Netflix's ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK Ruled Ineligible to Compete in EMMY Comedy Category

Deadline reports that the TV Academy ruled today that Netflix's hit drama series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK is ineligible to compete in the Best Comedy race for the 2015 Emmy Awards. Conversely, the Academy decided that hour-long dramedies Glee, JANE THE VIRGIN and Shameless will be considered for the Comedy category.

Netflix revealed today, "ATAS has notified us that the Industry Panel has advised that Season Two of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK is eligible for the 2015 Primetime Emmy competition as a Drama Series."

Although it was originally submitted in the drama category for several 2013 and 2014 awards, the series was among the comedy shows competing in the 2014 Emmy race, and went on to garner a host of nominations as well as the Emmy for Best Comedy Series. Series star Uzo Aduba also picked up an Emmy as best guest actress in a comedy series.

Shared Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, "Orange is the New Black is a truly pioneering series and an iconoclast which has always defied genre or easy categorization. While we're disappointed in the committee's decision, we believe that Orange represents the best of television in either category."

The TV Academy attempted to delineate the difference between a comedy and a drama series in a recent ruling, announcing that the new definition for a comedy series is a 30-minute program. However, the Academy "left the door open for hourlong comedic shows to argue their case in a petition to an Industry Panel."

Following that decision, the panel issued its first such ruling, deciding that Shameless, JANE THE VIRGIN and GLEE were allowed to be submitted as comedy series, yet OITNB was not. A two-thirds vote of the panel is required to reach each decision.

Photo courtesy of Netflix

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