Under creative director Casey Bloys, as his staff is quick to point out, HBO has been dominating the Emmys for some time. In the decade since the former development executive ascended to the top entertainment role (current position: chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content), the platform has received more nominations than any other in all but three years.
This trend continued this year. Thanks shows like the house and Hackswhich collected the most (25) and second-most (24) nominations, earned HBO 122 total slots, 11 more than second-place Netflix, which some believe could take the crown in 2026.
AppleTV+ also had a very strong year — its 87 total nominations were enough to top the Drama and Comedy categories combined — but it’s hard to deny that HBO still has control of the game. And that’s without the buzziest show on the platform, hot competition, Eligible for prizes. (The Canadian series has been acquired by the network, only US productions are eligible.)
Of course, things can change on TV house-Like a minute. And maybe they will, given that HBO may become owned by David Ellison’s Paramount next year.
With all the success and all the uncertainty, Hollywood Reporter I spoke with Bloys about where HBO is and where it’s headed. As it should I love Los Angeles I really got it nothing?
Nominations morning is always a little crazy. Shows we thought would exist are gone, and events that never happened have come to light. I’ve got a lot of love for The Gilded Agewhich few expected, but there was no love for him industryWhich is what many expected.
It’s a reminder every year that none of us know anything. It’s nice to be surprised when we see shows we thought didn’t exist, as it reminds us that there is so much great work out there across the board.
Love to the houseIt is only in its second season Hackswhich has come to the end of a tour so amazing, it should feel good. Two very different shows, both on HBO, taking first and second place in nominations.
I think it speaks to how we can succeed in comedies and dramas, and of course also in late night[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver She has won her class for ten years in a row and will try to get eleventh place]. In the face of unprecedented competition, I couldn’t be prouder of the team in all categories.
There are two shows that I think fans were really hoping to love a taskWhich got acting, writing and directing, but it is not the best drama, and I love Los Angeleswhich came up completely blank even though you submitted in 18 categories. Does this disappoint you?
Sometimes with the Emmys, you have to keep trying. I’m extremely proud of both shows. The good news is that both of them are either filming or about to film their second season.
It has now been a decade since she stepped into this role. There were a lot of Emmy nominations at the time – 1,208, which is a bit confusing. Does it seem more difficult now, given the tech entrants and all their money?
There has always been competition. There was Showtime and FX and everyone else in the early years doing such a good job, and now all of our competitors continue to do their good work. What I look at is how experienced our team is – the shows we choose to develop and produce. I take great pride in consistency.
One show that has gotten to where the industry is now is Return – Just a scathing look at the world in which we’re rapidly approaching the AI generation, from Lisa [Kudrow, nominated for lead actress in a comedy] And Michael [Patrick King, nominated with Kudrow on writing in a comedy series]. What does it mean to have such a handcrafted show on a handcrafted network about digital takeover – is that almost the best rebuttal?
What I really liked was the way Lisa and Michael looked at it, in a very open way. When you go to a topic like [that] You have to make it seem real. And you can see someone doing this thing very soon. And that’s what’s so scary, it’s not years away. It’s completely reasonable. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone announced this [idea of AI generating sitcom jokes] Next month. This was not science fiction, but rather a deep dive into what could happen in the industry.
This is nothing new for them and for the show over three seasons and 20 years – it’s as if they come along once a decade to give us a temperature reading.
It was a very accurate gauge of the challenges facing the industry, almost like a sixth sense. Others may have thought about these issues. But they can combine it into a very funny show.
You had a very small, niche show that got no attention at all this year Hot competition.
(He laughs.) no one.
Of course it was not eligible because it was not produced here. Does this stick in your creep at all or have you made peace?
This is a proudly Canadian show and I’m so glad we got it. Rules are what they are. They did a good job this awards season. I’m just proud that there’s a second season. I mean, the Emmys would be great, but this is first and foremost a Canadian show. They are preparing for production and I am excited that it will be on our platform.
Is Connor [Storrie] Get a nomination to host SNL Feel like a laurel for this show?
(He laughs.) If we have a laurel, I will take it.
One of the wildest stories this year is that you guys didn’t cast Brittany Allen for her role as a terminal cancer patient. the house, I decided to come out and self-introduce – and then I got nominated to guest star today. Do you have any regrets about your decision about it?
the house We have hundreds of performers and, strategically, we simply cannot conquer everyone. It’s just the truth. But we encourage people to submit themselves, and I love being nominated.
One point that’s hard to escape now is the changing business landscape – David Ellison’s Paramount is in the process of buying HBO as part of the Warner Bros. takeover. Discovery. Are the Emmys at all sad that your entire company may look different very soon?
Well, think of it this way. Over the past 10 years, we’ve received the most nominations of any platform, and that’s more than the merger of two companies [AT&T and Discovery]. I don’t automatically see the merger changing our performance. I just see our team continuing to put in and put out our best work.
There is a lot of uncertainty in the industry, with artificial intelligence, mergers, production slowdowns, and changing consumer habits. But I think people treat HBO and you almost like flight attendants on a turbulent plane — if you’re still on the drinks wagon, everything will be fine.
I’m here to serve alcoholic beverages to everyone.
