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Streamers, superheroes battle for pandemic-era Emmy nods

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LOS ANGELES: Television shows binge- comedy or best limited series. watched -and even filmed - during the Could (hat change come September? coronavirus pandemic will vie for coveted “This is most likely The Crown's year.” Emmy nominations Tuesday, with Netflix's said Hill, with previous drama "The Crown" tipped to reign over a unique winners ^Succession" and "Game of year for (he smail screen. Thrones" absent, and (he British royals saga Like the rest of us, (he Television Acad­ delivering "a spectacular fourth season." emy's 25,000 voters spent several months Netflix's cultural phenomenon "The stuck at home, leaving them ample time to Queen's Gambit," which sent chessboard sift through a stripped-down selection of sales soaring, is tipped to dominate the lim­ series from their sofas. ited series awards. Nominees for TV's equivalent of the Os­ The Emmys'limited series category - for cars will be announced in a live-streamed shows stopping after one season - has be­ ceremony starting at 1530 GMT, after which come ever more competitive in recent final-round voting begins for the 73", Emmy years, drawing Hollywood's top A-listers to Awards, set for September 19. the small screens most prestigious projects. Here are five things to look out for as the This year, **The Queen's Gambit" faces nominations are unveiled: formidable competition from Kate I he arrival of Covid-19 early last year Winslet's small-town murder mystery shut down filming and upended TV pro­ “Mare of Easttown," and the Barry Jenkins- duction schedules, meaning the overall directed slavery tale "The Underground number of Emmy contenders has fallciL Railroad? Heavyweights like Netflix's royal drama Also competing are two series delving "The Crown" managed to wrap just before into London's Black communities - HBO's lockdown, while others including Hulu's critically adored "I May Destroy You," which dystopian saga **The Handmaid's Tale” follows the aftermath of a rape, and Steve rushed back to set as soon as restrictions McQueensgmall Axe** immigrant anthol­ eased. ogy- But the enforced hiatus meant popular All those limited series must fend off a shows like "Succession." last year's best new (be -the superheroes of Marvels **Wan- drama winner, failed to produce a season daVision? in time for this year's awards. The show starring popular characters That has created room for newcomers - from Marvel's record-breaking films, in­ especially in comedy, where Michael Dou- cluding Elizabeth Olsen's magical witch g山八”The Kominsky Method" is the sole Wanda MaximofT, won legions of fans and nominee from last year running again. critical praise for its quirky send-up of clas­ Ihe race for best comedy series “is going sic TV sitcoms. to have so much fresh blood in it," said In- it is not the only "genre” show gatecrash­ dicWires TV awards editor Libby HilL ing the Emmys - fellow Marvel scries *Thc "When your job is to have an idea of Falcon and the Winter Soldier"* is running what,s going to happen, a year like this is for best drama, alongside "Star Wars" spin­ just pandemonium." off The Mandalorian." which earned 15 In recent years, Netflix has unseated nods and seven wins last year. HBO in the battle for the most nomina­ "I don't think there's that inborn bias tions. like you find in film, that divide between Given the streaming giants prodigious what's 'popular' and whats 'high art,** said output, that is unlikely (o change this year, Hill. according to Hill, who describes premium **1 think〔here's plenty of room for Marvel cable channel HBO a、the “niche anhouse at the Emmys? to Netflix's megaplex." Traditional US television networks are But nominations don't necessarily trans­ rapidly vanishing from the Emmys conver­ late into wins, and Netflix has somehow sation, but the number of streamers in play never won the Emmys for best drama, best continues to multiply. - AFP