Content Warning: This article has mentions of sexual assault, in discussing the content of a television show.
The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, one of the most anticipated awards shows, alongside the Oscars and the Grammys, was held this past Sunday night, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. The Emmys nominate and award TV shows that aired between June 1 of the previous year and May 1 of the current one and their associated actors/actresses. The Emmys have evolved a lot over the show’s decades of runtime, as the American consumer has watched cable television fall out of fashion and seen streaming services begin to take its place. Each year, we get a snapshot of what modern television is becoming, both in terms of what is being produced and what is being consumed. So, what did we learn from this year’s Emmys?
Representation is evolving for the better
The star of the night was the FX show “Shōgun,” amassing 18 awards based on its first season alone. Despite its success and popularity, I’ve never seen “Shōgun,” but I’ll admit that it’s not my usual genre of interest. Regardless of my unfamiliarity, its success is incredibly important because it was record-breaking. It became the first Japanese-language series to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and set a record as the most awarded single season of a show in Emmy history. In the past couple of years, we’ve seen Asian productions start to get the representation they deserve, with movies like “Parasite” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and we’re now seeing this same representation in television.
Coming in third for most overall awards won that night is the Netflix limited series “Baby Reindeer.” This show I have seen, and I personally think it absolutely deserves the praise that it’s getting. Unlike any show I’ve ever heard of, “Baby Reindeer” began as a one-man play based on the true experiences of Richard Gadd, who then went on to play himself in the show using the character name Donny. This show isn’t just showing audiences that a struggling playwright and comedian really can make it, but it’s also doing a lot for representation. “Baby Reindeer” depicts the visceral but very real experience of sexual assault, which is a theme that has found itself on the screen plenty of times before, but less so for male sexual assault, let alone committed by another male. With statistics for sexual assault heavily leaning female, male experiences become underrepresented and sometimes discredited by those who falsely believe that such a crime cannot happen to men. To see a show find success despite this is a huge step in the right direction.
The definition of comedy is changing, at least for the critics and directors…
The show to win the second most awards for the night, at 11 total, was the FX show “The Bear.” This is another show I haven’t personally seen, but have viewed parts and know its general premise. The show, now on its third season, immerses the audience in the high-stress environment of a small, family-owned sandwich shop. Of its 11 awards, many were under the “comedy” category, as were its awards in the 2023 Emmys. And so you may ask, what’s so comedic about something so stressful? And I’m asking the same question as well. While my opinion on the matter, as a non-viewer, may not be the highest regarded, social media and news articles have told me that I’m not alone in these thoughts. When interviewed, much of the cast and crew attest that it is in fact a comedy. Does that make it true?
One award in the comedy category that “The Bear” didn’t manage to claim was perhaps the most important, Outstanding Comedy Series, which was instead awarded to the show “Hacks.” Again, I’ve only seen bits and pieces of the show, but I’ve seen enough to know I consider it more of a comedy than “The Bear.” Admittedly, “Hacks” also features plenty of stressful and dramatic themes, but it is quite literally about a female comedian. One of the struggles that said comedian and lead of the show, Deborah Vance, faces is the reality of being a female comedian competing in a male-dominated profession. I’m sure we’ve all heard once or twice, in a similar vein to jokes about driving, that women aren’t funny (and if you haven’t, I envy you). So, are we watching this trope play out in front of our eyes? Yes, there are so many more factors that play into award shows and, of course, women are seeing more representation in media than ever before, but I’m just giving you all some food for thought.
Next time an awards ceremony comes around, even if you’re not an avid watcher of these long and drawn-out displays of celebrities patting each other on the back, like myself, consider giving it a watch. You might notice some valuable things about current trends in the media, like I did.
