With Emmy voting opening today, the final weeks of the FYC season delivered a packed schedule of screenings, conversations and talent appearances across New York and Los Angeles. From buzzy freshman dramas to returning Emmy favorites, studios made their final appeals directly to Television Academy voters, often pairing handpicked episodes and clips with candid discussions from cast and creatives.
HIS & HERS
Crosby Street Hotel, New York
Netflix brought its highly anticipated thriller His & Hers to Manhattan’s Crosby Street Hotel, where cast members gathered to discuss adapting for the screen. The series, adapted from Alice Feeney’s bestselling novel, stars Tessa Thompson as journalist Anna Andrews and Jon Bernthal as detective Jack Harper, whose intersecting investigations uncover secrets buried in their hometown.. The conversation focused on the show’s shifting perspectives and unreliable narration, themes that became a recurring topic throughout the evening.
MEMORY OF A KILLER
The Whitby Hotel, New York
Fox’s crime drama Memory of a Killer received a showcase at The Whitby Hotel, highlighting one of television’s most intriguing new dramas. The series stars Patrick Dempsey as Angelo Doyle, a hitman grappling with memory loss while attempting to keep his criminal and family lives separate, alongside his friend and fellow hitman played by Michael Imperioli.
During the discussion, Imperioli and Dempsey explored the emotional stakes behind the thriller’s premise, with particular attention paid to the show’s exploration of identity, memory and family. The event underscored why the series has emerged as a contender in conversations surrounding new drama contenders this Emmy season.
NOBODY WANTS THIS
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
One of Netflix’s breakout comedy successes, Nobody Wants This drew a packed crowd to the Hammer Museum. The romantic comedy stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, alongside Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons and Jackie Tohn.
The panel leaned heavily into the chemistry that helped make the series a fan favorite. Cast members reflected on the show’s blend of romance, family dynamics and faith, while discussing how audiences connected with the unlikely relationship at the center of the story.
HACKS
Academy Museum, Los Angeles
HBO Max’s Emmy-winning comedy Hacks mounted one of the season’s most anticipated FYC events at the Academy Museum. The conversation celebrated the latest chapter in the relationship between legendary comedian Deborah Vance and writer Ava Daniels, played by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder.
The evening highlighted the show’s continued creative evolution while reflecting on its remarkable awards run. Audience members responded enthusiastically to discussions of the season’s biggest moments, and the event reinforced why the comedy remains a formidable contender across multiple Emmy categories.
SPIDER-NOIR
Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles
Amazon MGM Studios showcased Spider-Noir at the DGA, offering attendees a closer look at one of television’s most ambitious genre projects by showing the first episode in black and white and second in color. The 1930s-set noir-inspired adaptation, starring Nicolas Cage in his first TV role, blends classic detective storytelling with comic-book mythology, generating considerable curiosity among voters and fans alike.
The panel, including costars Jack Huston, Lamorne Morris and Karen Rodriguez, explored the challenges of creating a visually distinctive world while honoring beloved Marvel source material.
PLURIBUS
Variety/PMC Theater, Los Angeles
The top talent behind Pluribus gathered at Variety’s PMC Theater to discuss the buzzy project pushing the boundaries of television storytelling.
The conversation focused on world-building, character development and the thematic ideas driving the series, starring Rhea Seehorn. Attendees were given insight into the ambitious creative process behind the Apple TV+ show many observers expect to become a significant player during the upcoming awards season.
HAUNTED HOTEL
Culver Theater, Los Angeles
Animated comedy Haunted Hotel brought its creator, Matt Roller to the Culver Theater for a lively discussion about the making of the series. The event balanced behind-the-scenes production stories with conversations about voice performance and animation.
Audience members responded warmly to an episode from the series, while Roller highlighted the collaborative effort required to bring the show’s eccentric supernatural world to life.
LOVE STORY
Paramount Pictures, Los Angeles
At Paramount Pictures, cast and creatives from Love Story gathered for an evening centered on the emotional themes driving the series, based on the relationship between John F, Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Discussion touched on character relationships, the show’s contemporary perspective on romance and the resonance it has found with viewers.
The event provided a platform for Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly to reflect on their characters’ journeys while sharing stories from the production.
THE BEAST IN ME
Netflix Tudum Theater, Los Angeles
Netflix hosted an FYC event for The Beast in Me at the Tudum Theater, bringing together stars Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys alongside executive producer and writer Howard Gordon. The conversation focused on the emotionally layered drama’s examination of memory, identity and the complicated relationships that define a lifetime.
Danes and Rhys discussed the challenge of portraying characters navigating profound personal reckonings, while Gordon offered insight into developing a series that balances intimate character work with larger thematic questions. The reunion between Danes and Gordon, who previously collaborated on Homeland, proved a major topic throughout the evening as they discussed building a psychological thriller centered on grief, obsession and the stories people tell themselves about guilt and innocence.
The discussion underscored the pedigree behind the series, pairing two Emmy-winning performers with one of television’s most accomplished creative voices.
SHRINKING
Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles
Apple TV+’s acclaimed comedy Shrinking returned to the FYC circuit with a packed event at the DGA. The series, led by Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, continues to be one of the most beloved ensemble comedies on television.
After a discussion with the show’s below the line talent, the cast participated in a read-through of Season 3’s final episode..
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!
El Capitan Theatre, Los Angeles
FYC guests watched a live stream as Jimmy Kimmel Live! taped a Wednesday night episode at its studio next door to the El Capitan Theatre. Host Jimmy Kimmel was on point with his monologue, touching on the recent California elections and welcoming musical guest Olivia Rodrigo, who also got her turn next to Jimmy at the desk.
After the taping, guests gathered on the back patio to greet Jimmy and his beloved sidekick Guillermo, who began as a parking lot attendant at the facility.
THE HUNTING WIVES
TCL Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles
One of the year’s breakout streaming sensations, The Hunting Wives brought its stars to the TCL Chinese Theatre for a lively FYC conversation that highlighted the show’s blend of scandal, seduction and murder mystery. Produced by Lionsgate Television and now streaming on Netflix, the drama has already secured a Season 2 renewal, underscoring its rapid rise from sleeper hit to awards-season contender
The panel featured stars Malin Akerman as Margo Banks and Brittany Snow as Sophie O’Neil. Based on the novel by May Cobb, the series follows O’Neil’s move to East Texas, where she becomes captivated by the magnetic and dangerous Banks, setting off a chain of obsession, betrayal and murder.
