HBO Submits ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ For 30 Emmy Categories
HBO
HBO recently confirmed that it will be submitting Robin Thede’s A Black Lady Sketch Show’s six-episode Season 4 for 30 Emmy categories, notably outstanding scripted variety series (formerly called variety sketch series, where it was nominated for its first three seasons) and three main acting categories: Thede for lead comedy actress, and Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend for supporting comedy actress.
In recent years, acting nominees for various sketch comedies have benefited shows such as Saturday Night Live. However, the Emmys abolished the category for outstanding solo performance in a variety or music program in 2008, leaving actors from sketch shows to compete with written narrative artists for distinction. Due to fewer open slots and increased competition, A Black Lady Sketch Show faces numerous challenges.
Many people have kept an eye on the show, especially Townsend, who first appeared as a featured performer on A Black Lady Sketch Show in Season 2 before getting promoted to the main cast the following season. The young actress has received recognition for several skits, including "The Mange-Her" and "Plugged In." Another factor to consider is that only one Black woman has won as lead comedy actress in the last 75 years: Isabel Sanford for The Jeffersons in 1981. Furthermore, just two have won the award for best supporting comedy actress: Jackée Harry for 227 in 1987 and Sheryl Lee Ralph for Abbott Elementary in 2022.
Despite main actors being snubbed, the sketch show’s guest performers have found luck with the TV Academy with three previous nominees: Yvette Nicole Brown and Issa Rae in 2021, and Angela Bassett in 2020. Brown and Rae will be among the submitted nominees this year, along with Tracee Ellis Ross, Jackée Harry, Kyla Pratt, and Kym Whitley. In addition, the potential guest actor lineup will include Colman Domingo, Omarion, Sam Richardson, and Leonard Robinson.
Over the course of its three seasons, the sketch show has won three Emmys. The show received the award for outstanding picture editing for variety programming in 2021, making it the first all-women-of-color crew to be nominated and win. Only one Black editor had previously won the award: Lance Cain in 2004 for A&E in Concert: Paul McCartney in Red Square. Bridget Stokes became the first Black woman to win directing for a variety series at last year's ceremony, coupled with a consecutive win for editing and helming the episode "Save My Edges, I'm a Donor!" This broke Saturday Night Live's five-year winning streak.
A Black Lady Sketch Show airs Fridays at 11 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and streams on HBO Max.