The creative and talented minds involved in the process of making the most acclaimed television series were celebrated this past Monday night at the 70th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The show was exciting from start to finish, with nominees filling into the ceremony on a golden carpet which matched the trophies some received later that night. And there was even an acceptance speech to top all other acceptance speeches by Glenn Weiss, who won the Directing for a Variety Special award for his direction of last year’s Oscars ceremony, that ended with a live proposal!
Longstanding hits such as Game of Thrones and Saturday Night Live as well as newcomers such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel took home some of the major awards during the ceremony. Also collecting a few Emmy awards and nominations were some of this past TV season’s lesser-known series. Ranging from shows that recently released their first seasons to ones that concluded their final run, a casual television fan may not have recognized several of the following shows.
Atlanta
When Donald Glover is not creating sick beats and performing on stage as Childish Gambino, he somehow also finds the time to work on his FX comedy series Atlanta. Glover stars in, writes, executively produces, and directs this acclaimed series about a group of up-and-coming young rappers living in Atlanta, Georgia filled with social commentary. At the Emmy’s on Monday, the show’s second season earned a total of sixteen nominations, the most out of any comedy series. While Katt Williams was the only actor from Atlanta to win at this year’s ceremony for his guest role as Willie; Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, and Zazie Beetz were each nominated for their respective roles as Earnet ‘Earn’ Marks, Alfred ‘Paper Boi’ Miles, and Vanessa ‘Van’ Keefer. Glover also won the outstanding lead comedic actor and outstanding director for a comedy series at the 2017 Emmy’s. Atlanta can be watched on Hulu, Amazon Prime, and FX Networks.
Barry
Only a comedian as talented as Bill Hader could know how to make a show about a hitman who attempts to emotionally fulfill his life through acting classes the tricky combination of intense and funny that sums up Barry. Two of the HBO show’s actors won comedic Emmy awards for their performances, Hader for the titular character and Henry Winker for his supporting role as acting coach Gene Cousineau. Hader was also nominated alongside Alec Berg for writing the show’s pilot episode and for individually directing it. Additionally nominated for the show was director Elizabeth Sarnoff for her work on the seventh episode. Barry can currently be streamed on Amazon Prime with an HBO subscription.
The Americans
While the critically acclaimed drama series has been on the air since 2013 and wrapped up its final episode back in May, the FX show did not win a major Emmy award until last week’s Emmy’s. Actor Matthew Rhys was awarded the outstanding lead actor in a drama series Emmy for his character Phillip Jennings, while writers Joel Fields and Joseph Weisberg won for outstanding writing for a drama series for their work on the final episode. Lead actress Keri Russell was also nominated for her role as Elizabeth Jennings. The Americans is a period drama set during the Cold War that follows the Jennings, two Soviet spies living undercover in Washington, D.C. Guest actress Margo Martindale had won the series’ only previous Emmys in 2015 and 2016. All six seasons of The Americans can be binged on Amazon Prime and FX Networks.
Godless
Netflix’s mini-series western drama picked up three awards during Monday’s ceremony and received a handful of nominations. Godless follows the story of a western town primarily occupied by women whose lives are disrupted by the arrival of an outlaw searching for an ex-gang member. Jeff Daniels and Merritt Weaver won the supporting actor and actress in a limited series or movie Emmy awards for their respective roles as Frank Griffin and Mary Alice. Actress Michelle Dockery was also nominated for her lead role as Alice Fletcher. Godless can be streamed on Netflix and those interested may want to take their time with the show, since there may only be one season.
Seven Seconds
Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or movie winner Regina King accepted her award in total shock, but those who watched her portrayal of grieving mother Latrice Butler in Netflix’s crime drama Seven Seconds may not have been surprised at the win. This was the only nomination and win for the series on Monday night, and also King’s third win in this category, the actress having won previously in 2015 and 2016 for her roles in the ABC anthology series American Crime. Set in Jersey City, the death of African American teenager Brenton Butler and its cover-up by white police officers leads to tensions within the city. The first season of Seven Seconds can be streamed on Netflix.
Killing Eve
Sandra Oh became the first actress of Asian descent in Emmy’s history to be nominated in the lead actress in a drama series category for her portrayal of security operative Eve Polastri on BBC America’s Killing Eve. The gripping first season follows Oh’s character as she tracks down psychotic killer Villanelle, played by actress Jodie Comer. The show’s writer, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, was also nominated for outstanding writing for a drama series for the series’ first episode. The full first season is available to watch on Amazon Prime and BBC America.
The Good Place
One of the wittiest sitcoms on television, NBC’s The Good Place merges moral philosophy and the afterlife with quirky comedic characters and surprising twists. Actor Ted Danson was nominated for lead actor in a comedy series for his role as good place architect Michael, and Maya Rudolph was also nominated for her guest actress appearance in season two. Kristen Bell stars in the series as Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who is sent to an afterlife utopia that is the good place after her death and quickly discovers that compared to the town’s accomplished citizens, her morally grey self does not belong. Sign us the fork up. Viewers can catch up on the first two seasons on NBC, Amazon Prime, and Netflix.
The Sinner
Actress Jessica Biel took a dramatic turn as an ordinary mother who randomly murders a man while at the beach with her family for no apparent reason. Biel’s mysteriously complex role as Cora Tannetti in USA Network’s The Sinner was nominated for lead actress in a limited series or movie at the Emmy’s, the show’s only nomination at the ceremony. Since the second season of the show will be an anthology storyline following Bill Pullman’s detective Harry Ambrose as he solves more crimes with complicated motives, those interested in the series may want to soon watch Biel’s performance in season one. The Sinner can be viewed on Netflix, USA Network, and Amazon Prime.