Cedric the Entertainer will host a scaled-back show in Los Angeles on Sunday, which has been moved to an outdoor tent over COVID-19 concerns
Television may have helped people break through the lockdown and quarantine of the past year, but the Emmy Awards themselves don’t seem to be getting a break.
Read also | Get ‘First Day First Show’ our weekly newsletter from the world of cinema delivered to your inbox. You can subscribe for free here
Forced for a second year to abandon the traditional mass gathering of celebrities and executives, Cedric the Entertainer will host a scaled-back show in Los Angeles on Sunday, which was moved to an outdoor tent due to concerns over the Delta version has gone.
Despite vaccination, testing and masking requirements, Jennifer Aniston is among those who will not participate, citing her personal safety. Organizers said many of the cast of the drama series favourite, The Crown, will likely take part from London.
“We have some people wanting to dial in, and we understand that,” Maury McIntyre, president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, told Variety this week.
“It’s only about 500 in the tent, but 500 is still a lot for some people,” McIntyre said.
Last year, the Emmys were held for literally more than 4,000 people, with celebrities attending remotely from homes, gardens and hotel rooms around the world instead of the usual in-person event.
Television viewing exploded during the pandemic, sending people stranded at home to vast libraries of content on streaming platforms.
“Ted Lasso,” a heartwarming comedy about an American coaching a struggling British football team out of the water, and the British royal series “The Crown,” are expected to be some of the beneficiaries this year.
“Ted Lasso” garnered 20 Emmy Awards, including nominations for Best Comedy Series, and lead actor Jason Sudeikis and six other actors.
Tom O’Neill, founder of awards website Goldderby.com, said, “‘Ted Lasso’ is old-fashioned, brazenly cute and full of wonderful twists and turns.” “Even when things seem really, really bad, there’s unshakeable optimism in it all the time.”
The show could give the Apple TV+ streaming platform its first major win.
After a fascinating season centered on the unhappy marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, “The Crown” nodded 24 Emmys. Awards experts predict it will take home its first Best Drama Series Emmy, securing a milestone win for Netflix.
“If ‘The Crown’ and ‘Ted Lasso’ both win the race for best TV series, it would mark the total triumph of television by streaming services,” O’Neill said.
Amazon and Hulu previously won TV series awards for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” respectively.
“I’d be shocked if ‘The Crown’ doesn’t win,” said Gerad Hall, senior TV editor for Entertainment Weekly. “It was a great season and every single performance on that show deserves an award.”
“The Crown” Will Compete for Best Drama Series – Top Prize – “Star Wars” TV Spin-Off “The Mandalorian” Against Dear Baby Yoda, “Bridgeton,” “The Boys,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Pose ,” “Lovecraft Country”, and the only mainstream network series “This Is Us”.
Streaming services also dominate the limited series sector, which pundits say is too close to call.
“These limited series are prestige TV,” Hall said, referring to “I May Destroy You,” “Mare of Easttown,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “WandaVision” and “The Underground Railroad.”
“Every single one of the nominated shows are female-driven stories, and feature such a variety of themes,” Hall said.
The Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS on September 19, starting at 8 p.m. at
.