Ryan Murphy’s Law (or at least a price pattern)
Ryan Murphy’s hugely popular limited series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story appears to be earning multiple Emmy nominations. It also seems likely to win some, given that voter appreciation for the early (or only) seasons of Murphy-directed shows tends to decline. Loyalty and respect for veteran actors also play a part in the Emmys picture of the Murphy universe.
2004
Murphy’s visual boldness earns him his first nomination for directing his then-new FX series, Nip/Tuck. It’s his only nomination in six seasons.
2010
Murphy wins his first director Emmy and veteran actress Jane Lynch wins her first acting Emmy for the premiere season of Fox’s Glee. No other “Glee” season achieves this Emmy-high.
6
Murphy’s five other Emmy Awards (director and/or producer) are for the film The Normal Heart, the first two seasons of American Crime Story (The People v. OJ Simpson, The Assassination of Gianni Versace), and a featurette “People v. OJ Simpson”.
2012
Murphys The American Horror Story anthology premieres, cementing his reputation as a champion of veteran talent. Jessica Lange will win two Emmys and Kathy Bates one. Although Angela Bassett doesn’t win in her two “AHS” nominations…
“9-1-1”
… She stars in Murphy’s latest Fox (now ABC) procedural drama.
2016, 2018
Sarah Paulson and Darren Criss, who excelled on “AHS” and “Glee,” respectively, don’t win the main Emmys for those shows, but for subsequent Murphy projects “Simpson” and “Versace.” This precedent favors…
2
… “Dahmer” for Lead Actor and “AHS” veteran Evan Peters for a Main Emmy. (He previously won supporting actor on HBO’s non-Murphy drama Mare of Easttown.) But…
1
… Niecy Nash-Betts, who 1) is a well-loved industry veteran and has previously been nominated for three Emmys as an actress (HBO’s “Getting On” and “When They See Us”), 2) starred on Murphy’s Fox series “Scream Queens.” and 3) acting. “Dahmer’s best performance as the Killer’s Neighbor is a safe nomination (as a supporting actor).
