Emmy Watch: "Made-for-Television Movie"
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 10:15AM 
El Camino
The Emmy race for made-for-television movie hasn’t exactly been the most interesting category in recent years. This category was merged with Best Miniseries in 2011 for three years, during which only six of the nominees were TV movies, and then it was unmerged. Actors in made-for-TV movies still compete with actors in mini-series though in shared categories. Last year marked the first time that not a single acting nominee came from a TV movie. That will definitely not happen this year given the quality of the contenders...
The Past Four Years...
While most of this particular category looks different each year, PBS’ Sherlock has shown up here four times and BBC America’s Luther has been nominated twice (though the latter is eligible as a regular drama series this year). Netflix’s Black Mirror won this prize three years in a row. It could have competed again via Black Mirror: Smithereens but, in breaking news it's been declared that the anthology series will now compete in the Best Drama Series race.
So the top contender in this race comes from HBO: Bad Education. Its recent airdate and strong reviews make it a lock. Next up is El Camino, a sequel to two-time Best Drama Series winner Breaking Bad, which should easily earn enough nostalgia voters to place here. After those three, it’s not entirely clear what else will fill the category.
Patsy & Loretta, from Lifetime, earned a mention from the Critics Choice Television Association and seems likely to repeat that feat here. Netflix’s American Son also has a good shot, and should get a boost from star Kerry Washington’s other project, probable Limited Series nominee Little Fires Everywhere. Another Netflix project, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, could contend, as could Togo, from Disney Plus.
There are two eligible finale specials of previously-nominated shows that have something in common. Both Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Transparent received plentiful Emmy nominations throughout their runs only to be completely shut out in their final seasons. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs. the Reverend, new on Netflix, could very feasibly be nominated given how recently and positively the show’s original run ended. The Transparent Musicale Finale, which debuted in September on Amazon without the show’s signature star Jeffrey Tambor, is an eclectic oddity that may appeal to Emmy voters who see some of the original spark of this show in what stands in for what was initially supposed to be its fifth season.
Blow the Man Down
They may not have much of a shot, but it’s worth pointing out three projects that premiered at film festivals last year before heading to Amazon are eligible here. Unlike The Irishman and Marriage Story, which competed at the Oscars, these movies are giving it a shot at the Emmys: Troop Zero is a hilarious comedy starring Emmy winners Viola Davis and Allison Janney; Blow the Man Down won a prize at Tribeca and earned an Indie Spirit nomination, and its New England mystery is certainly unlike much of the competition; Selah and the Spades is least likely to score, but it’s a fun and well-made look at social hierarchy at a boarding school. The presence of these three films here really ups the caliber of this category.
- American Son
- Bad Education
- El Camino
- Patsy & Loretta
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmie vs the Reverend
ALL DISCUSSIONS THUS FAR
Reader Comments (13)
I hope Kathleen Turner gets nominated for These Old Bones.
This is such an odd category this year. One thing that will be interesting is how Netflix campaigns. Will they push American Son or Kimmy as their Black Mirror runner-ups? I think it really comes down to that.
Bad Education feels far, far out in front.
Just heard that Smithereens was just made ineligible for this category. It has to compete in Drama Series. Which I get, but I also want anything and everything Andrew Scott-related to win awards.
I admired American Son. Articulate and compelling, the film features a superb performance by Kerry Washington.
@Ryan you are correct about Black Mirror - I think that means it will go the way of American Horror Story and end up barely getting mentions in the drama categories. I’d guess Kimmy or Troop Zero takes its spot here now.
Didn't like American Son, and I don't recall it getting good reviews either. Film was far too theatrical for its subject matter.
So all future Black Mirror episodes/seasons will now be under best drama?
Ryan T.: Honestly, that's...kind of insane? The last anthology Series nomination for Drama Series was the second season of The Twilight Zone. As in The ORIGINAL. MAYBE if Drama Series split into Episodic Drama and Serial Drama, I could understand it. But as is? Just keep Black Mirror as TV movies.
IndieWire just said Black Mirror can't compete in TV Movie anymore so that frees up a spot.
Black Mirror was inelegible as TV movie due to its length.
It has to be 75 minutes or more.
Bandersnach was 90min.
This season, none of the Black Mirror are over 75 min.
But according to the rules, this category switch will make imposible to change back for the next years.
What happened to "The Black Mirror" that was here earlier (2 guys in a car)?
@Corinne it was announced today that Black Mirror isn’t eligible in this category so we’ve revised our predictions!
Just watched Bad Education. It contains the performance of Jackman's career.