Last Year’s Winner: “Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: Technically the only chance for a streak is if Netflix wins again this year, after scoring an upset last year with “Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square.” For the last decade, the only major Outstanding TV Movie competition the streamer has received has been HBO, which has collected 14 Emmys in the category since 2000.
Notable Ineligible Series: “Rosaline” (the film will not premiere in time to be eligible); “Rise” (the film will not premiere in time to be eligible)
This article will be updated throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2022 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting took place from June 16 to June 27, with the official Emmy nominations announced on Tuesday, July 12. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be given out over two consecutive nights on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4, with an edited presentation on the ceremonies to be broadcast on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 8:00 p.m. ET on FXX. Finally, the 74rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Monday, September 12, and air live on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.
State of the Race
Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to shelve the made-for-streaming “Batgirl” film has proven that the state of TV movies has gotten even more dire this year, and that’s really unfortunate. The company’s streaming service has been on the forefront of putting more investment into films meant for home viewing, seeing success with projects like “Kimi,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Unpregnant.”
While Warner Bros. Discovery does have a nomination for Best TV Movie with HBO’s “The Survivor,” which was actually a Toronto International Film Festival acquisition, the TV Academy has not gone for the last four Barry Levinson-helmed projects nominated in this category, and those boasts star turns from Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. This film starring Ben Foster has certainly received acclaim, but seems to have lost its momentum post-Emmy nominations.
Also, keep in mind that “Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square” won last year over films like “Sylvie’s Love” that were once seen as possible Oscar contenders. It does feel like voters want to embrace the TV part of TV movies. Especially this year where three of the other nominations serve as a denouement to recently ended series that were previously nominated for Emmys.
While “Reno 911! The Hunt for QAnon” and “Ray Donovan: The Movie” were continuations of shows that were arguably past their prime, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas” has a real shot of winning the Emmy given how it let the former NBC hidden gem end on a high note, and helped establish Roku Channel as a new player in the TV awards space.
Still, the most impressive nominee this season is “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers” on Disney+, which continues to have a slow burn of fans coming to appreciate its “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”-level meta comedy. It’s still a continuation of a beloved TV series in its own way, but also has made history as the first animated film nominated for Outstanding TV Movie. While it does not necessarily have the win on lock, it does seem to have a lot of momentum going into final-round voting, and would feel like the TV Academy taking a step in the right direction of celebrating the potential of what made-for-TV-movies can be in the streaming age.
Power Rankings:
- “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers” (Disney+)
- “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas” (Roku Channel)
- “The Survivor” (HBO)
- “Ray Donovan: The Movie” (Showtime)
- “Reno 911! The Hunt for QAnon” (Paramount+)
Will Win: “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers”
Could Win: “Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas”
Should Win: “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers”