Can “Matlock” crack the case of the disappearing SAG Awards broadcast nominations? The CBS drama has been an out-of-the-box hit this fall, incomes approval for star Kathy Bates and even already touchdown a Season 2 pickup. The parents at CBS Studios are bullish sufficient on its awards possibilities — notably for the beloved Bates — that they’ve made it a precedence within the kudo house this yr.
And actually, appropriately. Kathy Bates is an Oscar winner (for 1991’s “Distress”) and has earned three extra Oscar noms since then — as not too long ago as 2020, for “Richard Jewell.” The breadth of Bates’ work could be illustrated by her two wildly totally different Emmy wins: For sitcom “Two and a Half Males” in 2012 and the creepy sequence “American Horror Story” in 2014. Bates has additionally gained two SAG Awards, in each TV (“The Late Shift,” in 1997) and movie (“Main Colours,” in 1999).
In different phrases, Hollywood is a fan. So why shouldn’t Bates and “Matlock” be thought of alongside premium cable and streaming fare? (It seems the Golden Globes was listening, at the least a teensy bit, not too long ago nominating Bates within the TV drama discipline. However past that, solely “Abbott Elementary” bought any broadcast love.)
“Matlock” shouldn’t be the one freshman broadcast present with momentum and searching for some awards consideration: ABC’s “Excessive Potential,” starring Kaitlin Olson, can be performing sturdy and incomes strong marks, notably for its star. Olson, who has been Emmy-nominated over the previous two years in comedy visitor actress for “Hacks,” has been incomes reward for her physique of labor — which additionally consists of the long-running “It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia.”
As we enter the post-Peak TV period and the amount of authentic sequence continues to say no, there’s no purpose broadcast can’t elbow its means again into the awards house — and the SAG Awards, which boasts the most important voting physique of any kudocast, will be the place to do it.
In any case, on the comedy facet, it truly hasn’t been that lengthy since a broadcast sequence gained the SAG award for comedy sequence ensemble. In 2022, ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” managed to beat “Barry,” “The Bear,” “Hacks” and “Solely Murders within the Constructing.” However that was virtually an anomaly: The final time a broadcast present had even been nominated in that class was “Black-ish” in 2017. (“Trendy Household” was the final broadcast comedy to win, in 2013).
Drama is the place broadcast has struggled with SAG Awards voters. The final time a broadcast sequence was nominated for drama ensemble was 2018, when NBC’s “This Is Us” was included, after which moved on to win. (The present additionally gained it in 2017.)
This has been a protracted simmering situation: Broadcast sequence normally have smaller budgets however longer episodic orders, which isn’t precisely honest to check to tight, 10-episode seasons with A-list stars. Broadcast sequence additionally face over-the-air content material restrictions, putting them at one more drawback.
After all, that is nothing new. Broadcast TV has been combating the stigma for a decade and a half, as first cable — after which streaming — stole its thunder. So why am I bullish now at a broadcast renaissance? Simply take a look at how the tide is popping on the published narrative.
As I not too long ago wrote in Selection, the definition of a “hit” has advanced to incorporate the lengthy tail of time-shifted digital viewing. And when these numbers are factored in, sequence like “Abbott Elementary” stay dominant, and “Matlock” and “Excessive Potential” are on par with regardless of the streamers are doing.
Even streamers at the moment are chasing that broadcast excessive, seeking to copy that mannequin with exhibits like Max’s upcoming John Wells medical sequence “The Pitt.” A 15-episode procedural, “The Pitt” is actually replicating the published playbook with extra episodes, decrease budgets and a sensible timetable. And if you happen to want an indication that broadcast nonetheless issues, take a look at NBCUniversal — the place the published community continues to be seen as a vital program supply, not like most of its about-to-be spun-off cablers.
Plus, who doesn’t love Kathy Bates? The awards marketing campaign for “Matlock” begins now.
