The 75th annual Emmy Awards, a cornerstone event in television’s glittering calendar, is facing an indefinite delay. This is an unprecedented predicament that stems from the ongoing strikes by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA), both unions campaigning for higher streaming residuals and protections against the employment-threatening specter of AI technology, as per Variety.
Initially planned for September 18, the Emmys’ schedule is now unclear, marking the first postponement since 2001, when the Television Academy opted for a November date in the somber aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
All this uncertainty extends to the new date for the rescheduled ceremony, as both the Television Academy and Fox, which holds the broadcasting rights to the 2023 Emmys, present conflicting timelines. While Fox reportedly wants a January 2024 broadcast, the Television Academy hopes to push it back only until November. Yet, with the strikes showing no signs of resolution, it remains likely that the Emmys may not occur this year.
The awards season may face a substantial shakeup if the Fox network’s preferred timeline is adopted. The proposed January date would position the Emmys precariously close to the Oscars and SAG awards, potentially causing a media frenzy and a challenging overlap for all parties involved. Then again, both the Oscars and the SAG awards might have to be moved anyway if the strikes continue until then.
The ongoing strikes pose significant barriers to the awards’ operation. With union rules prohibiting actors and writers from accepting awards for struck work or attending promotional events, the Emmys could face a conspicuous absence of its key participants. The absence of the writers, in particular, will be felt acutely, as scripting for the ceremony’s monologues and jokes falls under WGA guild work.
Yet, despite the disarray, the Television Academy remains committed to its voting schedule. Slated for August, the voting is proceeding as planned despite the unavailability of talent to promote their work via For Your Consideration (FYC) campaigns and interviews.
This situation comes amidst Hollywood’s first dual strikes since 1960, prompted by the failure of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA to agree on a new contract with the big-time studios and streaming services, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Around 65,000 actors and 11,500 screenwriters have joined the strike, underlining the gravity of the current industry unrest.
In the interim, the shadow of the Emmy’s delay looms over an industry already grappling with disruptions of a pandemic-stricken world. Last year’s hybrid format – with Jimmy Kimmel hosting the ceremony from LA’s Staples Center while nominees joined virtually – was a creative adaptation to extraordinary circumstances.
However, as the strike extends, the future of this year’s event remains uncertain. Will the 75th Emmys be another casualty of this period of industry upheaval? Or will it serve as a rallying point for change, reflecting the evolving dynamics of the television industry? As the industry waits with bated breath for the resolution of the strikes, the future of the Emmys hangs in the balance.
Nonetheless, canceling the Emmys is out of the question, particularly given this year’s significance as the 75th anniversary of the event. The Emmy’s role as a tribute to another year of extraordinary content, as stated by Television Academy Chair Frank Scherma, remains more critical than ever. As we approach this remarkable milestone, we must remember the tenacity of the industry it celebrates, even in the face of profound adversity.
For gamers, this year’s Emmys is noteworthy as it features the first video game adaptation nominated for a major award with The Last of Us outpacing all but Succession.
