We used to talk about Kate Hudson a lot in the early days of this site. She was an award show regular, a red carpet regular. And it’s not that she doesn’t show up at events anymore, but it has been a while since she’s been a serious contender. This year, though, she is trying to contend in both film and television. Let’s start on the TV since that comes first.
Kate, Brenda Song, and Mindy Kaling, along with the cast and crew of Running Point, were at a Netflix FYC event the other day campaigning for a nomination in the comedy category. It might just be my algorithm but I’m not sure this show did much. Medium reviews at best and not that much buzz, culturally. Probably doesn’t help that the freshman comedy of the season, The Studio, came out a month later and has emerged as the early favourite with Hacks, which delivered yet another buzzy season. Right now I don’t see Running Point or Kate on any Emmys predictions list. But that’s what FYC events are for – generating some momentum, reminding voters that they’re in the game too.
For Kate though, any attention she gets from Running Point can help with Song Sung Blue, co-starring Hugh Jackman. In the film, they play a married couple who front a Neil Diamond tribute band in middle age, based on a true story. This is basically Kate’s dream – lead actress in a movie that involves her singing. And they’ve set the release for Christmas Day, primed for an award season run. So there will 100% be an Oscar strategy in place by the fall to position both actors for a possible nomination. If that actually happens for Kate, in the supporting category, it’ll be 25 years since her first and only nomination for Almost Famous.
This is still really early, obviously, for Oscar predictions. The field is still wide open. Still, as noted above, it’s been so long since Kate was even in the conversation to be in the field, maybe, that she might be one of the so-called comeback stories to watch as we get closer.
