So now the Emmy nominations are out there – approximately 3.4 billion of them.
You can catch the full list at www.emmys.com or other sites. But amid the avalanche, let met point to a few things:
— Some summer shows timed this perfectly: Their new seasons are airing now, just as nominations arrive for the previous ones. “Better Call Saul” (9 p.m. Mondays, AMC) is up for best drama. Up for best comedy are two delights — the jaunty “Only Murders in the Building” (shown here with Selena Gomez, Tuesdays on Hulu) and the wonderfully weird “What We Do in the Shadows” (10 p.m. Wednesdays, FX). Try them.
— Some shows offer deep acting talent. Consider “Ted Lasso” – nominations for one actor, two supporting actors, three supporting actresses and three guest stars. Or “White Lotus” – three supporting actors and five – yes, five – supporting actresses. Or the brilliantly crafted “Succession” – two actors, two supporting actresses, three supporting actors and SEVEN guest stars.
— Julia Garner already has two Emmys for her supporting role on “Ozarks.” She’s nominated forthat again, plus a bigger one – a best-actress nod for her amazing work in “Inventing Anna.”
— Then again, Bill Hader is really busy: He has three nominations for “Barry” – as writer, director and actor – and another for guesting on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
— Broadcast networks keep being nudged aside for an avalanche of cable and streaming shows. In the four key scripted categories – comedy, drama, movie, mini-series – there’s exactly one show nominated. That’s newcomer “Abbott Elementary,” which has reruns at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC (but is pre-empted this week). It’s up for best comedy and has acting nominations for Quinta Brunson (its creator and star) and two of her co-stars, Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
— Mostly, though, broadcast shows were ignored in all scripted categories. Even the final year of the oft-wonderful “This Is Us” was ignored. When NBC airs the Emmycast on Sept. 12, it will have to hope for a win from “The Voice” in reality competiton … or Seth Meyers in talk/variety … or “Saturday Night Live” in sketch show.
— “SNL” also has acting nominations for Bowen Yang and, in her final season, Kate McKinnon. It would be great to see McKinnon win as a going-away gift. Then again, it would be great to see Annaleigh Ashford win for her comic brilliance in the canceled “B Positive.” But that’s on a broadcast network, scripted, in primetime – and on CBS no less. In Emmy terms, that’s sheer oblivion.