Advanced
TV Shows and Actors Hope to Win Emmy Prizes
July 17th, 2024
The entertainment industry buzzed with fervor as the Emmy nominations were unveiled, revealing a fierce competition among TV shows. “The Bear” emerged with an impressive haul of 23 nods in the comedy category, while "Shogun" outpaced all with 25 nominations. Presented by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tony Hale in Los Angeles, the announcement sparked a wave of reactions from the nominees.
Tyler James Williams expressed his joy not just at the acknowledgment of his work in “Abbott Elementary,” but also at sharing the occasion with a harmonious team. Nikki Glaser wrestled with a sense of impostor syndrome despite her pride in her variety special "Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die.” Eric André shared a visceral reaction to his maiden nomination, finding himself exhausted but gratified after a whirlwind journey from Alaska.
For Carrie Coon, her nomination for "The Gilded Age" was overshadowed by the surprise of her and her husband, Tracy Letts, both receiving nominations—a rare and unplanned event that thrilled her. Matt Bomer, recognized for his role in “Fellow Travelers,” reflected on the evolving industry which now honors projects featuring gay romance with openly gay actors and writers. He particularly noted the emblematic significance of the moment.
Lamorne Morris was taken aback by his nomination for "Fargo", candidly speaking of his disbelief and excitement. Mark Duplass, a seasoned nominee, commented on the changing tone amidst this year's nominees—a mix of jubilation tempered with solidarity in challenging times.
Kali Reis and Lily Gladstone broke new ground as the first Indigenous women nominated for acting Emmys, underlining the importance of representation and progress for Indigenous communities. Finally, Nava Mau expressed heartfelt gratitude for their historic nomination as a transgender performer in “Baby Reindeer,” recognizing the shared efforts of the transgender community in advocating for their rights and visibility.
These candid reflections underscore the personal and collective significance of the Emmy nominations, marking both career milestones and broader cultural shifts within the industry.
AI isn't perfect, so some things may be inaccurate. We don't necessarily endorse the views or information you see here and provide it for language learning purposes only.
💭 Discussion Questions
1
. How do the candid reflections of the nominees illustrate the personal and wider cultural significance of the Emmy nominations?2
. In what ways do the nominations of Kali Reis and Lily Gladine as the first Indigenous women and Nava Mau as a transgender performer highlight progress in the entertainment industry?3
. How does Matt Bomer's commentary on the Emmy nominations reflect changing attitudes towards LGBTQ+ representation in the entertainment sector?📖 Vocabulary
🌐 Cultural context
The Emmy Awards are a prestigious event in the United States, celebrating excellence in television. They carry significant influence in the entertainment industry and reflect current social issues, including diversity and inclusion.
🧠 Further reading
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The original inhabitants of the Americas, known as Indigenous peoples, have an extensive and diverse heritage that predates the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century. These cultures are incredibly varied, with some Indigenous communities engaging in hunting and gathering, while others developed sophisticated agricultural and aquacultural methods. A number of these societies boasted impressive achievements in engineering, architecture, mathematics, astronomy, and various other fields, establishing monumental structures, and various forms of organized settlements and governance systems ranging from city-states to empires.
In the contemporary period, Indigenous populations continue to thrive in many parts of the Americas. Countries like Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and the United States have significant Indigenous populations. The Indigenous languages spoken across the Americas are numerous, with a staggering estimate of over a thousand. In the United States alone, there are 574 federally recognized tribes. Languages such as Quechua, Arawak, Aymara, Guaraní, Mayan, and Nahuatl have millions of speakers, and some Indigenous languages have obtained official status in countries including Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and Greenland.
Maintaining their cultural identity, contemporary Indigenous people continue to practice their traditional religions, social customs, and subsistence practices, though evolving to integrate modern aspects. Some Indigenous groups live in isolation, with a few communities having minimal contact with Western societies. Thus, the Indigenous people of the Americas represent a fusion of historic tradition and modern adaptability, contributing to the rich mosaic of global cultural diversity.
Aromanticism
Aromanticism is a romantic orientation where individuals typically experience little to no romantic attraction to others. This doesn't necessarily mean they are incapable of love, but rather, they do not feel romantic love in the traditional sense. The term ‘aromantic’ has been formally recognized, entering the Oxford English Dictionary in 2018.
The concept of being aromantic is distinct from being alloromantic, which refers to those who do experience romantic love or attraction. Some people who are aromantic still encounter romantic connection, but this might be infrequent or only under certain circumstances. For example, 'grayromantic' individuals might feel romantic attraction only rarely, whereas 'demiromantics' might do so only after forming a strong emotional connection.
Understanding one’s own romantic orientation can be challenging, especially for aromantics, since romantic attraction can be subjective and difficult to differentiate from platonic affection. This can lead to uncertainty about whether they have ever felt romantic attraction.
Despite common misconceptions, aromantic individuals can and sometimes do engage in romantic relationships. However, they generally do so less frequently than those who identify as alloromantic. Importantly, being aromantic does not preclude the formation of meaningful, non-romantic relationships, including friendships and family bonds. Some also have children and enter sexual relationships, pointing to the fact that aromanticism is separate from an individual's sexual orientation. Therefore, aromantics can be of any sexual orientation, including asexual or allosexual (experiencing sexual attraction).
In essence, aromanticism is a unique and valid way of experiencing human connection, emphasizing the diversity of romantic orientations and the complexity of human relationships.
Color-blind casting
In the world of acting, a practice known as non-traditional casting allows for actors to be chosen for roles without considering their race, ethnicity, gender, or physical appearance. This idea is often seen as a way to fight against racial discrimination within theatre, film, and television.
The movement towards non-traditional casting was strengthened in 1986 with the creation of the Non-Traditional Casting Project, which was established by the Actors' Equity Association among others. It focused on challenging and reducing racial discrimination in the entertainment industry.
However, this approach has sparked a considerable debate among artists and scholars. Notably, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson criticized the idea, arguing in a notable address at Princeton University that it ignores the need for cultural representation and integrity within American theatre, which should not be overshadowed by European cultural dominance.
An alternative concept that has arisen is "color-conscious casting." This term gained endorsement from Diep Tran, an editor at American Theatre magazine, in 2017. Color-conscious casting is about recognizing the historical biases in the industry and striving to ensure diversity and representation on stage. Proponents of this concept call for more deliberate choices in casting to create racially diverse ensembles, which reflect real-world diversity and promote inclusion.