The highly anticipated Emmy nominations were unveiled on Tuesday, with the winners set to be announced on September 14. This year's list features a mix of familiar faces, exciting newcomers, and a few veterans making a comeback. For a complete list of nominations, you can check it out here. Below, we delve into some key observations from this year's nominations.
This year, shows featuring renowned casts have significantly increased their chances of winning. Notably, Severance and The Studio, both from Apple TV+, emerged as the most-nominated shows in their respective categories. Severance garnered an impressive 27 nominations, while The Studio followed closely with 23 nominations. Among these nominations, Severance received nine nominations for actors, whereas The Studio had 10, including a remarkable presence in the guest actor categories, with five men and one woman nominated. Both shows have been critically acclaimed, and their success reflects the advantage of having well-known actors that audiences admire. A similar trend can be observed with The White Lotus, which continues to excel in the supporting categories for drama.
One of the standout moments in this year's nominations came from the supporting actor in a comedy series category, which included some unexpected surprises. Despite the Emmys traditionally overlooking the charming and hilarious Somebody Somewhere on HBO, this year they acknowledged Jeff Hiller for his role as Joel, recognizing his heartfelt and distinctive performance. Additionally, the esteemed actor Harrison Ford received his first-ever Emmy nomination for his work in Shrinking on Apple TV+, which had previously been snubbed in last year’s nominations.
In recent years, the landscape of streaming services at the Emmys has evolved. While Netflix and Hulu once dominated, platforms like Apple TV+, Max, and Disney+ have now firmly established themselves in the awards arena. Apple TV+ has reason to celebrate with strong showings for The Studio, Severance, Shrinking, Slow Horses, and even the mediocre Presumed Innocent miniseries. HBO remains a favorite among voters, with The White Lotus and The Last Of Us leading the drama nominations. Conversely, titles like The Pitt in drama and Hacks in comedy reflect the shift towards streaming-only content.
Every awards season brings its share of heartbreaks, distinguishing between a snub and a nomination that simply didn’t materialize. As an admirer of The Pitt, I was disheartened to see Taylor Dearden, who portrayed Dr. King, overlooked. Similarly, fans of A Man on the Inside on Netflix might agree that it deserved recognition. There will likely be discussions regarding the absence of Diego Luna and other cast members from Andor, especially in light of the numerous nominations for The White Lotus, which seem almost automatic for its cast.
One of the most thrilling aspects of the Emmy nominations is witnessing actors receive their first nods. This year, we saw established talents like Harrison Ford, Colin Farrell (for The Penguin), and Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny (both for Monsters) finally recognized for their contributions to television. Additionally, there were surprising first-time nominees such as Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, both of whom have extensive TV backgrounds. Exciting up-and-comers like Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry from Severance also earned nominations. Not to forget, Michael Urie for Shrinking and Cristin Milioti for The Penguin showcased the diverse talent represented in this year’s nominations. As we await the awards ceremony, The Studio stands out as a captivating satire that offers a humorous critique of the entire nomination process.
