
Emmys preview: Why 'Ted Lasso' will defend its crown, and 'The Crown' won't
CNN
"Succession," the 2020 Emmy winner for best drama series, will be a top contender at this year's ceremony on Sept. 12. But if you're wondering whether the HBO drama can beat last year's champion, Netflix's "The Crown," that matchup of TV's royal houses will have to wait.
Once upon a time, hit series dutifully premiered each fall, meaning you could count on dramas like "Hill Street Blues" and "ER," or sitcoms like "Cheers" and then "Frasier," to be in contention every year during their long runs.
Now, however, prestige series tend to operate on their own timetables, skipping years -- or longer -- between seasons. Throw in the pandemic that disrupted production schedules, and viewers are to be forgiven if they can't keep track of what's eligible from year to year, even with a scorecard.