The Television Academy announced rule changes for the 2018 Emmy Awards on Tuesday, including a restructuring of the Oustanding Variety Special and Special Class categories.
They will instead be replaced by two variety special categories, one for live events and another for pre-recorded specials. The reason for the change, according to the TV academy, is confusion around the term “special class.”
Past winners in the category have included awards shows, PBS performance specials such as “Live From Lincoln Center” and “Great Performances,” as well as the Fox musical “Grease: Live!” Other nominees have included opening ceremonies for the Olympic games, concert specials, web series and Super Bowl halftime shows.
Last year’s Outstanding Variety Special was James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke” primetime outing.
Other new category distinctions are as follows:
Outstanding Costumes for a Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Movie is now split into two categories:
Outstanding Period Costumes
Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes
Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming is now split into two categories:
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (Drama or Comedy) is now split into two categories:
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Half-Hour Series (Comedy, Drama or Animation)
Outstanding Sound Editing for a One-Hour Series
The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled to air live coast-to-coast Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 (8-11 p.m. ET / 5-8 p.m. PT) on NBC. The best-on-TV celebration will take place at the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.
A host and producers for the 2018 special have not yet been announced.