San Francisco Frontiers - 'Succession' set to dominate as delayed Emmys gala kicks off

Host Anthony Anderson opened the 75th edition of the gala with a musical skit featuring a gospel choir, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, and his own mother, while paying tribute to classic US television shows such as "Good Times," "The Facts of Life" and "Miami Vice."

"Tonight is a celebration that we're all honoring -- the best of the actors, the best of the writers, and the best of directors, and the shows that kept us glued to the tube," he said.

The small screen's equivalent of the Oscars typically takes place in September, but organizers opted for an unusual January slot this time around, correctly gambling that the entertainment industry walkouts would be over, and that actors would be free to attend.

Stars and guests walked the red carpet into the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles for the ceremony, which is being broadcast on Fox in the United States.

Votes were cast back in the summer, and some of the nominated shows premiered as long as 18 months ago -- but there still seems little doubt that the fictional Roy family from "Succession" will be making plenty of visits to the Emmys stage.

The critically adored show charting the back-stabbing dynastic squabbles of an ultra-wealthy family has a whopping 27 nominations. It is the frontrunner for six awards including best drama, which it has won twice previously.

"Succession" has a record three of the six nominees for best actor in a drama -- Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox -- while Sarah Snook is expected to win the best actress prize.

Matthew Macfadyen -- her husband on the show -- did his part to seal the fictional family's grip on the Emmys, with an early win for best supporting actor.

Perhaps the two TV dramas that will feel most aggrieved to come up against the "Succession" swan song are "The Last of Us" and "The White Lotus."

Arguably the best video game adaptation ever to grace the small screen, "The Last of Us" may leave the gala empty-handed, unless its stars Pedro Pascal or Bella Ramsey can spring a surprise.

Meanwhile, "The White Lotus," a stylish satire on wealth and hypocrisy, returns to the Emmys with a second season set in Sicily.

Jennifer Coolidge, the sole returning star from the first Hawaii-set season, won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama.

- Vintage comedy -

The Emmys' delay to January is unlikely to help a gala that has been locked in a downward spiral with TV audiences for years.

Last year's telecast was watched by just 5.9 million -- lower even than the 2020 "pandEmmys" lockdown edition that was broadcast from an empty theater.

This year's strike-induced postponement puts the Emmys smack in the middle of Hollywood's film awards season, starving the show of considerable publicity.

Plus there is the confusion about honoring seasons of shows that aired months before.

Most notably, "The Bear" -- which took viewers behind the scenes of a dysfunctional Chicago restaurant -- is a hot favorite for the top comedy prize.

Stars Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach were among the early winners for best actor, supporting actress and actor.

But Monday's ceremony is a belated chance for Emmys voters to honor the show's intense debut season, which premiered way back in June 2022.

At the next Emmys ceremony, taking place this September, the show's even more acclaimed and ambitious second season is eligible.

The same is not true for the stars of "Ted Lasso," a prolific former Emmy winner that has its last tilt at glory Monday for its underwhelming final season.

- Limited series -

The always competitive limited series categories, for shows that run only a single season, should be more straightforward to follow.

Netflix's "Beef" and "Dahmer -- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" led the category with 13 nods apiece.

Both are tipped by pundits to be rewarded, with Ali Wong a popular choice as a road-rage driver in "Beef," and Evan Peters too terrifying to ignore as notorious serial killer Dahmer.

Other standouts in this section are Hollywood A-lister Jessica Chastain in country music biopic "George and Tammy," and Paul Walter Hauser in "Black Bird," another dark true crime series.

C.Lewis--SFF