With 754 shows vying for Emmy nominations, obviously not everyone can get their name in lights. But that doesn’t mean we have to let the Television Academy off the hook.
While “Ted Lasso” and “Succession” got all the nominations they could dream of, other shows like “Reservation Dogs,” “Better Things” and “Russian Doll” were tragically overlooked. And yet there were also some pleasant shocks, like every single person who appeared on screen in “The White Lotus.”
Here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises from Tuesday’s nominations:
Snubs
Selena Gomez: Yes, Martin Short and Steve Martin were recognized for their ridiculous roles on “Only Murders in the Building,” but Gomez not only holds her own against two comedy legends, but at time beats them at their own game. Mabel’s salty, sarcastic sense of humor is the glue that keeps their chaotic podcast together.
“Reservation Dogs”: In a world where Hollywood is — finally — trying to be more representative on screen, it makes no sense to ignore Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s heartbreaking, hilarious series about Native American teenagers, imbued with an honesty and earnestness rarely seen before.
“Grace and Frankie”: The two best friends on TV went out not with a bang but with a whisper, failed by Netflix’s utter lack of marketing for its final season. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin were the screwball comedy golden girls, tied together with an unbreakable love. Decades of friendship gave Fonda and Tomlin an undeniable rapport and “Grace and Frankie” knew exactly what to do with it.
Natasha Lyonne: Remember that time Natasha Lyonne gave birth to herself on a subway platform in “Russian Doll?” The Television Academy apparently doesn’t. The second season of the trippy Netflix series was a breathtaking swirl of time travel and mommy issues, carried Lyonne’s hectic, lost Nadia.
“Better Things”: There’s a twisted irony to “Better Things” being completely unappreciated in the end, just like Sam Fox. Pamela Adlon created one of the strongest women on TV, a single mom of three daughters who just got on with it (OK, with a little grouching too) and did the best she could. And no one cared.
“The Afterparty”: It’s not really a surprise, but it’s still disappointing that there was no room for Apple TV+’s utterly weird “Afterparty,” which managed to showcase some of the funniest actors on TV, including Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson and Ben Schwartz, without overshadowing anyone.
Surprises
Melanie Lynskey: The time of Melanie Lynskey is finally here. The New Zealand actress earned her “Yellowjackets” nomination and then some, pulling off a stunning performance of the adult Shauna, weighed down by trauma and general mistrust, but after a career of being overlooked, the risk was there.
“The White Lotus”: “The White Lotus” was easily one of the most popular shows last summer, but oh boy that’s a lot of acting nominations: Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, Murray Bartlett, Jake Lacy and Steve Zahn. Plus one for limited or anthology series! Those who vacation together, stick together, or something like that.
“Killing Eve”: Given how poorly “Killing Eve” ended, no one would have blamed the Television Academy for simply pretending the AMC series never existed. Instead, both Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh were nominated for best actress in a drama series. Once again, only one can survive — or win, at least.
Marvel, DC and Star Wars: Not to say that they were necessarily deserving, but it was a little weird to not see anything for “Loki” or “Moon Knight,” right? Or “The Book of Boba Fett” or above-the-line talent from “Hawkeye” or “Peacemaker.” Popular IPs only get you so far, apparently.
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