Emmy Nominations Are Here!

By Abe Friedtanzer

Nominations for the 73rd Emmys have been announced, and while it was nice to see short clips of each of the program nominees, the gimmick of having father and daughter, Ron Cephas Jones and Jasmine Cephas Jones, announce together would have worked considerably better if they had been in the same place and not experiencing a delayed reaction to their joke setups. But let’s move on to the nominees, which are mostly good but sure to reveal painful snubs as we break it down by category. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that The Crown is the nominations leader with 24 bids, but it did tie with The Mandalorian, which added to its technical total with a few acting, directing, and writing bids.

It took me until I got into the details of the limited series/anthology categories to realize that Small Axe was almost entirely shut out, earning only a cinematography mention. I think that has more to do with its questionable TV format, though that didn’t stop Hamilton from gobbling up a horrifying seven acting slots. Another underperformer was Girls5eva, which managed exactly one nomination, for writing. It was also a sad day for Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which didn’t score any of the major bids I and others thought it might. That presumed domination by a few series in the supporting categories absolutely happened, though there were a few positive and unexpected inclusions thrown in. Let’s take a closer look at the categories our Emmy team predicted (plus the guest races) and go from there...

Drama Series

The Boys  

Bridgerton

The Crown  

The Handmaid’s Tale

Lovecraft Country

The Mandalorian  

Pose

This Is Us

I’m so happy for Pose, which I didn’t have the confidence to predict, and overjoyed that it also got star Mj Rodriguez a nomination, which is wonderful and so overdue. I also didn’t pick The Boys, which earned a writing bid but otherwise did not earn any other high-profile nominations. The same fate befell Bridgerton, aside from its Regé-Jean Page nomination. I’m particularly happy for Lovecraft Country since, even though I didn’t think it was a perfect show, it was certainly riveting and it’s now been cancelled. It’s good to see This Is Us back here, joining three juggernauts whose hauls were impressive. While The Crown and The Mandalorian shot up from 13 and 15 nominations, respectively, to 24, The Handmaid’s Tale more than doubled last year’s take of 10, outpacing its season two total of 20 with 21 nominations, eight of which were for acting.

Comedy Series

Black-ish

Cobra Kai

Emily in Paris

The Flight Attendant

Hacks

The Kominsky Method  

Pen15

Ted Lasso  

Here we have our biggest shocker, which is the inclusion of Emily in Paris after a Golden Globes mini-scandal. Most puzzlingly, it earned only one other nomination (production design), making its inclusion here a real mystery. I don’t know why it needed to take the spot of either Girls5eva or Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. The rest of the list is expected. I’m sure Pen15 fans like our own Chris James will be thrilled, as should Cobra Kai enthusiasts, another show that landed here without any other high-profile support. Ted Lasso is the clear favorite here, with 20 nominations, followed by Hacks with an impressive 15.

 

Limited Series

I May Destroy You

Mare of Easttown

The Queen’s Gambit

The Underground Railroad

WandaVision

Here’s one of my only perfect scores this year, but I didn’t realize until I saw it that Small Axe was also absent from almost every other category. This is a major get for The Underground Railroad considering it didn’t score a single acting nomination. The others all fared pretty well, but nothing compares to WandaVision, which was the second most honored program of the day, with a whopping 23 bids.

TV Movie

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square

Oslo

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia

Sylvie’s Love

Uncle Frank

No surprises here. I was foolish to predict Coastal Elites over Oslo. In disappointing news, these five projects only picked up a total of two other nominations, a Dolly Parton choreography mention and music for Oslo. It’s certainly an argument against the existence of this category.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)

Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country)

Josh O’Connor (The Crown)

Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton)

Billy Porter (Pose)

Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason)

Six for six – nothing to report here.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Uzo Aduba (In Treatment)

Olivia Colman (The Crown)

Emma Corrin (The Crown)

Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Mj Rodriguez (Pose)

Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country)

I bet on Sarah Paulson over Mj Rodriguez but don’t mind at all that I was wrong. Otherwise, the list is expected and it’s great to see Smollett here given that her nomination was not a sure thing. Aduba made the cut but she is the only one from her show.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian)

O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid’s Tale)

John Lithgow (Perry Mason)

Tobias Menzies (The Crown)

Max Minghella (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Chris Sullivan (This Is Us)

Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Michael K. Williams (Lovecraft Country)

Our own Juan Carlos is certainly celebrating the unexpected dominance of his favorite show in this category, with both Fagbenle and Minghella showing up to join past (guest) winner Whitford. I’m disappointed that Sullivan is here again when Justin Hartley deserved the nomination this season, and it’s also a shame not to see John Benjamin Hickey or Anthony Ramos here for In Treatment. It’s nice that Lithgow made the cut, and always good to see Williams.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Gillian Anderson (The Crown)

Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown)

Madeline Brewer (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Aunjanue Ellis (Lovecraft Country)

Emerald Fennell (The Crown)

Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Eight slots for three shows? That doesn’t sound great, though most of these performers are deserving. I would have swapped both Carter and Fennell out for Erin Doherty, who had more to do this season and was great in every scene. It’s also jarring to see Ellis make the cut and Wunmi Mosaku, who had a much bigger year and a more memorable part in my mind, miss. I’m happy for Brewer since she wasn’t a sure thing and has been doing great work on the show for years. Both Tatiana Maslany and Cynthia Nixon aren’t really snubs, and they both have Emmys already and are likely to be nominated again in the future.

Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Don Cheadle (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier)

Charles Dance (The Crown)

Courtney B. Vance (Lovecraft Country)

Carl Weathers (The Mandalorian)

Timothy Olyphant (The Mandalorian)

Who’s excited about Olyphant? I am! Weathers was good but he’s the closest thing to a series regular. I also can’t remember Cheadle’s appearance on his show but oh well.

Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Claire Foy (The Crown)

McKenna Grace (The Handmaid’s Tale)

Sophie Okonedo (Ratched)

Phylicia Rashad (This Is Us)

I’m delighted that Grace got in, and also happy for Okonedo, who was the biggest nomination her show got. I’m disappointed that Rosario Dawson isn’t here, and there’s no way that Phylicia Rashad is going to win this race after her recent comments.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) 

Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) 

William H. Macy (Shameless) 

Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) 

Kenan Thompson (Kenan)

I picked Ted Danson for the shut-out Mr. Mayor over Macy, who earns his show’s only nomination for its final year, bringing its all-time total to sixteen bids over eleven seasons, a real shame given its quality ensemble and what could have been.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Aidy Bryant (Shrill)

Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant)

Allison Janney (Mom)

Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)

Jean Smart (Hacks)

This was the first category announced and the best inclusion of the day – Aidy Bryant! I love Shrill and I’m so happy that she’s here. I’m severely disappointed that Jane Levy isn’t, and, though I don’t watch the show, I don’t’ know that Janney needed to return.

 

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Carl Clemons-Hopkins (Hacks)

Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso)

Brendan Hunt (Ted Lasso)

Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso)

Paul Reiser (The Kominsky Method)

Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso)

Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live)

Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live)

Here’s another wonderful surprise: Clemons-Hopkins, who I didn’t expect anyone to notice. They're really a delight on the show, and it’s great that they got recognized. Four bids for Ted Lasso doesn’t feel excessive even though it probably is, and I’m also happy that Reiser made the cut for some underrated work. Too bad about Alex Newell.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live)

Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)

Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live)

Rosie Perez (The Flight Attendant)

Cecily Strong (Saturday Night Live)

Juno Temple (Ted Lasso)

Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)

I’m disappointed that Zosia Mamet didn’t get in here because I remember watching the show and thinking she would never be honored for her performance. The rest of the list is great, and congratulations to Bryant on being a double nominee along with her SNL costar Kenan Thompson!

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin (Saturday Night Live)

Dave Chappelle (Saturday Night Live)

Morgan Freeman (The Kominsky Method)

Daniel Kaluuya (Saturday Night Live)

Dan Levy (Saturday Night Live)

I have lots of SNL to watch, apparently. No Anthony Head for Ted Lasso, interestingly.

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Jane Adams (Hacks)

Yvette Nicole Brown (A Black Lady Sketch Show)

Bernadette Peters (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist)

Issa Rae (A Black Lady Sketch Show)

Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live)

Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

A Black Lady Sketch Show shows up again in this category which mysteriously has more bids that it was supposed to include. Peters shouldn’t be her show’s only representative, and I’m pleased to see the always-superb Adams.

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Paul Bettany (WandaVision)

Hugh Grant (The Undoing)

Ewan McGregor (Halston)

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton)

Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton)

The very frustrating Hamilton domination begins. I’m happy that McGregor at least made the cut. Grant is the only nominee from his show aside from a production design bid. I didn’t care for The Good Lord Bird, but I’m sure that Ethan Hawke fans are sad not to see him here.

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You)

Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha)

Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision)

Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit)

Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown)

I picked Thuso Mbedu over Erivo, but that’s not a real surprise. Nothing more to say here – glad that Coel wasn’t snubbed since that did seem likely for a while.

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Daveed Diggs (Hamilton)

Jonathan Groff (Hamilton)

Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You)

Evan Peters (Mare of Easttown)

Anthony Ramos (Hamilton)

Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Queen’s Gambit)

The Hamilton domination makes me angry. I was excited to see Brodie-Sangster and didn’t even realize until just now as I’m writing this that Bill Camp was snubbed, which is a real disappointment. Glad at least that Peters got in. I went 1/6 here – Peters was the only one I predicted.

Marielle Heller snubbed.

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton)

Phillipa Soo (Hamilton)

Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown)

Jean Smart (Mare of Easttown)

Moses Ingram (The Queen’s Gambit)

Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision)

And here we have another unforgivable snub – Marielle Heller for The Queen’s Gambit. Ingram was good but Heller needed to be nominated. At least Nicholson and Hahn got in, but why does Hamilton need to hog so much of this race?

If you’re so inclined, pour over all the nominees in the tech categories and the stats here. What are you happiest about with this list, and what snub makes you angriest?

Comments

[Juan]

Dominique Jackson was snubbed! She was raw and defiant in her showcase episode, and Elektra was integral to Pose's appeal.

[Bernard Peters]

Bring back the variety category and put all the SNL/Hamilton/Whatever in it

[Su]

I'm so fucking tired of the first latina this, first black that.

[Beau Yeast]

Clayton Davis is totally reporting this site.

[Thankful4u]

Can we please go back to the days of 5 nominees per category? This is a total mess. Why do some categories have like 10 acting nominees and others have 5? This totally dilutes the value of the nomination.

[L'Orri]

Kathleen Turner couldn't even get nominated with 7 which proves they got the shittiest taste.

[Joe G]

I find all the Hamilton complaining to be a bit odd. While I think the Ramos nomination is overkill (and he should in Drama Series supporting actor), I think it's hard to argue that those performances deserve to be nominated. Although praising Hamilton is a bit passe at this point, those actors put electric performances on screen. Also, filmed theater has always been nominated at the Emmys - in recent years we've had Emma Thompson, Patrick Stewart, Kevin Kiline, and Ian McKellan all nominated with little complaint.

I'd be fine if they brough back and expanded the Variety Series Performer category - maybe to make a female and male award, but given the rules this year, I'm fine with Hamilton getting included. Rene Elise Goldsberry, in particular, gave a really great performance.

[Pam]

@Joe G - Filmed theater for television production may be slightly different than the Disney+ airing of the pro-shot Hamilton. Emma Thompson was nominated for Sweeney Todd - Live at Lincoln Center (a long-running PBS show filmed exclusively for television in front of a live audience.). Ian McKellan was nominated for King Lear that aired under the PBS Great Performances series. It's nuanced, for sure, and perhaps all of these live performances should be captured in a new category.

I watched IN THE HEIGHTS on HBO Max on the same day it was released in theaters. Could it be eligible for Emmy consideration? Probably not. The lines are very blurry these days.

[johnb]

No. Just being in theaters means that In the Heights has to go for Oscars consideration. Being on HBO max doesn't have anything to do with it. Now the Emmys have said that if a documentary is even on an Oscars LONGLIST, it's ineligible!! It has to air specifically made for television.

[NewMoonSon]

@Su You're tired of hearing about it? Try being a person of color who, for decades, rarely has the opportunity to showcase their talents in projects which bring Emmy attention.

Speaking of: Here's hoping Giancarlo Esposito, Tracee Ellis Ross and Michael K. Williams finally hear their names called.

[Elaine]

Nathaniel saw Hamitlon twice because he always knows who to suck for tickets but apparently the rest of the world who doesn't have the cash or the time we have to sit, shush and die. Well I won't take it.

[Ski]

Jeff Daniels was snubbed.