A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
The Emmys honor the best prime-time television, and nominations are coming out in just a few minutes. For more on what might be nominated and why they might make you scratch your head, Glen Weldon, host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, is here to explain.
So, Glen, wasn't there already an Emmy Awards this year, or am I imagining it?
GLEN WELDON, BYLINE: Sure was - just back in January. They got delayed because of the strikes in Hollywood last year. And the nominations today, they're for an award ceremony that's going to take place in September. So yeah, two Emmys in 2024.
But the Emmys' calendar is always a little weird. The eligibility window for shows starts off in the summer. It's not based on the calendar year. So today, all the nominees we're going to get are going to be for shows or seasons that came out between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, so nothing from the past six weeks or so.
MARTÍNEZ: OK, that explains a lot. Now, let's start with the dramas.
WELDON: OK. For the dramas, I think the FX show "Shogun" is a stone-cold lock for a nomination. That's the historical drama that's based on the James Clavell novel - be very surprised if it doesn't pick up a bunch of nominations, actually.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SHOGUN")
ANNA SAWAI: (As Toda Mariko) Before you meddle with our politics, just remember - we live and we die. We control nothing beyond that.
WELDON: The last season of "The Crown" is going to get nominated because it is "The Crown," and that's the law.
MARTÍNEZ: (Laughter).
WELDON: If I had my way, you'll see the Apple TV+ show "Slow Horses" in this category. That's the British spy series starring Gary Oldman. Now, you'll notice, A, I haven't mentioned one very dramatic show here yet. That's "The Bear." It's going to get nominated for its second season, not the one that just came out. It is a major contender for - and will probably win, like it did last year - best comedy series, not best drama.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah, so I've watched it. There are some funny moments, but I don't know if I'd call it a comedy. So, like, explain that, Glen.
WELDON: Well, I can't because it doesn't make any sense. Here's a clip from that laugh-a-minute romp about a Chicago restaurant and the wacky people who work there, "The Bear."
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "THE BEAR")
JON BERNTHAL: (As Michael Berzatto) Hey, look, here's the thing. You see, I can throw forks 'cause this is our father's house...
EBON MOSS-BACHRACH: (As Richard Jerimovich) Mike.
BOB ODENKIRK: (As Lee Lane) Rich.
MOSS-BACHRACH: (As Richard Jerimovich) Lee.
BERNTHAL: (As Michael Berzatto)...My father's house.
SARAH PAULSON: (As Michelle Berzatto) We have liftoff.
ODENKIRK: (As Lee Lane) OK, you got everyone's attention. So go ahead and tell us a story we've all heard a million times already.
WELDON: Oh, what a stitch.
MARTÍNEZ: (Laughter).
WELDON: What a zany riot. Look, everyone knows "The Bear" is a drama. It's often a very funny drama, as you mentioned, but it is a drama. And when the show's producers submit it as a comedy, the fact that it is so well-respected and carries such weight means that it tends to blow away shows that are just out here trying to make you laugh - actual comedies like "Hacks" and "Abbott Elementary" - and that has all kinds of knock-on effects, right? Because we live in a world now where the lead actor in a comedy category is probably going to be Jeremy Allen White from "The Bear" competing against Martin Short from "Only Murders In The Building." I mean, they're both great, but they're doing completely different things.
The other contenders for comedy are a lot more clear. I mentioned "Hacks," "Abbott Elementary" - both Jean Smart from "Hacks" and Quinta Brunson from "Abbott" are going to get lead actress in comedy nominations.
Now, me, if I had my druthers, I think the most dependably funny show on TV needs to get some recognition. That is, of course, "What We Do In The Shadows," the mockumentary about vampires on Staten Island. That would make me a very happy critic.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS")
HARVEY GUILLEN: (As Guillermo de la Cruz) I guess I'll see you back at the house.
(SOUNDBITE OF THUDDING)
GUILLEN: (As Guillermo de la Cruz) OK. I'm just going to get some stuff at the mall.
(SOUNDBITE OF THUDDING)
NATASIA DEMETRIOU: (As Nadja of Antipaxos) What is mall?
KAYVAN NOVAK: (As Nandor the Relentless) Oh. I have heard about this thing called mall, but I thought it was a myth, a rumor, a fairy tale made up by an insane child. This, I have to see.
GUILLEN: (As Guillermo de la Cruz) Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned anything about the mall. That's on me.
MARTÍNEZ: Such an oddball show, but such a good show. All right. So speaking of oddballs, there's also this category called limited series. Tell us about that.
WELDON: Yeah, well, we used to call these miniseries back in the day.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah.
WELDON: I don't know why we stopped doing that.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah, yeah. I know.
WELDON: But some of the confusion here is that some shows start out as a limited series - just one self-contained group of episodes - and then maybe get renewed for another season. That's exactly what happened to the FX show "Shogun," which is why it's now in the drama category. And then you've got the special cases of shows like "Fargo" and "True Detective." Those are both anthology series. They've been running for a while, but technically each season is self-contained. Both of them are going to get nominations today, I think.
There is also this pretty terrific Australian show called "Deadlock," which is a very dark and very funny police procedural. I'd love to see it get some love, but that is a huge long shot. What is not a long shot in any stretch of the imagination - what is, in fact, a lock to be nominated in this category is the Netflix hit "Baby Reindeer." That has already received a slew of awards, and that trend is going to continue today.
MARTÍNEZ: He has been described as dark and funny. That's Glen Weldon...
WELDON: Ha.
MARTÍNEZ: ...Host of NPR's podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour. Glen, thank you.
WELDON: Thank you.
MARTÍNEZ: You can listen to Glen and his co-hosts break down the Emmy nominations later today at npr.org/popculturehappyhour or wherever you get your podcasts. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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