I know talking about the fall in the middle of July is something I can be strung up and quartered for, but I can’t help myself. It’s the middle of July, which means that the 2016 Emmys are only a matter of months away. With an airdate of September 18, 2016, and the nominations soon to be announced, the 68th Primetime Emmys are shaping up to be an amazing start of awards season. Being so close to the start of this illustrious season also means that I’ve been scanning through my rolodex of favorite shows, wondering which of them will be nominated and which of them will win. Like Sherlock, for instance. The show has been nominated for plenty of Emmys in the past, but with a considerable amount of time in between Season 3 and Season 4, is Sherlock eligible for the 2016 Emmys? This fan favorite has to be in the running; otherwise the awards show wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining.

With an eligibility window of June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, I can see why some Sherlock fans are worried that the show might not be in a candidate. After all, Season 3 of Sherlock ended in January 2014, and Season 4 won’t be airing until 2017. With that huge span of time in between seasons, could it be that our favorite Sherlock actors won’t be walking the red carpet of the 2016 Emmys?

Fear not, fans. There is one thing you’re probably forgetting: The Sherlock Special that aired on January 1, 2016. That special episode, which aired on the BBC in the U.K. and on PBS in the U.S.A., definitely qualifies Sherlock for the 2016 Emmys. Not only does the episode fall in the window of dates that would make a show eligible for the 2016 Emmys, it also was “broadcast to at least 50 percent of the total potential U.S. television audience,” as outlined in the Emmys Rules and Procedures. Specifically, the Christmas special falls under the heading of:

A "special" episode of a primetime series (excluding variety series and nonfiction series) may be entered as a stand-alone special in a non-series category or area, but only if it was not part of the regular series order from the network or involves a significant and substantive format change throughout, e.g., from whole-episode live-action to whole-episode animation. A variety series or nonfiction series episode that diverges from the series norm may not enter as a separate, stand-alone special, even if it was not part of the regular series order from the network.

Which is probably why the Sherlock creators decided to set the special in Victorian times. So there you have it, Sherlock fans. Your favorite show (and your favorite Brits) are more than eligible to be nominated for the 2016 Emmy Awards. Now if only they could pull out another win. That would really make the beginning of the 2016 awards season worth watching.

Image: PBS (2)