Surprise: SAG loves acting legends
Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Anthony Hopkins all earned nominations for their television work this year in very competitive categories. SAG was known for their over-the-top love of Betty White, but this is the most adoration they have given a group of actors over 70 in their relatively short history. And, trust, we’re not mad about it.
Snub: “Homecoming”
Despite critical acclaim and a powerhouse performance by Julia Roberts, “Homecoming” was the one Amazon series that you would have expected to earn SAG nominations that didn’t. Despite each episode lasting just 30-minutes, some have complained the series felt long and Roberts’ best moments are in the last two episodes. Could it simply have been a case of the membership not watching the entire series?
Surprise: “BlacKkKlansman” love
After the Golden Globes came through with four key nominations, SAG members did them one better. Not only did Spike Lee‘s summer hit earn an Ensemble honor, but John David Washington and Adam Driver duplicated their Lead Actor and Supporting Actor Globe nominations. Focus Features should breathe a sigh of relief that the Cannes release is well on its way to earning a coveted Best Picture nomination.
Surprise: John Krasinski
Not only did SAG members honor Krasinski’s directorial effort by honoring Blunt with a nomination for “A Quiet Place,” but they shocked many by giving him a nod for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Krasinski was recognized for his work in Amazon’s “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” and earned nods over more celebrated performances from this year’s Emmy winner, Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”), as well as Ed Harris and Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”). Maybe SAG members love Amazon just as much as Netflix…
Snub: “Pose”
This was slightly expected, but no doubt disappointing for the critically acclaimed FX series. The Ryan Murphy-produced drama features more trans actors than any other show in television history. Recognition from their peers would have been a nice cap to a momentous year. Don’t fret for the “Pose” crew, though. They’ll still get to party and enjoy the well-deserved spotlight at the Globes.
Snub: William H. Macy
After four straight years of earning a nod in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category and winning three out of those four years (including last year), the “Shameless” star’s streak comes to an end. It’s a changing of the guard as none of the nominees in that category were nominated last year. Considering how often SAG tends to lean to the familiar with their television nominations that are certainly noteworthy.
Surprise: Ensemble nods spread Drama and Comedy Series love
So many of the more celebrated television performances didn’t make the cut in the individual categories, but series such as “The Americans,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Atlanta” saw their ensembles nominated. That doesn’t necessarily make up for snubs such as Donald Glover (“Atlanta”), Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaids Tale”) or Keri Russell (“The Americans”), but it has to soften the blow just a bit.
