Why Leaner, Meaner Emmy Campaigns Probably Aren’t Here to Stay (Column)

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAdult Swim’s “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal,” FX’s “Archer” and NBC’s “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” are among this year’s first batch of Emmy victors, as the Television Academy announced juried award winners on Tuesday.The juried categories included nods for choreography, interactive programming and motion design, which will be handed out on Thursday, Sept.

Paul Mescal’s somewhat unusual 2020 — at least compared to most other people around the world — has been well documented. The young Irish actor went into the COVID-19 lockdown an emerging talent looking forward to his first significant on-screen debut and — thanks to one of the most talked about TV shows of the year — emerged the other side a bona fide star, not to mention a new Instagram obsession.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAs the 72nd Emmys goes virtual, so will the media that covers it.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeHas variety sketch peaked? This year’s Emmy category got caught in the rule change that limited the number of nominations in proportion to the number of contenders submitted — and with just 14 entries, that meant only three ballot slots.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeWhat are we going to do about the variety talk series category? The Television Academy implemented a plan this year to limit or expand a category’s nominations depending on how many contenders were submitted — with the exception of comedy and drama series, which will always get eight slots.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeWith less than a month to go before the Primetime Emmys, the telecast’s producers are still building the show and figuring out how to make it as live — and safe — as possible.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeMiss Monster is popping up at iconic spots all over Los Angeles in support of Fox’s “The Masked Singer,” while also promoting a pandemic-appropriate message: Wear a mask.Staring Aug. 20, the “Masked Singer” activation features the show’s “Miss Monster” character at the Santa Monica Pier and taking over the famous Randy’s Donuts sign.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSometimes, the laugh’s on us. Last year, at the start of Emmy campaign season, most pundits believed it would be a race to the finish between Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- Max Weinberg, the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the bandleader for Conan O’Brien’s Late Night and The Tonight Show, has been appointed to a local planning and zoning board in the Florida city where he lives.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Television Academy has finished updating 2020’s Emmy nomination roster, and three overachievers stand out from the pack: Kerry Washington, Daniel Levy and Will Ferrell, all of whom earned four nods this year.Close behind them, Jason Bateman, Jimmy Kimmel, Issa Rae, Maya Rudolph and RuPaul each have three nominations.The TV Academy released the updated numbers after vetting producer credits for all Emmy-nominated narrative programming (comedy and

Joe Otterson TV ReporterSeth MacFarlane and Chadwick Boseman are teaming as executive producers on a limited series about the Little Rock Nine that is currently in development at Universal Content Productions (UCP).The untitled series is set in 1957 after the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeTyler Perry and his Perry Foundation will be honored by the Television Academy as the recipient of this year’s Governors Award, which will be handed out during the Primetime Emmys televised event on Sunday, Sept. 20.Perry is the first individual to receive the Governors Award since 2014; last year, the Academy opted not to give out the honor at all.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeNot only has the COVID-19 pandemic upended the entertainment business (and, well, all businesses for that matter), it also put a sudden dent in what had been a more straight-ahead race to Emmy glory this year. A year ago, “Succession” Season 2 launched right in the middle of voting, and quickly turned into a phenomenon.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeWhen Disney Plus launched last year, I would occasionally ask its executives about their Emmy plans.

There won’t be football or concerts at the Rose Bowl this fall, but it looks like grounds and parking lots of the 98-year-old facility will be busier than expected during a global pandemic. Last night the television divisions of the Walt Disney Company held the second of six FYC screenings in a temporary Drive-In format on the Rose Bowl grounds.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe most unusual of years for the Emmy Awards will include the most unusual of tasks: This year, everyone nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy has been asked to pre-tape an acceptance speech.In a letter to nominees, the Television Academy has asked all of the contenders to record an acceptance speech as if they have just won for the categories in which they are nominated.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe lead drama actress category may wind up being one of the most exciting competitions in this year’s Emmy race. Part of that comes from the unexpected surprise of Zendaya’s nomination for “Euphoria.” Although it was a possibility, the fact that Television Academy voters — who often seem late to the party (and still are with certain overlooked stars) — know enough about the young star to recognize her in the HBO drama’s freshman year is heartening.

elections. Alumni include Bill Clinton, Neil Armstrong, Bruce Springsteen, Rush Limbaugh, Jon Bon Jovi, Roger Ebert, Roger Ailes, James Gandolfini and Dick Cheney, just to name a few.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeIt seems like it was a lifetime ago, but it was only last year that the busiest Emmy campaign season ever kept us out virtually every night of the week. That included seeing Bruce Springsteen and David Letterman onstage at the Netflix “FYSee” space, interacting with “The Marvelous Mrs.