Should American Horror Story be nominated for Best Miniseries? – Quibbling Siblings

Bob:

Ok, did you see the news last week that FX is entering American Horror Story in the miniseries category in this year’s Emmys instead of Drama? I guess there’s a little loophole in there where they can get away with it because it’s an anthology series and not a continuing drama from year to year. I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether this is a great decision or a cowardly one.

On one hand, I can appreciate that the show has a much better chance of being recognized against miniseries and not award juggernauts like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, et al. It’s probably in the show’s best interest to go that route.

However, a bigger part of me finds the decision a little frustrating. If you stand by your show and think it’s award worthy, why not go for the big award? Also, if I’m one of the actual miniseries that was on this year, I’m a little annoyed that I now have to compete against a show that really wasn’t a miniseries. Maybe I’m just being nitpicky. At the end of the day, I enjoyed AHS. Perhaps I didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the other fans, but I thought it was fun and it kept me watching, and I like that it’s going to be an anthology series. It just seems wrong that it could pick up “Best Miniseries” for 4 or 5 years in a row.

How do you feel about this move?

Debbie:

I definitely see your point, but I think it’s a pretty brilliant, and fair, move for a number of reasons. First off, they really couldn’t compete in the drama category, and they know that. But they’ve been nominated for some awards already, and Jessica Lange has taken one, so they know they can be a contender if the category’s right. I don’t think it’s about standing or not standing by your show; I think it’s more getting the show the accolades it deserves, and you’ve got to commend that on some level.

Also, Modern Family has set a successful precedent in recent years for dicking with show categories successfully. They were so determined to be seen as an ensemble comedy that they took themselves out of the running for best actor/actress and put themselves all in the supporting actor/actress category. Maybe the Powers That Be of AHS are thinking along the same lines here. It’s not about whether or not they can compete against shows in the drama category, but more that they want to distinguish themselves as an anthology series. They are unique in that aspect; shows just aren’t doing that. It’s a risk on the ratings front and the creativity front, but they had a successful enough first season to garner a huge fanbase and get some award nominations, so why not distinguish themselves further.

Bob:

I suppose, but I think the Modern Family analogy is a bad one. Who in that show are you going to call a lead actor? It’s a true ensemble show, maybe more than any other on television. While American Horror Story may qualify as a miniseries, it’s a drama. It was already nominated for a Golden Globe for best drama on television. You do realize that there is a miniseries category at the Golden Globes, right?

Here’s the bottom line, though: I agree, the show has a much better chance of winning in the miniseries category (though if Downton Abbey shows up there again instead of in the Drama category, it may have some stiff competition). I can’t really knock the producers/network too much for that, but it still strikes me as wrong.

Debbie:

I don’t know; whether or not you agree with the Modern Family category placement, it was very much talked about at the time as a gutsy move, and I think AHS is following the lead.

Yes, I know there’s a miniseries category at the Golden Globes — it helped me make many a Mildred Pierce joke. But there’s no way AHS could have been in the miniseries category at that time. They didn’t air the finale until December 21 and the Globes themselves took place on January 15. The nominees were set well before the finale of AHS and it would have been a huge spoiler to be in the miniseries category when no one knew it was an anthology series at that time.

Not wrong, Bob — edgy. Go with edgy … embrace the edgy. I like it — that Ryan Murphy’s got chutzpah. It makes sense for the show in pretty much every way. Downton Abbey, though … that’s another story. …

Clacked by Bob Degon
on Mar 29, 2012 @ 10:00 EST5EDT