Stephen King Endorses Taylor Sheridan’s Hit Western Series After Major Snub

Credit: Jerome Domine/Abaca/startraksphoto.com Published Oct 9, 2026, 10:05 AM EDT Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019 and is now one of the leading contributors of the TV News team. Having written over 4000 news stories in that time , with his work cited in Buzzfeed and TV Insider, he's always bemoaning that there's too many shows and not enough time. You can contact him at: aalghamdi@hey.com. Stephen King is sticking up for Taylor Sheridan's hit Western. As a seminal genre author, King often recommends horror twists like From and Widow's Bay to his social media followers. He also likes thrillers like Apple TV's Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, which stars Tatiana Maslany and plays out like a pulpy mystery. The prolific writer rarely shouts out a straightforward drama, but Sheridan's Landman is an exception. On his X account, King praised Landman and expressed surprise that the Paramount+ Original, led by Billy Bob Thornton, hasn't been nominated for Emmys. The author specifically spotlights Thornton's lead performance as Tommy Norris and director Stephen Kay, wondering whether “politics” is why the show isn't recognized. King's post is included below: Those who follow King on social media had split reactions. Among those who have seen the drama, some agreed with the author's endorsement, while others felt that Landman​​​​​​'s story quickly drops after just one season. The series is based on the Boomtown podcast and centers on Tommy Norris and his family in West Texas, though it's also described as a contrast between the wealthy and those who toil and drill for oil. Sheridan's shows, including the Yellowstone universe and Lioness, are routinely absent from the Emmys and other major awards. It's been argued, even by Thornton himself, that it is partly political. Sheridan's scripts, whether in The Madison or Landman, tend to mock major cities like New York and Los Angeles and frame conflicts in a right-versus-left context. Scratch & Peek Scratch& Peek Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible. These don't tend to be the focus of his output. Beyond attempts at comedy that mine how both sides don't understand each other, these differences are ultimately framed as secondary to the idea that characters can find common ground and become friends despite initial, preconceived notions. This comes through in Landman season 2, which introduces Paigyn Meester (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) as the non-binary roommate of Tommy's college-aged daughter, Ainsley (Michelle Randolph). Regardless of any specific opinion about Sheridan's work and views, the oil adaptation is exactly the kind of show that the Emmys like to nominate in at least the acting categories. The Landman cast is a star-studded ensemble, including Demi Moore, Sam Elliott, Jon Hamm, and Andy Garcia, among others, which tends to outweigh any qualms about the show's quality. The issue may run deeper. Many industry reports come out every year around Emmy season, saying that a segment of voters don't actually watch many shows and tend to nominate the names they recognize and the series with the most buzz. It's a small club. Sheridan's shows are not a part of it yet, and he says that he's not too worried about getting nominated. Still, with most of his streaming originals renewed, including Landman season 3, which is currently filming, there's always a chance. Landman is streaming on Paramount+. Release Date November 17, 2024 Network Paramount Showrunner Taylor Sheridan Cast Billy Bob Thornton Tommy Norris Directors Stephen Kay, Michael Friedman, Taylor Sheridan Writers Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace Franchise(s) Yellowstone Creator(s) Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace