Some of the most iconic drama series in recent TV memory aired on FX: “The Shield,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Rescue Me,” “Damages,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Justified,” “The Americans,” “Pose,” etc. However, the cable network has never taken home the coveted Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. Until now? According to Gold Derby’s Emmy predictions, “Shōgun” is out front to win the top prize on September 15 after scooping up more nominations (25) than any other program during the 2023/24 eligibility period.
The big-budget Japanese historical drama is based on James Clavell‘s 1975 novel, which was previously adapted into NBC’s three-time Emmy-winning 1980 miniseries. The five nominated cast members for FX’s 2024 version are Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko in lead, Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige and Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari in supporting, and Nestor Carbonell as Vasco Rodrigues in guest.
Besides series and acting, “Shōgun’s” other above-the-line Emmy nominations are for directing (Frederick E.O. Toye for “Crimson Sky”) and writing x2 (Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks for “Anjin”; Rachel Kondo & Caillin Puente for “Crimson Sky”). Its below-the-line bids are for production design, casting, cinematography x2, costumes, picture editing, hairstyling, main title design, non-prosthetic makeup, prosthetic makeup, music composition, main title theme music, sound editing, sound mixing, visual effects and stunt performance.
Earlier this year, awards pundits assumed that “Shōgun” would enter the limited series race at the Emmys. However, in May, FX announced that it was “working to extend the critically acclaimed global hit … with two additional seasons of the drama series.” The network added, “Production timing has not been locked in, but a writers’ room is being assembled and will begin this summer.” That prompted the shift from limited to drama, and it soon became the Emmy front-runner to win Best Drama Series.
Here are the eight nominees in this year’s drama race, and the number of Emmy bids they each received: “Shōgun” (25), “The Crown” (18), “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (16), “The Morning Show” (16), “Fallout” (16), “Slow Horses” (9), “The Gilded Age” (6) and “3 Body Problem” (6).
To date, FX has only competed for Best Drama Series six times. “Damages” lost to “Mad Men” in 2008 and ’09, “The Americans” lost to “Game of Thrones” in 2016 and ’18, and “Pose” lost to “GoT” in 2019 and to “The Crown” in 2021. Will the seventh time be the charm this year for “Shōgun”? Stay tuned. Note that FX has already won Best Comedy Series once (“The Bear” in 2023) and Best Limited Series three times (“Fargo” in 2014, “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story” in 2016, and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” in 2018).
PREDICT the 2024 Emmy winners through September 15
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