Tomorrow, September 22nd, marks the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards. The show kicks off tomorrow night at 8pm ET/5pm PT, and we’ll be giving you live updates on every winner and every memorable moment. Be sure to read our live blog of the awards and follow us on social media for constant updates!
Before that awards show music plays, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards:
Going Host-less
The TV Academy have made a few changes to their awards ceremony this year, but the most notable of these changes is the decision to not have designated host for the awards. This will be the first time that the Emmy Awards have been without a host since 2003. The decision to go host-less is not without precedent, however, since the Oscars this year also went without designated host. Instead, the Emmys this year will rely primarily on voice-over narration, which Deadline describes as “ indelible but invisible part of any awards show that is never memorable.” The show has attempted to make the narration a bit more memorable by hiring actor-comedian Thomas Lennon as the voice of the awards.
The Ratings Struggle
Even though awards shows are a big event for television, the Emmys this year may not see very high audience numbers. The awards this year are being hosted on Fox, and will air at the same time as the NFL on NBC, which is some significant competition. Additionally, for the past 4 years, the Emmys have always had the lowest viewership out of competing awards shows (Oscars, Grammys, & Golden Globes). The Hollywood Reporter theorizes that significantly popular shows like Game of Thrones could draw in more viewers, but not enough to compete with the NFL in the same time slot.
Red Carpet Weather Report
The red carpet at the Emmys this year is going to be hot, and not just in terms of fashion. Weather forecasts for Sunday are predicting temperatures in the mid 90’s, making for an uncomfortably warm pre-show environment. To combat this, Fox Entertainment has partnered with the company “Big Ass Fans” to cool down the red carpet for the show.
Who’s Looking to Take the Throne
Of course, the highlight of the Emmys is always the shows that have been nominated. Entertainment news sites have already begun to publish their predictions as to who will walk home with an Emmy tomorrow night. The drama category is once again dominated by Game of Thrones, and an article from Vox notes that many other shows that could have competed with Thrones– The Handmaid’s Tale, Stranger Things, The Crown– ended up not qualifying for this year’s Emmys because they did not air within the eligibility window. The competition for the comedy category seems to be a bit stiffer according to Vulture, with shows like Russian Doll and Fleabag. However, Vulture concedes that “more often than not, Emmy voters tend to reward things they’ve rewarded before,” meaning shows like Veep that have previously won Emmys might have a better chance.
Where to Watch
The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will air on Fox at 8pm ET/5pm PT, and will also be available on the Fox Now app. If you have a cable or satellite account, you can also log in and watch a live-stream of the Emmys on Fox’s website here. If you don’t have cable, the awards are available for streaming with Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV, AT&T TV Now, and Fubo TV. All of these streaming platforms also offer free trials and allow you to cancel at anytime. And if you still need more Emmys coverage, remember to follow our live blog of the event right here on this website. Happy awards season!