It's Emmy nominations time
Nominees will be announced in a live-streamed ceremony, after which final-round voting begins for the 77th Emmy Awards, set for September 14.
After last year's record-breaking 18 Emmys for Japan-set historical epic "Shogun," this year's competition looks to be more nuanced.
Apple TV+'s "Severance," in which employees of biotech company Lumon have their memories surgically separated between their "innie" work lives and their "outie" personal lives, looks to be atop most predictions.
"It's a really great show that is going to get... a ton of nominations," Deadline awards expert Pete Hammond told AFP.
"It'll be stronger than it was" in its first season, added Hammond, who sees star Adam Scott as a sure bet for a best drama actor nod.
"The Pitt" -- HBO Max's take on the travails of a Pittsburgh emergency room team during one 15-hour shift, covered effectively in real time -- has won over critics and audiences alike. It stars "ER" veteran Noah Wyle.
"It's ER on steroids!" Hammond quipped.
But Wyle's chances to win for best actor are crimped by Scott and a shortlist of other performers, including Oscar winner Gary Oldman in Apple's dysfunctional spy drama "Slow Horses" or Pedro Pascal in HBO's apocalyptic video game adaptation "The Last of Us."
In the supporting acting categories, the many stars of "The White Lotus" are expected to earn nominations.
In the comedy categories, perennial favourites "Hacks" and "The Bear" are expected to do battle once again.
HBO Max's "Hacks" -- starring Jean Smart as a stand-up comedian who locks horns with her dysfunctional millennial assistant -- won for best comedy and best actress in September last year.
"The Bear," a dark satire set in the Chicago restaurant world, took the top prize at the previous ceremony (held in January 2024 due to Hollywood strikes), and star Jeremy Allen White has two trophies for best actor.
"The Bear" is eligible this time for its lacklustre third season, but the recent launch of its fourth season -- which has received excellent reviews -- could work in its favour, Hammond says.
"That may be what Academy members will be looking at when they're actually voting for the season that wasn't well reviewed," he said.
The comedy juggernauts are also facing a newcomer -- Apple's "The Studio," a satire that eviscerates the film industry starring Seth Rogen, who also wrote and produced the show. There is nothing Hollywood loves more than a show about... Hollywood.
In the limited series categories, Netflix's "Adolescence" -- which follows the case of a 13-year-old British boy accused of murdering a female classmate -- is the wide favourite.
"It's close to a sure thing in terms of getting nominations across the board," Hammond said, adding: "I don't see what's going to come up and beat it in the limited series category."
Breakout young star Owen Cooper is widely expected to earn a nomination for limited series supporting actor, and series creator Stephen Graham is a shoo-in for best actor.
The four-part series was lauded for its production values, with each episode shot in one take.
Another Netflix contender in these categories is "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," a true-crime saga about a pair of California brothers in prison for killing their parents, after what they say was years of sexual and physical abuse.
Alfonso Cuaron's "Disclaimer," starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, and "The Penguin," with Colin Farrell as the comic book villain, are expected to win acting nominations.
AFP/File | Chris DELMAS
In recent years, streaming services have led the charge for Emmy nominations, with traditional networks relegated to a handful of nods.
With "Severance," "The Studio," "Disclaimer" and "Slow Horses," Apple TV+ could have its best year yet.
"Normally we see HBO and Netflix leading the thing," Hammond said, but he predicted: "Apple is going to have the best year they've ever had in terms of nominations."
Harvey Guillen ("What We Do in the Shadows") and Brenda Song ("Running Point") will unveil the nominations on Tuesday.
Voting members of the US-based Television Academy will then have a month to catch up on their viewing before final-round voting begins in mid-August.
The September 14 gala will be hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
Megan Thee Stallion and Psy headline new star-studded series
Apple TV+ is set to launch a thrilling new music competition series, KPopped . The show will bring together some of the biggest names from the West and the vibrant world of K-pop. The eight-part series will premiere on 29 August and promises a unique fusion of musical styles. Iconic Western artists will partner with K-pop stars to reinvent their biggest hits. South African viewers will no doubt appreciate this exciting cultural exchange. The show reflects both global trends and the growing influence of diverse music genres. Hosted by comedian Soojeong Son, known for his work on Servant and Search Party , KPopped showcases a star-studded lineup, according to Deadline . The show's hosts, Megan Thee Stallion and Psy, bring an electrifying energy to the competition. Megan Thee Stallion is a global hip-hop powerhouse, and Psy is the K-pop legend behind the viral hit Gangnam Style . The series pits established Western musicians against K-pop groups such as BILLIE, Itzy, KEP1ER, JO1, Ateez, STAYC, Kiss of Life, and Blackswan. Each episode features collaborators reimagining famous tracks like Savage , Wannabe, Ice Ice Baby , and Waterfalls . Imagine Savage transformed by Korean pop beats, performed live in Seoul. The series' live audience will then decide which new 'K-popped' song triumphs. South African fans who enjoy music competitions and genre-bending shows will find KPopped particularly compelling. The show captures the essence of fusion between cultures, a theme that resonates in South Africa's vibrant, diverse music scene. The collaboration between global and Korean artists echoes the country's own musical blend, from hip-hop and house to traditional genres. Megan Thee Stallion expressed her excitement. 'It's an honour to work alongside phenomenal K-pop artists and bring something fresh to fans worldwide. This is about celebrating music without boundaries.' Psy added. ' KPopped highlights the power of music to bridge cultures and create amazing new sounds. We're thrilled to bring this energy to Apple TV+ and viewers everywhere.' KPopped celebrates innovation and global unity in music. Executive producers include Moira Ross, Lionel Richie, and Miky Lee, along with Megan Thee Stallion and Greg Foster. CJ ENM and Eureka Productions partner to produce the show, lending strong industry expertise to the project. Apple TV+ is investing heavily in original content appealing to diverse audiences. The cost of producing such star-studded, cross-cultural shows is significant, with estimated expenses around R70 million. This underscores the platform's commitment to quality entertainment. KPopped offers a fresh perspective on musical collaboration and the global rise of K-pop. With its high-energy performances, diverse cast, and innovative concepts, the series promises to be a thrilling addition to the streaming landscape this August. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
What makes a person cool? Global study has some answers
The study showed that coolness is associated with the same six qualities around the world, regardless of culture. Image: Supplied Todd Pezzuti From Lagos to Cape Town, Santiago to Seoul, people want to be cool. 'Cool' is a word we hear everywhere – in music, in fashion, on social media. We use it to describe certain types of people. But what exactly makes someone cool? Is it just about being popular or trendy? Or is there something deeper going on? In a recent study I conducted with other marketing professors, we set out to answer a simple but surprisingly unexplored question. What are the personality traits and values that make someone seem cool – and do they differ across cultures? We asked nearly 6,000 people from 12 countries to think of someone they personally knew who was 'cool', 'not cool', 'good', or 'not good'. Then we asked them to describe that person's traits and values using validated psychological measures. We used this data to examine how coolness differs from general likeability or morality. The countries ranged from Australia to Turkey, the US to Germany, India to China, Nigeria to South Africa. Our data showed that coolness is uniquely associated with the same six traits around the world: cool people tend to be extroverted, hedonistic, adventurous, open, powerful, and autonomous. These findings help settle a long debate about what it means to be cool today. A brief history of cool Early writing on coolness described it as emotional restraint: being calm, composed and unbothered. This view, rooted in the metaphor of temperature and emotion, saw coolness as a sign of self-control and mastery. Some of these scholars trace this form of cool to slavery and segregation, where emotional restraint was a survival strategy among enslaved Africans and their descendants, symbolising autonomy and dignity in the face of oppression. Others propose 'cool' restraint existed long before slavery. Regardless, jazz musicians in the 1940s first helped popularise this cool persona – relaxed, emotionally contained, and stylish – an image later embraced by youth and various countercultures. Corporations like Nike, Apple and MTV commercialised cool, turning a countercultural attitude into a more commercially friendly global aesthetic. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ This is what makes someone cool Our findings suggest that the meaning of cool has changed. It's a way to identify and label people with a specific psychological profile. Cool people are outgoing and social (extroverted). They seek pleasure and enjoyment (hedonistic). They take risks and try new things (adventurous). They are curious and open to new experiences (open). They have influence or charisma (powerful). And perhaps most of all, they do things their own way (autonomous). This finding held remarkably steady across countries. Whether you're in the US, South Korea, Spain or South Africa, people tend to think that cool individuals have this same 'cool profile'. We also found that even though coolness overlaps with being good or favourable, being cool and being good are not the same. Being kind, calm, traditional, secure and conscientious were more associated with being good than cool. Some 'cool' traits were not necessarily good at all, like extroversion and hedonism. What about South Africa and Nigeria? One of the most fascinating aspects of our study was seeing how consistent the meaning of coolness was across cultures – even in countries with very different traditions and values. In South Africa, participants viewed cool people as extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open and autonomous – just like participants from Europe to Asia. In South Africa, however, coolness is especially distinct from being good. South Africa is one of the countries in which being hedonistic, powerful, adventurous and autonomous was much more cool than good. Nigeria was the only country in which cool and uncool people were equally autonomous. So basically, individuality wasn't seen as cool. That difference might reflect cultural values that place a greater emphasis on community, respect for elders, or collective identity. In places where tradition and hierarchy matter, doing your own thing might not be cool. Social sciences, like all science, however, are not perfect. So, it's reasonable to speculate that autonomy might still be cool in Nigeria, with the discrepancy resulting from methodological issues such as how the Nigerian participants interpreted and responded to the survey. Nigeria was also unique because the distinction between cool and good wasn't as notable as in other countries. So coolness was seen more as goodness than in the other countries. Why does this matter? The fact that so many cultures agree on what makes someone cool suggests that 'coolness' may serve a shared social function. The traits that make people cool may make them more likely to try new things, innovate new styles and fashions, and influence others. These individuals often push boundaries and introduce new ideas – in fashion, art, politics, or technology. They inspire others and help shape what's seen as modern, desirable, or forward-thinking. Coolness, in this sense, might function as a kind of cultural status marker – a reward for being bold, open-minded and innovative. It's not just about surface style. It's about signalling that you're ahead of the curve, and that others should pay attention. So what can we learn from this? For one, young people in South Africa, Nigeria, and around the world may have more in common than we often think. Despite vast cultural differences, they tend to admire the same traits. That opens up interesting possibilities for cross-cultural communication, collaboration and influence. Second, if we want to connect with or inspire others – whether through education, branding, or leadership – it helps to understand what people see as cool. Coolness may not be a universal virtue, but it is a universal currency. And finally, there's something reassuring in all this: coolness is not about being famous or rich. It's about how you live. Are you curious? Courageous? True to yourself? If so, chances are someone out there thinks you're cool – no matter where you're from. | The Conversation Todd Pezzuti is Associate Professor, Business School, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
The Citizen
25-07-2025
- The Citizen
Empangeni road closures as King Cetshwayo July kicks off
Motorists travelling in and out of the Empangeni CBD should expect some road closures owing to the King Cetshwayo street parade this (Friday) afternoon. The parade marks the commencement of the King Cetshwayo July, a horse racing spectacular that takes place at the Empangeni Airfield tomorrow (Saturday). ALSO READ: WATCH: All systems go for King Cetshwayo July horse racing extravaganza During this afternoon's street carnival, several roads, including Commercial, Turnbull, Hancock, Union, and Maxwell and Biyela streets, will be affected. The district is expected to be a hive of activity this weekend, with the crowning of Mr & Miss King Cetshwayo July expected this evening, while the main horse racing event is scheduled for Saturday, and the KZN Premier's Cup in Richards Bay on Sunday. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer
