Are Emmy Voters Picking Fewer Winning Shows?

►Fewer and fewer shows being recognized. In the years since streaming services began creating original scripted content, the number of TV series has ballooned to about 500 per year. But at the 73rd Emmy Awards, four series — The Crown, Ted Lasso, Hacks and Mare of Easttown — took home 17 major-category honors between them, while all other shows combined for 10 trophies, continuing a recent trend that's especially pronounced among comedies. 

Were the Emmys always like this, or did the Television Academy spread the wealth a little more? Ben Zauzmer digs into the data to find out. The story. 

—The cinematographers are a 'Yes.' The International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600, is alerting members that they will be asked to vote on strike authorization and it is urging a 'Yes' vote. "We still want to deal. That’s our goal. And the best way to get a deal is to have a strong strike authorization vote. We can avoid a strike if we have that," said ICG’s national president John Lindley in a released video message to Guild members on Thursday. The story.

—So are the editors. The members of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, Local 700, also voted unanimously to recommend to members that they vote “Yes” in support of strike authorization. The story. 

—"I heard the stories... I didn’t doubt the stories." Frances McDormand and Joel Coen have addressed the allegations of bullying and toxic behavior made against Scott Rudin. The powerhouse couple, who have worked with Rudin as a producer for many years, expressed in an interview that they have not personally witnessed bullying from the super-producer, and invite those who question their reputation to speak up. The story. 

—Hark! All you cool cats and kittens, it’s official. Netflix's docuseries phenomenon Tiger King is getting a sequel and it's coming sometime before the end of the year. The streamer promised “more madness and mayhem” and also released a brief teaser video. The story.

—"I’m refusing to be played again." The behind-the-scenes drama is starting again after Carole Baskin issued a blistering statement regarding the Tiger King news. “I don’t know how they put out a Tiger King 2 when Joe Schreibvogel’s [aka Joe Exotic] in jail and I’m refusing to be played again,” the Big Cat Rescue owner wrote. The story. 

'Mario' Movie: Lets-a Go! 

►Italian erasure? Okey dokey, huge news as the Super Mario Bros. animated movie is powering up with an all-star voice cast led by Chris Pratt as the iconic Italian plumber with a fondness for mushrooms. Joining Pratt as Mario are Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach) Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong), Fred Armisen (Cranky Kong), Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek) and Sebastian Maniscalco (Spike).

The Mario film hails from Nintendo and Illumination and has a North American release date of Dec. 21, 2022. Here we go! The story.  

—Back on top. After a few weeks away from the top of the charts, Manifest zoomed back up to No. 1 in the Nielsen streaming rankings for the week of Aug. 23-29. The show’s resurgence has mostly to do with the fact that its third season became available on Netflix on Aug. 21. The rankings. 

—The wonder stuff. ABC’s Wonder Years reboot put up respectable Nielsen numbers for its premiere Wednesday, drawing 3.23 million viewers and a 0.67 rating among adults 18-49 for ABC, holding on to nearly all of its lead-in audience from The Goldbergs (3.62 million, 0.7). The ratings. 

—Honestly, how does he have the time? HBO Max and mega-producer Greg Berlanti are teaming for a documentary series about the history and legacy of DC Comics. The streamer has ordered a three-part series that will delve into the storied history of DC. The story. 

—Historic. THR's Lesley Goldberg has the casting scoop on Billy Eichner’s Bros, and the news is historic in a couple of ways. Eichner is already the first openly gay man to co-write and star in his own major studio film, and now the Universal feature has made history by setting a historic all-LGBTQ principal cast. What’s more, all of the principal heterosexual roles will be played by openly LGBTQ actors and actresses. The story. 

—"I fell in love with somebody who I met, who I loved, and she was a woman." Cassandra Peterson, better known to her horror-loving cult following as Elvira, is sharing more on her decision to stay private about her relationship of nearly two decades with Teresa “T” Wierson, one of the most significant revelations from her new memoir. The story. 

Review: Apple's 'Foundation'

►"Epic in its visual scale, but far too limited in its fresh ideas." THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg reviews Apple's big-budget adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series of sci-fi novels about the multi-century quest to stave off a galactic catastrophe. Created by David Goyer and Josh Friedman, the series stars  Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell and Leah Harvey. The review. 

—"A life that would seem beyond belief if it were not all true." In a deeply personal column Joe Angio, who directed the Melvin Van Peebles doc How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It), pays tribute to the subject who became a friend: "When I reflect on Melvin’s life, I’m invariably drawn to his unfettered belief in himself." The story. 

—Planned dedication. The planned Broadway revival of Melvin Van Peebles’ Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death is still on track for its 2022 debut, following the death of the beloved actor, filmmaker, playwright, novelist and composer on Tuesday. The show is currently at work on the production which will now feature a dedication. The story. 

—"Brilliant Canadian." Steve Martin and Martin Short paid tribute to Norm Macdonald during their Wednesday night appearance on The Tonight Show, calling the late comedian “remarkable” and saying that there was “no one more original” in comedy. The story. 

—Out of the dog house. Clifford the Big Red Dog is back on track for release. Paramount has put the children’s film back on the calendar for Nov. 10 for a day-and-date release in theaters and on Paramount+. The story. 

—Winning partnership. Peter Farrelly is reteaming with Amblin Partners on the comedy movie Super In Love. Farrelly will direct the feature after partnering with Amblin on the Oscar-winning Green Book, which earned $320 million at the global box office. Flint Wainess is penning the script. The story. 

Thank Pod It's Friday

In other news...

—Film review: Amazon’s Birds of Paradise.

—Film review: Kristina Lindstrom and Kristian Petri's The Most Beautiful Boy in the World. 

—TIFF film review: Ivan Grbovic's Drunken Birds (Les oiseaux ivres).

—TIFF film review: Clio Barnard's Ali & Ava. 

—Spencer: Kristen Stewart’s Princess Diana faces royal tensions in the official trailer.

—Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy face a surreal cat obsession in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain trailer.

—Julia Louis-Dreyfus joins Jonah Hill, Eddie Murphy in Kenya Barris-directed Netflix comedy.

—Harry Potter star Tom Felton suffers an apparent medical emergency during golf tournament.

—Isabelle Huppert named Tokyo Film Festival jury president.

—Roger Michell, Notting Hill and The Duke director, dies at 65.

—Basil Hoffman, The Artist and Ordinary People actor, dies at 83.

—Jay Sandrich, prolific director on Mary Tyler Moore Show and Cosby Show, dies at 89.

—The Endgame co-creator Jake Coburn inks Universal TV first-look deal.

—Guillermo del Toro-produced Antlers to close Beyond Fest.

—Ayo Davis promoted to run Disney branded TV division.

—Meghan Rafferty named executive producer of NBC Nightly News.

—Full Frontal With Samantha Bee renewed for season 7 at TBS.

—David Tennant, Call My Agent! among 2021 international Emmy nominees.

What else we're reading...

—"Good Deal, Bad Strategy: Why the Paramount+ and Showtime Bundle Is a Mess" [Vulture]

—"Matt Drudge’s Impeachment Debut and Strange Origin Story" [Vanity Fair]

—"How Lil Nas X Made The Most Radical Run Of Queer Music Videos In Pop History" [Los Angeles Times]

—"'Astronauts Check Our Scripts!": Inside the New Age Of Sumptuous Sci-Fi TV" [The Guardian]

—"New Batman Podcast on HBO Max Highlights Growing Importance of Audio in Streaming Wars" [Bloomberg]

Today... 

Today's birthdays: Ben Platt (28!), Ian Bohen (45), Brad Bird (64), John Logan (60), Nia Vardalos (59), Joe Kelly (49), Randall Duk Kim (78), Jaye Griffiths (58), Kristina Wayborn (71), Ross Mathews (42), Justin Bruening (42), Fernanda Urrejola (40), Spencer Treat Clark (34)