The hit drama series “Shogun,” which took viewers to early 17th-century Japan, led television’s Emmy nominations on Wednesday, receiving 25 nods.
“The Bear” broke the comedy record for most nominations in a single year with 23, surpassing “Only Murders in the Building” with 21.
“True Detective: Night Country,” starring Jodie Foster, received the most nominations in the limited or anthology series category (19).
Nominees were unveiled in a live-streamed ceremony from Los Angeles, with final-round voting for the 76th Emmy Awards set for next month, prior to the September 15 presentation.
Adapted from James Clavell’s historical fiction novel, “Shogun” depicts feudal Japan’s complicated and deadly court intrigues.
The show’s extensive use of subtitles did not deter Television Academy voters, who nominated its impressive cast of Japanese heroes and villains, including actresses Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada.
Surprisingly, Cosmo Jarvis received no nominations for his depiction of the marooned English sailor who frames the show’s plot for viewers.
With another two seasons in the works, “Shogun” is a clear favorite in this year’s drama categories.
“It’s got everything going for it in terms of acting, writing, directing” and many technical categories, Deadline awards columnist Pete Hammond told AFP.
“Shogun” faces competition from the final season of Netflix’s British royal saga “The Crown,” and Apple’s “The Morning Show,” starring Jennifer Aniston.
Set in a chaotic Chicago restaurant run by a group of close-knit but abrasive and occasionally abusive chefs, “The Bear” topped the comedy categories, making history with its 23 nominations.
The previous record set in 2009 was held by Alec Baldwin’s “30 Rock.”
“The Bear,” a big winner for its debut season at the last Emmys, returned with an even more ambitious and experimental second run.
Sumptuous montages of Michelin star-level dishes were paired with extraordinary episodes like “Fishes” — an hour-long portrait of a dysfunctional family tearing itself apart over one excruciating dinner.
Bizarrely entered in the comedy categories, despite dealing with hard-hitting issues like grief and addiction, “The Bear” is up against shows including “Hacks,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Only Murders in the Building” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
‘True Detective’
The category for limited or anthology shows are always filled with water-cooler hits.
This year, the latest chapter of the dark crime anthology series “True Detective” received the most nominations.
Among the other finalists was Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer,” based on Scottish comedian Richard Gadd’s pitch-black one-man performance on his meetings with a female stalker.
The global sensation, which sparked controversy when a lady claiming to be its real-life inspiration sued the streamer, received 11 nominations, including one for Gadd.
Other widely nominated shows in the limited series section included “Fargo,” “Ripley” and “Lessons in Chemistry.”
There were surprising snubs for Kate Winslet (“The Regime”) and Emma Stone (“The Curse”).
The 76th Emmy Awards, scheduled for September 15, will be the second to take place in 2024, after last year’s ceremony was postponed to January due to Hollywood strikes.
It will honor television series that were broadcast between June 2023 and May 2024.
Tony Hale (“Veep”) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) unveiled the nominations.
Voting members of the US-based Television Academy have a month to catch up on their viewing, before final-round voting takes place in mid-August.