TORONTO – The upcoming Emmy bash is putting Canadian TV producer Michael Prupas in a quandary – which of his nominated miniseries will he root for when the hardware is handed out?
Two sprawling dramas from his Montreal-based production house have a combined 17 nods heading into September’s award ceremony, including 10 for “The Kennedys” and seven for “Pillars of the Earth.”
They’ll each be vying for best miniseries.
“It’s going to be very difficult for me to be sitting there when the winners are announced, to have my loyalties divided between two of my projects,” an elated Prupas said by phone from Montreal moments after nominations were revealed Thursday in Los Angeles.
The historical dramas are among a slew of Canadian series and stars vying for Emmy glory, including celebs Michael J. Fox, Christopher Plummer, Will Arnett and Barry Pepper.
Other Canuck projects in the race include the papal co-production “The Borgias,” which racked up six nominations, and the long-running teen series “Degrassi,” which will compete for its first-ever U.S. Emmy in the category of best children’s program.
“There were hoots and hollers and hugs and kisses all around the building today,” said co-creator and executive producer Linda Schuyler, who’s been with the franchise through all incarnations dating back to 1980’s “The Kids of Degrassi Street.”
“It was such a boost for everybody who’s been working so hard. You say, ‘Oh my goodness, this is why we love this show, this is why we work so hard because we really believe in the messaging that we do.'”
The nominated episode deals with a particularly bold subject matter: a teen who was born female but lives life as a male. It won a Peabody Award in May and previously earned a best drama nomination from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
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Meanwhile, “The Kennedys” and “Pillars” face off in several categories, including best miniseries against “Cinema Verite,” “Downton Abbey,” “Too Big To Fail” and “Mildred Pierce,” which leads the pack overall with 21 nominations.
The kudos come after a particularly difficult run for “The Kennedys” in the United States.
History Channel commissioned and partially financed the $30-million drama to be its first scripted program. But the network dropped the Toronto-shot venture from its schedule in January amid suggestions that Kennedy supporters were unhappy with the project.
“There’s been a lot of very, very negative comment about the show that has come from people who had an axe to grind as far as I’m concerned,” Prupas said of the behind-the-scenes saga.
“Getting these nominations is a tremendous vindication.”
Prupas praised Global and History Television for sticking with the miniseries north of the border. The debut drew more than one million viewers to History Television, making it the specialty channel’s second highest-rated series premiere of all-time, according to Shaw Media.
Prupas also credited the lesser known digital outlet Reelz Channel for ultimately broadcasting it in the United States.
“If it wasn’t for them that we wouldn’t have gotten these Emmy nominations,” he said.
“Kennedys” stars Greg Kinnear, who played John F. Kennedy, and the B.C.-born Pepper, who played Bobby Kennedy, will face off for best actor in a miniseries or movie. Tom Wilkinson, who played Joe Kennedy, was nominated for best supporting actor.
Other Canadians with performing nods include Fox, who is up for best guest actor in a drama for “The Good Wife.”
Plummer is up for best voice-over for “Moguls & Movie Stars” while Arnett got the nod for best guest actor in a comedy for “30 Rock.”
“I’m happy to be nominated,” Arnett said in a statement. “I hope I end up the ‘Grande Dame’ or even the ‘Belle of the Ball’ if you will.”
Lady Gaga’s creative collaborator Laurieann Gibson, from Toronto, earned a nomination for best direction of a variety, music or comedy special. Gibson helmed “Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden,” which is also up for best variety, music or comedy special.
Other leading nominees include the period drama “Mad Men,” which captured 19 nominations, the sitcom “Modern Family” with 17 bids, the Prohibition-era drama “Boardwalk Empire” with 18 nominations, and the sketch series “Saturday Night Live” with 16.
Schuyler said the “Degrassi” franchise had never entered the U.S. Emmy race before now, preferring to take its chances with the international Emmys where “The Kids of Degrassi Street,” “Degrassi Junior High” and “Degrassi High” each collected a trophy over the years.
It was U.S. broadcaster TeenNick that suggested they try entering the more high profile race, said Schuyler.
“Degrassi,” which airs on MuchMusic in Canada, stands somewhat apart from its fellow nominees, which seem to skew to a much younger audience, said Schuyler.
“Really, it looks like all the other nominees are bona fide children’s shows and we are a youth show. That could work for us or against us, who knows,” she said.
Prupas said Muse Entertainment was a junior producer on “Pillars,” which was led by Germany’s Tandem Communications with post-production was handled in Montreal.
The sprawling eight-part series, based on the Ken Follett novel, starred Brit actors Rufus Sewell and Ian McShane but featured a strong Canadian supporting cast including Donald Sutherland, Alison Pill and Gordon Pinsent.
Prupas said he was “over the moon” that both “Pillars” and “The Kennedys” earned accolades, and was especially pleased to see Canadians honoured in key departments including cinematography, makeup, and hair.
“It’s a great feather in the cap for Canadians,” Prupas said.
“It’s been an incredible year for us and our company to be involved in two such spectacular projects and have gotten this kind of recognition at this stage gives us a tremendous lift.”
The awards will be handed out Sept. 18.
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