Sure, you can wait for the shortlist of official Emmy nominations when they announce them on July 16th, or you can peruse the 2019 ballots now. With over 730 programs vying for consideration across 13 categories, there’s a lot of fascinating finds among the overabundance of broadcast, cable, and streaming TV.
Check them all out here: https://www.emmys.com/ballots/2019
Here are some of my favorite 2019 Emmy ballot discoveries:
- There’s an animated TV show on SyFy called Alien News Desk. First I’ve ever heard of it, but after a quick Google search I think I need to give a few episodes a go. Animated TV is arguably one of my biggest blindspots, but this looks like it’s right up my alley.
- There’s something amusing about seeing Kim Possible alongside the likes of Chernobyl, Deadwood, Fosse/Verdon, Good Omens, The Hot Zone, King Lear, Les Miserables, and more in the Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Series Or Movie category.
- Apparently commercials for television shows can duke it out against big brands in the Outstanding Commercial category.
- I wonder what the cutoff date is for a show to be labeled as “contemporary” instead of “period” for the costume categories. Twenty years maybe? Just curious because TV shows set in the 80s like Black Monday and GLOW were in the Outstanding Period Costumes category, but PEN15, which is set in the year 2000 is in the Outstanding Contemporary Costumes category. Not that I want to admit that the year 2000 was almost twenty years ago, but it was and wow does that fashion not hold up. Regardless, PEN15 really does a good job of capturing the terrible style choices we all made in the early 2000s.
- A good number of actors who directed an episode of the show they are on made the various lists in the Outstanding Director categories, personally I’m rooting for Stephanie Beatriz from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I loved her episode and thought she did a wonderful job of balancing the serious with the funny. Here’s a great interview she did with Glamour about the process.
- The Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup submissions include technical details about how they achieved said looks, which is really cool insight into the process and scope of the work.
- Nailed It’s Nicole Byer is among a crowded field for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program, but I’d be delighted to see her get an official nomination. And as always I’m rooting for Cat Deeley to get an Emmy. I wouldn’t be sad if the American Ninja Warrior guys got a nom either, I wish they could commentate on all sporting events.
- While not perfect, who else thinks that Black Mirror’s “Bandersnatch” is a shoo-in for the Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media Within A Scripted Program?
- Outstanding Main Title Design is my favorite Emmy category and it looks like almost every show is throwing their name in the hat for that one.
- Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Supporting Role is a category I hadn’t given much thought to but certainly makes sense. While awards for special effects have been given out since the 1950s, the supporting role category was only recently introduced in 2012.
- There are two separate categories for Stunt Coordination, but none for stunt performers, which is a damn shame. There’s no stunt love at the Oscars either.
- Shows I was surprised to see so often throughout the various ballots: For the People, L.A.’s Finest, and The Village.
After you’ve had the chance to peruse the ballots let me know what you think in the comments below. Anything already missing? Any names or shows you really hope to see make the final round of voting?
