Nominations were announced six months ago. The ceremony was supposed to take place in September. So why on earth are the Emmys happening now?

The delay is a result of Hollywood’s labor problems last year. More than 11,000 television and movie writers went on strike in May. Then tens of thousands of actors went on strike in July, creating the first simultaneous actor and screenwriter walkouts since 1960.

Emmy organizers concluded that the ceremony had to be postponed until January to give the industry time to resolve the labor disputes. The screenwriters called off their 148-day strike in late September, and the actors ratified their new deal with the studios in December.

The delay represents the most significant postponement of the Emmys since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. (The 2001 ceremony took place in November.)

The four-month postponement will also make for an especially confounding Emmys. Shows that have been dormant for significant amounts of time will eat up a lot of airtime on Monday. “Succession,” one of the big favorites, has been off the air for eight months. “The Bear,” another favorite, is nominated for its first season, which premiered 19 months ago. Other nominated shows like “Andor,” “House of the Dragon,” “The White Lotus” and “Better Call Saul” all wrapped up their nominated seasons in 2022.

Even with the delay, Emmy voters did not have a chance to change their minds. Final-round Emmy voting took place in August, and the results have been held under lock and key ever since.