Menu

Sex, Horror and Murder May Win Disney Some Emmys

Girl dressed as clown doll from American Horror Stories
Credit: FX/Hulu/20th Television

On July 12, the official announcement was made regarding the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. Among the many television stations, production companies, and film studios, Disney has managed to rack up an impressive 163 nominations. And although some are for noteworthy and iconic properties such as The Simpsons, The Mandalorian, and American Idol, others are for some very off-brand content that you wouldn’t associate with Walt Disney Studios.

the mandalorian season 3 teaser still

Credit: Disney

RELATED: Another Fight Breaks Out at Disney World

Welcome to Chippendales

Scene from Welcome to Chippendales

Credit: Hulu/20th Television

This show, produced by Hulu (majority owned by Disney) and 20th Television, is up for five nominations:

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

But what’s this show about? Just a story of true crime that’s laced with sex and murder. It follows an Indian immigrant as he builds the largest and first male strip club – Chippendales.

RELATED: Disney to Lose $1 BILLION With Indiana Jones 5

American Horror Stories

Promo of American Horror Stories

Credit: FX/Hulu

RELATED: Disney’s Lost Animation (From Snow White to The Little Mermaid)

Produced in part by Disney (once again through Hulu), this horror anthology takes the graphic elements of the popular FX series and boils it down to a compilation of one-off stories contained in each episode. In a similar set-up to the Twilight Zone or Tales from the Crypt, each episode has its own characters and stories – usually not tied together (although there may be some crossover). The sort of content in the latest season? A man who kidnaps women and turns them into dolls, a woman who wants to have sex with dead people, and a story that analyzes the complexities of being a serial killer and dealing with an open marriage. Not quite what you picture when you think of Disney, is it?

The Boston Strangler

Promo of the Boston Strangler featuring Keira Knightley

Credit: 20th Century Studios/Hulu

Again, another production that Disney has funded through Hulu. This movie follows the true crime story of the serial killer who murdered 13 women in the 1960s. Although this has received many positive reviews and was lauded for its accuracy to the real story of the murders that terrified an entire city, it doesn’t quite scream “Disney family fun”.

RELATED: Bob Iger Extends Contract as Disney CEO

This article is not a dig against any of these productions. Some are, without a doubt, far superior to the hundreds of other programs produced yearly. But it is incredibly off-brand for Disney to be involved in making these (and others), especially when they are losing their family-first image.

hocus pocus 2

“Hocus Pocus 2” (Credit: Disney)

Other Emmy nominations include…

The Bear (13 nominations)
Only Murders in the Building (11 nominations)
The Mandalorian (9 nominations)
Abbot Elementary (8 nominations)
Andor (8 nominations)
Fleishman Is in Trouble (7 nominations)
Prey (2022) (6 nominations)
Welcome to Wrexham (6 nominations)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (5 nominations)
Bad Sisters (4 nominations)
Encanto at The Hollywood Bowl (4 nominations)
The Oscars (4 nominations)
What We Do in the Shadows (4 nominations)
Dancing With the Stars (3 nominations)
Hocus Pocus 2 (3 nominations)

And many others…

The complete list can be found here.

About Steven Wilk

Steven has a complicated relationship with Disney. As a child, he visited Walt Disney World every few years with his family. But he never understood why kids his age (and older) were so scared of Snow White or Alien Encounter. He is a former participant of the Disney College Program (left early…long story), and he also previously worked in Children’s publishing, where he adapted multiple Disney movies and TV shows. He has many controversial opinions about Disney…like having a positive view of Michael Eisner, believing Return of the Jedi is superior to The Empire Strikes Back, and that Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge should have never been built (at least not at Hollywood Studios). Every year for the past two decades, Steven has visited either Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani or went on a Disney Cruise. He’s happy to share any and all knowledge of the Disney destinations (and he likes using parenthesis a lot…as well as ellipses…)