Netflix made television history on Thursday when House of Cards, its Arrested Development revival and Hemlock Grove combined for 14 Emmy nominations total. The shows became the first ever online streaming shows to get Emmy nominations.
Political drama House of Cards really connected with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, garnering nine nominations. Stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright both earned nominations, while the show got the nod for Outstanding Drama series. David Fincher was also nominated for directing the first episode.
Hemlock Grove earned nods for its visual effects and main title music, while Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman was nominated for lead actor in a comedy. The show’s fourth season earned two other nominations.
“In a way, it solidifies that television is television, no matter what pipe brings it to the screen,” Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, told The New York Times.
Netflix’s success is seen as a watershed moment, akin to the 1990s, when HBO and other cable channels became major players at the Emmys.
In an interview with Forbes, House of Cards producer and co-chair of Media Rights Capital Modi Wiczyk added that the importance of the Emmys can’t be downplayed. “They expose a show to an audience that otherwise might not sample it. They expand the reach of the show.”
Bruce Rosenblum, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, also commented on Netflix’s recognition, telling USA Today that “It's all television, whether people watch on a mobile device, a tablet or a flat screen.”
Tune into CBS on Sept. 22 to see if Netflix pulls off a win.
image: Facebook