‘Genius’ Emmys history: Will ‘MLK/X’ score even more nominations for National Geographic?
National Geographic’s “Genius” is back in the Emmy race after a three-year gap. This fourth season of the anthology series explores dual lives for the first time, with prominent civil rights activists Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre) leading “Genius: MLK/X,” developed by Jeff Stetson. Previous installments have examined the minds of icons Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and Aretha Franklin in their respective careers, and have amassed a grand total of 18 Emmy nominations and two wins, with each season garnering a bid for their lead star, and the first two nabbing slots for Best Limited Series. Let’s look back at the past categories “Genius” has competed in its last three cycles to determine what potential nominations this eight-episode season can receive at the upcoming 2024 Emmys.
Here is the complete “Genius” Emmys history for the first three seasons:
“Genius: Einstein” (2017)
Best Limited Series
Ron Howard, Executive Producer
Brian Grazer, Executive Producer
Francie Calfo, Executive Producer
Gigi Pritzker, Executive Producer
Rachel Shane, Executive Producer
Sam Sokolow, Executive Producer
Ken Biller, Executive Producer
Noah Pink, Co-Executive Producer
Robert M. Williams, Jr., Produced by
Best Limited/Movie Actor
Geoffrey Rush as Albert Einstein
Best Limited/Movie Directing (“Einstein: Chapter One”)
Ron Howard, Directed by
Best Main Title Theme Music
Hans Zimmer, Theme by
Lorne Balfe, Theme by
Best Limited/Movie Non-Prosthetic Makeup
Davina Lamont, Department Head Makeup Artist
Best Limited/Movie Hairstyling (“Einstein: Chapter One”)
Tash Lees, Department Head Hairstylist
Fae Hammond, Key Hairstylist
Adela Robova, Hairstylist
Alex Rouse, Hairstylist
Best Limited/Movie Period/Fantasy Costumes (“Einstein: Chapter Seven”)
Sonu Mishra, Costume Designer
Martina Hejlová, Assistant Costume Designer
Petia Krckova, Costume Supervisor
Best Limited/Movie Sound Mixing (“Einstein: Chapter One”)
Bob Bronow, Re-Recording Mixer
Mark Hensley, Re-Recording Mixer
Petr Forejt, Production Mixer
Best Limited/Movie Sound Editing (“Einstein: Chapter One”)
Daniel Pagan, Sound Supervisor
Erich Gann, ADR Editor
Arielle McGrail, Dialogue Editor
Bill Bell, Foley Editor
Del Spiva, Supervising Music Editor
Nicholas Fitzgerald, Music Editor
Tim Chilton, Foley Artist
Jill Sanders, Foley Artist
Best Supporting Visual Effects (“Einstein: Chapter One”)
Eric Durst, Visual Effects Supervisor
Lenka Líkařová, Visual Effects Producer
Viktor Muller, Senior Visual Effects Producer
Marek Ruth, Visual Effects Supervisor
Tomáš Kalhous, Head of 2D Department
Lukáš Herrmann, Head of DMP Department
Pavel Kolář, CG Supervisor
Petr Hastík, Lead Compositor
Vit Komrzý, 2D Compositor
“Genius: Picasso” (2018)
Best Limited Series
Ken Biller, Executive Producer
Ron Howard, Executive Producer
Brian Grazer, Executive Producer
Francie Calfo, Executive Producer
Gigi Pritzker, Executive Producer
Rachel Shane, Executive Producer
Sam Sokolow, Executive Producer
Raf Green, Co-Executive Producer
Noah Pink, Co-Executive Producer
Wendy Riss, Co-Executive Producer
Matthew Newman, Supervising Producer
Kelly M. Manners, Produced by
Best Limited/Movie Actor
Antonio Banderas as Pablo Picasso
Best Limited/Movie Cinematography (“Chapter One”) (WON)
Matthias Herndl, Director of Photography
Best Limited/Movie Non-Prosthetic Makeup
Davina Lamont, Department Head Makeup Artist
Hayden Bloomfield, Key Makeup Artist
Szandra Biro, Key Makeup Artist
Szilvia Homolya, Makeup Artist
Natasha Lees, Makeup Artist
Best Limited/Movie Hairstyling
Kate Starr, Key Hairstylist
Judit Halasz, Hairstylist
Janosne Kajtar, Hairstylist
Alex Rouse, Hairstylist
Best Limited/Movie Period/Fantasy Costumes (“Chapter One”)
Sonu Mishra, Costume Designer
Eudald Magri, Assistant Costume Designer
Balazs Labancz, Costume Supervisor
Best Limited/Movie Sound Mixing (“Chapter One”) (WON)
Bob Bronow, Re-Recording Mixer
Mark Hensley, Re-Recording Mixer
Tamás Csaba, CAS, Production Mixer
“Genius: Aretha” (2021)
Best Limited/Movie Actress
Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin
Best Limited/Movie Sound Mixing (“Respect”)
Dan Brennan, Re-Recording Mixer
Ken Hahn, CAS, Re-Recording Mixer
Jay Meagher, Production Mixer
Best Scripted Programming Choreography (Routines: “Jump” / “Satisfaction” / “See Saw”)
Dondraico Johnson, Choreographer
Because of the stacked field this year, “Genius: MLK/X” has heavy competition in the top Best Limited Series race, per Gold Derby odds. However, it should be noted that both times “Genius” made it into the program lineup (2017 and 2018), it was a surprise, so it should not be underestimated now.
The same can be said for the lead acting categories, as every portrayer of the subject that the season has centered around has been recognized at the Emmys. That could signal potential for Harrison and Pierre, as well as supporting cast members Weruche Opia (as Coretta Scott King), Jayme Lawson (as Betty Shabazz), Gary Carr (as Clyde X) and the late multiple Emmy winner Ron Cephas Jones (as Elijah Muhammad).
Another category the biographical drama has secured in its entirety thus far has been for sound mixing, and because of its period timeline, there is a high chance it can also land technical bids for non-prosthetic makeup, hairstyling and period costumes, with an outside shot of sound editing and cinematography, the latter of which is one of its two victories for the second season.
One particular advantage “Genius: MLK/X” has going for it is the additional option for viewers to watch the series on Disney+ and Hulu, along with National Geographic, bringing more eyes to the show. That could prove beneficial as the Emmys are all about the popular voting system and will cite a series if more viewers are attached and they really respond to it – a strategy that really helped “The Bear” last year. “Genius” has done consistently well over the course of its run at the Emmy Awards and it will be compelling to see how this season stacks up compared to its predecessors.
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