The Television Academy is hosting its 78th Emmy Awards on Monday night, Sept. 14, (notably not a Sunday) and, yes, this is probably your first time hearing about it. Probably because, for yet another year,
the Emmys snubbed what's arguably the best show on television: "Industry."
Call it laziness. Call it ignorance. Whatever it is, it's infuriating. For the past couple of years, Emmy voters clogged up all the major categories with nominations for the same five or six shows while ignoring the rest.
Last year, "The White Lotus" hogged a majority of the supporting actress drama category and two too many spots in the supporting actor drama category. The same can be said for "The Morning Show" in 2024 (except Nicole Beharie, she deserved.)
Luckily, we’re free from both those shows this year, so the academy voters were forced to diversify (do their job). And they did! Newcomers “Widow’s Bay” and “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” received well-deserved nominations. At the Sept. 6 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Betty Gilpin won outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for her standout performance in “Widow’s Bay,” and Ernest Harden Jr. won his respective guest actor award for his role in “The Pitt.”
Despite all that, Emmy voters clearly didn't try hard enough to get to the good stuff. There's no good reason that "Industry" still hasn't received a single Emmy nomination after four seasons of incredible TV. No matter what happens during the Monday night broadcast, it's already a letdown.
Why are Emmy voters blind to 'Industry' and its actors?
Set in the bustling world of international finance via a group of ambitious, young bankers, its latest season took an unflinching look at late-stage capitalism and the evils we’ve become accustomed to.
The performances from Myha'la Herrold, Marisa Abela and Ken Leung are particularly outstanding. The writing is provocative and invigorating. The direction is excellent. It seems like the type of show awards bodies would fawn over. They seem to get it across the pond. Abela won the leading actress category at last year’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts TV Awards.
Why can’t America hop on board? Are the snubs due to popularity? Sure, it might not be the most-watched show on television, but if “Slow Horses” can get nods every season despite being a "hidden gem," there’s no reason “Industry” can’t.
Even so, “Industry” continues to grow. Its latest season saw a 20% jump in viewership.
Could it be that 'Industry' hits too close to Hollywood home?
Perhaps “Industry” is too real for Emmy voters. Plotlines in the show hold a mirror to current affairs, from technofascism to bourgeois sex trafficking rings. “Industry” seldom pulls its punches about the real world it depicts. Is it too chaotic and nihilistic to get the industry the respect it deserves?
Maybe that’s why they moved this year’s Emmys from Sunday to Monday. They wouldn’t dare broadcast their little show the same day "Industry" aired after years of egregious snubs. Maybe they’re starting to kiss the ring after all.
Until “Industry” gets its overdue Emmy gold, I will write this column again and again. If “Industry” has a million fans, I’m every one of them. If “Industry” has zero fans, I’m dead. And I have to scam my way into the Television Academy and commit voter fraud to get Myha’la and Abela their Emmys, so help me God.
Kofi Mframa is a columnist and digital producer at USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Industry' is the best show on TV. Why do Emmys ignore it? | Opinion
