It’s hard to imagine that just two years ago the Emmy world was aghast watching star-fueled contenders battle for the Limited Series honor. Eventual winner “Big Little Lies” faced what seemed like historic odds versus “Feud: Bette and Joan,” “Fargo” season 3 and “The Night Of” in every possible category. Now, with the Emmy nomination voting gates swung open, there isn’t a question that a great piece of content will be snubbed. The question is just how many critically acclaimed programs won’t make the cut.
Only five contenders are nominated in this category so let’s begin by considering the pedigree of each series in this category, shall we?
“Sharp Objects”
Airdates: July 8 – August 26, 2018
Network: HBO
Metacritic grade: 78
Lowdown: Adapted from Gillian Flynn’s novel, the summer mini-series was a critical and ratings hit for HBO. Patricia Clarkson took the Golden Globe in the Supporting Actress category for her role, Amy Adams landed Globe and SAG Awards nominations while the show landed PGA, DGA, WGA, Costume Designers Guild, Art Directors Guild, American Cinema Editors and Gotham Awards nominations. It seemed like a lock to dominate the year-long awards cycle until a certain FX series arrived on the scene in November.
“Escape At Dannemora”
Airdates: Nov 18-Dec 30
Network: Showtime
Metacritic grade: 78
Lowdown: Based on the real prison break from the Clinton Correctional Facility in New York in 2015, this Ben Stiller directed mini-series dominated the year-end awards circuit. Patricia Arquette won both a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for her performance, Stiller won his first DGA honor, won the ACE Editing Award, was a PGA nominee and a Cinema Audio Society nominee. It took a ton of “Sharp Objects'” thunder at the major awards shows that saw Adams losing again and again and again.
“A Very English Scandal”
Launch date: June 29, 2019
Network: Prime Video
Metacritic grade: 84
Lowdown: This BBC produced mini-series has been a slow burner finding more and more fans along the way. Ben Whishaw won a Golden Globe in the Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film honor while the show and lead Hugh Grant each earned Globe nods. Grant also earned a SAG Award nomination while Whishaw won the BAFTA honor and the program took three below-the-line BAFTA Television Craft honors. It was also nominated for a USC Scripter Award. At this point, it’s probably just playing for acting nods for Whishaw and Grant, but it’s the sort of British prestige play the Television Academy often finds hard to ignore.
“True Detective” season 3
Airdates: Jan 13-Feb 24, 2019
Network: HBO
Metacritic grade: 71
Lowdown: Considered a return to form after a disappointing season 2 four years earlier, this season was highlighted by Mahershala Ali’s impressive performance which earned rave reviews all around. Overnight ratings on a whole were comparable to “Sharp Objects,” but it seems to have been overshadowed by the other contenders that arrived later this spring. It’s hopes seem to have faded recently.
“Fosse/Verdon”
Airdates: April 8-May 29, 2019
Network: FX
Metacritic grade: 68
Lowdown: Michelle Williams has earned rave reviews for portraying Gwen Verdon and Sam Rockwell earned strong notices for Bob Fosse in this very industry-centric true story (never hurts). The production value was superb, but overall reception was somewhat muted by critics (although many were not reviewing the entire series and felt the final three episodes were an improvement). Ratings were also slightly under expectations considering the star power. In theory, that would make “Fosse/Verdon” a borderline player, but FX has had at least one nominee in this category since 2012. Even removing the “American Horror Story” franchise they have had nominees four out of the last five years and won it three times. That’s an impressive track record. Can “Fosse/Verdon” join the likes of “Fargo,” “People vs. O.J.” and “Assassination of Gianni Versace”? We’ll see.
“The Act”
Launch dates: March 20-May 1, 2019
Network: Hulu
Metacritic grade: 74
Lowdown: Another true tale, “The Act” chronicles the bizarre story of Gypsy Blanchard (Joey King), a “teenager” that is supposedly suffering from cancer (among other illnesses) and confined to a wheelchair. The truth is that Gypsy’s mother (Patricia Arquette), has found doctors and medication to prescribe a false narrative regarding her health. In fact, Gypsy is fine in her early 20’s, but being drugged by he mother as a means for public assistance and attention. How Gypsy escapes this prison would be over-the-top if it didn’t really happen, but the strength in the series comes from both King and Arquette’s performances. Is that enough to propel the series into a nomination? Considering the better received Hulu mini-series “The Looming Tower” was snubbed in a less competitive season last year, we’re not so sure.
“Catch-22”
Launch date: May 17
Network: Hulu
Metacritic grade: 70
Lowdown: Adapting Joseph Heller‘s classic novel isn’t easy, but writers Luke Davies and David Michôd along with directors George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Ellen Kuras crafted a mini-series that pleased most critics. This Clooney’s first TV effort since 2005’s “Unscripted” so it’s sort of a big deal for Hulu and they’d like to make his team happy. Unfortunately, the series has suffered from a lack of social media heat, but you can argue that doesn’t mean anything these days to Television Academy voters. Then again, as previously noted with “The Act,” Hulu has a lot to prove here.
“Chernobyl”
Airdates: May 6-June 3, 2019
Network: HBO
Metacritic grade: 83
Lowdown: Craig Mazin’s late arriving mini has been something of a social media wonder with many viewers saying they have caught it on HBO GO during or after the fact. It doesn’t hurt that it was heavily promoted during the last season of “Game of Thrones” or that it’s a point from being the highest rated contender among critics. It “should” get in, but if it doesn’t the late debut was likely the issue.
“When They See Us”
Launch date: May 31
Network: Netflix
Metacritic grade: 87
Lowdown: Ava DuVernay’s haunting chronicle of the Central Park Five case leads all contenders with critics. The performances, especially Jharrel Jerome, are heartbreaking and any fear of Felicity Huffman’s legal troubles affecting the perception of the series has evaporated (in fact, it might have helped considering the blowback the real-life figure she portrayed is experiencing now). The issue with “When They” in terms of Emmy contention is whether it simply came too late. Will enough members have watched it in the 10 days between its debut and when voting began? Netflix, like HBO, is hugely popular with members, but this might be cutting it close. The streaming service has gone to extremes to overcome the potential detriment with a massive publicity push (although DuVernay is amazingly a force in and of herself) that included a Q&A with the real men at the heart of the story, the cast and Oprah Winfrey. That event will be aired on OWN (seemingly unheard of from Netflix) and might have gotten it across the nomination finish line. It’s likely in, but if for some reason it falters the date will clearly have been the issue.
As for the others, Netflix’s high-profile “Maniac” was basically rejected by guild groups at the end of the year, Netflix’s “Haunting of Hill House” may not be serious enough, Amazon’s “Good Omens” likely arrived way too late, Nat Geo’s “The Hot Zone” is set up as an acting player, Hulu’s “Castle Rock” is too minor, TNT’s “I Am The Night” could surprise and PBS’ “Les Miserables” would likely be a potential contender in any other year.
With nine “legitimate” contenders (whether you agree or not), it’s clear there are a number of major players that won’t make the Limited Series cut. Anything can happen, but the safest bets are “Sharp Objects,” “When They See Us” and “Chernobyl.” “Escape from Dannemora” would be in the next tier with “Fosse/Verdon,” “True Detective,” “Catch-22,” “The Act” and, possibly, “A Very English Sandal” battling it out for the final slot. The Television Academy has surprised in this category before, however, so don’t be shocked if it’s a different lineup with nominations are announced on July 12.
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