‘This Is’ Emmy
NBC drama & ‘SNL’ get pile of Emmy nods
HIT NBC DRAMA NABS 11 NOMINATIONS
THIS EMMY season has NBC proud as a peacock after the success of its breakout drama “This is Us” and long-running sketchcomedy series “Saturday Night Live.”
The much-buzzed-about tear-jerker “This Is Us” is the first major network show to be nominated for Outstanding Drama since CBS’ “The Good Wife” received a nod in 2011.
“SNL,” nominated for Best Variety series, broke its own record for Emmy nominations in a single year with 22.
“This is Us” received 11 nominations overall, with stars Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia and Chrissy Metz also earning nominations in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories.
The NBC drama poses a major threat to several shows on streaming services like Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
“Saturday Night Live” has President Trump’s campaign and administration to thank for its most-watched season in 42 years.
Alec Baldwin earned a nomination for his impersonation of the 45th President, despite not being a regular cast member.
Melissa McCarthy, who appeared on the show as Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer, was honored with a Best Guest Actress nomination for her gig hosting the series for the fifth time.
The politically charged comedy’s impressive showing this year has pushed it passed its record of 16 nominations, which it scored in 2011 and 2016.
“It’s been an amazing year for broadcast television, including a return to the prestigious drama series category with ‘This Is Us,’ ” NBC Chairman Bob Greenblatt told the Daily News.
HBO Emmy juggernaut “Game of Thrones” is out of the running for Best Drama because of its late start this year, but new series “Westworld” made up for its absence, landing 22 nominations for its first season.
This year also marks a major milestone for Hulu, as “The Handmaid’s Tale” earned the streaming-video service its firstever Outstanding Drama nomination. The series is based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel and star Elisabeth Moss is up for Best Actress.
Netflix’s “Stranger Things” garnered 18 nods, including an Outstanding Drama and Guest Actress honor for Shannon Purser, who played fan favorite Barb in four episodes of the show.
Barb and Purser, 20, shot to fame after the beloved bespectacled character vanished and virtually no one noticed.
“Wow. I am so incredibly honored,” Purser tweeted Thursday after the announcement. “Thank you so much. Congratulations to all the other incredible nominees. @TheEmmys.”
Carrie Fisher received a posthumous nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress role as Mia on the Amazon series “Catastrophe.”
Limited series “Big Little Lies” — which, thanks to its success, might see a second season — landed a nomination for Best Limited Series, while actresses and producers Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon were individually nominated for their work on the female-driven series. Jessica Lange and Robin Wright also picked up recognition in the Best Actress category.
“Big Little Lies” faces stiff competition from Ryan Murphy’s latest FX project “Feud: Bette and Joan” starring Lange and Susan Sarandon. Murphy scored nine Emmy wins in 2016 for “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J.,” including Outstanding Limited series.
The 69th Primetime Emmy awards, hosted by Stephen Colbert, will air live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on Sept. 17.