‘True Detective,’ ‘Fargo,’ ‘The Bear,’ ‘Hacks’ and ‘Ripley’ Among Heavy Hitters in Writing and Directing Races

As a seasoned movie critic with a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling and a keen eye for recognizing talent, I am thrilled to see such an impressive lineup of nominees in this year’s Emmy Awards for writing and directing. With my extensive background in analyzing cinematic masterpieces and identifying emerging trends in the industry, I can’t help but be particularly moved by the achievements of these remarkable individuals.


As a devoted fan of television, I am thrilled to witness the outstanding achievements of Issa López, Christopher Storer, Lucia Aniello, Noah Hawley, and Steve Zaillian in this year’s Emmy Awards. Their nominations for both writing and directing categories are truly deserving, and it’s a pleasure to see their hard work and creativity recognized.

As a passionate cinephile with decades of experience under my belt, I find this year’s slate of notable directing nominees particularly intriguing. From the veteran auteurs to the rising stars, each filmmaker brings their unique perspective and vision to the table.

Rachel Kondo, the head writer and executive producer of “Shōgun,” has been recognized with two nominations in the drama series writing category.

López, the showrunner and executive producer of “True Detective: Night Country” on HBO, has earned a nomination for writing the final episode (“Part 6”) of the anthology series. Additionally, she is nominated for directing all six episodes, making her the first Latino writer and director to be recognized in these categories for a limited series.

Storer, the creator and executive producer of “The Bear,” has been recognized as the leading figure in comedy series writing and directing this year. Not only did “The Bear” win the award for best comedy series in 2023, but Storer has also been nominated again in both categories. In the writing category, Storer is up for an award for the “Fishes” episode, which he co-wrote with Joanna Calo. In the directing category, Storer will be competing against Ramy Youseff, who was nominated for his work on the “Honeydew” episode of “The Bear.”

I was thrilled to be recognized as a winner in the comedy series writing and directing category at the 2021 awards for my work on “Hacks.” Now, I’m excited to take on the challenge of directing the upcoming “Bulletproof” episode in the third season of the show. My colleagues and fellow creators, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, and I are also nominated for our writing contributions to this installment.

Hawley extended his Emmy winning streak with FX’s “Fargo,” earning nominations for both writing and directing, specifically for the episode “The Tragedy of the Commons.” Zaillian, an Oscar laureate for “Schindler’s List” (1993), secured limited series nominations for her work in writing and directing every installment of Netflix’s “Ripley.”

Quinta Brunson, the creator, star, and executive producer of “Abbott Elementary,” received her third straight Emmy nomination for outstanding comedy series writing, specifically for the “Career Day” episode. She previously won this award in 2022.

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about the latest developments in the world of television directing! In the competitive comedy series category, Randall Einhorn has earned a well-deserved nomination for his exceptional work on “Abbott Elementary,” specifically the “Party” episode. This achievement is truly a reason to celebrate!

Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider are key writers for Max’s “The Other Two,” and Jake Bender and Zach Dunn write for FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows.”)

The Shōgun production company secured two bids for Kondo and Marks to write the first installment of “Anjin” for television dramas. Kondo and Puente are contenders for penning the “Crimson Sky” episode. Apple TV+’s “Slow Horses,” an unexpected contender in the drama series category, received a nomination for Will Smith’s writing in the “Negotiating With Tigers” episode.

In the field of creating limited series, López’s rivals are all male contenders. Notably, Richard Gadd, renowned for “Baby Reindeer” on Netflix, shares recognition with Charlie Brooker for “Black Mirror.” Additionally, Ron Nyswaner is celebrated for “Fellow Travelers” on Showtime. Zacharias Zaillian and Noah Hawley are also among the esteemed group, known for their works “Ripley” and “Fargo,” respectively.

Instead, when it comes to limited series directing, there is an equal representation of genders. Among those vying for this award alongside López are Weronkia Tofilska for “Baby Reindeer” (episode 4) and Shelton for “Lessons in Chemistry” (“Poirot”). Furthermore, Van Sant is a strong contender for her work on the pilot of FX’s “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans,” joining Hawley and Zaillian in this category.

(Pictured: Issa López, Gus Van Sant, Guy Ritchie)

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2024-07-17 21:17