With the 78th Annual Golden Globe nominations almost upon us (Feb. 3), Variety senior editors Michael Schneider and Danielle Turchiano examined the contenders for the limited series/TV movie category in the latest Variety Awards Circuit video, presented by HBO.
Although this category still combines two distinct types of shorter-form storytelling, the plethora of quality limited series, including anthologies, greatly overshadows any TV movie candidates at the moment. Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” for Amazon Prime Video may appear to be an exception at quick glance, but that collection of films has actually been entered into the winter awards races as an anthological limited series, as opposed to singling out one or two specific titles.
Schneider and Turchiano discuss the potential for category confusion, while also highlighting series such as Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Unorthodox,” HBO’s “I May Destroy You” and “The Undoing,” FX on Hulu’s “Mrs. America” and Showtime’s “The Good Lord Bird.”
“Unorthodox” and “Mrs. America” are the rare series here that are coming off Emmy attention from 2020: “Unorthodox” nabbed eight nominations, including limited series and lead limited series/TV movie actress for star Shira Haas. It won one statue in September, for limited series/movie/dramatic special directing for Maria Schrader. “Mrs. America” picked up 10 nominations at the Emmys, also including limited series and lead limited series/TV movie actress (for Cate Blanchett), and it also won one: for supporting actress Uzo Aduba, who remains a favorite for that same award at the Globes.
All of the other series have their first opportunities to go for awards gold this winter, and Schneider and Turchiano break down why they are worthy in the video above.
The 78th Annual Golden Globe ceremony will take place on Feb. 28.