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But there will be no all-Canadian high when the Emmy Awards air Sunday. Our best chance of borrowed glory comes from a TV comedy about Hollywood that was made in Los Angeles.

That would be “The Studio,” the Apple TV satire about a movie company straddling the divide between art and commerce. Its Canadian connections include two of its creators — Vancouverites Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg — several of its actors (ɫɫ��nians Catherine O’Hara, Devon Bostick and Sugar Lyn Beard) and one guest star (Sarah Polley, also of ɫɫ��).

One might wonder, of course, why it matters that Hollywood takes notice of Canadian contributions to the television industry, especially when interest in awards shows is on a steady decline.

And yes, the Emmys, like the Oscars and other prize-giving galas, are glitzy, self-congratulatory affairs with no relevance to the issues that preoccupy the average person, like, say, finding a place to live that doesn’t impoverish them.

But the arts still matter, both as a form of expression of the identity of a country and its people, and as entertainment. And we are so stingy in Canada with our appreciation of Canadians in the industry — at least, until somebody else notices them — that I’m happy to see praise for our creatives wherever they can find it. 

It’s also true that we are inextricably intertwined with the Hollywood machine, whether it’s through the American shows and movies that come here to film, or the Canadian actors, directors, writers and producers who go to the U.S. to ply their trade — people like Rogen and Goldberg, which brings us back to “The Studio.”

A key question Sunday — not just for Canucks but for all Emmys watchers — is whether the show can unseat “Hacks,” last year’s winner, as best comedy series. 

I believe it can and will.

But even if it doesn’t, it’s already on track to at least tie the record of 11 comedy wins in a single year set by “The Bear” (which, as I and many others have said before, is not a real comedy).

“The Studio” took nine prizes at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including the casting prize, which in the past has been a predictor of a best comedy victory, as well as guest actor for Bryan Cranston — who beat out the favourite, fellow “Studio” guest star Martin Scorsese, but Marty will get over it.

Rogen, who stars as studio head Matt Remick, seems like a shoo-in for the best actor in a comedy prize. Don’t worry: Jeremy Allen White, the winner in 2023 and ’24, will also get over it — he might even get a consolation Oscar nomination for playing Bruce Springsteen.

Catherine O’Hara is a national and global treasure, but she seems likely to lose best supporting actress to Hannah Einbinder of “Hacks,” which many pundits also expect to take the writing award over “The Studio.” (O’Hara also missed out on guest actress in a drama last weekend for “The Last of Us.” It went to Merritt Wever of “Severance.”)

The directing prize, however, seems to be Rogen’s and Goldberg’s to lose — as it should be. “The Oner,” in which Matt keeps messing up a long take in a film directed by Sarah Polley, playing herself, was brilliant (I’m still annoyed that Polley wasn’t nominated for guest actress). 

Plus Ike Barinholtz, who plays Matt’s right-hand man, stands an excellent chance of taking the supporting actor prize away from sentimental favourite Harrison Ford.

A couple of Canadians already tasted Emmy victory at the creative arts ceremonies: perennial winner and ɫɫ��nian Lorne Michaels, who added two for “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” to his Emmys haul of 23 (so far); and Jessica Lee Gagné, who won for cinematography for “Severance.”

The Quebec City native provides a Canadian toehold — a baby toe at least — on the year’s most nominated series. The Apple TV drama goes into Sunday’s gala with 27 nominations, having already made good on six at the Creative Arts awards.

Gagné could also take a best directing trophy on Sunday, although she’s up against “Severance” executive producer Ben Stiller, who’s favoured to win for the jaw-droppingly good Season 2 finale. 

We also have a toehold on HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt” through Orangeville-born, Fort Erie-raised R. Scott Gemmill, that excellent series’ showrunner, who is nominated both as an executive producer and for writing its season premiere.

The real nail-biter will be the best drama award, with “The Pitt” and “Severance” neck in neck. The former has its nominations total in its favour; the latter took the bellwether casting prize last Saturday.

I honestly have no idea which will win, but here’s who I’d like to see triumph in the major categories.

Outstanding drama series

Nominees: “Andor,” “The Diplomat,” “The Last of Us,” “Paradise,” “The Pitt,” “Severance,” “Slow Horses,” “The White Lotus”

My pick: “Severance.” This is a tough one for me because I adored “The Pitt,” but the sophomore season of “Severance” was just so good: funny, frightening, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, absorbing and rewarding.

Lead actor in a drama

Nominees: Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”; Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”; Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”; Adam Scott, “Severance”; Noah Wyle, “The Pitt”

My pick: Noah Wyle. I love every actor in this category, but if you watched Wyle through 12 seasons of “ER” as Dr. Carter, my bet is you were thrilled to see him back, at the top of his game, as the compassionate Dr. Robby.

Lead actress in a drama

Nominees: Kathy Bates, “Matlock”; Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”; Britt Lower, “Severance”; Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”; Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”

My pick: Britt Lower. The consensus is that Bates will take it for her fine work as a wily, older lawyer, but Lower’s turn as both “innie” Helly R. and her “outie,” Helena Eagan, was skilful and affecting.

Supporting actor in a drama

Nominees: Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman and John Turturro, “Severance”; Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs and Sam Rockwell, “The White Lotus”; James Marsden, “Paradise”

My pick: Tramell Tillman. Things seem to be breaking Goggins’ way, but Tillman is my MVP. From his dance moves to his facial expressions, he brought wonderful nuance to Lumon Industries manager Seth Milchick.

Supporting actress in a drama

Nominees: Patricia Arquette, “Severance”; Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell and Aimee Lou Wood, “The White Lotus”; Katherine LaNasa, “The Pitt”; Julianne Nicholson, “Paradise”

My pick: Katherine LaNasa. I didn’t know LaNasa’s name before “The Pitt,” but I won’t forget it after seeing her bring such likability and vulnerability to sensitive but no-nonsense charge nurse Dana Evans. 

Outstanding comedy series

Nominees: “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Hacks,” “Nobody Wants This,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Shrinking,” “The Studio,” “What We Do in the Shadows”

My pick: “The Studio.” The made-in-ɫɫ�� vampire mockumentary “Shadows” will always have a substantial piece of my heart, but “The Studio”‘s clever, farcical and ultimately affectionate takedown of moviemaking in Hollywood is a winner.

Lead actor in a comedy

Nominees: Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”; Seth Rogen, “The Studio”; Jason Segel, “Shrinking”; Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”; Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

My pick: Seth Rogen. With apologies to great Hamiltonian Short, Rogen nailed the mix of fear, bravado, ego, insecurity, sincerity and hypocrisy in bumbling studio boss Matt Remick.

Lead actress in a comedy

Nominees: Uzo Aduba, “The Residence”; Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”; Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”; Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”; Jean Smart, “Hacks”

My pick: Uzo Aduba. Smart is always brilliant, but this wasn’t my favourite season of “Hacks,” and she’s already won this award three times in the last four years. Aduba’s eccentric Cordelia Cupp was the smartest person in the room and the best thing about the screwball White House murder mystery. 

Supporting actor in a comedy

Nominees: Ike Barinholtz, “The Studio”; Colman Domingo, “The Four Seasons”; Harrison Ford and Michael Urie, “Shrinking”; Jeff Hiller, “Somebody Somewhere”; Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”; Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”

My pick: Harrison Ford. The man who gave us Han Solo and Indiana Jones has never won an Oscar, Golden Globe or other major acting prize. And his curmudgeonly psychiatrist is the only thing that made me want to watch “Shrinking.”

Supporting actress in a comedy

Nominees: Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”; Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”; Kathryn Hahn and Catherine O’Hara, “The Studio”; Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”; Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”

My pick: Catherine O’Hara. Einbinder did excellent work in a lesser season of “Hacks,” but I want my fellow ɫɫ��nian O’Hara to get all the things, including an Emmy for playing canny ex-studio boss Patty Leigh. 

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards air Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. on CTV 2, at and on the CTV app. The Star will blog the show live at . See for a full list of nominees.

Clarification — Sept. 13, 2025

This story has been edited from an earlier version to add R. Scott Gemmill to the list of Canadians who could win Emmys on Sunday night. And thanks to his sister for the reminder.

The ceremony kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday night at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles and is expected to last about three hours. (Award shows, however, aren’t exactly known for their punctuality, so take that estimate with a grain of salt.)

How can I watch the ceremony? 

Canadians can watch the Emmys live on CTV 2, and the CTV app starting at 8 p.m. Beginning at 7 p.m., the network will also air the one-hour, red carpet special “ET: Live on the Emmys Red Carpet,” hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner. 

Who will host? 

The American standup comedian Nate Bargatze will emcee this year’s ceremony. The first-time award show host, known for his deadpan humour, is one of the top-earning comedians in the world, according to the trade publication Pollstar.

Bargatze has previously hosted “Saturday Night Live” and released three Netflix specials. His latest, “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze,” was nominated for two Emmys this year, for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) and outstanding writing for a variety special.

“It’s a huge honour to be asked to host such an iconic awards show and I’m beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world,” said Bargatze when he was announced in April as the host of the Emmys. 

Wait, weren’t the Emmys this past weekend? 

You aren’t wrong. The 2025 Emmy Awards are split across two weekends. This past weekend featured the Creative Arts Awards, which recognizes technical achievement, along with variety, documentary, reality TV and scripted programs. Sunday’s main ceremony is when the major acting prizes and awards for outstanding comedy and drama series will be handed out.  

Big names who won at the Creative Arts Awards include former U.S. president Barack Obama for his narration on the documentary “Our Oceans”; Julie Andrews for her voice-over work on “Bridgerton”; and Kendrick Lamar, alongside Tony Russell, for their music direction on the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. 

Are any Canadians nominated?

You bet. The Great White North will be well represented down in Los Angeles on Sunday night, with a bevy of Canucks nominated for Emmys. In the category for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, Seth Rogen (“The Studio”) is up against his fellow countryman Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”). Rogen’s co-star, the ɫɫ��-born Catherine O’Hara, is also vying for her third Primetime Emmy in the category of outstanding actress in a comedy series. 

Other Canadians to watch out for include comedian Nathan Fielder, who nabbed writing and directing nominations for his HBO docu-comedy “The Rehearsal”; and Quebec director and cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné, up for “Severance.”

What shows are eligible? 

To be considered for this year’s Emmys, shows must have premiered between June 2024 and May 2025. Some popular titles, like the third seasons of “The Gilded Age” on HBO and Netflix’s “Squid Game,” debuted after that cut-off date, meaning they will have to wait until next year to be considered. 

Nominations for the 77th Primetime Emmys were announced on July 15, with final-round voting concluding on Aug. 18. 

Who will present the awards? 

CBS and the Television Academy announced on Tuesday the slate of A-listers who will present the individual Emmys. They include: Angela Bassett, Stephen Colbert, Alan Cumming, Tina Fey, Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney and Sofia Vergara. 

What shows are the favourites? 

Apple TV’s psychological thriller “Severance,” about the employees of a biotech company who undergo a procedure to sever their workplace memories from their personal lives, enters Sunday’s ceremony with a leading 27 nominations. Meanwhile, “The Studio,” co-created and starring Rogen as a flailing film exec trying to right a sinking ship while balancing his own personal ambitions, leads all comedies with 23 nods, the most for a comedy series in its debut season. 

Both shows performed exceedingly well this past weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys. “Severance” picked up six statuettes, while “The Studio” earned nine, making both the early front-runners heading into Sunday’s main ceremony. 

With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press