Beyoncé vs. ‘SNL50': Emmy battle for Variety Special (Live) moves to primetime — who will win?
The race for Best Variety Special (Live) — featuring high-wattage contenders like Netflix's Beyoncé Bowl and Peacock's SNL 50: The Anniversary Special — was originally scheduled for the second night of the Creative Arts Emmys. Gold Derby has confirmed that the Television Academy has now moved it to the main Primetime Emmys telecast, airing Sept. 14 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
More from Gold Derby
Neon sets Oscar path for latest Cannes winner 'The Secret Agent': Everything to know about the thriller
TIFF reveals its compelling documentary slate featuring Paula Deen, champion whistlers and balloonists
According to Gold Derby's latest combined odds, SNL50: The Anniversary Special is the category front-runner, followed by Apple Music's Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show starring Kendrick Lamar, The Oscars, Beyoncé Bowl, and SNL50: The Homecoming Concert — another tribute entry from the most Emmy-winning show in history.
That means Queen Bey will have to defy the odds — again — if she hopes to finally add Emmy gold to her crowded trophy case.
Beyoncé is going all in — again — for Emmy gold
As we previously reported, Beyoncé is pulling out all the stops — and raising eyebrows — in her campaign to win her first Emmy Award.
Fresh off her historic first Grammy for Album of the Year, the Cowboy Carter superstar is now aiming for TV's top honor with Beyoncé Bowl, her NFL Christmas Day halftime show for Netflix. The 13-minute spectacle earned four Emmy nominations, including Best Variety Special (Live) and Best Directing for a Variety Special.
While 32 Grammys make her the most-awarded female singer in history, the Emmy has famously eluded Beyoncé. She's lost eight previous Emmy races — nine if you count her Daytime Emmy loss for "Talks With Mama Tina" — but this year's campaign has been anything but subtle.
From billboards across Los Angeles to bus stop ads, Netflix has kept the nearly nine-month-old performance top of mind for voters. But Beyoncé didn't just stick to standard FYC playbooks. In May, Emmy voters were invited to a private screening of Beyoncé Bowl at SoFi Stadium, followed by an exclusive viewing of her Cowboy Carter Tour from one of the venue's luxury suites. The event stirred controversy over perceived pay-to-play optics — tour tickets were not cheap — but the Television Academy signed off on the splashy affair.
With the Variety Special (Live) category now shifting to the Primetime Emmys, is the TV Academy pulling out all the stops to entice Beyoncé to make an appearance at the ceremony?
Who has the edge in Best Variety Special (Live)?
This year's Variety Special (Live) category is packed with big brands and global stars — and a bit of déjà vu.
Last year, The Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, won this category, beating out the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Usher, the 66th Grammy Awards, and others. The Super Bowl itself has a strong track record here, too — winning in 2022 with the Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg/Mary J. Blige/Eminem/50 Cent mega-show.
But out front is Saturday Night Live, which has history and hardware on its side. SNL50: The Anniversary Special is up for 12 Emmys overall, while its companion piece, The Homecoming Concert, earning six nods. That dual presence — and the show's massive influence across generations — gives it an edge.
Still, Beyoncé has never been one to back down from a challenge — or controversy. Her Beyoncé Bowl performance earned acclaim for its production, vocal delivery, and unapologetically Texan aesthetic. With her name on the ballot in both performance and directing categories, she has multiple paths to her first win.
Stay tuned — the winner will be revealed live on Sept. 14.
Best of Gold Derby
'Australian Survivor vs. The World' premiere date and cast photos: 'King' George Mladenov, Cirie Fields, Parvati Shallow …
'Five new life forms from distant planets': Everything to know about 'Alien: Earth' as new trailer drops
Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins
Click here to read the full article.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Who Is Comedian Jim Jefferies' Wife? All About Tasie Lawrence
Comedian Jim Jefferies has been married to Tasie Lawrence since 2020NEED TO KNOW Jim Jefferies married his wife Tasie Lawrence in 2020 The comedian and actress share a son named Charlie Jefferies has said that his wife is "the best thing that ever happened" to himJim Jefferies' wife, Tasie Lawrence, is his biggest cheerleader. The Australian comedian — whose special Two Limb Policy premiered on Netflix on Aug. 12 — has been married to the actress since September 2020. The pair welcomed their first child together, son Charlie, in 2021. (Jefferies shares his older son, Hank, with his ex-wife, actress Kate Luyben.) The House of Anubis alum is incredibly supportive of Jefferies, frequently posting tributes to him and promoting his work on social media. 'He makes me laugh more than anyone. I get to laugh every day,' she said during a May 2023 interview with Australia's 7NEWS. 'But he's also just the sweetest, loveliest person I've ever met ... I am obsessed with him.' Jefferies shared a similar sentiment, adding, 'My wife is the sweetest lady in the world ... I am very lucky. The best thing that ever happened to me was meeting this one.' So who is Jim Jefferies' wife? Here's everything to know about Tasie Lawrence and her relationship with the comedian. She was raised in the U.K. Lawrence, whose real name is Anastasia Katya Breezy Dhanraj, was born in Brighton, England, to parents Derek Dhanraj and Rebecca Sinnatt. Lawrence grew up in Brighton with her sister, Tasha Dhanraj, who is now a comedy writer. In May 2025, Lawrence posted an emotional tribute to her father after his death, sharing a carousel of photos of the family. "My Daddy was the most supportive smiley Daddy and he loved me, my mum and sister deeply," she wrote on Instagram. "I see his smile in my son and know he will live on forever." Lawrence is an actress Lawrence began acting at a young age and got her start on the British teen show House of Anubis, which ran from 2011 to 2013 on Nickelodeon. She starred in all three seasons as Mara Jaffray. In recent years, Lawrence has appeared in Fox's The Resident, BET's First Wives Club and the 2021 film DOMINO: Battle of the Bones alongside Snoop Dogg. She and Jefferies met in 2018 Jefferies and Lawrence met in 2018 in Los Angeles, initially bonding over their mutual dislike of controversial British TV host Piers Morgan, per 7NEWS. During a February 2017 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, Jefferies told off Morgan — a moment that helped him win over his now-wife. 'My wife hates Piers Morgan and when she found out I was the guy who told Piers Morgan to 'F--- off,' she was 10 times more attracted to me,' he said during his interview with 7NEWS. 'That is the whole reason she fancies me to this day.' Jefferies and Lawrence got married in 2020 After a few years of dating, the couple eloped at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It was the same chapel from the episode of Friends where Ross and Rachel get married,' Jefferies recalled, adding: 'Best 60 bucks I ever spent ... we got the base package.' Lawrence marked the special occasion on Instagram, sharing several photos from the elopement. 'Married my best friend ❤️," she captioned the post. She and Jefferies have a son The pair welcomed their first child together, a son named Charlie, in 2021. Jefferies is also a dad to son Hank, whom he shares with his ex-wife. On their first anniversary, Lawrence shared a touching tribute to the comedian on Instagram, praising praised him for his commitment to being a great dad. 'Happy Anniversary to the best husband and father out there,' she captioned a photo of their then-newborn son sleeping on Jefferies' chest. 'One of the reasons I fell in love with you was because you were such a wonderful Dad to your first born, so It was a no brainer to have little Charlie with the best Dad there is." Lawrence is supportive of Jefferies' career When it comes to his comedy, Lawrence is Jefferies' biggest supporter, typically promoting his specials and live shows on social media. Jefferies ocassionally draws on his life with her and their son in his material — which is fine by Lawrence. 'He says brutal things about me,' she said during a June 2025 appearance on The Viall Files. 'But I'm not offended at all.' She was, however, slightly bothered after he joked that she looked like E.T. while pregnant. 'When I was younger and single, my stand-up was about one-night stands and taking drugs and revelry,' he explained in response. 'Now I'm married with kids. The comedy has to come from somewhere ... we all have to make a living here!' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys' Netflix Thriller The Beast in Me Lands Release Date — Get a First Look
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys teaming up for a heart-pounding thriller? OK, Netflix, you have our attention. The two Emmy winners star in the eight-episode series The Beast in Me, which debuts Thursday, Nov. 13 on the streamer, TVLine has learned. Netflix has also released first-look photos from the series, which you can see below. More from TVLine Landman Sets Season 2 Release Date at Paramount+ Dan Levy's Netflix Crime Comedy Big Mistakes Adds Elizabeth Perkins and 7 Others Save the Dates: Zatima Season 4, KPop Demon Hunters Sing-Along and More Danes plays celebrated author Aggie Wiggs, who has retreated from public life following the tragic death of her son. But when Rhys' character Nile Jarvis, a real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance, moves in next door, she discovers fresh inspiration and 'finds herself compulsively hunting for the truth — chasing his demons while fleeing her own — in a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly,' per the official synopsis. Howard Gordon, who worked with Danes on Homeland, serves as showrunner, with Gabe Rotter (The X-Files) serving as writer and creator. The supporting cast includes Brittany Snow (The Hunting Wives) and Natalie Morales (Grey's Anatomy), with guest appearances from Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad), David Lyons (Revolution, ER), Deirdre O'Connell (The Penguin) and Hettienne Park (The Last of Us), among others. Scroll down to get a first look at , and then tell us in the comments: Will you be watching? Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More Solve the daily Crossword
Digital Trends
2 hours ago
- Digital Trends
If you have to watch one Peacock movie this August 2025, stream this one
Do you remember the era when every company was announcing their streaming services? It was a moment when it seemed like everyone wanted to prove they could do what Netflix does. Peacock was one of the services to come out, and all these years later, it's still hanging around. And, what's more, Peacock actually has plenty of movies that are worth your time. If you're looking for something to watch this August, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a great place to start. This foundational teen movie is smarter and subtler than you remember. Here are three reasons you should check it out. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on HBO Max, and the best movies on Disney+. It's remarkably sensitive about each of its main characters Although a lesser teen movie might paint some of its characters as heroes and others as villains, Fast Times instead presents each of its central characters as somewhere in between. There are characters who behave nobly and others who behave shamefully, but the movie never condemns anyone completely. Mike Damone, the character who behaves the worst over the course of the movie, is ultimately revealed to be more pathetic than malevolent, a man who can't own up to his actions and is also facing much more severe poverty than his classmates. It features two all-time great young actor performances Amy Heckerling's casting work on Fast Times was impeccable across the board, but casting both Jennifer Jason Leigh and Sean Penn was a remarkable feat. If Fast Times has a lead, it's Leigh, who is remarkably vulnerable as a young girl who is trying to navigate sexual relationships for the first time. Meanwhile, Penn delivers the most iconic performance in the film despite his lack of screentime. Jeff Spicoli, the stoner who combats with his history teacher before ultimately coming to an understanding, is a genuinely hilarious character, but also one that Penn manages to imbue with some real pathos. It works hard to avoid stereotypes Fast Times has held up so well in the decades since its release. While many of the characters conform to the archetypes we've come to expect from teen movies, they also complicate them in interesting ways. Spicoli is smarter and more introspective than you might expect, and the school's popular girls are really just teenagers trying to figure things out. Crucially, this is also a movie that emphasizes that many teenagers have to work and that their jobs are often only manageable because they can hang out with one another. You can watch Fast Times at Ridgemont High on Peacock.
