History in the Making: "Shogun" Eyeing First Non-English Language Emmy Win
In a major milestone for the entertainment industry, "Shogun," a period drama set in 17th-century Japan, is poised to make history by becoming the first non-English language winner of the Emmy for best drama. The 76th Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, with the coveted prize expected to go to the show’s cast, including veteran leading man Hiroyuki Sanada.
Based on James Clavell’s historical fiction novel, "Shogun" has already made waves by earning a record-breaking 14 wins in technical and smaller categories at the Creative Arts Emmys this past weekend. The show’s wins in these minor categories have already eclipsed the previous record of 12 set by "Game of Thrones" for number of Emmys for a drama in a single season.
The show’s success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its cast and crew. "Shogun" features a Japanese cast and subtitled dialogue, making it only the second non-English language show to earn a best drama nomination, after South Korea’s "Squid Game" two years ago. The show’s biggest rival this year is former drama winner "The Crown," with Elizabeth Debicki tipped for best supporting actress as princess Diana.
Another show expected to make a strong impression is "The Bear," a dark comedy set in the Chicago restaurant scene that returned for an experimental second season. The show’s intense debut season dominated the last Emmys, and its even more acclaimed and ambitious second season is eligible this time around. It scooped up seven prizes in minor categories, including a best guest actress award for Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis.
In the comedy sections, "The Bear" and its foodie chefs look primed for more Emmys glory, with HBO’s "Hacks" expected to limit the show’s rampage. The limited series section will also see some stiff competition, with "Baby Reindeer" becoming a huge word-of-mouth hit for Netflix this year.
Despite controversy surrounding the show’s claim to be a "true story," pundits predict Emmy voters will choose "Baby Reindeer" as best limited series, with its creator Richard Gadd going head-to-head with Andrew Scott ("Ripley") and Jon Hamm ("Fargo") for best actor. The limited series section has always drawn A-list Hollywood stars, and this year is no exception, with Jodie Foster and Brie Larson both vying for best actress honors.
This year’s Emmy Awards may also be seen as a silver lining, with several bigger series skipping this year and others having ended their runs. This could potentially be an opportunity for new titles like "Fallout" and "Mr and Mrs Smith" to shine.