Emmy Voter Backs 4 Shows on 78th Primetime Ballot as He Slams Category Choices

Q: Could the TV Academy's controversial new voting rules actually leave major Emmy categories without a single winner this year?

No. Under the Television Academy’s new rules, the major Emmy category that could behave unusually is Outstanding Variety Series, but it is not expected to end up with no winner at all. That category was converted into an “area award” after the Academy merged talk and scripted variety. Instead of choosing one show over another, voters answer yes or no on whether each nominee “merits” an Emmy. Any nominee that gets 90% yes votes wins, which means there could be multiple winners — even as many as five. That is why the Academy has said it is preparing for that possibility. But the rules also include a backstop: if no nominee reaches the 90% threshold, the show with the highest yes-vote percentage still wins. So the new system does not allow the category to go completely winnerless. The anonymous voter cited by The Hollywood Reporter reflected the concern some members have about this setup, particularly that voters are effectively asked to reject shows one by one rather than pick a single best entrant. Other awards coverage has echoed that criticism, calling the format confusing or too close to a participation-trophy system. Still, the practical answer is clear. Variety Series could produce multiple winners this year, but not zero. And there is no indication from the Academy rules provided that other top program races such as drama, comedy, limited series or TV movie face the same risk of ending without a winner.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Aug 31

A male Emmy-winning TV Academy producer, speaking anonymously after voting closed, said he picked The Pitt for drama, Widow’s Bay for comedy, The Beast in Me for limited series and Remarkably Bright Creatures for movie.
His ballot was driven as much by category objections as by praise: he argued The Bear belongs in drama, Task should be in limited series, and called the new variety-series yes-or-no voting rule "stupid."
The voter also dismissed several nominees and contenders, saying he skipped some shows entirely, bailed on others after a few episodes, and criticized Love Story for depicting living people unfairly.
In variety series, he marked yes for 4 programs — The Daily Show, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Last Week Tonight — while rejecting Saturday Night Live's season.
The Hollywood Reporter said the ballot is not representative of all 27,000 TV Academy members, but offers a snapshot of voter thinking ahead of the 78th Primetime Emmys on Sept. 14.