Adam Scott Emmy Nomination: ‘Severance’ Delight
“Severance” Star Adam Scott on Emmy Nods and the Art of Self-Severance
Table of Contents
the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series “Severance,” a mind-bending exploration of work-life balance through a radical procedure that separates employees’ memories, has defied expectations by leading the Emmy nominations for its second season. The show, created by Dan Erickson and executive produced and primarily directed by Ben Stiller, has garnered significant recognition across multiple categories, including acting nods for Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette, and Gwendoline christie.
adam Scott, who stars as Mark Scout and also serves as an executive producer, spoke with The Times about the overwhelming recognition, the unique nature of the series, and his personal strategies for navigating the ofen-turbulent waters of show business.
A Delighted Surprise Amidst the Hype
“Severance” has undeniably carved out a unique space in the television landscape since its 2022 debut. Its intelligent,thought-provoking narrative demands audience engagement,and the recent Emmy nominations underscore its critical success.
“The feeling is amazing,” Scott shared. “I just am always sort of at a default position of nothing’s going to happen, and I need to be braced for disappointment. I think that’s a healthy disposition for a career in show business, and then I’ll be delightfully surprised if anything goes in a different direction.”
Scott revealed his intentional strategy to avoid the surrounding buzz: “I try not to read any of the stuff, the prognosticating. I stay away from it and keep it out of my head as much as possible, and then something like this [nomination] is just a pure delight.”
The Power of Self-Severance
This ability to block out external conjecture struck a chord,with the interviewer noting it as a form of “self-severance.” Scott readily agreed, drawing a parallel between his personal coping mechanism and the show’s central premise.
“It’s true,” he affirmed. “I’ve been at this for 30 years now so I think that I’ve found ways to keep myself healthy, as much as possible, anyway.For me, that’s just trying to sever myself from anything beyond keeping my head down and trying to do the best work possible.”
This disciplined approach, he believes, has been instrumental in the show’s success, benefiting both himself and his colleagues.
Honoring the Team Effort
Scott expressed profound gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the collaborative nature of “Severance.”
“I’m so honored for our show to be recognized and to be on a list with everyone else – Britt and Tramell. Zach and John and Patricia and Merritt [Wever] and Gwendoline. And Ben and Jessica [Lee Gagné] and Dan. His fantastic script is being recognized,” he stated. “We work so hard on the show, every single one of us. It’s a team effort, as any show is, but our show takes a lot of time. So getting recognized for that hard work is really gratifying.”
A Smart Show for “Stupid Times”
The interviewer also commented on the redeeming quality of such an intelligent series finding success in what they described as “stupid times.” Scott responded with a laugh,acknowledging the intangible quality that makes “Severance” resonate.
“Thank you.’Severance’ is sort of this intangible thing, so we work really hard to make it happen,” Scott explained.”While we’re making the show and while Dan and the writers are putting it together,there’s sort of this invisible third rail. you’re not sure exactly what it is, but when it feels right, it’s like OK, there’s our show. It’s a specific feeling, a specific tone that we’re seeking out and sometimes it takes a while to zero in and find it.”
He further elaborated on the show’s originality and its unexpected broad appeal. “It’s an original story that Dan came up with and it’s very weird. For something this weird to be recognized is really gratifying because we were surprised when anyone watched. We didn’t know if it would be a tiny audience. We thought maybe it’s too weird, so when it broadened out popularity-wise, it was a huge surprise and a really lovely one.”