Jon Hamm Is Back and “It’s Very, Very Cool”

Jon Hamm is not simply back in the conversation, he’s a double Emmy nominee .

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Earlier today, the TV Academy recognized his work in both Apple TV+’s The Morning Show , where he did a season-long arc as the Elon Musk-esque tech billionaire Paul Marks, and FX’s Fargo , where he played the villainous Sheriff Roy Tillman, a MAGA Marlboro Man.

This is hardly the first time Hamm’s name has been rattled off on Emmy nominees morning, of course. Prior to this morning, he’d been nominated 16 times — a mix of accolades for Mad Men, 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — and earned his first win for the final season of Mad Men in 2015. Still, he notes, it hits differently in today’s peak TV landscape.

Hamm fielded THR ‘s call on the way to a voiceover session in New York, where he’s currently filming his forthcoming Apple TV+ series Your Friends and Neighbors .

Let’s start with congratulations.

Well, thank you very much. It’s very, very cool.

I bet. The long, bleak days on Fargo and all of the traveling back and forth [between the two shows] paid off, apparently.

Something like that. (Laughs.)

When we last sat down, you talked about how good it feels to be back in the conversation with Fargo and The Morning Show , and that was before you had Emmy nominations for both projects. Does this hit differently?

Yeah, I think it for sure hits differently because we’re in a different time than we were almost 15 years ago, 10 years ago, whatever it was when Mad Men was doing it. The landscape of TV has certainly changed. What is TV has certainly changed, even in the ranks of both the categories. Baby Reindeer probably wouldn’t have been on the air, much less in the conversation, in a pre-streamer era. And it’s all a good thing. So, I think it does feel different to be involved and it’s obviously different to play such different characters and to have both recognized, I mean, yeah, I’m very, very happy. And as you said, it’s nice that the frequent flyer miles that I accumulated are being recognized as well.

There were strong showings for both of these projects this morning. I know this all just happened, but are the text chains already fired up?

It’s also different because we used to do this at, like, seven o’clock in the morning or whatever it was. It’s a lot better that it’s happening around the noon o’clock [in New York] when things are a little more clear headed. But no, I haven’t really looked at all. I’m actually on my way to a voiceover session and then on my way to work, so I haven’t really had a chance to dig deep into all of the other things or to congratulate my other friends. I’ll wait until I can pay attention to it to do that. But I’m thrilled for everybody who I got to work with that got nominated, and I’m also thrilled it was spread across the board. That’s always nice to be not be one of one — to be one of many is very, very cool.

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You’ve been here before. Do you prepare speeches or is that sacrilegious?

I don’t. I haven’t had the occasion to do many speeches, so…

You’ve had many occasions to prepare them…

Well, I’ve had a lot of occasions to prepare them, but I haven’t gone through the mental flip-flops and anxiety of doing that. It is kind of anxious-making. I feel like I’d rather just be there in the moment and if something positive happens to me, then I’ll figure it out and then I’ll manage the fallout of whoever I completely forgot to thank or whatever.

Since you’re now in the “Emmy vet” category, what advice do you have for first time nominees?

Just enjoy it and understand that, and it’s such a cliche at this point, the honor is truly in being nominated. It’s a recognition by your peers. And I know we’re on the downside of peak TV, but there’s still tons of TV out there, so to have yours role or show or performance or whatever it is, singled out of the multitudes is already a win. And then just enjoy the rest of it. I don’t think it’s why any of us really get into what we do, but it’s also quite fun. And when you look around, especially when you’re in a room, and you see who else you’re getting to share the experience with, it’s a very nice feeling. I remember being overwhelmed my first time [I was nominated] and it was so exciting and I didn’t think I would win. And of course I didn’t, but the show did, so it was a really celebratory evening. So, again, just take it all in because it is there for you, literally.

When we last spoke, you were hoping schedules would align and you’d get to return to The Morning Show for the fourth season, which is currently shooting. You still feeling good about it?

I’d don’t know if I’m allowed to say, so I’ll just say I’m feeling positive.

Fair enough. I know you have a lot more coming, between Taylor Sheridan’s Landman and your new Apple show, so perhaps we’ll do this again next year…

To be continued. Thank you.

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