Comedy Series
Hacks
90.8%
Comedy Actress
Jean Smart (Hacks)
90.1%
Comedy Actor
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
90.1%
Comedy Supporting Actress
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
90.4%
Comedy Supporting Actor
Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)
91.9%
Comedy Guest Actress
Julianne Nicholson (Hacks)
88.6%
Comedy Guest Actor
Bryan Cranston (The Studio)
93.0%
Drama Series
Severance
41.6%
Drama Actress
Kathy Bates (Matlock)
86.4%
Drama Actor
Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
78.2%
Drama Supporting Actress
Carrie Coon (The White Lotus)
82.5%
Drama Supporting Actor
Walton Goggins (The White Lotus)
25.8%
Drama Guest Actress
Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us)
90.2%
Drama Guest Actor
Jeffrey Wright (The Last of Us)
83.5%
Limited Series
Adolescence
94.2%
TV Movie
Rebel Ridge
92.0%
Movie/Limited Actress
Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)
92.8%
Movie/Limited Actor
Colin Farrell (The Penguin)
93.5%
Movie/Limited Supporting Actress
Erin Doherty (Adolescence)
92.7%
Movie/Limited Supporting Actor
Owen Cooper (Adolescence)
93.4%
Competition Program
The Traitors
93.0%
Reality Host
Alan Cumming (The Traitors)
94.4%
Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show
90.5%
Variety Scripted Series
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
93.2%
Animated Program
Arcane
93.1%
Michael Jonathan Smith
Michael Jonathan Smith
Gold Derby

"I want to give the fans what they want, just not the way they think they want it," declares "Twisted Metal" co-creator and showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith about all of the pressures and expectations that are inherent in adapting a beloved video game. For our recent webchat he adds, "It's a tough challenge, especially with the video game community, who are extremely outspoken. I made jokes before the show came out that I hope I don't get doxxed," he laughs. "The one benefit of 'Twisted Metal,' being a fan of the games, is that they always changed every iteration, like no two iterations were the same, so that kind of gave us a license, so to speak, to change it up a little bit, and that's how I approached it. We have these characters Sweet Tooth, John Doe and Calypso. How would these characters exist in this specific world that we've created?" We talked with Smith as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&A event with 2024 awards contenders. Watch our exclusive video interview above.

SEE Watch our lively chats with dozens of 2024 Emmy contenders

"Twisted Metal" was developed by Smith, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, based on the Sony video game franchise of the same name. The post-apocalyptic action comedy stars Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Seanoa, Emmy nominee Will ArnettNeve Campbell, Emmy nominee Richard Cabral and Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Thomas Haden Church. After a large-scale cyber attack, the world has been reduced to rubble, with cities becoming walled fortresses to keep criminals exiled outside the cities in a largely desolate lawless wasteland. John Doe (Mackie) is one of many "milkmen" who transport goods between cities, who is sent out on a mission to traverse the country to deliver a mysterious package. While John embarks on his journey while suffering with amnesia, he faces a life-altering opportunity while confronting ruthless marauders in deadly and destructive vehicles to secure a chance at a better future.

Smith was keen to lean into the series' mix of subversive characters, action-packed drama and irreverent and often funny storylines. "Part of it came from the fact that there's a lot of post-apocalyptic shows out there and a lot of them are very dark and dreary and depressing and heavy and weighty. I came at this show wanting to create something else, wanting to find a different kind of post-apocalyptic show that was more fun and upbeat," he explains about striking the right tone for the show. "'Mad Max' is obviously a big inspiration of mine in the show," Smith reveals. "'Mad Max' is about a character who does not talk very much. So it was fun to think about what would be the opposite of that? What is the kind of hero that would use comedy and use quips and a sense of humor to survive the apocalypse and compartmentalize the fact that he's constantly getting shot at," he says.

PREDICT the 2024 Emmy nominees through July 17

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