As with any massive awards announcement, some nominees are celebrating this morning, and some who decidedly are not. Despite what was once considered a generally weak year in several categories, the 2024 Emmy Awards were full of deserving talent who were unfortunately not recognized for their efforts. The biggest omission was for “The Curse” across multiple categories. But not everyone can get into the party, right? Keeping all that in mind, here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises of the 2024 Emmy Awards nominations.
Surprise: Idris Elba
Listen, we’re not even sure Netflix believed this one was happening. The Lead Actor in a Drama Series category wasn’t super competitive, but it wasn’t embarrassingly weak either. Still, Idris Elba snuck into the six-actor field to earn his sixth Emmy nomination so far. He hasn’t won yet, but it’s clear his peers Television Academy voters adore him.
Surprise: “3 Body Problem”
After being seemingly left for dead, the Benioff and Weiss adaptation of the popular Sci-Fi novel earned just six nominations including Outstanding Drama Series. Sadly, Jess Hong was snubbed in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category, but this was a huge win for Netflix who thought they would be on the outside looking in.
Surprise: Dakota Fanning
“Ripley” earned 13 nominations including a Limited or Anthology Series nomination as well as a Best Actor in that category nod for star Andrew Scott. That love spilled over for Dakota Fanning who earned her first Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Marge in the Netflix pickup.
Surprise: Carol Burnett
I mean, we shouldn’t be, should we? Burnett isn’t just an entertainment industry legend, but an American cultural icon. At a spry 91 years old she stole almost every scene she was in and deserved earned a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nom for her work in “Palm Royale.” Perhaps the real surprise is she made it over her co-star and Emmy favorite Allison Janney. Oh, and yes, this is her 25th nomination overall. She has seven wins…to date.
Surprise: Naomi Watts
As Babe Paley, Watts arguably gave the best performance in the Ryan Murphy-produced “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.” Turns out her peers in the Television Academy voters noticed and recognized her in a tough Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or TV Movie race. The limited series also earned 10 nominations including nods for Diane Lane, Directing (Gus van Sant), Costume Design, and a posthumous nomination for Treat Williams.
Snub: Kate Winslet
Was it though? We’re fans of the Oscar and multi-Emmy winner, but we weren’t sure her performance (which had its moments) could survive the mostly negative industry reception “The Regime” faced. We were correct. The HBO program earned just one nomination overall in Contemporary Costume Design.
Suprise: “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”
There were fears that after a hot campaign start, the Prime Video series would be snubbed by Emmy voters, but happily, that didn’t come to pass. The show landed 16 nominations including a Drama Series nomination and nods for both Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. Guest Actors Paul Dano, Michaela Coel, and, yes, Parker Posey.
Snub: Emma Stone and “The Curse”
The industry tea was correct. The fans of “The Curse” were limited. Not only did the Showtime and Paramount+ drama series get snubbed from the Drama Series category, but recent Oscar winner Emma Stone didn’t make the cut for Best Actress in a Drama Series nomination. In fact, it did not earn a single nomination in any category. Perhaps it’s because the program was genuinely more of a Comedy Series than a Drama Series? Ponder.
Snub: “Loki”
Despite some strong campaigning from star and producer Tom Hiddleston,the only Marvel Studios’ television series to earn a second season (so far) could not crack the weak Drama Series field. Instead, the series earned just three nominations overall including Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes.
Surprise: “Fallout”
Amazon Prime’s blockbuster adaptation of the Bethesda Game Studios video game not only surprised critics but viewers too. We thought it had a chance at some below-the-line recognition and went a bit out on a limb predicting a Drama Series nom and are still surprised it clocked a massive 16 nominations overall including the premiere Emmy category. And we’re thrilled Walton Goggins earned a Best Actor in a Drama Series nom too.
Surprise: “Reservation Dogs”
Despite massive critical support, two Peabody Awards, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Gotham Award, the Television Academy many believed Sterlin Harjo’s breakthrough dramedy series would be snubbed once again in major categories for the third year in a row. Shockingly, that did not happen. The FX landmark earned four nominations overall including a Comedy Series honor and a nod for D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series field. That deserves a big ol, “Wow.”
Snub: “The Gentlemen”
It was a great day for Netflix, but not on the Comedy Series side. The Guy Ritchie streaming hit took just three below the line nominations. Even star Theo James couldn’t land a nod. Did the field just get too competitive? Or did it just fade from voter’s consciousness?
Surprise: “Palm Royale”
Even after it earned a second-season renewal, it was hard to imagine the Apple TV+ hourlong camp, er, comedy, er, dramedy making Emmy’s Comedy Series cut. The industry and Emmy voter scuttlebutt was that the Comedy Series version of “3 Body Problem,” a program that many were increasingly turned off by. Despite those complaints, there were enough passionate voters to make sure it landed in the five-nominee field (and the scuttlebutt was wrong about “3 Body” too). Abe Sylvia’s South Florida opus tied with “Baby Reindeer” for 11 nominations overall. We’ll drink to that!
Snub: “The Sympathizer”
It may have been one of the most critically acclaimed programs of the first half of 2024, but the HBO limited series did not win over Emmy voters. It landed just one nomination. Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series nomination for Oscar-winner Robert Downey, Jr.
Snub: “Under the Bridge”
It was an under-the-radar streaming hit for Hulu, but the Quinn Shephard and Liz Tigelaar–produced limited series mostly fizzled with Emmy voters. Only Lily Gladstone was rewarded for her performance (something we predicted, by the way).
Snub: “Survivor”
The grandfather of modern-day reality competition shows, the CBS staple made an Emmy comeback in 2023 earning its first Reality Competition nomination in 17 years. That comeback magic didn’t hold up a year later as it was relegated to also-ran again. Despite being the inspiration for a slew of other programs and a television landmark, “Survivor” has shockingly never won the Reality Competition category.
Surprise: “The Traitors”…sort of
The fact Peacock’s massive hit earned a Reality Competition nomination wasn’t a surprise. Nor was Alan Cumming’s nod in the Competition Host field. What was unexpected was that the TCA Award winner would pull in four nominations overall. It was just half of what the current category champion, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” secured (eight), but it’s a huge win for Peacock after just one nomination for its inaugural season.
Surprise: Paul W. Downs
He’s the co-creator and co-showrunner of “Hacks,” but Paul W. Downs has never been Emmy nominated for his work in front of the camera. That changed as he made the Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category over some very stiff competition. He also earned a Writing nomination in a category he won in 2021.
Snub: “We’re Here”
It won a rare reality docuseries Peabody Award in 2023 and returned with a universally acclaimed fourth season this spring, but the HBO program couldn’t cross the finish line with Emmy voters this time around. At least in the main, Unstructured Reality Program category where it earned a nomination for its first season in 2020. It did earn Hair and Makeup nominations, two categories it swept last year. We are still holding out hope that HBO renews the essential LGBTQ+ series for a fifth season.