The Behind-the-Scenes Reason the Second Season of 'Big Little Lies' Is Causing Drama

When fans heard the news that HBO had officially renewed Big Little Lies for a second season, they were ecstatic. When the awards show-voting community heard the news? Not so much.

The renewal changes things for the series, which won eight Emmys in September in the limited series awards categories. With a second season featuring the same cast playing the same characters in a continuing storyline, the show is no longer a limited series.

The timing of HBO's announcement caused anger among the show's competitors, who are vying for nominations in the limited series categories at other awards shows, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The network's announcement came after voting had closed for the Critics' Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards nominations.

HBO

The Producers Guild of America has taken the series' change in status very seriously and sent a letter to members Friday announcing that it would be resetting the voting for television nominations.

"At the time of the release of the ballots, HBO's series Big Little Lies qualified for the Guild's Long-Form Programs category," the PGA wrote in the letter. "However, with today's announcement that HBO has ordered a second season of the series with the main characters continuing into the second season, the series no longer qualifies within that category. In accordance with our rules, we have determined that the most equitable course of action is to adjust the ballots—placing Big Little Lies in the Episodic Drama category for which it now is qualified—and re-start the voting afresh."