Nominations were announced Wednesday (July 12) for this year’s 75th annual Primetime Emmys, but with seemingly half of Hollywood on strike, the biggest question had nothing to do with who was or wasn’t snubbed.
It was whether we’re even going to get an awards ceremony this year.
At this writing, the Creative Arts Emmys – representing mostly the less sexy technical categories – are scheduled to be handed out Sept. 9 and 10, with the big show set to air Sept. 18 on Fox.
You’ll want to write that in pencil, though. According to Variety, it could be pushed to November or even January, given La La Land’s current la-la-labor issues.
Whenever it airs, locals will have a rooting interest in more than one category.
Here are six New Orleans-linked nominees to keep an eye on if/when this year’s winners are ever announced.
1. Jennifer Coolidge, of “The White Lotus” (HBO)
Initially intended as a one-season limited series, creator Mike White’s black comedy met with such success that HBO decided to bring it back for a second season. That prompted a category switch, from limited series to regular drama series.
That didn’t get in the way of New Orleans homeowner and fan favorite Coolidge earning another nomination, though. Last year, she won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. This year, she’s been “promoted” to Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Promoted alongside her: “White Lotus” castmates Meghan Fahy, Sabrina Impacciatore, Aubrey Plaza and Simona Tabasco, all of whom have also been nominated in the same category, along with Elizabeth Debicki of “The Crown,” Rhea Seehorn of “Better Call Saul” and J. Smith-Cameron of “Succession.”
Other notable categories in which “The White Lotus” has been nominated: Best Drama Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (for F. Murray Abraham).
2. “Daisy Jones & the Six” (Prime Video)
Though not set here, this 10-episode rock-n-roll romance – starring Elvis Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, as a golden-throated 1970s rock superstar – was shot largely in Louisiana, making it the most-nominated local project of this year’s nominees, with a total of nine nods.
Among its most prominent nominations:
• Best Limited or Anthology Series, a category in which it will compete with “Beef” (Netflix), “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Netflix), “Fleishman Is In Trouble” (FX) and “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Disney+).
• Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie, for Keough.
• Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie, for Camila Morrone.
Additionally, “Daisy Jones” earned nominations for a number of Creative Arts categories, including for Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie; Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More); Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie; Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic); Outstanding Music Supervision (for music supervisor Frankie Pine); and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Taron Edgerton, left, and Paul Walter Hauser star in the New Orleans-shot miniseries ‘Black Bird.’
Another shot-here-but-not-set-here project, this six-episode prison-set mini-series – developed by crime novelist Dennis Lehane – was a showcase for top-shelf acting, and now it has the Emmy nominations to prove it.
In addition to a nomination for Taron Edgerton as Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie, it also earned a nod for Paul Walter Hauser for his stellar supporting turn, as well as a posthumous nod for Ray Liotta, who died in May 2022, also in the supporting category.
The work of cinematographer Natalie Kingston was also nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
From left to right: Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness and Antoni Porowski work their magic through New Orleans in the seventh season of “Queer Eye.”
It’s not easy being fabulous. “Queer Eye” just makes it seem that way.
After the revived reality series took home last year’s Emmy for Best Structured Reality Series, its New Orleans-set seventh season will get a chance to defend its title. Its competition in the category this year: “Antiques Roadshow,” “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” “Love is Blind” and “Shark Tank.”
In total, the “Queer Eye” guys received six nominations, including for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program (for Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness); Outstanding Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series; Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program; Outstanding Directing For A Reality Program; and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Structured Reality or Competition Program. New Orleanians might think they also deserve applause for stylish dining, drinking and shopping in town.
5. “Five Days at Memorial” (AppleTV+)
Honestly, given the height of the drama on display, I expected Apple’s eight-episode adaptation of Sheri Fink’s post-Katrina exposé to have earned a couple of acting nods. Instead, it will have to settle for a lone nomination, for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode.
For the record, the nomination comes for Episode 2, which is when you-know-what roars ashore.
New Orleans actor John Larroquette returns to the courtroom, and to the role of the sharp-tongued lawyer Dan Fielding, in ‘Night Court,’ a revival of the sitcom that brought him four consecutive Emmys during its initial run.
OK, this one’s a bit of a cheat, as it was neither set nor shot here. Still, NBC’s reboot of this classic sitcom was so infused with New Orleans nods – thanks to the presence of local product John Larroquette, wonderfully reprising his role as legal eagle Dan Fielding – that I couldn’t resist putting it on the list.
It’ll be competing in just one Creative Arts category, for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Multi-Camera Comedy Series, but that’s enough to give locals a rooting interest.
Mike Scott can be reached at moviegoermike@gmail.com.
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