Are the Emmys going to pass over “DTF St. Louis?” No way, José.
The HBO Max limited series is coming through as a major contender for the Primetime Emmy Awards after completing its seven-episode run. And with the campaign season underway, two of its stars are positioning themselves for serious awards consideration.
Variety has learned exclusively that Jason Bateman, who plays local weatherman Clark Forrest, and Linda Cardellini, who plays his dry-witted wife Carol, will be submitted in the supporting actor (limited) and supporting actress (limited) categories, respectively, for Emmy consideration.
A final category decision for co-star David Harbour, who plays ASL interpreter Floyd Smernitch, has not yet been determined.
The limited series centers on a tangled love triangle involving Clark Forrest (Bateman), Floyd Smernitch (Harbour) and Carol (Cardellini). When Floyd is found dead at a community pool surrounded by a poisonous cocktail and a vintage Playgirl magazine, two detectives (Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday) begin unraveling the bizarre chain of events that led to his death. The series was created, written and directed by Steven Conrad, known for “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006) and “Wonder” (2017).
Bateman comes into this Emmy cycle with multiple paths to a nom. In addition to his supporting actor submission for “DTF St. Louis,” he will also compete across multiple categories for the Netflix crime thriller “Black Rabbit.” In that miniseries, which premiered in the fall, Bateman will be submitted for lead actor (limited), as well as directing, while also competing as an executive producer through his company, Aggregate Films (which was also on “DTF”). He’s already earned him noms from The Actor Awards (formerly SAG) and the DGA for directing the episode “The Black Rabbits.”
Should Bateman land nominations across both series as a producer, he would join a remarkably short list. Only seven producers across eight instances in the history of the limited series category have earned double nominations for two separate shows in the same year: John McRae in 1973, Joan Wilson in 1982, Robert Halmi Sr. in both 1997 and 1998 (the only producer to accomplish the feat twice), Peter Sussman and Suzanne Girard in 2001, Michael Prupas in 2011 and Joseph Incaprera in 2014.
For Bateman, “DTF St. Louis” adds another entry to a long Emmy resume that includes 14 nominations across multiple categories and series such as “Arrested Development,” “Ozark,” “The Outsider” and “Lessons in Chemistry.” He won his first Emmy for directing the “Ozark” episode “Reparations.”
Meanwhile, Cardellini brings a steady Emmy track record into the race, with prior nominations for guest drama actress for “Mad Men” in 2013 and dual bids in 2020 for lead comedy actress and outstanding comedy series for the Netflix series “Dead to Me,” which she also executive produced.
A supporting actress submission puts her on a collision course with several contenders expected to mount strong campaigns, including Cailee Spaeny (“Beef”), Grace Gummer and Naomi Watts (“Love Story”).
Alison Herman, chief TV critic for Variety, wrote in her review: “It is both an ineffective sales pitch and generally accurate to call “DTF St. Louis” the unsexiest erotic thriller ever made.”
The show began development in 2022 with Harbour and Pedro Pascal attached to star, and was originally inspired by the James Lasdun New Yorker article entitled “My Dentist’s Murder Trial: Adultery, False Identities, and a Lethal Sedation.” By 2024, Pascal was no longer involved, Jason Bateman was added, and the creative direction shifted to a wholly original idea. Harbour serves as an executive producer, alongside Bateman, for Aggregate Films, Lasdun, as well as Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch for Escape Artists, Molly Allen, Bruce Terris, and Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films, Kristina Wenson for Bravo Axolotl, and MGM Television. The ensemble also includes Peter Sarsgaard, Arlan Ruf and Wynn Everett.
Additional category submissions will be announced later in the awards cycle.
“DTF St. Louis” is now streaming on HBO Max.
English (US) ·