Frankly, there was a lot we predicted and, shocker, a lot we didn’t. The 2019 Emmy Award nominations displayed a wealth of love for shows saying goodbye such as “Game of Thrones” and “Veep.” They also reiterated their affection for “Barry,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and anything James Corden seems to touch. But, as always, there were just as many snubs as there were surprises.
Snubs: “Project Runway” and “The Masked Singer”
Boy did Bravo screw up with “Project Runway.” After reacquiring the series from Lifetime they decided to go younger and let longtime hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn go. Not only were ratings down, but the Television Academy passed on a Reality-Competition nomination after the series had been nominated 14 straight years (only “The Amazing Race” has been nominated more). FOX, on the other hand, couldn’t convince members that their massive hit, “The Masked Singer,” was worthy of a nod despite some impressive performances.
Surprise: “Nailed It”
Host Nicole Beyer has no problem telling you how annoying it gets to have audience members yell her Netflix show’s signature phrase, “Nailed it!” during her stand-up routines. Well, it might all be worth it now. Beyer didn’t get an individual Reality Host nomination, but the show shocked in the Reality Competition category effectively knocking “Project Runway” out. It will be tough for the cooking competition show to beat “RuPaul’s Drag Race” or “The Voice,” but its got a shot.
Surprise: The “Game of Thrones” ensemble is rewarded
Acting nods for Emila Clarke, Maisie Williams, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage were expected but Alfie Allen (aka Theon Greyjoy)? And Sophie Turner? Lena Headey after they gave her that little to do in a final season? Gwendoline Christie? Sophie Turner? And…Kit Harrington? Do you think the Academy still loves “Game of Thrones” despite the final episode backlash? Yeah, no need to answer that.
Surprise: “Schitt’s Creek”
Yes, this pundit screamed when Catherine O’Hara was announced in the insanely competitive Outstanding Lead Actress category and was jaw-dropped when it earned a Comedy Series nomination. Dan and Eugene Levy‘s little CBC/POP series that could found new life when it went to Netflix in the U.S. And, FYI, lots of Television Academy members watch Netflix. With their biggest Emmy campaign yet (mostly publicity) “Schitt’s Creek” ended up with four nominations including Outstanding Contemporary Costumes and a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Eugene Levy. Considering they came this far is it too much to ask for O’Hara or the series to upset on Emmy night, right? Right?
Surprise: Christina Applegate
As noted, the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category was a tough get for any contender. It was somewhat surprising then that Applegate snuck in for her work on “Dead to Me.” Then again, Applegate was a three-time nominee before this season and her new Netflix show is something of a breakout. Still, it was a legitimate surprise for those following the race.
Snub: Richard Madden
Netflix’s “Bodyguard” snuck into the Outstanding Drama Series field in a relatively weak year, but its star, Madden, was left behind. At the beginning of the season, the Golden Globe Award winner was thought to be a relatively safe pick in the category. Instead, Milo Ventimiglia of “This Is Us” fame surprised and Madden didn’t make the cut. Ponder.
Snub: Jim Carrey
You gotta have some sympathy for Carrey. Despite solid reviews for his Showtime series “Kidding,” Carrey couldn’t sneak into what was seen as an average race for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. In fact, the Television Academy has never nominated Carrey for any of his TV work. His lone nomination was as a producer of the documentary “Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond.” We’re not saying your acting peers don’t like you Jim, but we’re not not saying it either.
Surprise: The old guard holds in Lead Actress in a Drama
Julia Roberts? Christine Baranski? We’ll get to you in a minute. In the meantime, despite negative reaction to a final season of “House of Cards,” Robin Wright earned her sixth Emmy nod for the series. Viola Davis, who won the category in 2015, landed her fourth nomination after being passed over last year. Clearly, when the acting branch loves you, they love you.
Surprise: “When They See Us” cast dominates
Speaking of actors loving actors, the cast of Ava DuVernay’s “When They See Us” are clearly beloved. It was thought newcomer Jahrrel Jerome and veterans Michael K. Williams, John Leguizamo and Vera Farminga might earn nods based on the potential makeup of their categories. Even Niecy Nash was thought to have a chance. That being said, no one thought all four would get in as well as Asante Blackk, Marsha Stephanie Blake and Aunjanue Ellis had a shot of sneaking in. The fact all six did demonstrates how much love the actors in the Television Academy have for the mini-series. It also sets up a very competitive Outstanding Mini-Series race with “Chernobyl” also earning acting nods for Jared Harris, Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgård and significantly more creative arts Emmy nods.
Surprise: Three “Barry” actors in one category
If The Television Academy loves “Veep,” “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (hello Marin Hinkle!), “Fleabag” and “Schitt’s Creek” in the comedy categories it cannot go unnoticed the love HBO’s “Barry” received. The series earned 17 nominations tying it with FX’s “Fosse/Verdon.” Three of those came from one category. Anthony Carrigan, Stephen Root and Henry Winkler all earned nods in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series field. Winkler was a given and Carrigan was possible, but Root? Throw in Sarah Goldberg‘s deserved nod in the Supporting Actress field and you recognize the respect for Bill Hader‘s baby is very, very real.
Snub: “GLOW”
This is a moment of truth for Netflix’s ’80s wrestling comedy. For the second year in a row, Alison Brie was snubbed by her peers while co-star Betty Gilpin earned her second straight nomination. After earning a top nod last year, “GLOW” missed out on an Outstanding Comedy Series nod to a show from the CBC and little-watched POP network as well as a BBC/Prime Video comedy that earned most of its love through industry word of mouth. The program’s other nominations came in Period Costumes, Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series, Makeup for a Single-Camera Series and Stunt Coordination. Considering the effort Netflix put into it this year, Emmy voters are letting their votes speak for themselves.
Snub: “The Good Fight” and Christine Baranski
CBS All Access seems to have a Television Academy problem. Despite “The Good Fight’s” lineage an acclaimed spin-off of one-time Emmy favorite “The Good Wife,” it’s only earned two nominations in three seasons; Main Title Theme Music and Music and Lyrics. All while lead Christine Baranski is a 15-time Emmy nominee including six nominations for the same character on “The Good Wife.” In fact, the only nomination CBS All Access earned this year was for Kumail Nanjiani’s work on an episode of the new “Twilight Zone.” CBS put money behind its awards campaign, but are enough people actually watching the service?
Surprise: Beychella lives on
“Homecoming: A Film By Beyonce” depicted her long rehearsal period before her landmark Coachella Music Festival performances in 2018. The Television Academy is clearly members of the Beehive. The special took six Variety Special category nominations including Directing (Beyonce), Writing (Beyonce), Music Direction (Beyonce), Costumes, Production Design and Outstanding Variety Special (Beyonce). Queen Bee better get at least on Emmy for this fellas.
Snub: Emma Stone and anything “Maniac”
The Television Academy probably really likes Stone, but boy, certainly not enough to reward her for “Maniac.” Not only did Stone get snubbed from an Emmy nod for the Netflix mini-series but the Cary Joji Fukunaga endeavor was completely shut out overall. Not even a deserved visual effects or production design nomination. Yikes.
Snub: Julia Roberts and almost anything “Homecoming”
Roberts is a two-time nominee. She’ll earn a nomination again down the road, but it tells you something when the iconic actress can’t breakthrough for what was arguably her best performance in a decade. Like many guild groups before it, Emmy voters did not love the Prime Video series nominating only Director of Photography Tod Campbell in the Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series category. Maybe they can turn it around for season two.
Surprise: So much love for “Fleabag”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s BBC and Prime Video series became a “thing” in its second season and we’re not mad at it. The series earned a staggering 11 nominations, more than anyone could have anticipated. Nods for Waller-Bridge in the Lead Actress, Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Comedy Series categories? Bravo! But both Sian Clifford and Olivia Colman earning Supporting Actress in a Comedy nods? Fiona Shaw and Kristin Scott Thomas in the Guest Actress in a Comedy field? And Casting, Directing and Cinematography nods too? I believe the phrase is, “Dead.”
Snub: “Catch-22”
Listen, adapting Joseph Heller‘s seminal novel has never been an easy proposition. Despite an all-star cast including George Clooney (who produced and also directed episodes) the Hulu mini-series simply didn’t take off with voters. The streaming service will take Visual Effects and Sound nods in a somewhat “off” “Handmaid’s Tale” year, but they clearly were hoping for more prestige accolades when it was greenlit.
Surprise: “PEN15” gets a Writing nod (aka “PEN15” gets a nod of any kind)
That’s it. Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are nominees in the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series category. I mean, so deserved and slightly unbelievable at the same time. Feel like this is gonna hit the industry a few days from now.
Snub and Surprise: Leslie Jones
The “SNL” regular did not earn a third straight Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series nomination, but she did earn an Emmy nod. Jones is now a nominee in the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category for the track “The Upper East Side” which, honestly, she could actually win!
The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on Sept. 15 and broadcast live on FOX at 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET.
