The Madison Emmys Submissions: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell

Paramount+ is reckoning for some “The Madison” Emmy love.

Coming off its first season, the Taylor Sheridan-created neo-Western will submit across 20 Emmy categories via 27 total bids, Variety has learned exclusively.

The freshman drama, which centers on the Clyburn family as it relocates from New York City to Montana’s Madison River valley following a life-altering tragedy, will compete in the outstanding drama series category. The streamer had already renewed the show for Seasons 2 and 3, ahead of its series and second-season premieres, respectively.

Legendary powerhouse performer Michelle Pfeiffer, who anchors the series as Clyburn matriarch Stacy, is the sole lead acting submission. An Emmy nominee for the 2017 television movie “The Wizard of Lies” in supporting actress (limited/movie), the 67-year-old star is having one of the most significant years on television. That includes additional Emmy bids for Apple TV’s comedy “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” for which she’ll compete in supporting comedy actress, and the Prime Video movie “Oh. What. Fun.” Long beloved in Hollywood, Pfeiffer also has three Oscar nominations for “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988), “The Fabulous Baker Boys” (1989) and “Love Field” (1992).

Kurt Russell, who plays Preston Clyburn — the husband of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Stacy — dies in a plane crash in the pilot but appears across all six episodes. He is among multiple submissions in supporting drama actor. A one-time Emmy nominee for lead actor (limited/movie) for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in the 1979 television movie “Elvis,” Russell could earn his second nomination 47 years later. If recognized, it would mark the longest gap between a performer’s first and second Emmy acting nominations, surpassing Mary Kay Place’s 33-year span between her 1977 win for “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” (at the time called “continuing performance by a supporting actress in a comedy series) and her 2010 nomination for “Big Love” in guest drama actress.

In terms of the longest span between a performer’s first and most recent nominations, Russell would tie for the fourth-longest gap alongside Henry Winkler (“Happy Days” to “Barry”) and Michael Douglas (“The Streets of San Francisco” to “The Kominsky Method”). Ahead of them are Carol Burnett (62 years, from “The Garry Moore Show” to “Palm Royale”), Betty White (60 years, from her first nomination in 1951 to “Hot in Cleveland”) and Diana Rigg (51 years, from “The Avengers” to “Game of Thrones”).

Russell will be among five supporting drama actor submissions, which will also include Patrick J. Adams as Russell McIntosh, Ben Schnetzer as Madison River Valley Sheriff Van Davis, Kevin Zegers as Clyburn neighbor Cade Harris and Matthew Fox as Preston’s brother, Paul Clyburn. Supporting drama actress will have six on its own with Beau Garrett as elder Clyburn daughter Abigail Reese, Elle Chapman as younger daughter Paige McIntosh, Amiah Miller as Bridgette Reese, Alaina Pollack as Macy Reese, Rebecca Spence as Stacy’s friend Liliana Weeks and Danielle Vasinova as Kestrel Harris.

Will Arnett will compete for guest drama actor for his turn as Phil Yorn in the season finale Episode 106, “I Give Me Permission” — the same episode Sheridan submitted for outstanding writing for a drama. Sheridan also has the second season of “Landman” vying for Emmy attention. Although the rules allow him to enter multiple programs, he will not submit a writing representation for the series this cycle.

Sheridan’s selection of the season finale is interesting, given that many new freshman series have shown nomination success with putting forth their pilot/first episode (Season 1) episodes, proven by “Bad Sisters” (“The Prick” by Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel and Brett Baer) and last year’s “The Pitt” (“7:00 A.M.” by R. Scott Gemmill). The last time a Season 1 finale was submitted and won was “Succession” in 2019. In terms of nominations, that was “Squid Game” in 2022. 

Christina Alexandra Voros will pull double duty in the campaign, submitting for outstanding directing for a drama series and outstanding cinematography (one hour), both for Episode 102, “Let the Land Hold Me.” Last year, Jessica Lee Gagné made history as the first woman to earn double noms in those same two categories, walking away with the cinematography prize. Will Voros follow in her footsteps?

On the craft side, Paramount+ is submitting in 13 below-the-line categories. All official episode submissions will be announced at a later date.

Emmy submissions are due on May 7, with the nomination-round voting running from June 11 to June 22. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on July 8.

The full list of Emmy submissions is below.