Orange is the New Black can't compete as a comedy at the Emmys
Orange is the New Black competed in the Best Comedy category at the 2014 Emmy Awards. But the Netflix series won't get another chance to take on 2014 winner Modern Family; under new rules enacted earlier this year, the TV Academy has reclassified Orange is the New Black as a drama, putting it up against presumptive nominees like Mad Men, House of Cards, and Game of Thrones.
The Emmys have long struggled to categorize shows like Orange is the New Black, which are most accurately described with the unwieldy phrase "dramedy." The new rules call for all 30-minute shows to be treated as comedies, and all hour-long shows to be treated as dramas.
The new rules also allow for hour-long shows to petition to compete as comedies. This year, Jane the Virgin, Glee, and Shameless were all granted exemptions. Orange is the New Black tried, and failed, to get the same exemption.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Orange Is the New Black is a truly pioneering series and an iconoclast which has always defied genre or easy categorization," said Netflix's Ted Sarandos, in a statement at Variety. "While we're disappointed in the committee's decision, we believe that Orange represents the best of television in either category."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published