Blueprints: Emmy Nominees for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Thursday, July 19, 2018 at 9:00PM Jorge has been taking a look at the Emmy history for this year’s writing nominees.
Let’s take a look at the four shows that made up the six nominees for Writing in a Comedy Series, the only writing category this year in which there were repeat nominations for the same show. Remember that, just as in the Directing categories, individual episodes are honored rather than overall series. For the fifth year in a row network shows were entirely shut out of the comedy writing category. (In fact network television was shut out of all three narrative writing category this year, only showing up in "Variety/Special"). Two newcomer shows and two established favorites got the comedy nominations; none of the shows have ever won for their writing.
Let's see the elevator pitches and the stats (we love a good round of statistics) after the jump...
Atlanta
“Alligator Man”
Season 2, Episode 1
Written by: Donald Glover
The elevator pitch: As "Robbin' Season" dawns on Atlanta, things escalate when Earn and Darius pay a visit to Earn's uncle, "The Alligator Man,” in the season premiere for season 2.
Emmy History: Donald Glover was a nominee last year in this category for season 1’s “B.A.N.”. The show got another nomination for Stephen Glock for writing the episode “Streets on Lock”, and has a second nomination this year for “Barbershop.”
Atlanta
“Barbershop”
Season 2, Episode 5
Written by: Stefani Robinson
The elevator pitch: Al runs into a series of obstacles while trying to get his hair cut.
Emmy History: First Emmy nomination for Stefani Robinson. The show got two writing nominations last year for season 1’s “B.A.N” and “Streets on Lock,” and a second one this year for the season 2 premiere, “Alligator Man,” written by Donald Glover.
Barry
“Chapter One: Make Your Mark”
Season 1, Episode 1
Written by: Alec Berg and Bill Hader
The elevator pitch: In the pilot of the series, Barry is a disillusioned hit man wants to start a new life after following his quarry to an acting class.
Emmy History: First writing nomination for Bill Hader. Alec Berg is now a six-time nominee, getting two nominations this year, one for this episode and one for Silicon Valley’s “Fifty-One Percent.” His other four nominations are all for Silicon Valley. Barry got a second writing nomination this year for “Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going”, written by Liz Sarnoff.
Barry
“Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going”
Season 1, Episode 7
Written by: Liz Sarnoff
The elevator pitch: After a shootout at the airstrip, Barry must make a tough decision to avoid capture. Sally worries her performance in MacBeth will be compromised and ruin her chance at impressing a top talent agent.
Emmy History: First writing nomination for Liz Sarnoff. Barry got a second writing nomination this year for the pilot, written by Alec Berg and Bill Hader.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
“Pilot”
Season 1, Episode 1
Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
The elevator pitch: Midge Maisel has the perfect life. She is supportive of her husband's dream of becoming a stand-up comic until he bombs on stage and blames her, leading Midge back to the comedy club and an act that might change her life.
Emmy History: Second writing nomination for Amy Sherman-Palladino. (Incredible as it sounds, she was never nominated for Gilmore Girls but she was nominated for an episode of Roseanne 20 years ago.) She was also nominated in the directing category this year for this same episode.
Silicon Valley
“Fifty-One Percent”
Season 5, Episode 8
Written by: Alec Berg
The elevator pitch: In the season five finale, Monica is suspicious of PiperNet's early success. The team races against the clock when their future is threatened. Richard makes a surprising move.
Emmy History: Alec Berg is a six-time writing nominee, getting two this year for this episode and the pilot episode of Barry. His other four are in 2017 for season 4’s “Success Failure”, on 2016 for season 3’s “The Uptick”, on 2015 for season 2’s “Two Days of Candor”, and on 2014 for season 1’s “Optimal Tip-To-Tip Efficency.” The show has an additional writing nomination in 2016 for season 3’s “Founder Friendly”, written by Dan O’Keefe.
Tune in next week when we go over the nominees for Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special!
Reader Comments (9)
I will be pulling for Amy Sherman-Palladino, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel which is a terrific and insightful comedy about a woman who aspires to be a comic. It's inspired by Joan Rivers, and it's a gem of a series. Check it out if you haven't already.
my vote: 'Dance Dance Resolution' [The Good Place]
#JusticeForTGP
Definitely rooting for Amy Sherman-Palladino (she's WAY overdue and it's an absolutely fantastic episode), but I agree with par that this category is moot due to lack of The Good Place's "Dance Dance Resolution" and "The Trolley Problem", the most creative, funniest half hours of television in the past long while.
Would easily cast my vote for Stefani Robinson's Barbershop. Though, I'm surprised 'Teddy Perkins' wasn't the shows other nomination, which I thought was genius - start to finish. Perhaps it'll take the directing category.
Barbershop better take it.
Justice for Insecure.
Speaking of Amy Sherman's "Roseanne" nom, her ep was the ONLY writing nod the show ever received, as it was criminally ignored by the Emmys in non-acting categories (the Emmys salivated over the escapism of NBC Must-See TV comedies in the 90s). Her nom was for Season 4's "A Bitter Pill to Swallow", in which Becky confides in her aunt Jackie that she wants to start taking birth control.
Jakey - Oh wow, I remember that episode very well. I'm the same age as Becky and it got so much about that experience right (especially your first trip to the ob/gyn).
Roseanne was so good for its storylines involving Becky and Darlene; when it was first broadcast, there was so few tv shows or movies that presented teenage girls in such a realistic manner.
Amazing post! Really, I am very glad to learn about these Emmy nominees for outstanding writing in a comedy series. I believe that writing a good story for comedy series is not an easy task, it requires creativity in writing. As a student, writing is my passion. Although I am still taking help from https://assignmentbro.com/us/buy-assignment to improve my academic performance. I want to be a story books writer that's why I am always trying to learn different things to gain knowledge. Thank you so much.