Emmys 2018: The case for nominating American Vandal

With the 2018 Emmy nominations on the horizon, one show that is not only worthy of recognition, but deserves to be nominated is Netflix’s American Vandal.

There is no question that one of the most surprising shows of the past year was American Vandal. Once thought of as a long shot, Netflix’s American Vandal has a chance to do the improbable, which is to be nominated for an Emmy.

Why is a critically acclaimed show thought of as a long shot for an Emmy nomination? For starters, the initial question that the show tries to answer involves spray-painted penises. That doesn’t usually scream Emmy nominations, but throughout the eight episode series, the show becomes more than just a parody, but a well-crafted comedic series.

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Created by Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, American Vandal is a true crime mockumentary that parodies the likes of Making a Murderer and Serial. The first season follows senior Dylan Maxwell (Jimmy Tatro), who is accused of spray-painting penises on 27 cars in the faculty parking lot. Dylan insists he is innocent, but his immature reputation leads to his expulsion. Because of the faulty investigation, sophomores Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) start their own investigation to discover the truth.

As stated before, the series is more than a investigation to solve a prank. American Vandal is one of the most accurate representations of high school in the social media era. Many scenes are through the lens of a smart phone, which in 2018, is how most users consume their news and information. Plus, the brilliant writing and superb performances from Tatro and Alvarez make this a binge-worthy show.

Can this true crime parody breakthrough at the Emmys? Since the show has been renewed for season two with a new cast and storyline, American Vandal will be competing in the Limited Series category. On the outside, American Vandal checks all of the boxes that a series needs to be nominated. It has been met with critical acclaim and it has scored nominations with other organizations such as the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Writers Guild of America.

However, history is against a show like American Vandal because it is rare for comedies to be nominated in the Limited Series category. There have been limited series with comedic elements that have won Emmys (Fargo, American Horror Story), but most critics would classify those as dramas first, not comedies.

Also, there is the competition in the Limited Series category to consider as well. Five limited series will receive nominations. According to GoldDerby, The Assassination of Giovanni Versace, Twin Peaks, Godless, The Looming Tower, and Howard’s End have the best odds for a nomination. Currently, American Vandal’s odds are at 80/1, which would put the show in 9th place.

In a perfect world, American Vandal should receive nominations in the Limited Series category, Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, and a Best Actor nomination for Tatro. That being said, the best chance that American Vandal has in scoring a nomination is for Limited Series, which would most likely be in the fifth and final spot with shows like Howard’s End, Top of the Lake: China Girl, and Patrick Melrose competing for that slot as well.

Next: Five best true crime documentaries on Netflix

Do you believe American Vandal deserves an Emmy nomination? Leave your answer in the comments or tweet me @danny_giro!

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