Snub: “The Looming Tower”
What happened with Hulu’s limited series contender? The critically lauded series took just four Emmy nods including Jeff Daniels in Lead Actor and Michael Stuhlbarg in Supporting Actor, but couldn’t crack the main Limited Series category (as noted, neither did “Twin Peaks”). This will no doubt cause some second guessing for Hulu who were excited about the prospects of a slew of nods for both “Looming” and “Handmaid’s.”
Snub: Freddie Highmore
Listen, “The Good Doctor” isn’t typical Emmy fare, but many considered Highmore’s work to be the sort of performance that would get recognized by the acting branch. It wasn’t meant to be as Lead Actor in a Drama Series was simply too competitive and the members only recognized one network nominee, “This Is Us'” Sterling K. Brown.
Surprise: Letitia Wright for “Black Museum (Black Mirror)”
It’s been quite a year for Wright. Not only was she the breakout star of “Black Panther,” but now she has her first Emmy nods for the “Black Museum” episode of “Black Mirror.” She’ll face off against Merrit Wever (“Godless”), Adina Porter (“American Horror Story: Cult”), Sara Bareilles (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert”) and both Judith Light and Penelope Cruz for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” in the Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie field.
Surprise: “Genius: Picasso”
We thought maybe Antonio Banderas would get a nomination, but seven overall including Outstanding Limited Series? Considering it earned just a 52 on Metacritic and a 56% on Rotten Tomatoes from the nation’s TV critics that’s sort of amazing. Hats off to NatGeo and their consultants for fashioning a campaign the Television Academy couldn’t ignore.
Surprise: Three “Handmaid’s Tale” nominees in Supporting Actress
Blessed be the fruit! Not only did Joseph Fiennes earn a surprise Supporting Actor nomination for “The Handmaid’s Tale,” but three of his co-stars earned Supporting Actress nods including Alexis Bledel, Ann Dowd (last year’s winner) and Yvonne Strahovski. Consider Samira Wiley and Kelly Jenrette’s nods in the Guest Actress category and, of course, Elisabeth Moss‘ Lead Actress nod and it was quite a day for the Ladies of Gilead.
Surprise: Tiffany Haddish
The amazing year of Tiffany Haddish simply won’t end and thank heaven for that. Haddish earned her first Emmy nominations for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for hosting “Saturday Night Live”. She’ll have some stiff competition, however, as she squares off against former “SNL” Stars Tina Fey (also hosting), Molly Shannon (“Will & Grace”) and Maya Rudloph (“The Good Place”), among others.
Snub: Rita Moreno
Something is wrong with the Television Academy’s lack of love for Netflix’s “One Day at a Time” revival. Moreno has now been snubbed for the second year in a row in a category that landed eight, yes, eight nominees (how that happened mathematically is beyond me). It’s just wrong. Simply, wrong.
Snub and Surprise: Viola Davis…?
So former Lead Actress in a Drama Series Viola Davis didn’t earn another nod for laying Annalise Keating in “How To Get Away With Murder” this year, but…she earned one for playing the same character on “Scandal”? Yes, Davis surprised with a Guest Actress in a Drama Series nomination for the crossover episode and you have to believe even ABC didn’t think that one was gonna come through.
Surprise: Jason Bateman
What awkward New York Times interview about “Arrested Development” and Jeffrey Tambor? The Television Academy didn’t seem to care as Bateman earned both Acting and Directing nods for “Ozark.” Well, there we go.
Snub: David Fincher
Somehow, “Ozark,” a show which practically rips off David Fincher’s entire aesthetic, earned two directing nominations while Fincher was snubbed for his own series, “Mindhunter.” Granted, the Television Academy appeared to barely favor the Netflix series awarding it only one nomination, Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Cameron Britton‘s performance as serial killer Edmund Kemper. No Cinematography, Production Design or even Editing nominations. Telling.
What other surprises and snubs got your attention after this year’s Emmy nods? Share your thoughts below.
