Commentary: From 'Chernobyl' to 'When They See Us,' how best limited series became the Emmys' strongest category
LOS ANGELES - A decade ago, the miniseries couldn't get any respect. In 2009 and 2010 - as shows like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" were racking up Emmys - the format was so out of fashion that the Television Academy could find only two programs worth nominating for outstanding miniseries. For the next three years, miniseries and TV movies were combined into a single category: The format, which had thrived in the '70s and '80s when huge audiences tuned in to watch event television like "Roots" and "The Thorn Birds," was on life support.
