Why Taylor Sheridan Is Ignored By Awards Shows, According To Landman Star Billy Bob Thornton

It’s no debate that Taylor Sheridan has reinvigorated Western TV shows, but also managed to constantly break records and now has loads of fans worldwide. Sheridan’s series, Landman, is no exception, and its star, Billy Bob Thornton, finally addressed a question millions have been asking.

Landman recently concluded season 2 and broke even more records for Paramount+ on its premiere. The series follows Tommy Norris as he competes against rednecks and billionaires trying to get even richer in the oil business in West Texas. The series includes stars such as Thornton, Ali Larter, Sam Elliott, Michelle Randolph, Demi Moore, and Jon Hamm.

In an interview with Variety, Thornton addressed filming Landman’s latest season and also discussed why Sheridan’s record-breaking series are usually left out of award conversations. Thornton praised the series and stated he was “surprised” by how it became an international hit with fans all over the world, but it still hasn’t received much recognition from Hollywood:

"I think a lot of it’s political. I think some people assume Taylor is some sort of right-wing guy or something, and he’s really not. Even with this show being about the oil business, he just shows you what it’s like. He’s not saying 'Rah, rah, rah for oil.'

It’s just the people who work in this business or who are affected by this business, the people on the periphery and within the families in the business; this is what happens. But I think people got the wrong idea about that.

Acting is not a sport. If you run the 100-meter dash in the Olympics and you break the tape first, you win. There’s no question about it. Everybody saw it. How do you say in the artistic world who won? It’s an intangible thing."

Landman, at the time of writing, has two wins and 15 nominations under its belt, including some from the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Sheridan himself has yet to see awards for his many shows, including Yellowstone, but he did receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for the neo-western crime thriller Hell or High Water.

It’s unclear why shows such as Yellowstone and Landman haven’t received more awards due to their continuous success in breaking records and being some of the most-watched series available on streaming. Thornton’s comments on Sheridan’s snubs could be an indication of why Hollywood continues to ignore the writer and director.

Landman seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Paramount+.