By Lisa Richwine and Daniel Broadway
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15 — Hollywood will hand out television’s highest honor, the annual Emmy Awards, in a red-carpet ceremony on Sunday with the historical drama “Shogun” and the restaurant tale “The Bear” dominating the night.
According to awards pundits, “Shogun,” a lavish epic about power struggles in 17th-century Japan, is the frontrunner to win the night’s top trophy for best drama series. Best comedy champion “The Bear” is expected to win that prize again.
Both shows debuted on the FX cable network and streamed on Hulu, setting up a big night for owner Walt Disney and its TV chief Dana Walden.
Sunday’s ceremony will come exactly eight months after the last Emmy Awards, which aired in an unusual January slot because of disruptions caused by a Hollywood labor strike.
As for the September schedule, the show will air live from downtown Los Angeles on Disney’s ABC on Sundays at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
“Schitt’s Creek” father/son duo Eugene and Dan Levy will host the celebration. Producers have promised cast reunions from past shows like “Happy Days” and other moments to celebrate television history.
Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Caeleb Dressel and bronze medal-winning rugby player Ilona Maher will also be in attendance.
“Shogun” has already set records ahead of the ceremony. It won 14 trophies — the most ever for a single season of a drama series — at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, where awards were given for crafts such as guest actors and cinematography.
The expensive series was not a sure deal. It was years in the making, then was built around elaborate sets, makeup and costumes, and the storytelling impressed critics.
“It’s part of the Cinderella story of this series,” said Clayton Davis, awards editor for the Hollywood publication Variety.
The best drama category includes British royal family saga “The Crown” and Amazon Prime Video’s spy thriller “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”
“The Bear” also did well at the Creative Arts Emmys, winning seven awards. The show is competing with its second season, which featured a widely praised episode about a disastrous family holiday gathering.
HBO’s “Hacks,” about a 70-year-old comedian and a millennial writer, could play spoiler in the comedy category. Because of the timing of their seasons, these shows have never been able to compete head-to-head at the Emmys.
Awards watchers say the limited series “Baby Reindeer” may seem like a lock. This Netflix series tells the story of a bartender who is stalked and harassed by a customer.
Scottish comedian and star Richard Gadd has said the Netflix show is based on his real-life story, although the defamation suit argues the stalker’s behaviour is exaggerated.
Rivals for limited series include Netflix’s psychological thriller “Ripley,” FX’s “Fargo” and HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country,” starring lead actress nominee Jodie Foster.
Winners are selected by nearly 22,000 performers, directors, producers and other members of the Hollywood Television Academy.
This article is generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.
