What a strange Emmy nomination year. Programs such as “The Pitt” and “Hacks” received a ton of nods, as expected, but the smaller voting blocs rewarded some unexpected underdogs. How about “The Chair Company” with a Writing for a Comedy Series nomination? Nick Offerman being remembered for “Death by Lightning”? Every actor recognized for “Beef“? And yet, the snubs. were notable. Quite notable. And we are concerned that the broader membership – the 20,000+ voters who select the series nominations – are voting out of sight, out of mind in an eyebrow-raising manner. Basically, if your series didn’t stream in the last few months, you were screwed. But that’s a rant for another day. Let’s dig in, shall we?
READ MORE: “The Pitt,” “Hacks” and “Widow’s Bay” dominate the 2026 Emmy Awards nominations [Complete List]
Surprise: Peacock has a moment with “All Her Fault”
Over its almost six-year existence, Peacock has had some Emmy success. “The Traitors” has become a Reality Competition force, and it’s won a handful of trophies here and there, but unlike its streaming peers, it’s never earned a Comedy Series, Drama Series, or Limited or Anthology Series nomination, let alone won. That changed today when “All Her Fault” landed a historic Limited or Anthology Series nomination. A glass ceiling Peacock finally cracked. The mini-series took seven nominations overall, with star Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning both nominated in Lead and Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series categories.
Surprise: Connor Storrie, “SNL”
Wow. He did it. Most Guest Actor contenders do not campaign. Emphasis on “most.” Considering all the celebrity hype for Storrie over the past eight months because of “Heated Rivalry,” it wasn’t that surprising he abstained from trying to land a nom for hosting “Saturday Night Live.” Not only did he snag the nomination, but he was the only guest host to do so this year (Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and Olivia Rodrigo were worthy). Perhaps, if he’d like the win, he should reconsider campaigning for phase two.
Snub: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
You know, we do not want to pile on Jeremy Allen White. “The Bear” actually weathered the storm and earned eight nominations, including Comedy Series and Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Ayo Edebiri. But White, who won Lead Actor in a Comedy Series twice in this category, was snubbed. Why is unclear. His performance earned strong notices. He’s not hogging the spotlight. Strange considering the show earned three acting noms overall.
Surprise: “Wonder Man”
Arguably the best-reviewed Marvel Studios, er, Marvel Television series since “WandaVision,” the Hollywood dreams of Simon Williams somehow found some love with Television Academy voters. Well, at least the actors. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II earned a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nom, which was completely unexpected. And while we’re disappointed Sir Ben Kingsley didn’t land a Supporting Actor nod, any recognition for the series is welcome. Plus there is a silver lining: Disney renewed it for a second six-episode season.
Snub: “The Audacity”
We’re not sure any new series got more media love this Emmy season than the AMC comedy. In a bubble, you would have thought “The Audacity” was set for a slew of major nominations. And maybe the awards agency that repped them deserves a nomination for their efforts, because they worked wonders. And yet, nada. Zilch. “The Audacity” was completely snubbed.
Snub: Finneas
“Beef” took 16 nominations, but the two-time Oscar winner and 10-time Grammy winner didn’t earn any Emmy recognition for his hypnotic original score. That may have more to say about the love from voters for “Beef” overall than Finneas’ genuine talents.
Surprise: “Bait”
Still one of the best-reviewed new series of 2026, we screamed when Riz Ahmed was announced in the Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology or Television Movie category. It was the only nomination the series received, but considering how competitive that field was, a major and welcome recognition from Ahmed’s peers.
Snub (sorta): “Jury Duty: Company Retreat”
The original “Jury Duty” was, arguably, Prime Video’s first viral sensation. Two years ago, it earned four nominations, including a key Outstanding Comedy Series nod. The sequel dropped this spring and actually earned better reviews. That being said, the show has been a viewership disappointment and barely registered on the Television Academy voters’ radar with just one nomination in Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Maybe adding “Company Retreat” to the title was a mistake? Just a thought…
Surprise: “Dancing with the Stars”
The venerable ABC series snagged its first Reality Competition Series nomination since 2016. For context, Barack Obama was still in office the last time it made the cut. “Stars” took its 12th nomination overall, and its success was likely at the cost of “The Amazing Race,” which missed out on what would have been its 23rd nom. The first winner ever in this category and a 10-time winner overall, the landmark CBS program has never been snubbed when eligible.
Snub: Taylor Sheridan’s Universe
Paramount campaigned hard for “The Madison” – especially Michelle Pfeiffer – and “Landman,” but neither could break through in a somewhat weak year for new shows. Will they keep trying or pivot now that Sheridan is on his way to NBCUniversal?
Snub: Steve Martin
He’s a 17-time Emmy nominee and won for writing way back in 1969 for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” when world events such as Watergate were unimaginable. Happily, Martin did earn his 18th nomination as a producer of “Only Murders in the Building,” but was snubbed again for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series after making the cut in 2024. His co-star Martin Short earned his fifth straight nod in the same category.
Snub: “Industry”
It tied for the most TCA Award nominations, but Television Academy voters still can’t embrace HBO’s timely and slow-growing hit. Is it the subject matter? Is it too similar to “Succession”? Is it just getting lost opposite other HBO shows? (Season four dropped at the same time as “The Pitt.”) We’re still puzzled, especially when Marisa Abela won a BAFTA TV Award for season three a year ago.
Snub: “Fallout”
Two years ago, in a super competitive year, “Fallout” became a major Emmy surprise, earning 16 nominations including a prestigious Drama Series nod (it won a Music Supervision trophy). While the Prime Video franchise earned nine nominations this time around, it couldn’t crack either the Drama Series or the Lead Actor category for star and industry favorite Walton Goggins. Is this another case of a series that was too out of sight, out of mind? The first season premiered in April. The second season this past January vs. streaming juggernaut “The Pitt.” Ponder.
Surprise: Meg Stalter, “Hacks”
The summer’s breakout pop star is none other than Meg Stalter – wait, you haven’t heard her new anthem “Prettiest Girl in America”? Don’t worry, you will. Whatever the case, Stalter had her best season on “Hacks” and landed a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination just in time. Now, can she snag a Grammy nom…
Snub: “Task” in Drama Series
The Brad Inglesby thriller took six nominations, including Writing, Directing and acting nominations for stars Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, but no Drama Series recognition? While the second season of “Your Friends and Neighbors” (its only nomination) made the cut? Considering how well “Task” did on streaming and ratings-wise, this definitely feels like an “out of sight, out of mind” problem for a fall series and the broader categories overall.
Snub: “The Comeback” other than Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow earned her third nomination for playing Valerie Cherish in the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category. She also snagged a Writing nom with series co-creator Michael Patrick King. Somehow, the show didn’t earn a deserved Comedy Series nomination, let alone any other categories. Was the AI sitcom storyline that hard for Television Academy voters to watch? Was it too “real”? Wild.
Snub: Ashley Padilla, “SNL”
Ashley Padilla may only be a Featured Player, but in her first season of “Saturday Night Live,” she stole every sketch she was in. It’s the sort of impact a cast member hasn’t had on the long-running series since Bowen Yang almost a decade ago. Is she a victim of voters no longer taking “SNL” actors seriously in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category or too competitive a field? Next year may tell the tale.
Surprise: “Spider Noir”
It might not have cracked Drama Series or any Writing or Directing categories, but 11 nominations for “Spider Noir”? The final season of “Stranger Things,” a comparable below-the-line player, only earned seven. Can we get that renewal locked up now, Prime Video?
Snub: “Half Man”
Some series you’re excited if they get one nomination. Others, you’re not. For HBO, there has to be genuine disappointment that their hit limited series “Half Man” only saw star Richard Gadd earn a Supporting Actor nod. Another HBO program, “DTF St.Louis,” overperformed and stole some of “Man’s” thunder, but there has to be a tinge of disappointment over this one.
Snub: Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
We’re thrilled “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” took 10 nominations, including a tough Outstanding Drama Series slot, but what about our boys? How could Duncan and Egg not snag one nom between the two of them?
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