SNL's dominance should prompt the Emmys to create a separate category for sketch comedy

The Hollywood Reporter

"For more than a decade, the supporting and guest actor in a comedy Emmy categories have been dominated by performers from Saturday Night Live," says Robyn Bahr. "In fact, this year alone, a total of eight castmembers (including Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong) and celebrity hosts (Brad Pitt and Phoebe Waller-Bridge among them) have been nominated in just 28 available slots, accruing more than a third of the entire honors in these categories. Since 2008, 10 individual SNL players have received a total of 24 nominations in the supporting actor fields (while a smattering of other sketch comics like Portlandia's Fred Armisen, Key & Peele's Keegan-Michael Key and Inside Amy Schumer's Amy Schumer have also received noms). Truthfully, however, this taxonomy has never suited sketch's whimsical style of performance. One could even argue that their inclusion here is category fraud. This isn't to say such veterans as McKinnon (a seven-time nominee) or Strong (a first-time nominee this year) don't deserve awards recognition for their work. They do — indeed, they should be honored with their own performance categories that credit the creativity, versatility and plasticity of their art form. It's time to create new Emmys fields for sketch comedy actors and guest stars (yes, it's worth it even as it would add to the current 123 Emmy categories)."