For the first time in seven years at the Emmys, a multi-camera comedy will be nominated for Best Comedy Directing — because a new rule mandates it. One slot is now reserved for the multi-camera contender that receives the most votes. The revised rule book that the Emmys published last month actually states that nominees will be proportional to the number of single-camera versus multi-camera submissions, with at least one slot reserved for each type, but it has been at least a decade since there have been enough relative multi-camera submissions to theoretically unlock a second slot.
The Emmys have been gradually switching to proportional nominations in recent years; this is the highest-profile category to adopt it. Best Half-Hour Production Design has been the only race to proportionately nominate based on single-camera versus multi-camera submissions for the past four years; Best Variety Directing has been the only directing category to nominate proportionally for the past two years, recognizing sketch and talk series.
What sitcom filmed in front of a live studio audience do you think will be the beneficiary of the restructuring? Read analyses of the top contenders below, and then vote in our poll.
“The Big Bang Theory”
Lead director Mark Cendrowski is the 2017–2018 directors’ branch member on the Emmys’ Board of Governors. Since the introduction of Best Comedy Directing in 1959, “The Big Bang Theory” has been the only show to receive four or more Best Comedy Series nominations (2011–2014) without one for Best Comedy Directing. Just as curious is that “The Big Bang Theory” has received three Best Comedy Directing nominations from the Directors Guild of America (2012–2013), including two for Cendrowski. The directors’ branch of the Emmys tends to agree with the DGA; “The Big Bang Theory” is the only DGA-nominated comedy in the last 14 years never to have been nominated by the Emmys for directing. “The Big Bang Theory” has certainly been competitive for an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Directing and it might have gotten one if the category had expanded from five to six slots before 2016.
“Mom”
“Mom” was the last multi-camera comedy to win an Emmy above the line, for Best Comedy Supporting Actress Allison Janney (2014–2015). Janney, who won an Oscar for “I, Tonya,” jumped up to the lead race last year and will compete there again this year. “Mom’s” main director James Widdoes was a DGA nominee for “8 Simple Rules” (2003).
“One Day at a Time”
The original won Best Comedy Directing in 1982; the remake’s lead director is Pamela Fryman, who was the last Best Comedy Directing nominee for a multi-camera series (“How I Met Your Mother,” 2011).
“The Ranch”
Under series director David Trainer, the first season won Best Multi-Camera Cinematography last year. The Best One-Hour Single-Camera Cinematography winner was “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which won Best Drama Series and Best Drama Directing; the Best Half-Hour Single-Camera Cinematography winner was “Veep,” which won Best Comedy Series and was triple-nominated for Best Comedy Directing.
“Roseanne”
The original run was never nominated for Best Comedy Series or Best Comedy Directing, but new lead director John Pasquin is a past Best Drama Directing nominee for “L.A. Law” (1989). Returning “Roseanne” director Gail Mancuso was snubbed for her 51 episodes in the original run, but has since won two Emmys in Best Comedy Directing for “Modern Family” (2013–2014) and was the 2016–2017 directors’ branch member on the Emmys’ Board of Governors.
“Will & Grace”
The revival is expected to receive a Best Comedy Series nomination, which would make it the first multi-camera nominee since “The Big Bang Theory” four years ago. Series director James Burrows was nominated at the Emmys six times in the original eight-season run of “Will & Grace” and won the DGA Award for 2000. Burrows has actually been nominated for Best Comedy Directing 26 times by the Emmys and 21 times by the DGA.
