HBO Max Leads the Emmy Drama and Comedy Races for the First Time Since 2017. How Often Do Both Frontrunners Win?

For the first time since 2017, HBO Max has surged to the forefront of the Emmy Awards race by securing the highest number of nominations across both drama and comedy categories. This resurgence positions the streaming platform with a remarkable chance to claim the year’s most prestigious television honors, potentially replicating a rare feat of winning in multiple top program categories simultaneously.

Leading the pack is "The Pitt," a sophomore medical drama that has earned an impressive 25 nominations, topping all contenders this year. Close on its heels is "Hacks," a comedy series that garnered 24 nominations, setting a new record for the most nominations in the comedy category. These two series place HBO Max in a distinctive position, commanding the spotlight in both key genres.

Such dual dominance is seldom achieved by a single network in the same year. While Apple TV+ accomplished this last year with "Severance" and "The Studio," and FX did so the year prior with "Shōgun" and "The Bear," HBO Max’s current prominence marks a notable return to a space it last occupied in 2017. Historically, HBO’s premium network has repeatedly led both categories during the early 2000s and again in the latter part of the 2010s, showcasing its longstanding influence on television’s creative landscape.

Despite their frontrunner status, history suggests that leading in nominations does not guarantee sweeping Emmy victories. Over the past four decades, only four occasions have seen a network secure wins in both drama and comedy series categories after leading in nominations – three times by NBC in the 1980s and once by HBO in 2016. This underscores the competitive and unpredictable nature of Emmy voting.

Among the two flagship HBO Max shows, "The Pitt" appears to be the stronger contender for a repeat win. This is bolstered by a historical trend where the most-nominated drama series has prevailed in its category more than half the time since the Emmy category’s establishment. Additionally, "The Pitt" is seeking to join an elite group of dramas that have won back-to-back series awards, a distinction held by notable shows such as "Hill Street Blues" and "Mad Men."

"Hacks," while a record-setting nominee in comedy, faces a more challenging path. The comedy field has a lower conversion rate for the top-nominated series, with recent years showing several instances where the frontrunner lost out. Moreover, "Hacks" is vying to replicate a feat few comedies have managed: winning the Emmy in non-consecutive seasons.

Beyond drama and comedy, HBO Max is also a strong contender in the limited series category, with "DTF St. Louis" earning 13 nominations. This places the series in close contention with Netflix’s "Beef," which leads the category with 16 nominations. The limited series category has historically been the most unpredictable, with frontrunners often failing to secure the award despite their nomination lead.

A triple win in drama, comedy, and limited series in the same year remains exceptionally rare but not unprecedented. HBO notably achieved this in 2015, while NBC achieved it twice in prior decades. Whether HBO Max can replicate such a historic sweep in 2024 remains uncertain as final voting continues through August.

The final Emmy voting phase extends into late August, with the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Ball scheduled for early September. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will broadcast on NBC on September 14. Industry observers and viewers alike will be watching closely to see if HBO Max can convert its nomination dominance into a record-setting collection of Emmy wins this year.