Seth Meyers’ 8G Band Gets Emmy Nod On Their Way Out

Late Night with Seth Meyers is losing its in-person house band this fall, but some of its players could score an Emmy win on their way out the door.

The NBC late-night show was nominated for an Emmy in Outstanding Music Direction—its first time in the category. The nominations go to the show’s two music directors: Fred Armisen and Eli Janney

Armisen, a former SNL castmate of Meyers, put Late Night’s 8G Band together when the show was first announced, signing on as music director and part-time bandleader. Founding 8G Band member Janney serves as associate music director.

The show will go up against the team behind another late-night house band: the Saturday Night Live Band. Music directors Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, and Eli Brueggemann are nominated for SNL, specifically for the Ryan Gosling-hosted episode. The SNL trio has been nominated in the category five times before (in 2014, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023), but has never won.

But unlike SNL, this could be Late Night with Seth Meyers’ last chance in the category. Last month, Janney revealed that the band would be leaving the live show this fall due to budget cuts. Seth Meyers reportedly fought the decision, but was ultimately unable to save them.

Janney did note that the 8G Band will still be making music for the show in some capacity, but won’t be performing it live. “We’re just going to record a whole bunch of them,” he told Vulture, “and then update it periodically to keep things fresh.” 

Also competing in the Outstanding Music Direction category is the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the Oscars, and the 46th Kennedy Center Honors. (The nominated director for the latter two is Rickey Minor, former musical director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from 2010 through 2014.)

This year’s Emmy nominations were announced on Wednesday, July 17 and included a number of late-night shows and personalities across its various categories. The 76th Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 15 on ABC.

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