Jewish stars shone bright at this year's emmy nominations, taking nods across the board, for writing, directing and acting.
This year’s nominations were announced on the 12th of July, with a host of big budget productions getting recognised.
Jewish stars such as Seth Rogen (Rand in Pam and Tommy) and Julia Garner (Anna Delvey in Inventing Anna) lead the nominations.
For their work in “Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series” Rogen and Garner are joined by the Jewish creator of Dopesick, Danny Strong. His show draws from the real-life role of the Sackler family in creating the opioid crisis in the US and received 14 nominations.
Andrew Garfield was nominated for his first Emmy in the category of “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie” for his role as “Detective Jeb Pyre” in the TV miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven.
Born in California, USA, but raised for most of his childhood and early career in London, Garfield’s paternal grandfather, from Jewish Polish immigrant parents, Samuel Garfinkle, changed his family name to “Garfield” in an attempt to assimilate.
His now Emmy nominated Grandson, still describes himself as Jewish and has said previously that he values his “Jewish heritage so much”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDRqWtwbiSM
This year is no the first, nor will it be the last year that Jewish comedy has been recognised at the Emmys, with 7 of the 8 shows nominated in the “Outstanding Comedy Series” category involving Jewish creators and actors in pivotal roles.
Curb Your Enthusiasm, written by and starring quintessentially Jewish actor Larry David, has received over 50 Emmy nominations to date, with this year being no exception. David was also recognised in the 90s for his work on global sensation Seinfeld.
Award-winning American sitcom The Marvellous Mrs Maisel has once again been highlighted for its excellence in the field of humour – specifically Jewish humour. The show centres around the fictious life of a young Jewish comedian living in New York in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The main character in this show “Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel” is played by now two-time golden globe winner Rachel Brosnahan – who is not and does not consider herself to be Jewish.
However, the show’s creator Amy Sherman-Palladino (also the creator of hit show Gilmore Girls) was raised as Jewish in America, and the show is written with a tenderness that appeals to the Jewish community in all its forms.
What we do in the Shadows and Only Murders in the Building were two further comedies executive produced by the Jewish creators Taika David Cohen (known professionally as Taika Waititi) and Dan Fogelman respectively.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYcR8SgSKk
The American sitcom Barry, staring Jewish American actor Henry Winkler as “Gene Cousineau”, also made the cut. The actor is best known for his role as “the Fonz” in the American sitcom Happy Days during the 1970s and 80s. Winkler, whohas always been vocal about his Jewish heritage, was born to German Jewish parents who escaped the Holocaust to America in 1939.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx6AS0zzfGM
The category of “Outstanding Drama Series” also saw a great number of Jewish creators be rewarded for their work. Included is Sam Levinson’s adaption of the Israeli TV series Euphoria, which gained 16 nominations across the board at this year’s Emmy nominations. The show focuses on teenager Rue Bennett, played in Levinson’s version by Hollywood A-lister Zendaya. Her character is a recovering drug addict, her life, and her friends, many of whom are in the same boat.
Ben Stiller also received praise for directing the dystopian drama, Severance. It was nominated in the categories of “Outstanding Drama Series” and for best director, as well as receiving nods to many of its actors, both for lead and supporting roles across the board.
