Saturday, May 17, 2025

'Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story' leads nominees for Outstanding Nature Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards


I'm continuing my coverage of the News & Doc Emmy Awards with the nominees for Outstanding Nature Documentary, which compose a large field of seven.

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story leads the field with six nominations, including Outstanding Writing – Documentary, Outstanding Direction – Documentary, Outstanding Music Composition – Documentary, Outstanding Sound – Documentary, and Outstanding Promotional Announcement – Documentary in addition to Outstanding Nature Documentary. As best as I can determine, it's the most nominated documentary at these awards — certainly the most nominated entry that didn't also earn a nomination for Best Documentary. Our Living World is the only other nominee with another nomination, Outstanding Cinematography – Documentary. All the rest, Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster, Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons, Our Living World, Paul Nicklen & Cristina Mittermeier: Win or Die, and Silverback, have just this one nomination. On the basis of it having the most nominations here, as well as six Critics Choice Documentary Award nominations, a BAFTA Award and two other BAFTA nominations, it's the clear favorite.

Time to watch the nominated trailer, Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story | Official Trailer | National Geographic.

A heart-warming story of the love between a wild otter, Molly, and her devoted rescuer, Billy, set in the remote Scottish islands of Shetland.
That's moving and uplifting. Imagine what the full documentary is like!

Next, Our Living World | Cate Blanchett | Official Trailer | Netflix.

Discover the secret that connects us all. From the Emmy Award-winning team behind Our Great National Parks comes a revealing look at the secret network of connections that unites us all and sustains our planet’s most magical phenomenon: life itself. Narrated by Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett, this docuseries spans the globe to showcase the extraordinary creatures and ecosystems, great and small, that work together to help restore and sustain Our Living World.
That is beautifully photographed, so I'm not surprised it earned a nomination for cinematography.

Moving on to what passes for the trailer to "Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster" on Nature, The Tyrannosaurus Rex of the Seas | Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster | BBC Earth.

150 million years ago dinosaurs ruled the land, but the oceans were dominated by a mysterious sea monster. Sir David Attenborough joins two of the UK’s most intrepid fossil hunters on their perilous expedition to excavate the skull from its resting place 12 metres up in the cliffs of Dorset...
The BBC Earth title and description are more colorful than the Nature on PBS version, Discovering the Secrets of a Jurassic Sea Monster, "Sir David Attenborough uncovers the secrets of the pliosaur, a monstrous marine predator," even though the visuals are almost completely identical. This is probably my personal favorite among the nominees, simply because it's about fossils and I'm a paleontologist. It also shows the fine line between science and nature at these awards. If this had been an episode of NOVA, it might have been nominated for Outstanding Science Documentary instead.

Speaking of Nature, here's the trailer for the second of its four nominees in this category, Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons | Official Trailer | NATURE | PBS.

Known only by her research number, Grizzly 399 has been a fixture in Grand Teton National Park since 2007, becoming the world’s most famous grizzly bear. Now 399 is raising four new cubs in the face of human encroachment, a warming climate and the threat of losing protection under the Endangered Species Act. Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons premieres on May 8, 2024.
...
Update: We're saddened to share that Grizzly 399 died on October 22, 2024, after being struck by a vehicle on a highway in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming. The filmmakers reconvened October 30th, 2024 to mourn her loss and celebrate her life and legacy of 18 cubs, their descendants and the countless dedicated fans she inspired worldwide...
A moment of silence for 399.

Now for the third Nature nominee, Patrick and the Whale (Trailer) - LandxSea 2023.

Embark on an awe-inspiring journey into the world of whales with marine videographer Patrick Dykstra in this breathtaking documentary. Prompted by a profound encounter with "Dolores", a female sperm whale, Dykstra immerses himself in the pursuit of understanding these ocean giants. Veteran wildlife filmmaker Mark Fletcher’s lens beautifully captures the whales' intelligence, emotional depth, and complex social bonds. Beyond the visual spectacle, Dykstra grapples with ethical questions surrounding his research and our relationship with the natural world as he delves deeper. Don’t miss this odyssey that reveals the wonder and vulnerability of life beneath the waves.
"They're as close to aliens as we have on our own planet." I agree. We don't need to leave Earth to find non-human intelligence. It's right here in the cetaceans, elephants, great apes, and cephalopods.

Speaking of great apes and cephalopods, I'm moving out of alphabetical order to showcase the fourth nominee from Nature, Nature: Silverback - The Majestic Journey of Gorillas Trailer.

Join us in this captivating episode of Nature as we explore the incredible world of silverback gorillas! Discover the majestic lives of these remarkable creatures, their social structures, and the critical role they play in the ecosystem.

In Silverback, we delve into the daily lives of a silverback leader and his troop, highlighting their interactions, communication, and the challenges they face in the wild. From nurturing their young to defending their territory, witness the strength and grace of these gentle giants.
Highlighting the connection to Oscar winner My Octopus Teacher is smart marketing. I don't know if will be enough to propel this episode over the competition.

I close the trailer portion of this post with Mobilizing the Masses | Photographer | National Geographic, which I'm using as the trailer for "Paul Nicklen & Cristina Mittermeier: Win or Die" from Photographer on National Geographic.

Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier describe how, after posting their photography to social media, the response was tremendous. They mention how the emotional response to pictures can excite people to care about the planet.
That's moving, although in a different way than the trailer for Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story. It also explains why their work is important.

Follow over the jump for the rest of the nominations for Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story and Our Living World along with the top posts about entertainment on social media during the 2024-2025 blogging year.


 In addition to Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, the nominees for Outstanding Direction Documentary are Frida and Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal with three nominations, followed by Daughters and Madu with two nominations. Right now, I have Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story penciled in, but Daughters also earned six nominations Critics Choice Documentary Awards and Frida earned two, so I'll re-examine my choice when I examine them.


 The other nominees for Outstanding Music Composition Documentary are "Dan Winters: Life is Once. Forever." the third nominee from Photographer on National Geographic, Endurance, Frida, and Mafia Spies. My gut says Frida, but I should really wait until I listen to the music to make my choice.

I continue with two categories I covered in 'Apollo 13: Survival' leads nominees for Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards for Wayback Wednesday.

Apollo 13: Survival is not the most nominated member of the field for Outstanding Sound – Documentary. That honor goes to Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story with six nominations. Mammals and Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough follow with three each, then Earthsounds with two. Apollo 13: Survival, Earthsounds, and Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough have faced off twice for sound awards at the BAFTAs and Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS) Awards and Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough won both times, so it's my pick to win this award.
Like Outstanding Sound – Documentary, Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story is the most nominated member of the field for Outstanding Writing – Documentary with six nominations. King Coal follows with three. The Space Race is tied with Join or Die and The Night Won't End at two apiece. I'll have at least three more opportunities to examine this field, but my preliminary pick is Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story.
I haven't changed my mind on either. Now for a category I covered in 'Tsunami: Race Against Time' leads nominees for Outstanding Historical Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards for Throwback Thursday.

Tsunami: Race Against Time is up against very stiff competition in this category, particularly Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story with six nominations, The Grab with four including Best Documentary, and Blink with two. The rest have just this one nomination. I plan on examining this category at least three more times, so I'm holding off on handicapping the nominees until I see all of them.
I think Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story has an edge over Tsunami: Race Against Time, but that's not enough. I'll pick my favorite when I look at all the nominees.

Now for Our Living World's other nomination.


 In addition to Our Living World, the nominees for Outstanding Cinematography Documentary are King Coal, Mammals, and Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough follow with three each, then Earthsounds with two, and "Lions of the Skeleton Coast" from Nature with just this one. All of them are nature or environmental documentaries, even King Coal, which is nominated for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary, so like the nominees for nature documentaries, I can recommend them to my students. Welcome to blogging as professional development. All of them are beautifully shot, so I think King Coal might benefit from being the most different. I'll revisit this when I look at all of their trailers.

I conclude with a retrospective of posts about entertainment and the back catalog that became popular on social media, especially MeWe, during the 2024-2025 blogging year.


James Earl Jones passes at 93 from September 10, 2024 earned 9 reactions, the most for the blogging year on MeWe, and a share to be most active on MeWe during September 2024.

'Dune: Part Two' leads movie nominations at the Saturn Awards had 4 reactions, tied for second most during year, to be most active on MeWe during December 2024.

Music and science winners at the 45th News & Doc Emmy Awards earned 4 reactions, tied for second most during year, and a share to be the most active on MeWe during November 2024.

The History Guy remembers 'Fact, Fiction, and Frankenstein's Monster' for a late Frankenstein Friday earned 4 reactions, tied for second most during year, and 1 share to be most active on MeWe during October 2024.

'Star Wars at The Oscars' for Revenge of the Sixth from May 6, 2024 had two shares, most during year, two reactions, and one comment to be most active during May 2024.

Detroit's population increases for first time since 1957 has one reaction and three comments, the most during year.


I tweeted Ta-ta Tulsi as Gabbard gives up from March 21, 2020 on August 16, 2024, earning 1,524 views, the second most for August 2024 and year on Twitter/X, 1 retweet, and 1 like. The retweet earned 1,478 Views, the third most for August 2024 and year and 1 like.

I tweeted Since Trump is acting like Dr. Evil, it's time to read The Evil Overlord List from October 2, 2019 on July 2, 2024, earning 1,510 impressions, first during July 2024 and 15 engagements, the most during month and year on Twitter/X, including 9 link clicks, most for month and year, 3 profile visits, most for month and year, 2 detail expands, most for month and tied for most during year, and 1 retweet.

That concludes today's installment. Stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature.

Previous posts in this series Previous retrospectives about entertainment Previous retrospectives about comments and likes. Previous posts about the 46th News & Doc Emmy Awards
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