NEW YORK: This year’s highly anticipated Emmy Awards, television’s equivalent of the Oscars, is set to be postponed due to the ongoing Hollywood strikes, according to reports from US media on Thursday. Originally scheduled for September, the ceremony could be pushed back as far as January, causing uncertainty and concern within the industry.
Trade publication Variety revealed that stakeholders involved with the event, including vendors and producers, have already been informed of the delay, though an official announcement has yet to be made. A source familiar with the situation confirmed that a new date for the show has not been finalized.
Hollywood is currently facing two significant strikes, with actors and writers both participating in the first industry-wide walkout in 63 years. If the actors’ strike is still in effect at the time of the Emmy Awards, it would prevent stars from attending the ceremony, potentially leading to disastrous television ratings. Additionally, the writers’ strike would restrict the ability to script a monologue or jokes for the show’s host and presenters.
Fox Advocating for Delaying Emmy Awards
Reports suggest that Fox, the broadcaster for this year’s Emmy Awards in the United States, has been advocating for a delay until January, allowing more time for the strikes to be resolved. On the other hand, the Television Academy, responsible for voting and hosting the awards, favors a shorter postponement, as January falls right in the midst of Hollywood’s packed film award season.
The last time the Emmy Awards were delayed was in 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The ongoing Hollywood strikes have had a profound impact on the US movie and television industry, causing a shutdown of most productions. Exceptions have been made for reality and game shows. Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) members are currently prohibited from promoting their movies and series.
The strikes stem from the unions’ demands for fair pay in the streaming era and concerns about the threat posed to their careers and livelihoods by artificial intelligence.
While nominations for the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced earlier this month, the current impasse in negotiations between studios and SAG-AFTRA adds further uncertainty to the awards ceremony’s fate.
Among the leading nominations are HBO drama “Succession,” which earned an impressive 27 nods, including the coveted Best Drama category. Additionally, “The Last of Us” became the first live-action video game adaptation to earn major nominations, with 24 nods, while satire “The White Lotus” secured 23 nominations.
