VARIETY TALK SERIES
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Randy Holmes/ABC
The dean of late night celebrated his ABC show’s 20th birthday in January. It is this group’s only nominee that has ever won an Emmy (it has received three). But its only other nom this year is for directing.
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah
Courtesy of Comedy Central
For its South African host’s final season in the anchor chair, the Comedy Central show garnered its sixth consecutive nom in this category. It is tied for a category high with three total noms (including writing, but not directing).
Late Night With Seth Meyers
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Lloyd Bishop/NBC
Selected over its NBC lead-in, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, for the second year in a row, this category’s sole nominee from the 12:35 a.m. time slot garnered only one other nom, for writing.
The Problem With Jon Stewart
The Problem With Jon Stewart
Michael Greenberg/Apple TV+
The Daily Show won 10 times under Stewart’s watch. This is his Apple TV+ show’s first season of eligibility in this category after being nominated last year as a hosted nonfiction series and for its writing. This year, it’s also up for directing.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Scott Kowalchyk/CBS
The Colbert Report twice won this award, and CBS’ Late Show is nominated for the seventh straight year. With champ Last Week Tonight ineligible and as this category’s only nominee with directing and writing noms, it’s the new favorite.
SCRIPTED VARIETY SERIES
A Black Lady Sketch Show
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Courtesy of HBO
This trailblazing program has been nominated for all four of its seasons but faces an uphill climb to win with a category-low three noms (no directing and no writing) and a fellow nominee from HBO that’s long been a TV Academy favorite.
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Will Heath/NBC
Though the six-time NBC champ’s 48th season was cut short by the writers strike, it still snagged a category-high nine noms, including directing and writing. But no regular castmember was nominated for the first time since 2007.
Last Week Tonight
Last Week Tonight
Courtesy of HBO
Given its once-a-week format, this Brit-hosted HBO program was bounced from the talk series category that it dominated (it won in each of the past seven years). Its most recent season landed four noms, including directing and writing.
This story first appeared in an August stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
