Tina Fey’s ‘SNL UK’ Hosting: Will It Compete at the Emmys?

Tina Fey’s potential Emmy run just got a lot more interesting. The British adaptation of Saturday Night Live, SNL UK, is eligible for both the Primetime and International Emmys, throwing a strategic curveball into awards season planning. The question now isn’t just *if* Fey will add to her already impressive Emmy collection, but *where* she’ll compete.

Gold Derby exclusively reported that SNL UK, produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video and streaming on Peacock, meets the eligibility requirements for both awards bodies. The Television Academy, which oversees the Primetime Emmys, confirmed the show qualifies as an international co-production. This opens the door for a potential head-to-head competition with the original Saturday Night Live, a show Fey helped define during her nine seasons as a writer and performer.

A Career Defined by Emmy Recognition

Fey’s relationship with the Emmys stretches back to the early 2000s. She first won a Primetime Emmy in 2002 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for her work on SNL, a testament to her sharp comedic voice and ability to capture the zeitgeist. The Television Academy’s official bio highlights this early success, alongside her later wins for portraying Sarah Palin in 2009 and co-hosting with Amy Poehler in 2016. As of today, Fey has amassed ten Primetime Emmy Awards and a staggering 45 nominations, according to Wikipedia’s comprehensive list of her accolades. She’s also a two-time Writers Guild Award winner for her SNL writing.

Beyond SNL, Fey’s Emmy success continued with 30 Rock, the critically acclaimed sitcom she created, wrote, and starred in. The show garnered three Outstanding Comedy Series Emmys and two additional Emmys for Fey’s writing, cementing her status as a powerhouse in television comedy.

The Primetime vs. International Emmy Dilemma

The eligibility of SNL UK presents a strategic challenge. If the show opts for the Primetime Emmys, it could compete directly against its American counterpart in the newly merged Best Variety Series category. The Television Academy recently combined the Best Scripted Variety Series and Best Talk Series into a single category, adopting a voting system where a nominee needs 90% “Yes” votes to win an Emmy. This change, designed to address low submission numbers in previous years, could potentially benefit a newcomer like SNL UK.

However, submitting to the International Emmys might be a more strategic move. This would avoid potentially splitting votes with the established SNL brand and allow SNL UK to establish its own awards identity. The International Emmys, overseen by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, recognize excellence in television programming outside of the United States.

Fey’s Potential Nomination Pathways

Regardless of where SNL UK lands, Fey’s recent hosting gig opens up potential nomination avenues for herself. If the show competes at the Primetime Emmys, she could submit in the Best Comedy Guest Actress category. Her monologue, which included a memorable (and permissible, given the show’s rules) F-bomb, and interactions with guests like Nicola Coughlan, Michael Cera, and Graham Norton, generated buzz and positive reviews.

The International Emmys, however, present a different hurdle. The rules stipulate that a performer must appear in at least 10% of the submitted episode’s airtime to qualify for an acting nomination. While Fey meets this requirement, she would be competing against leads from international productions in a limited number of acting slots.

What’s Next for SNL UK and its Awards Strategy?

Awards campaigners have until May 7th to make a final decision on where to submit SNL UK. As of today, Gold Derby reports that a determination hasn’t been made, and Fey herself hasn’t publicly commented. The choice will likely hinge on a careful assessment of the competitive landscape and the show’s overall awards goals.

The premiere episode’s positive reception and strong ratings suggest SNL UK has the potential to develop into a significant player in the international comedy scene. Whether it chooses to challenge the mothership at the Primetime Emmys or forge its own path at the International Emmys, the show is poised to make a splash. The coming weeks will reveal the strategy, and potentially, add another chapter to Tina Fey’s already remarkable Emmy story.