Advertisement
Casey Bloys found himself in a familiar position Tuesday after announcing the 2022 Emmy nominations: Alone at the top of the most-nominated outlets as HBO — even without the HBO Max benefit — slightly outperformed Netflix.
HBO had five of the most nominated programs that year successor (25) leads the pack, which is also included The White Lotus (20), Chop (17), euphoria (16) and barry (14). Warner Bros. Discovery topped all conglomerates with 155 combined nominations for the first time ever.
The executive who oversees originals for the premium cable network and its streaming counterpart saw 24 HBO/HBO Max programs earn a total of 140 nominations, while Netflix saw 35 programs earn a total of 105 nominations.
Bloys is used to having to compete with Netflix’s heavy spending on a variety of content while the streaming giant tries to be a catch-all for viewers. Instead, the programming teams at HBO and HBO Max are curating slates that cancel each other out. (While HBO has a lot of male content, HBO Max programming caters to more female viewers, etc.)
In conversation with the hollywood reporter, Bloys talks about the future of successor and western world as well as what shows could be the theme of the 2023 Emmys, including the much-anticipated inclusion The last of us.
HBO has surpassed Netflix this year without the advantage of HBO Max. What do you attribute this success to?
It’s like every year: talented programming teams at HBO and HBO Max work alongside talented developers, all doing their best to bring out the best work in the world. There’s no other secret than keeping your head down and trying to do our best across the board.
This year, the TV Academy decided against dividing the nominations by broadcaster. How do you see this narrative developing over time?
I think it’s a lot of hand-wringing over nothing. We have the same programming management for HBO and HBO Max. When HBO was just linear, we were still competitive. Now it’s a fairer playing field where we also have a streaming service. It makes perfect sense to combine them. Ultimately, what matters are the shows that get credit.
HBO and HBO Max had fewer shows overall that received more nominations than Netflix (with 35 programs nominated)…
It’s always like that. We don’t have the volume they have, so every show has to work harder.
You had a few snubs in there The Staircase, Julia, Siegerzeit, Gilded Age as well as And just like that. How do you feel about these significant snubs?
On a day where we got 140 nominations… of course you want all of your shows to be nominated, but I don’t think today is the day that you need to worry or obsess over the snubs. We’ll come back and do our best on some of them, but today is about celebrating nominations rather than feeling betrayed in any way. This is the game; not everyone can win.
Was there anything about the nominations that particularly surprised or pleased you?
There station eleven aired in December and we had so many shows between January and June it was nice that people remembered it. The same with The White Lotus. Staying in people’s minds is a hard thing.
Is there a way for Emmy categories to better reflect the nature of the industry? Do you think Julia just got hurt somehow to be a comedy while white lotus was not hurt by only somehow be a limited series?
The thing with Julia means it will be back next year. Part of it is that you have to keep at it. Julia has earned some names and that the cast and crew will put out an excellent second season. The Emmys are about being consistent, and the entire cast deserves credit, as does the writing and direction.
What has changed for you since Discovery’s David Zaslav took control?
David has only supported what we do creatively. He appreciates me and the team and makes it clear that he appreciates what we do. It was nothing but support. This happened when AT&T took over, many business-as-usual decisions were reframed along the lines of, “Well, AT&T has to get them to do this.” Whether it was half world or a program cancellation or extension, we operate a programming service that has daily needs and decisions that need to be made. There is no scenario where David is looking over my shoulder and considering whether we should extend or cancel something. Day-to-day decisions have been recast to reflect what the new regime is doing, and that is not the case here.
When can viewers expect new seasons of ? euphoria, white lotus and successor?
We haven’t announced any dates yet, but I would imagine so White lotus, Succession, Barry and Chop would all be within next year’s Emmy eligibility window.
What is the future of successor beyond season four?
We leave that decision to showrunners. The decision rests with Jesse Armstrong. They’ve started filming season four and broken stories, and he wants to go through that process to see if he has any more stories or themes to explore. It’s up to him. If he wants to do more, great. If that’s all he’s got, great.
In a world where hit shows are fast becoming spinoffs, as franchises continue to be incredibly important to streaming platforms, you’ve had conversations with Jesse about a successor Spin-off — especially considering how big this world has gotten, as evidenced by the number of acting nominations the show received this year?
A world like game of Thrones Where George RR Martin has an entire universe and a millennial timeline and multiple families and wars and history, that’s not what Jesse set up. There is no scenario where a successor Multiverse is in the cards.
Give people what they want: a teaser about it successor season four.
More family dysfunction! (laughs)
HBO is developing one game of Thrones Jon Snow sequel. What’s changed that makes you want to revisit the flagship series finale?
I have nothing to report about the development of Jon Snow.
What is the future of western world beyond season four? Lisa Joy and Jonah Nolan’s contract includes two more seasons. Is it still like that?
As with any show, we’ll see how it works. We haven’t talked to them about ideas for a fifth season, but we’re only three episodes into season four and we’ll see how it goes. No decisions were made.
When should we count? The last of us arrive?
It’s closer to early 2023.
As you look ahead to the next year, what’s on the agenda that you’re excited about that we could talk about this time next year?
By then we will have gone through College Girls Sex Life season two, white lotus 2, The Idol, The Last of Us, Succession, Juliet, Hacks, Barry and Fair Gems. It’s a pretty tight lineup again. We could be talking about any number of these shows!
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
