The late-night community’s hopes for the Primetime Emmy Awards were hit again after it emerged that there will likely be just four nominees in the Outstanding Variety Talk Series category this year — one spot compared to the Awards 2021 loses.
It reduces the likelihood of prevention Last week tonight with John Oliver scored his seventh straight win and is a major blow to shows such as The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Late Show with James Corden get a nomination.
The Emmy ballots came out Thursday as the nomination round voting began, and since only 19 shows were submitted, per TV Academy rules, that means only four shows will be nominated. That’s down from five last year and six in 2019.
Emmy rules dictate that a category that has between 16 and 19 submissions receives four nominations.
Observers have indicated that the academy has some flexibility to change its rules on such a close call, but from the looks of it, it’s another blow to the late-night community under its own guidelines.
Last year, the Emmys’ Outstanding Variety Talk Series category fell short of five nominations, as there were only 20 entries. The loss of shows like A A little late with Lilly Singh, mostly with Phoebe Robinson and Wilmore has led to a further reduction.
In 2021 the late night shows were nominated Last Week Tonight, Conan, The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The late show with Stephen Colbert.
conan took Full frontal with Samantha Bee place from 2020 and The Late Late Show with James Corden lost as it went from six nominations to five.
This year’s group is now unclear.
Oddly enough conanwho last year scored his first nomination in 10 years and amusingly caused a stir during the 2021 ceremony, was resubmitted within the deadline (June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022), admitted as it was officially on 24 ) that the Cover awards 2022.
The former TBS show host will now face off against the likes of John Oliver, Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee, James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Bill Maher, Jimmy Fallon, Charlamagne Tha God, Desus & Mero and Andy Cohen for a nomination (see the full list of this year’s entries below).
The problem with Jon Stewartwho saw the former Daily show host’s return to the space, was submitted in the Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special category.
Meanwhile, a number of late-night shows have chosen to compete in the Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, which will again only have two nominations under the same rules. The Amber Ruffin Show, break with Sam Jay and Ziwe will compete Saturday Night Live, A Black Lady Sketch Show, That Damn Michael Che, True Story With Ed and Randall and Whose line is it anyway? for a nomination.
According to Academy rules, a category will receive two nominations if it receives between eight and eleven submissions. Outstanding Variety Sketch Series received eight submissions.
It’s unclear if the late-night category could stay at five nominations if a show pleases The Amber Ruffin Show or Ziwewhich are essentially late-night shows, will change its submission status.
The move comes after late-night hosts and producers breathed a separate sigh of relief last year when the television academy capitulated to the cries of the comedy lobby and reversed its decision to merge the variety sketch and talk categories.
There was a lot of pressure on the original decision from broadcasters like ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as cable networks like Comedy Central. Last February, the academy reversed course after Deadline revealed some showrunners were considering boycotting the event.
Outstanding Variety Talk Series (Entries)
conan
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Desus & Mero
E! The nightly pop of the news
Friday night vibes
Full frontal with Samantha Bee
Half in the pocket
Hard to the heart
The house
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last week tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The late show with Stephen Colbert
Real time with Bill Maher
The Sisaundra Show
Tha God’s Honest Truth with Charlamagne Tha God
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
See what’s happening live with Andy Cohen