EMMYS: The Directors Race
Ray Richmond is an AwardsLine contributor
Among the Emmy nominees for directing a drama series, comedy series, and movie/miniseries/special are numerous first-time nominees and several more with multiple noms looking for their first wins. What follows is a look at everyone’s chances:
Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire, “To the Lost” (HBO)
Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad, “Face Off” (AMC)
Brian Percival, Downton Abbey, “Episode 7” (PBS)
Michael Cuesta, Homeland, “Pilot” (Showtime)
Phil Abraham, Mad Men, “The Other Woman” (AMC)
If you were ever going to say that a guy is due for a win, it’s Van Patten. His Emmy pedigree includes 11 total nominations and five for The Sopranos. Yet his only win was as a supervising producer on the HBO mini The Pacific. Van Patten’s fellow directors could see this and feel like maybe it’s time.
On the other hand, it won’t be easy. Not with people like Vince Gilligan vying for the trophy. Gilligan was nominated for the same episode of Breaking Bad that earned him a DGA Award nom earlier this year. It’s “Face Off,” the fourth-season cliffhanger that found Giancarlo Esposito’s memorable villain Gustavo Fring having half of his face blown off, leading to a final adjustment of his tie moments before he collapses. Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is direction. (more…)