Tag: Emmy

The Television Academy has officially announced the creation of a new honor,  the Legacy Award aimed at recognizing television series that have made a profound and lasting cultural impact long after their original broadcast runs.

The announcement marks the Academy’s first major new award category in nearly two decades, underscoring a growing effort to formally acknowledge television shows whose influence extends beyond ratings, awards seasons, and initial critical reception.

According to the Television Academy, the Legacy Award will celebrate iconic television series that have demonstrated sustained relevance, cultural significance, and influence across generations. The focus is not on a single season or performance, but on the enduring footprint a show leaves on television history, pop culture, and storytelling.

Academy Chair Cris Abrego described the award as a way to honor programming that has helped define eras of television and continues to resonate with audiences years after its debut .

Eligibility Criteria Explained

To qualify for the Legacy Award, a television series must meet specific eligibility requirements set by the Academy:

• The show must have aired at least 60 episodes
• It must span a minimum of five seasons
• The series must demonstrate long-term cultural, social, or industry impact
• Multi-series franchises will be considered as a single body of work, rather than individual titles

This framework positions the Legacy Award as distinct from competitive Emmy categories, which typically focus on annual achievements.

The selection process will be overseen by the Academy’s Special Awards Committee, formerly known as the Governors Award committee. This body will compile a shortlist of potential honorees before submitting recommendations to the Television Academy Board of Governors, which will vote on the final recipients .

Recipients of the Legacy Award will receive an engraved Emmy statuette, with presentations expected to take place at select Academy events, including the Creative Arts Emmys or other official ceremonies.

The Legacy Award becomes the Academy’s most significant addition since the launch of the Television Academy Honors in 2007, which spotlighted socially conscious programming. Unlike that initiative, however, the Legacy Award is explicitly tied to longevity and cultural endurance, not just thematic relevance.

After becoming one of the biggest television events in recent years, Shōgun is officially moving forward.

The historical drama series, which dominated the global TV conversation and went on to win a record-breaking 18 Emmy Awards, has begun production on Season 2, according to its creators. But rather than feeling comfortable after such massive success, the team behind the show says the pressure has only increased.

Speaking about the new season, the show’s writer and executive producer explained that the challenge now is living up to expectations created by Season 1’s critical and commercial triumph.

When Shōgun first premiered, it arrived with quiet confidence rather than blockbuster expectations. That changed quickly.

The series became an international hit, praised for its careful historical detail, layered performances, and cinematic scale. Its awards sweep, especially the unprecedented Emmy haul cemented it as one of the most successful TV dramas of the decade.

Now, as cameras roll on Season 2, the creative team is working under a very different spotlight.

According to the executive producer, the biggest challenge isn’t topping awards or viewership numbers, but protecting the integrity of the story while expanding the world audiences have grown attached to.

“The success raises expectations—from fans, critics, and even ourselves,” the producer noted. “That makes every creative decision more complicated.”

One of the major hurdles facing Season 2 is narrative direction.

Season 1 closely followed its original source material, giving the writers a strong foundation. With that story now fully explored, the new season requires fresh storytelling that still feels authentic to the show’s historical roots.

For the creators, Season 2 is less about repeating what worked and more about evolving the series responsibly.

As Season 2 moves forward, the creators are fully aware they are no longer just making another season of television, they’re protecting a legacy already written into awards history.