Emmy nomination this year for the role. But tapping Ralph to play Barbara, the no-nonsense, seen-it-all veteran teacher in “Abbott Elementary,” also turned out to be the right move. On Monday night, Ralph was rewarded with an Emmy for outstanding actress in a comedy series.
Chernin Group & Management Company Night Inc. Launch Investment Firm Night Capital
The Chernin Group and Night, Inc. are launching Night Capital, a new investment company with commitments of $100 million, to acquire established consumer-facing companies in partnership with leading talent.
‘Legally Blonde’! ‘Sweet Home Alabama’! Reese Witherspoon’s Emmys Night Was Full of Reunions: Photos
Forget TV — the 2022 Emmys were all about early 2000s rom-coms. Reese Witherspoon staged mini reunions with her Legally Blonde and Sweet Home Alabama costars while attending the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Out Gay Aussie Actor Murray Bartlett, LGBT Icon Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Win Big At Emmys
It was a big night for HBO’s runway hit The White Lotus at the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning nearly all the major categories it was nominated in. Sydney-born out gay Australian actor Murray Bartlett took home Emmy for best supporting actor in a limited series, while co-star and gay icon Jennifer Coolidge won the best supporting actress in a limited series. In his acceptance speech, Bartlett thanked White for “giving me one of the best experiences of my life” and gave a shout out to his mom. “I just want to thank my mom all the way home in Australia for giving me the most wonderful foundation of unconditional love. And inspiring me to believe that we can all do that for each other.
‘Saturday Night Live’ Producer Lorne Michaels on the Upcoming ‘Transition’ Year and Plan to Add Four New Castmembers
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Saturday Night Live” is about to enter another “transition year,” Lorne Michaels told reporters in the Emmys media center on Monday, moments after picking up another win for variety sketch series. Michaels said the show, which enters its 48th season in October, will announce four new cast members next week. Longtime cast members Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson and Kyle Mooney announced their exits last spring, shortly before the season’s final show. Earlier this month, three more cast members — Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor and Aristotle Athari — departed the show. Michaels said the transition actually would have happened a few years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic kept the existing cast longer than expected. “ [COVID[ interfered with the natural order of things I think people might have left earlier, but there was no place to go… And there’s nothing after the show except to go home!”
Australian Actor Murray Bartlett, ‘The White Lotus’ Standout, Wins First Emmy, Thanks Mom Down Under
The White Lotus breakout star Murray Bartlett claimed the first Emmy of his career tonight, for his outlandish role as Armond, the ingratiating but conniving luxury hotel manager in the HBO limited series.
Pete Hammond’s Emmy Predictions 2022: What Should Win —Here’s Hoping For An Emmy Night Full Of Surprises (But Don’t Count On It)
There is simply so much good content out there — in fact, way too much — that picking Primetime Emmy nominees that deserve to win is a tough job indeed. If they have gotten this far, with this level of competition, then they have to be good. I have seen much of what voters have to sift through to fill out their ballots, and it becomes a Solomon’s choice in many instances, this — and every — year.
Emmys 2022: Inside the Parties
Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor UTA Emmys Party, Sept. 9 This year’s Emmy host, Kenan Thompson, led UTA’s pre-Emmy bash on Friday night at the Rooftop at Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Intermittent rain made it a bit of a wet affair — and the evening humidity was not kind to attendees wearing suit jackets. But the rooftop afforded magnificent views (and the occasional lightning in the sky) for guests as they enjoyed lobster sliders, spicy tuna on crispy rice and churros with dipping sauce. Spotted on the roof were UTA founding partner Peter Benedek, HBO/HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier, producer Mark Johnson, Showtime entertainment president Jana Winograde. Among stars in the house: Emmy-nominated “Insecure” exec producer and star Issa Rae; Emmy nominee Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”); “Better Call Saul” stars Michael Mando and the Emmy-nominated Rhea Seehorn; “Succession” Emmy nominee Sarah Snook; “The Afterparty” star Sam Richardson, who was Emmy nominated as a guest star on “Ted Lasso”; comedian Patton Oswalt; “The Neighborhood” star Max Greenfield; and Emmy-nominated “Hacks” exec producer/writer Jen Statsky, along with the show’s breakout Meg Stalter.—Michael Schneider
Variety’s Awards Circuit Roundtable Reveals Daring and Unpredictable Final Emmy Picks
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large And this is it, the final 25 categories from the 74th Emmy awards will be revealed, and winners crowned, on Monday at the Microsoft theater in Downtown Los Angeles. Will it ultimately be a roster of predictable victors and repeats from past years? Or are we in for some surprises? On this episode of the “Variety Awards Circuit Podcast,” it’s an all-roundtable edition as we go through all of the remaining categories and give out final best guesses and biggest dreams. Will predictable winners wind up on stage, or are we in for some big surprises from the likes of “Squid Game” or “Abbott Elementary”? What hints can be found in last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys winners? Listen below!
TV Academy Bosses on Monday’s Emmys, Future Category Switches and How They’re Rebuilding Membership
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large As they get ready for TV’s biggest night, Television Academy chairman/CEO Frank Scherma (above, left) and president/COO Maury McIntyre (right) spoke to Variety about what to expect as the Emmys return. Monday’s ceremony, which airs live starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock, is hosted by Kenan Thompson and will feature John Legend performing his new song “Pieces” during the “in memoriam” segment of the show, as well as Zedd as the evening’s DJ, and comedian Sam Jayas announcer. Here’s an excerpt of that chat, which ranges from the logistics behind this year’s ceremonies, the return of the Governors’ Gala, what to expect with host Thompson and the return of producers Done+Dusted and Reggie Hudlin, and what may be next in terms of category rule changes.
How Creative Arts Emmys Might Foreshadow Monday’s Primetime Winners
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Variety special “Adele: One Night Only” and docuseries “The Beatles: Get Back” also scored five trophies, though they won’t figure in the Primetime Emmy ceremony. Those wins, along with the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show’s victory for variety special (live), led some to quip that the Creative Arts Emmys felt more like the Grammys.
‘Euphoria,’ ‘White Lotus’ & ‘Stranger Things’ Top Creative Arts Emmys Night Two [Complete List]
After a night when Adele, Barack Obama and Chadwick Boseman were all honored with shiny gold statues, the second night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards shared some tea leaves for next week’s Prime Time Emmy Awards ceremony. Three series took home five Emmys: “Euphoria,” “The White Lotus” and “Stranger Things.” “Squid Game” followed with four.