Creative Arts Emmys Producer Explains Why Having No Host Is Key to Keeping the Ceremonies Short

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.

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.  

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!”

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

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!

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.)

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.

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.

Emmy ceremony that will air at 8 p.m. EDT Sept.

Squid Game.On September 4, Lee Yoo-mi took home the Outstanding Guest Actress award at the 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for her role as Ji-yeong in 2021’s hit Netflix series Squid Game. This makes the 28-year-old the first Korean actor to win the award.“I’m so grateful.

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.

Colman Domingo has won his first Emmy for his guest role in Euphoria. 

Clayton Davis The second night of the Creative Arts Emmys will take place on Sunday night, where hot races such as guest acting, music and stunts will be revealed. History could be made with “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers” from Disney+ could be the first animated movie to win for outstanding television movie, after becoming the first ever to be nominated. However, we could see if HBO will be in line to make history if it takes the category for Barry Levinson’s “The Survivor.” HBO is able to win all the top series categories for drama (“Succession”), comedy (“Barry” or “Hacks”) and limited (“The White Lotus”). It would be the first network in history to win all four if achieved.

74th Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by Kenan Thompson on Sept. 12. Among the 2022 nominees were , which leads the way with the most nominations this year, at 25, while  closely followed with 20 nods.

Adele has won her very first Emmy on the opening night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The 34-year-old singer took home the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) gong for her CBS special 'Adele One Night Only', although she was absent from the ceremony that was held in Los Angeles on Saturday (03. 09.

Two programs dominated the first night of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards: the CBS special “Adele: One Night Only” and the Disney+ docuseries “The Beatles: Get Back.” Each nominee won five Emmy Awards. They were followed by Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum (U.S.)” and the “Super Bowl Halftime Show” which took home three Emmys each.

Eminem could be the next artist to achieve an EGOT status following his win at the 2022 Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Slim Shady became an Emmy award winner when the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show won for Outstanding Variety Special.

The stars are stepping out for the 2022 Creative Arts Emmy Awards!