OUTSTANDING VARIETY SPECIAL (PRERECORDED)

Dave Chappelle: The Closer (Netflix)

No nominee in this category dropped longer ago (last October) or generated more controversy (over his jokes about the transgender community, which prompted Netflix staffers to stage a walkout) than Chappelle’s sixth Netflix stand-up special, which was recorded in Detroit. It’s tied for a category-low two nominations (the other is for directing).

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (HBO/HBO Max) This category’s longest nominee (102 minutes) dropped on New Year’s Day and, marking two decades since the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone premiered in 2001, featured old footage of and new interviews with the stars (notably absent: author J.K. Rowling). Its only other nom was for picture editing.

Adele One Night Only (CBS)

In November, 10.33 million people tuned in to the singer’s Griffith Park performance (with a live celeb-packed audience) and Oprah-moderated interview — the most for a special since April 2021 — in promotion of her fourth studio album, 30. It’s now up for a category-leading five awards.

One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (CBS)

This category’s briefest entry (its run time is just 45 minutes) features two beloved singers of different generations reuniting, for Tony Bennett’s final public performances, in promotion of their second album together, Love for Sale. It attracted an impressive 6.38 million viewers and four nominations.

Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special (Netflix)

The veteran comedian died last September and was remembered in May in this special (the category’s most recently released nominee), which includes 50 neverbefore-seen minutes of his stand-up, plus celeb friends discussing his legacy. Never Emmy-nominated during his lifetime, Macdonald is also up for co-directing and writing the special.