The upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards, the prestigious ceremony that honors the best talents in television and streaming, may be facing a potential delay. The awards ceremony, scheduled for September 18, is likely to be postponed due to ongoing strikes by two major industry unions in the United States, namely the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA). This news was first reported by Variety.
Unofficial Announcement
Though the Television Academy and cable network Fox, which will broadcast the 75th edition of the Primetime Emmy Awards, have not made an official announcement yet, vendors involved in the event have been informed that the ceremony will no longer take place on the planned date.
If the postponement indeed happens, it will be the first time in two decades that the Emmys have been pushed back from their original date. The last time this occurred was in 2001, following the tragic events of September 11. The ceremony was delayed by two months as a result.
Previous Year’s Unique Format
In 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Primetime Emmy Awards took place in a unique hybrid format. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony from Los Angeles’ Staples Center, while all the nominees joined remotely from their homes and other locations. This innovative approach allowed the awards to proceed in a safe and inclusive manner.
Currently, approximately 65,000 actors and 11,500 screenwriters are participating in the strikes organized by WGA and SAG-AFTRA. The joint strike, the first of its kind since 1960, was declared after the unions failed to reach a consensus on a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios and streaming services.
The Writers Guild of America initiated the strike in early May, demanding better wages, higher minimum pay, increased representation of writers on shows, and shorter exclusive contracts, among other key issues. In solidarity, the members of SAG-AFTRA joined the strike earlier this month to support these demands.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
While the possibility of postponing the Primetime Emmy Awards appears likely, an official announcement from the Television Academy and Fox is still pending. The industry eagerly awaits their decision, hoping for a swift resolution to these strikes that will allow the awards ceremony to proceed as planned.
The upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards is facing the potential postponement due to ongoing strikes by major industry unions. The official announcement regarding the change in date is awaited, and the industry hopes for a quick resolution to the strikes, allowing the awards ceremony to take place as scheduled.
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