Two heavyweight dramas lead the pack, a comedy rivalry heats up, and a few fan favorites got left off the list entirely.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations landed Wednesday, and “The Pitt” walked away with the most of any series this year, pulling in 25 nods. The HBO Max medical drama has now become the show to beat in nearly every drama category, with Noah Wyle picking up recognition for acting, directing and co-producing. His castmates Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, Katherine LaNasa and Sepideh Moafi also landed supporting actress nominations, a sign of just how deep voters think the ensemble runs.
Not far behind, “Hacks” closed out its final season with 24 nominations, the most a comedy has ever received in a single year. Jean Smart earned another lead actress nomination for her role as Deborah Vance, setting up a closely watched face off against Lisa Kudrow, nominated for “The Comeback.” Smart has already collected four Emmys in the part. Kudrow has one win to her name, back in 1998 for “Friends.”
Apple TV has a moment
Apple TV had reason to celebrate too. “Widow’s Bay,” the horror comedy starring Matthew Rhys as the mayor of an island beset by strange happenings, picked up 19 nominations in its first eligible season. Rhys had a big day overall, becoming the only performer nominated for two lead acting categories this year, once for “Widow’s Bay” and again for his turn as a menacing billionaire in the limited series “The Beast in Me.” His wife, Keri Russell, earned her own nomination for “The Diplomat.”
“Pluribus,” Apple TV’s newer drama entry, picked up 18 nominations, including a lead actress nod for Rhea Seehorn, who many now consider the favorite in a crowded field that includes Zendaya for “Euphoria” and Carrie Coon for “The Gilded Age.”
Some familiar names were left out
Not everyone made the cut. “Stranger Things” ended its run with just seven nominations, all in technical categories, missing the drama series list entirely. “Euphoria” also failed to land a best drama nomination, though Zendaya and Colman Domingo both received acting nods for the show’s final season.
Jeremy Allen White, a two time winner for “The Bear,” was passed over this year even as the show itself picked up a nomination for best comedy series. Late actor Rob Reiner and star Ayo Edebiri were both recognized for their work on the series.
One nomination raised eyebrows for a different reason. Connor Storrie earned a nod for a guest appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” even though his own show, the hockey drama “Heated Rivalry,” wasn’t eligible for Emmy consideration because it’s produced entirely in Canada.
A packed limited series category
The limited series race is stacked, with “The Beast in Me,” “Beef,” “All Her Fault,” “DTF St. Louis” and “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” rounding out the field. Claire Danes picked up a lead actress nomination opposite Rhys in “The Beast in Me,” while Sarah Snook earned recognition for “All Her Fault.”
The ceremony airs live September 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, hosted by “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay. With “The Pitt” and “Hacks” both entering as heavy favorites but with genuine competition nipping at their heels, this year’s show looks unlikely to be a runaway. If the drama race turns on Seehorn’s momentum and the comedy field hinges on whether voters reward one more season of Smart’s Deborah Vance over Kudrow’s long awaited return, September could bring a few upsets to a season that has otherwise gone mostly to script.
