The Emmys are arriving soon, and will air live on Hulu September 12 from 8 to 11 PM ET. Suffice to say we’re all stoked to see what Hulu series will win this time. The Emmys are easily among most people’s favorite award shows, in no small part due to the amazing hosts, and the simple fact that many of us are hooked to at least one television show right now. Thanks to all that, we’ll all be tuning in for some light-hearted hours where they decide what’s best on TV at the moment.
What’s so different about this year’s awards, you may ask. For one, it’s the full-blown realization that streaming services are reigning where traditional cable used to a decade or so back, with so many award nominations going to original series put out by the former. Hulu by itself has garnered 58 Emmy nominations in total this year.
This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise though. Hulu has been the de facto MVP in a majority of households for some time, and even offered a welcome escape in these trying COVID times. It’s a good thing that our favorite talent and shows are getting recognized, and seeing Hulu bag so many nominations is icing on the cake. Let’s take a look at some of the finest TV recommendations out there.
Candy (nominations: 1)
Follows Candy Montgomery, an ‘80s housewife and mother who does everything right, all the way from managing a good husband, two kids, and nice house to carefully planning and executing her transgressions. The series looks at what happens to her under the building pressure of conformity, and what she does to get even a tinge of freedom. Someone tells her to take it down a notch, and that does not end well. Stars Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy Simons, Pablo Schreiber, and Raúl Esparza.
Changing the Game (nominations: 1)
This subsuming sports doc by Emmy® award-winner Michael Barnett sheds light on what many see as today’s most prominent civil rights issue: transgender inclusion in sports. It looks at the lives of three athletes in high school, each at a different stage of their personal life, athletic season, and path as a transgender individual. These stories also have different geographical settings—Sarah is a skier in New Hampshire, Andrea is a track star in Connecticut, etc. The center of the film is Mack Beggs, the famous girls wrestling Texas State Champion who competed and won while a boy. Stars Sarah Rose Huckman, Mack Beggs, and Andraya Yearwood.
Dopesick (nominations: 14)
Starring Michael Keaton, this drama miniseries takes a deep look at the ways in which a single company was responsible for triggering what has been the worst drug epidemic in the nation’s history. Viewers are taken to the nexus of America’s fight against opioid addiction all the way from Big Pharma boardrooms, to a troubled mining community in Virginia, to DEA hallways. Heroes emerge against the odds in a thrilling and intense ride towards toppling lily livered corporate forces complicit in the national crisis, as well as their allies. This limited series draws inspiration from its NYTimes bestselling namesake. Stars Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Rosario Dawson, Kaitlyn Dever, and Will Poulter.
The Dropout (nominations: 6)
This tale of money, romance, tragedy and deception follows Elizabeth Holmes (played by Amanda Seyfried) and Theranos, chronicling ambition and fame that does not end well. It delves into how the world’s youngest female billionaire loses everything in a short time. Stars Amanda Seyfried, William H. Macy, Naveen Andrews, Laurie Metcalf, and Elizabeth Marvel.
The Great (nominations: 4)
This satirical dramedy follows how Catherine the Great rose from being an outsider to holding the position of Russia’s longest reigning female ruler. The story is fictionalized, anachronistic, and fun, and explores a romantic and idealistic young girl who comes to Russia to get married to the Emperor Peter. Looking for love and sunshine, what she finds instead is a depraved and dangerous world, which she then decides to change. The goals before her are killing her husband, beating the church, baffling the military, and gaining favor from the court. This story of the past is very modern, and covers the several roles Catherine played in her lifetime: lover, ruler, teacher, fighter, and friend. The movie incorporates the occasional historical fact, and stars Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Adam Godley, Phoebe Fox, Charity Wakefield, Gwilym Lee, Sacha Dhawan, Douglas Hodge, Bayo Gbadamosi, Sebastian de Souza, and Belinda Bromilow.
How I Met Your Father (nominations: 2)
Set in the near future, this movie follows Sophie as she’s narrating to her son the story of how she came to meet his father. Part of the story also takes place in the present, where we see Sophie and her inseparable friends trying to figure themselves out, as well as what they really want from life. The movie explores the hardships these women face at falling in love because of limitless options and dating apps. Stars Hilary Duff, Francia Raisa, Christopher Lowell, Tom Ainsley, Suraj Sharma, and Tien Tran.
McCartney 3,2,1 (nominations: 3)
This is a rare Paul McCartney interview with Rick Rubin that delves deep into his trailblazing work with the Beatles, his 50-plus years as a solo artist, the iconic 1970s arena-rock of Wings. The six-episodes explore the creativity and talent in a revelatory manner, and the viewer gets to join Rubin and Paul while they have a close conversation about songwriting, musicianship, influences, ingenuity, and personal relationships which impacted the emblematic songs that have been soundtracks to the lives of many people.