The presence of actual jokes, however, is still TBD.
What becomes a comedy most?
The Primetime Emmys are addressing that very question with some new changes to its nomination process.
Rachel Brosnahan on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.Christopher Saunders/Amazon Studios
Meanwhile, joke-heavy, lighter fare like yourTheMarvelousMrs.
Maiseland yourCrazy Ex-Girlfriendhave dared to venture into the 45-minute, even hourlong territory usually reserved for prestige dramas.
Behold what streaming hath wrought!
Comedies that are actually comedic … what’s Hollywood gonna do?
Dramas, naturally, must also be “primarily dramatic.”
What about shows that are splitting the difference, offering up laughs and tears in equal measure?
Shows whose tones are harder to nail down, often intentionally.
I mean, whenSuccessionis the funniest show on television, do the rules even matter anymore?
The Television Academy certainly hopes so.
Looking at you,Big Little Lies,and thenext seasonofThe White Lotusfeaturing the incomparableJennifer Coolidge.
Limited series to get to be eligible for consideration in that category must actually be limited.
The outcome of these rule changes will be apparent next year at the 74th Primetime Emmys.
Unless that show isWhite Lotus, in which, case, throw all the Emmys at it.
Would that be considered a comedy or a drama, though …?
