NATAS Boss Reveals New Emmy Categories for Puppetry, Plus an Update on When the Postponed Daytime Emmys Might Happen
variety.comMichael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Here’s some news that might even cheer up Oscar the Grouch: The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has created two new Emmy categories for puppetry performance and puppet design/styling.
Both awards will be handed out at this year’s second-ever Children’s & Family Emmys. “Historically, puppetry performers would enter in the live action performer categories,” said NATAS CEO Adam Sharp, in announcing the new competition. “So, if you were the handler of a puppet, then you would go up against a lead actor or lead actress, and that created for some odd pairings.
But managing a puppet is a very different kind of performance than a regular live action performance.” Back when children’s programming was awarded at the Daytime Emmys, it was usually in the “outstanding principal performance in a children’s program” category (which went through several name changes over the years).
In 2021, for example, “Sesame Street” puppeteer Ryan Dillon faced off with actors like that year’s winner, “The Healing Powers of Dude” star Jace Chapman.
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