“Beef” upped the ante.
Variety has learned exclusively that Netflix and the creative teams behind the new dark comic book series have chosen to seek Emmy consideration as a limited or anthology series instead of a comedy, where many experts had assumed she would campaign.
Starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, the series dropped on the streaming platform on April 6, garnering positive reviews from critics and audiences. Currently the show 99% seat on rotten tomatoes critics and 92% of the public.
Created by Lee Sung Jin, best known for writing and producing HBO’s “Silicon Valley” (for which he received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2015), the dark comedy game was announced in March 2021 and commissioned as an anthology series for Netflix.
A passage in limited does not mean that “Beef” will not return. On the contrary, while a second season has yet to be announced, shows from the limited or anthology run have frequently returned – with or without the original cast or story intact.
HBO’s “The White Lotus” swept the limited categories in 2022 and is now seeking Emmy attention for its second season. However, despite being subtitled “Sicily”, it was deemed ineligible to return in the limited series/anthology categories, primarily due to the return of Jennifer Coolidge’s character Tanya. In 2021, the Television Academy defined limited or anthology series as stories that must be resolved within its season, with no ongoing storylines/casting allowed. As a result, “The White Lotus” will be up for contention in the drama categories.
“Beef” tells the story of two people, Danny Cho (Yeun) and Amy Lau (Wong), who let a chance encounter of road rage slowly consume them, hoping for revenge.
The move to limited is exactly what the Emmy doctor ordered in a run that has been less than exciting so far, unlike years past.
The potential contestant can easily find a place in a probable lineup of five (which is based on the total number of submissions) which currently has two surefire inclusions – Apple prison drama “Black Bird” and the killer study in Netflix’s hit series ‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Other possibilities include FX’s ‘Fleishman is in Trouble’, Prime Video’s ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ and upcoming ‘Love & Death’ and “White House Plumbers,” both late releases from HBO.
Beef. (Left to right) Ali Wong as Amy and Joseph Lee as George in episode 103 of “Beef.”
ANDREW COOPER / NETFLIX
As Goop-inspired plant-selling businesswoman Amy, Wong has never looked so good. Fresh from her first Emmy nomination for Special Outstanding Writing Variety for “Ali Wong: Don Wong” for Netflix, she plans to do a Primetime story, potentially becoming the first Asian nominee in the history of her category. and only the second Asian woman in any Emmys lead race. Sandra Oh became the first in 2018 for the BBC America drama “Killing Eve”, and went on to receive three more nominations but never won. Wong could potentially rival SAG winner Jessica Chastain from Showtime’s musical biographical series “George & Tammy” and Elizabeth Olsen as murderous Candy Montgomery in “Love & Death.”
As hardworking Danny, Oscar nominee Yeun (“Minari”) plays a dramatic, counter-type role, something we’ve never seen from the talented performer before. Although his category is apparently more competitive compared to his co-star, he should be able to fit comfortably alongside Evan Peters from “Dahmer” and Daniel Radcliffe from the TV movie “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” (the actors of TV movies compete alongside a limited number).
The 95th Oscars was a record night for Asian filmmakers and actors with A24’s ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ winning Best Picture for producer Jonathan Wang and his co-producer Daniel Kwan, who also won the award. from the director and original screenplay, supporting actor for Ke Huy Quan (second Asian winner) and best actress for Michelle Yeoh (first Asian winner and second woman of color). The Emmys have shown progress with Asian representation in recent years — but there’s still work to be done. “Beef” uses its diverse cast as an asset, not just as a narrative crutch, something Hollywood should repeat often.
Eight actors of Asian descent have been nominated in the 75th anniversary of the Emmys, five of whom walk away with the statuette – Riz Ahmed (“The Night of”), Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace”), Archie Punjabi (“ The Good Wife”) and last year’s winners of “Squid Game” Lee Jung-Jae (for Lead Drama Actor) and Lee Yoo-mi (for Guest Drama Actress). Netflix, which made history just two years ago when “The Crown” swept all of its respective drama runs, may continue to enter the record books.
“Beef” will also submit to other categories, including Danny Choe as sketchy cousin Isaac, Joseph Lee as Amy’s stay-at-home husband George, and Young Mazino as younger crypto-investor brother Paul, in the supporting actor. Plus, expect directing and writing opportunities, especially the first episode, “Birds Don’t Sing, They Cry in Pain,” directed by Hikari and written by Lee Sung Jin.
“Beef” won’t be uncommon at upcoming Emmys.
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