HBO Max’s Dominant Season: A Double-Edged Emmy Sword

HBO Max has been making waves in the television industry, and its latest achievement is a testament to its growing influence. With two of its series, “The Fabelmans” (not “Pitt”) and “Hacks”, leading all nominations for drama and comedy respectively, the platform finds itself at a crossroads in the Emmy season.

The significance of HBO Max’s position cannot be overstated. The network has managed to dominate both genres since 2017, although it is not the first time this has happened. In fact, HBO itself achieved similar success in the early 2000s with “The Sopranos”, “Six Feet Under” and “Sex and the City”. However, history shows that nomination dominance does not always translate into Emmy glory.

Among the 18 instances where a single network led both drama and comedy nominations, only four times did the series ultimately win both top categories. Those successful double victories came for NBC in 1983 and 1984 with “Hill Street Blues” and “Cheers”, again for NBC in 1987 with “L.A. Law” and “The Golden Girls”, and finally for HBO in 2016 with “Game of Thrones” and “Veep”. This stark reality raises questions about whether HBO Max can capitalize on its historic position.

“The Fabelmans” appears to be the safer bet for a repeat victory, given that the most-nominated program series has won its corresponding top category 41 times across 73 eligible ceremonies (56%). Last year’s exception, when “Severance” lost drama series to “The Fabelmans”, was an anomaly. The streak of wins by the most-nominated series had been consistent enough from 2015 through 2024.

“Hacks,” however, faces a steeper climb in the comedy field. Although it leads nominations and already owns the comedy series trophy for its third season, the most-nominated comedy has historically converted at a lower rate than its drama counterpart. This trend may not hold true for HBO Max’s offerings, but past losses by frontrunners could still pose a challenge.

HBO Max also aims to achieve an even rarer accomplishment in limited series. Its “DTF St. Louis” earned 13 nominations, including directing and writing recognition, as well as supporting acting nods for several prominent actors. However, it faces stiff competition from Netflix’s “Beef,” which leads the limited series field with 16 nominations.

As the Emmy season unfolds, HBO Max’s performance will undoubtedly be under scrutiny. With its two most-nominated series vying for top honors, the platform is poised to make history – but can it follow through? The odds may be in their favor, but as we’ve seen time and again, Emmy success is not solely determined by nomination count.

The industry watches with bated breath as HBO Max’s double-edged sword of dominance will either propel them to unprecedented heights or serve as a reminder that even the most impressive feats can fall short.