Shōgun and The Bear Lead Emmy Awards as Ceremony Marks Historic Milestones

The TV series Shōgun and The Bear are leading the 2024 Emmy Awards, dominating the drama and comedy categories, respectively. Shōgun, a sweeping historical epic, has been praised for its breathtaking cinematography and compelling performances, particularly by Hiroyuki Sanada, who is a favorite for Best Actor in a Drama. On the other hand, The Bear, a high-stakes restaurant drama, earned widespread acclaim for its intense storytelling, with the “Fishes” episode being one of the most celebrated in Emmy history​ POLITICO andTheWrap

This weekend’s Emmy Awards are set to make history with the big-budget epic Shōgun leading the pack of nominees and the ceremony itself taking place for the second time this year—a first for the industry. The unusual scheduling was necessitated by last year’s industry-wide dual strikes, resulting in an unprecedented traffic jam that delayed the awards season.

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Shōgun has garnered 25 nominations, including for Best Drama Series, marking the first time a Japanese-language series has been nominated in this category, and only the second non-English-language show after Squid Game to achieve such recognition. At last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, Shōgun took home 14 awards, the most by any show in the technical and minor acting categories. Co-creator Justin Marks expressed disbelief at the show’s success, describing the lengthy and challenging production process.

This Sunday’s ceremony could also deliver historic wins for performers of Asian descent, a group historically underrepresented at the Emmys. Ali Wong’s recent win as the first woman of Asian descent to take home a lead Emmy for her role in Beef set the stage for more diverse recognition in acting categories this year.

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Despite progress, the Television Academy still faces criticism for gender inequality. A report from the Women’s Media Center highlighted that women received just 34% of nominations in non-acting categories this year, revealing a continued disparity behind the scenes.

Other major contenders include Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, based on Richard Gadd’s alleged experiences with a stalker. The limited series has earned 11 nominations, although it faces controversy, as the inspiration for Gadd’s stalker, Fiona Harvey, is suing the streamer for $170 million, claiming defamation.

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Meanwhile, the popular series The Bear is expected to dominate the comedy categories again after winning 10 awards for its first season. Last weekend, the show picked up seven additional awards, including one for Jamie Lee Curtis as a guest star. Curtis, elated with her win, referred to herself as “the luckiest girl in the world.”

In an effort to boost viewer engagement and maintain a lighthearted tone, the father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy from Schitt’s Creek have been recruited as hosts. The Levys expressed their excitement about hosting in person, after winning their Emmys in quarantine during the pandemic. Producers have promised an upbeat and snark-free event, with special reunions planned for iconic shows like Happy Days, The West Wing, and Saturday Night Live, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The ceremony, which aims to recover from a record-low 4.3 million viewers during its most recent telecast, promises to be an exciting and landmark event in Emmy history.

Key Points:

i. Shōgun leads the 2024 Emmy Awards with 25 nominations, becoming the first Japanese-language series nominated for Best Drama.

ii. The Emmys, delayed due to industry strikes, are taking place for the second time this year—an unprecedented event.

iii. The ceremony could mark more historic wins for actors of Asian descent, following Ali Wong’s groundbreaking win earlier this year.

iv. Netflix’s Baby Reindeer has earned 11 nominations but faces a $170 million defamation lawsuit from the real-life inspiration behind its plot.

v. The Bear is expected to dominate the comedy categories again, with Eugene and Dan Levy hosting an upbeat, snark-free ceremony.

Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News