Emmys 2015: Is ‘Fargo’ season 2 in danger thanks to rule change?

Since the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences made some pretty enormous changes this week, we are going to spend a little bit of time over the coming days discussing just what implications these new rules could have for some of your favorite shows moving forward.

Let’s start here with today with “Fargo,” given that we already know this to be a pretty beloved program for many out there, and it crushed it during awards season over the past year. Will it still be eligible as a Limited Series (a changed name from Miniseries) during the second season? While there will be a chance for it to state its case if it wants to in front of a panel, the short answer for now is “no.” It does not appear as though “Fargo” is going to be able to submit in this category next year.

What’s the reason for that? The specific new rules states that there cannot be a recurring storyline or characters from one season to the next, and given that this is a prequel to the first season, this one is incredibly unlikely to be considered. Honestly, it may have had trouble submitting in this field even before the rule changes came into effect. It has always been a rule that miniseries must stand to a certain extent on their own, and this could have also landed “American Horror Story” in trouble as well.

What we’d say to anyone lamenting these changes is simple: If you still want nominations and you are seemingly hurt by a rule or two, make a show so great, you cannot be ignored. “Fargo” won’t be eligible for the 2015 show because of it not premiering until fall, but we figure it still has a good shot in the drama category, depending of course on quality.

(Photo: FX.)