Palestinian-American Cherien Dabis is on the brink of Emmy history. The director and producer received 17 nominations at last year’s Emmy Awards after Only Murders in the Building received critical acclaim. Dabis is also nominated for the Directing Comedy category. Winning the category would mean Dabis make history, becoming the first woman of colour to win the category in the 74-year history of the Emmys.
With just two episodes left in its second season, Only Murders in the Building is set to take a clean sweep of the comedy series categories. The show holds the top spot for guest actor comedy, guest actress comedy, directing comedy, casting, production design, contemporary costumes, main title design, music composition and single-camera picture editing (for the last episode).
The final two episodes of the series will release while Emmy voting is underway. This has been a carefully employed tactic in recent years, that has seen Only Muders in the Building competitor, Ted Lasso, win for its inaugural season.
Early predictions and performances at the Primetime Emmy nominations were a solid showing for Dabis’ hit show that stars Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Cara Delevingne, and Martin Short. The show is about three strangers who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. A grisly death appears inside their super chic upper East side building, and the tree crime-obsessed strangers employ their knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. In their investigations, the three lie to each to each other to keep certain details a secret. They soon realise that there may be a killer amongst them, as they race to decipher the clues.
Other shows in contention in the comedy category are Abbot Elementary in the outstanding comedy series. Netflix’s hit Squidgame is up against Severance and Yellowjackets in the drama category.
The Emmys will be held on September 12 at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.
