Before you watch, here's the good news and bad news about the 2022 Emmys

Monday is the night when television asks viewers to tune in to the 2022 Emmy Awards on NBC, a celebration of TV at its finest. But there’s a question looming over this year’s ceremony and it goes like this: Why should we care about TV, when TV doesn’t seem to care about us anymore?

Consider the fact that the Emmys are happening the same day that NBC is moving the venerable soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” which has been around for 57 years, to Peacock’s premium service. Hey Grandma, you’re going to love the new monthly fees and learning how to stream content!

Or that broadcast networks are increasingly relying on game shows, reality competitions and familiar hits (is this the 1,034th season of “NCIS” or the 1,035th?) to fill their prime-time schedules, while cable networks are devolving into nightly binges of previously aired shows. Exactly how many reruns of “The Office” and “Law & Order: SVU” does America need?

Or that streaming sites like Netflix may be winning the cage match for ultimate survival for the moment, but they’re also feeling the financial pressure to “declutter,” or trim their voluminous vaults. That’s what HBO Max did last month when it dumped nearly 200 episodes of its “Sesame Street” collection, among other cuts.

In short, TV’s various platforms seem to be testing our loyalty as they change and evolve. But let’s focus on why viewers honestly do still care. Despite all the business mayhem, television remains a source of quality programming. So before the pointy statuettes are dispensed tomorrow night, let’s look at the pros and cons of this year’s Emmys.

After all, we may not know what the TV landscape will look like in ten years, but we do know that “Abbott Elementary” has renewed our faith, at least for this season.

Pro: “Saturday Night Live” veteran Kenan Thompson is hosting this year for the first time, which is probably the best news of the entire evening. Thompson’s knack for improving good material and saving weak bits should make for smooth sailing, as will his promise to avoid conflict. Talking to the Associated Press about the controversial moment in March when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, Thompson said, “It kind of just threw the entire world off guard, basically, and that won’t happen again. Even if I am roasting (someone), it shouldn’t come across as any sort of malice.”

Related:Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at 2022 Oscars, leaving us all dazed and confused

Con: As much as they may protest otherwise, viewers of award shows live for conflict. Unless somebody gives a passionately political acceptance speech (paging Patricia Arquette of AppleTV+'s “Severance’) or a nominee spits at a co-star (if only Harry Styles were appearing), the ceremony may not have a prayer of going viral.

Pro: “Abbott Elementary,” the ABC hit that is as funny as it is true to the challenges faced by public school teachers, could take home several Emmys. It’s up for seven awards and has a good chance to be chosen as best comedy.

Con: How far the mighty broadcast networks have fallen. Besides “Abbott Elementary,” there are no nominees from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or the CW in the best show categories for comedy, drama or limited series.

Pro: More good news for “Abbott Elementary” and its superb cast. Quinta Brunson is nominated for best actress, Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph are both up for best supporting actress and Tyler James Williams is in the running for best supporting actor.

Con: Unlike the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Emmys offers no prize for best cast, which “Abbott Elementary” deserves. Its ensemble contains nothing but winners.

Pro: Four standouts from the AppleTV+ drama “Severance” have a shot at taking home an Emmy: Adam Scott for best actor, Patricia Arquette for best supporting actress and John Turturro and Christopher Walken for best supporting actor. Their performances as Lumon Industries employees who have no memory of home when they're at work and vice-versa (or in Arquette's case, as a boss whose consciousness isn't divided) bring a whole new meaning to quiet quitting.

Con: Where’s the nomination for Tramell Tillman? His breakout performance in “Severance” as supervisor Mr. Milchick was exquisitely calibrated to reveal how ominous and absurd the Lumon workplace is. For his work alone in the scenes depicting the Music Dance Experience, one of several odd perks for employees, Tillman deserves all the prizes.

Pro: It’s an embarrassment of riches in the drama series nominees — AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” HBO’s “Euphoria” and “Succession,” Netflix’s “Ozark,” “Squid Game” and “Stranger Things,” Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” and “Severance” — and their comedy series counterparts — HBO’s “Barry” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,“ HBO Max’s “Hacks,” Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows,” AppleTV+'s “Ted Lasso” and “Abbott Elementary.” Whew!

Con: If the Emmys continue to snub engaging, technically dazzling shows that resonate with audiences like Disney+ shows “Loki” and “Hawkeye” (both Marvel Cinematic Universe spinoffs) or “The Book of Boba Fett" (one of the "Star Wars" franchise's small-screen epics) there needs to be a separate fantasy and sci-fi category (the same goes for the Oscars, but that’s a debate for another day).

Pro: “Squid Game,” the South Korean drama up for 14 Emmys, gives the awards show some much-needed global credibility.

Con: With streaming platforms here offering the best of TV around the world, the Emmys need to improve their international awareness. France’s “Call My Agent!” and “Lupin,” Denmark’s “Borgen” and Spain’s “Money Heist” barely scratch the surface of shows from elsewhere that have earned kudos and found U.S. fan bases.

Pro: The inimitable Michael Keaton is a favorite to win for his portrayal of a small-town doctor caught up professional and personally in the opioid crisis in Hulu’s “Dopesick.”

Con: “Dopesick” itself is likely to lose to another limited series. Do Americans love watching something that confronts issues like big pharma’s grip on government and health care? Not so much.

Pro: “Better Call Saul” star Rhea Seehorn is overdue to win for her brilliant turn as attorney Kim Wexler in the "Breaking Bad" spinoff. This year, at least she got a nomination as best supporting actress.

Con: A Seehorn victory means a loss for “Ozark”’s Julia Garner, whose scrappy, surprisingly tender portrayal of Ruth Langmore in the crime thriller was unforgettable. Her scream after a shocking turn of events in the final season is still ringing in the ears of viewers. Anyone for a tie?

Pro: Young Hollywood probably will be represented when Zendaya wins best actress in a drama for "Euphoria."

Con: Middle-aged Hollywood was robbed when Julia Roberts wasn't singled out for her nuanced portrayal of Martha Mitchell in Starz' "Gaslight."

Pro: During the Creative Arts Emmys, already handed out, metro Detroit’s own Tim Robinson won for best actor in a short form comedy or drama series for Netflix’s “I Think You Should Leave.” The wildly funny sketch comedy series proves he is one of the best in the business at the slow burn. Chef’s kiss to Robinson’s furious outbursts in the Dan Flashes shirts and driver's ed skits.

Con: Another real-life Detroiter, Sam Richardson, already lost in the guest actor in a comedy category to Nathan Lane for “Only Murders in the Building.” Emmy voters, did you see Richardson’s meltdown on “Ted Lasso” as Ghaanian billionaire Edwin Akufo? It was priceless.

Pro: According to the Hollywood Reporter, nominees will have the option of submitting thank you messages to be run onscreen if they win. If it’s utilized, it might help shave some seconds off of acceptance speeches.

Con: Putting live Tweets onscreen would be better.

Pro: We could use an unpretentious awards show right about now, especially before 2023 ushers in the glut of self-congratulating that is the movie awards season.

Con: The Emmys need to do something about their timing. Since potential nominees are drawn from shows presented from June 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022, you’d probably need a time machine to remember everything that happened on “Squid Game,” which arrived on Sept. 17, 2021, or roughly one year ago. Better start Googling those recaps now.

Pro: Although the concept of free, over-the-airwaves TV seems endangered, a broadcast network still has the ultimate honor of airing the Emmys.

Con: It’s also streaming on Peacock.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly described limited series nominee "Dopesick" as a drama series nominee. This version has been corrected.

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.

The 74th Emmy Awards

8 p.m. Monday

NBC and Peacock

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2022 Emmys: Worth watching? Well, there's good news and bad news