Letterman Special Put Forth for Emmy Consideration

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2023-05-31)

Disney has put forward Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman for consideration for an awards nomination at the 2023 Emmy Awards.

Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman was a Disney+ Television special, which first started airing on March 17, 2023. The special features Bono and The Edge being interviewed by David Letterman, sharing their songs with Letterman through two special performances (at the Ambassador Theatre and at McDaid’s Pub in Dublin), and Letterman’s own exploration through Dublin.

And now the special is getting a bit more attention as Disney is putting it forward for consideration for Emmy Awards. The Emmy Awards are a set of awards which reward excellence in television, and have been awarded for 74 years. The awards are given out in September. U2 previously have won a Sports Emmy Award for the 2010 FIFA World Cup commercial featuring their music and the music of the Soweto Gospel Choir with voiceovers by Bono. The award won was “Outstanding Music Composition / Direction / Lyrics”.

IMAGE: Promotional kit for Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman

To be eligible for an Emmy a television program must be released between June 1, 2022 and May 31, 2023. Submissions to put forth titles for consideration started on February 21, and had to be complete by May 9. Members will then vote for nominations from each category, which is a process that starts June 15.

Each year for the past three Disney holds a “FYC Fest” – FYC standing for “For Your Consideration”. It is an opportunity for Disney to spotlight their eligible programming that they feel is strong enough to earn an Emmy Award. This year the event is taking place at the DGA Theater from June 2 – 14, and the event will feature screenings of films, panels with the creators, as well as receptions and interactive features. Although A Sort of Homecoming isn’t one of the programs that will be screened at this event, it has been noted that the program will be part of the interactive experience at the theatre.

IMAGE: Promotional kit for Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman

As we recently reported, Starting on May 12, A Sort of Homecoming became available on the USA-only streaming service Hulu, as well as continuing on Disney+. This is likely to allow more to view the documentary heading into voting for nominations. There’s also a new interview just published today with director Morgan Neville available today about the special.

In advance of voting, items are often sent out to influencers in the television world, promoting the television shows that will be put forward for nominations. In the past this usually was some sort of DVD release of the show in question, but with much of the world moving to streaming, the release of DVDs is becoming rare. Instead now, promotional packages are sent with items to promote the show, and some sort of code is included to view the program digitally. Recent offerings from various shows include a magazine promoting Ted Lasso, character pins promoting Bridgerton, and a survival kit promoting The Last of Us.

IMAGE: Promotional kit for Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman

To promote the Bono and The Edge documentary, a limited edition box is being sent to those in the television community. The box does not include the special itself, and there is no DVD included. The box is branded with the name of the special on the outside of the box, and is sealed with tape at the bottom of the front flap. Opening the tape, one is greeted with additional branding inside the front cover, showing the name of the special, as well as the promotional image from the show.

IMAGE: Promotional kit for Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with David Letterman

Inside the box is a travel bag, which is branded with the show logo on the outside of the bag. This bag opens, and two stickers are included within, one featuring the show poster, and the other featuring the logo for the film. Additional items in the box includes a set of travel adapters for travel, branded with the Disney+ Logo. Also included? A set of 3rd generation Apple AirPods, which are in an outer sleeve branded with the name of the special.

IMAGE: Promotional kit for Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman

The boxed sets appear to be going to VIP influencers, while smaller offerings of just the kit bag with stickers is being sent to others in the community who have an influence over what gets nominated. These kits are being sent out by Disney.

The 2023 Emmy Awards are held on September 18, 2023. There are several awards for which the special could be nominated, from directing, to musical composition for the original song “40 Foot Man” which appears over the finale of the film.

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