‘Sesame Street, ‘The Mysterious Benedict Society’ Lead 2nd Children’s & Family Emmy Nominations

The 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmys nominations have been announced where The Mysterious Benedict Society led with nine for its second and final season. The show was canceled by Disney+ in January. Sesame Street (Max) was next with eight nods including Preschool Series and Directing and Writing for a Preschool Series.

There’s no date yet for this year’s show. Last year, winners were announced during two ceremonies, one focused on creative and technical arts, and the other to performances and programming, at Wilshire Ebell Theatre on December 10 and 11. 

The announcement comes as the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have still yet to decide when to hold the Daytime Emmy Awards and as the Primetime Emmys moved from September to January 2024 for their ceremony, all due to the actors and writers strikes that started this summer and as SAG-AFTRA’s still wages on.

“The majority of programs recognized in the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards competition were produced under SAG-AFTRA agreements not subject to the current strike,” remarked NATAS on the announcement. “However, some nominated programs remain struck. NATAS salutes the nominated performances of those SAG-AFTRA members who appeared in these programs but reminds nominees that it is a violation of the strike rules for SAG-AFTRA members to promote or publicize their nominations for struck work.” 

The org continued, saying “SAG-AFTRA members are strongly advised to observe the strike rules at all times. NATAS is announcing the nominations today in hopes a fair deal will be reached prior to the awards ceremonies. The events themselves are produced under separate non-dramatic agreements that are not subject to the strike order. NATAS will modify ceremony formats as needed to respect any remaining strike obligations of guild members.”

NATAS also noted that nominees in one category judged in person – Interactive Media – will be announced later this month, as will honorees in two juried categories: Individual Achievement in Animation and the newly-created Public Service Initiative.

“Programming created for children’s and family viewing has a long history of leading the way in innovation and storytelling,” said Brent Stanton, NATAS head of Daytime and Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. “In this year specifically, a year so impacted by artists fighting for fair recognition of their true value, it is more important than ever to honor the excellence of their talents and achievements,” he said.

Here are the nominees for 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Emmys:

PRESCHOOL SERIES

Blue’s Clues & You! (Nickelodeon)
Helpsters (Apple TV+)
Sesame Street (Max)
Slumberkins (Apple TV+)
Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant (Netflix)

CHILDREN’S OR FAMILY VIEWING SERIES

Are You Afraid of the Dark (Nickelodeon)
Best Foot Forward (Apple TV+)
Jane (Apple TV+)
Malory Towers (BYUtv)
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)

YOUNG TEEN SERIES

The Crossover (Disney+)
Ghostwriter (Apple TV+)
High School Musical: The Musical – The Series (Disney+)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Disney+)
XO, Kitty (Netflix)

FICTION SPECIAL

Chang Can Dunk (Disney+)
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock – Night of the Lights (Apple TV+)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Disney+)
Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance (Netflix)
Prom Pact (Disney Channel)

NON-FICTION PROGRAM

1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed (HBO/Max)
All-Round Champion (BYUtv)
Mamas (Roku)
NBC Nightly News: Kids Edition (NBC)
Nick News (Nickelodeon)

PRESCHOOL ANIMATED SERIES

The Adventures of Paddington (Nick Jr.)
Spirit Rangers (Netflix)
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Disney+)
StoryBots: Answer Time (Netflix)
The Tiny Chef Show (Nickelodeon)

CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN ANIMATED SERIES

Baymax! (Disney+)
Big City Greens (Disney Channel)
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney Channel)
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale (Netflix)
Zootopia+ (Disney+)

ANIMATED SPECIAL

Looney Tunes Cartoons: “Bugs Bunny’s Howl-O-Skreem Spooktacular” (Max)
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: “Moon Girl Landing” (Disney Channel)
Reindeer in Here (CBS)
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (Netflix)
Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School (Apple TV+)
The Wonderful Summer of Mickey Mouse (Disney+)

SHORT FORM PROGRAM

The Big Gathering (PBS Kids)
I Am Groot (Disney+)
Sesame Street: Wes’ First Barbershop Haircut (YouTube)
Sesame Street’s #ComingTogether Word of the Day Series (YouTube)
Storyline Online (YouTube)

LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PRESCHOOL, CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM

Tim Allen as Scott Calvin/Santa, “The Santa Clauses” (Disney+)
Ella Bright as Darrell Rivers, “Malory Towers” (BYUtv)
Veda Cienfuegos as Emily, “Circuit Breakers” (Apple TV+)
Tony Hale as Mr. Benedict, “The Mysterious Benedict Society” (Disney+)
Gina Rodriguez as Momma, “Lost Ollie” (Netflix)

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A PRESCHOOL, CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM

Adeel Akhtar as Dr. Aditya Singh, “Sweet Tooth” (Netflix)
Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd, “Sweet Tooth” (Netflix)
Kal Penn as Simon Choksi/Santa, “The Santa Clauses” (Disney+)
Neil Sandilands as General Abbot, “Sweet Tooth” (Netflix)
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Billie Pearce, “National Treasure: Edge of History” (Disney+)

YOUNGER PERFORMER IN A PRESCHOOL, CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM

Mykal-Michelle Harris as Alice Baxter, “Raven’s Home” (Disney Channel)
Marta Kessler as Constance Contraire, “The Mysterious Benedict Society” (Disney+)
Matilda Lawler as Betty, “The Santa Clauses” (Disney+)
Rupali Redd as Grace, “The Santa Clauses” (Disney+)

PUPPETRY PERFORMANCE

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph as Abby & Tango, “Sesame Street” (Max)
Frankie Cordero as Purple Panda, Penguin Referee & Gregory, “Donkey Hodie” (PBS Kids)
Ryan Dillon as Elmo, “Sesame Street” (Max)
Haley Jenkins as Donkey Hodie, “Donkey Hodie” (PBS Kids)
Eric Jacobson as Bert, Oscar & Grover, “Sesame Street” (Max)
Eric Jacobson as Animal/Baby Animal, “The Muppets Mayhem” (Disney+)

VOICE PERFORMANCE IN A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

Eric Bauza as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck,Tweety Bird & Marvin the Martian, “Bugs Bunny Builders” (Cartoon Network)
Erin Fitzgerald as Bo, Eleanor Smartypants, Story StoryBerg, Ranger Dot, Oog the CaveBot & Fun Fact Hairdresser, “StoryBots: Answer Time” (Netflix)
James Monroe Iglehart as Mr. Puppypaws/Announcer, “Superkitties” (Disney Junior)
Cree Summer as Lizard & DeeDee, “Spirit Rangers” (Netflix)
Fred Tatasciore as Bang, BlimBlam the Barbarian & Chef Pierre, “StoryBots: Answer Time” (Netflix)

VOICE PERFORMANCE IN A CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM

Bob Bergen as Porky Pig, “Looney Tunes Cartoons” (Max)
Jack Black as Po, “Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight” (Netflix)
Laurence Fishburne as The Beyonder, “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” (Disney Channel)
Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants, “SpongeBob SquarePants” (Nickelodeon)
Rob Paulsen as Pinky, Dr. Scratchansniff & Yakko, “Animaniacs” (Hulu)

YOUNGER VOICE PERFORMANCE IN A PRESCHOOL, CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM

Talon Proc Alford as Eddy Skycedar, Spirit Rangers” (Netflix)
Juliet Donenfeld as Piper, “Interrupting Chicken” (Apple TV+)
Maria Nash as Pinecone, “Pinecone & Pony” (Apple TV+)
Melissa Povenmire as Gretel, “Hamster & Gretel” (Disney Channel)
Isis Celilo Rogers as Summer Skycedar, “Spirit Rangers” (Netflix)
Momona Tamada as Onari, “ONI: Thunder God’s Tale” (Netflix)

HOST

Valerie Bertinelli & Duff Goldman, “Kids Baking Championship” (Food Network)
Tabitha Brown, “Tab Time” (YouTube Originals)
Emmanuel Carter, “Noggin Knows” (Noggin)
Taylor Cassidy, Benjamin de Almedia, Kahlil Greene, Tejas Hullur, Jane McManus & Jillian Smith, “Nick News” (Nickelodeon)
Juanpa Zurita, “Elmo’s Mindfulness Spectacular!” (YouTube)

WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL OR CHILDREN’S LIVE ACTION PROGRAM

Helpsters (Apple TV+)
Jane (Apple TV+)
Lost Ollie (Netflix)
Raven’s Home (Disney Channel)
Sesame Street (Max)

WRITING FOR A YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM

Chang Can Dunk (Disney+)
The Crossover (Disney+)
Growing Up (Disney+)
Life by Ella (Apple TV+)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Disney+)

WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM

The Adventures of Paddington (Nick Jr.)
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (PBS Kids)
Interrupting Chicken (Apple TV+)
Molly of Denali (PBS Kids)
StoryBots: Answer Time (Netflix)
The Tiny Chef Show (Nickelodeon)

WRITING FOR AN ANIMATED CHILDREN’S OR YOUNG TEEN PROGRAM

Baymax! (Disney+)
Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)
Karma’s World (Netflix)
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney Channel)
My Dad the Bounty Hunter (Netflix)

DIRECTING FOR A SINGLE CAMERA PROGRAM

Circuit Breakers (Apple TV+)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday (Disney+)
Lost Ollie (Netflix)
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Disney+)

DIRECTING FOR A MULTIPLE CAMERA PROGRAM

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show (Apple TV+)
Kids’ Choice Awards 2023 (Nickelodeon)
Raven’s Home (Disney Channel)
Sesame Street (Max)

DIRECTING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM

Ada Twist, Scientist (Netflix)
The Adventures of Paddington (Nick Jr.)
Mickey Saves Christmas (Disney Channel)
Spirit Rangers (Netflix)
The Tiny Chef Show (Nickelodeon)

DIRECTING FOR AN ANIMATED PROGRAM

Baymax! (Disney+)
The Cuphead Show! (Netflix)
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (Netflix)
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale (Netflix)
Zootopia+ (Disney+)