What the hell is 'Olive Kitteredge' and why did it win all the Emmys?

 By 
Brian Anthony Hernandez
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

HBO's miniseries Olive Kitteredge won six Emmys on Sunday night, leaving many confused viewers asking, "What is Olive Kitteredge?"

Among its victories were Best Limited Series and awards for Best Actress (Frances McDormand), Best Actor (Richard Jenkins) and Supporting Actor (Bill Murray).

If ur not in the movie "Olive Kitterdge" I think it's safe to say ur chances of getting an Emmy is not looking good— Yolanda Poyser (@PoyserYolanda) September 21, 2015

And the Olive Kitterdge award for being Olive Kitterdge goes to... Olive? Kitterdge?— Abby Bakersmith (@Abakersmith) September 21, 2015

No idea what this olive kitterdge show is but its won like every Emmy tonight #EmmyAwards— Alexa Romanowski (@Alexa_romo1) September 21, 2015

WTF IS OLIVE KITTERDGE AND WHY TF IS IT WINNING EVERYTHING— Ryan Brown (@Ryan1_Brown8) September 21, 2015

WHAT IS THIS OLIVE KITTERDGE?! AHS SHOULD BE WINNING!! #Emmys— k o r g i n (@KorginnNeel) September 21, 2015

Thats it im hiring whoever @hbo hired for the Olive Kitterdge Emmy Push.— Cameron McCasland (@CamMcCasland) September 21, 2015

In October 2014, I remember watching the first half of the four-part miniseries at its New York City premiere, feeling the immediate emotional impact and leaving wanting to finish the back half as soon as I got home. But even though HBO provided it in our gift, I admittedly never got around to completing the acclaimed miniseries.

From what I saw, Olive Kitteredge, which based on Elizabeth Strout's 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name, stars McDormand as a retired teacher and unhappy spouse, whose pharmacist husband (Jenkins) starts having feelings for a young employee played by Zoe Kazan. It's funny. It's sad. The guy (Cory Michael Smith) who plays The Riddler on Fox's Gothom is in it. Bill Murray was nowhere to be seen in those first two hours.

The rest, well, I don't know, and neither do you.

For a full synopsis, let's look at HBO's description:

Olive Kitteredge tells the poignantly sweet, acerbically funny and devastatingly tragic story of a seemingly placid New England town wrought with illicit affairs, crime and tragedy, told through the lens of Olive (Frances McDormand), whose wicked wit and harsh demeanor mask a warm but troubled heart and staunch moral center. Richard Jenkins portrays Olive’s husband, Henry.

The story, which spans 25 years, focuses on her relationships with her husband, Henry, the good-hearted and kindly town pharmacist; their son, Christopher, who resents his mother’s approach to parenting; and other members of their community.

BONUS: 16 iconic actors whose biggest roles got snubbed by the Emmys

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