HBO’s Succession topped the list of nominees with 25 nominations, while Netflix’s Squid Game became the first non-English show to be nominated in the best drama category of the Emmys. The nominations for Emmy Awards 2022 were announced on Tuesday late evening.
While nomination of several popular OTT shows like Stranger Things 4, Loki and Hawkeye created ripples on social media, many fans of singer-actress Salena Gomez were disappointed after she was overlooked for a nomination for Only Murders in the Building.
We take a look at the Emmy nominations in different categories and the most-talked-about developments.
Succession bags 25 nominations
The HBO series on the rich and dysfunctional Roy family, the owners of Waystar Royko, a global media and entertainment conglomerate, bagged the highest number of nominations for the Emmys this year. The members of the family are fighting for control of the company amid uncertainty about the health of the family’s patriarch, who’s the king of the empire.
Ted Lasso and The White Lotus get 20 noms each
The satirical drama series is followed by Apple TV’s sports comedy Ted Lasso which earned 20 nominations. The Jason Sudeikis-led show centres on an American football coach who takes charge of an elite British soccer team in England despite having little knowledge of the game. Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso may be a fish out of water, but he’s relentlessly optimistic and kind, armed with homespun wisdom in the face of hostility.
HBO’s The White Lotus also earned 20 nominations this year. The series revolves around the dark secrets and twisted truths of the guests, the staff and the locale of a resort in Hawaii that are unveiled over the course of a week that was supposed to be a relaxing vacation.
Squid Game makes history
Netflix’s global sensation Squid Game followed in the footsteps of the 2020 Oscar darling Parasite, also made in South Korea. A survival drama, Squid Game became the first non-English language series to get nominated in the best drama category.
Apart from television’s top honour, the South Korea-set drama, in which the poor are fodder for brutal games, earned 13 other nominations. The series also boosted rare Asian representation with five acting nominations, including a lead actor bid for Lee Jung-jae and a supporting actress nod for Jung Ho-yeon.
The show revolves around a contest where 456 players, all of whom are in deep financial hardship, risk their lives to play a series of deadly children’s games for a shot at winning a fortune.
Other series with double-digit nominations
The comedies Hacks and Only Murders in the Building bagged 17 nominations each. Teenage dysfunction drama Euphoria landed 16 nominations; its star Zendaya, who was crowned best actress in 2020, was nominated again.
Other series with most nominations are Barry (14), Dopesick (14), Severance (14), Ozark (13), Stranger Things (13), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (12) and Pam & Tommy (10).
Overall, HBO led among entertainment platforms with a total of 108 nominations, edging out Netflix, which earned 105.
Best Drama Series:
Better Call Saul (AMC); Euphoria (HBO); Ozark (Netflix); Severance (Apple TV+); Squid Game (Netflix); Stranger Things (Netflix); Succession (HBO) and Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Best Comedy Series:
Abbott Elementary (ABC); Barry (HBO); Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO); Hacks (HBO Max); The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon); Only Murders in the Building (Hulu); Ted Lasso (Apple) and What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Marvel shows picked up multiple Emmy nominations
Marvel Studios had a respectable showing at Tuesday’s Emmy nominations, with Loki, Moon Knight and Hawkeye all getting nominated in multiple categories.
Hawkeye picked up two nominations — for best stunt coordination in a comedy series or variety programme and for best stunt performance.
Loki scored six nominations in total, while Moon Knight picked up eight nominations. However, Marvel shows failed to register a single nomination outside the craft categories.
Acting nods
Nominees for best actress in a comedy series: Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel); Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant); Elle Fanning (The Great); Issa Rae (Insecure); Jean Smart (Hacks) and Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary).
Nominees for best actor in a comedy series: Bill Hader (Barry); Nicholas Holt (The Great); Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso); Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building); Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building) and Donald Glover (Atlanta).
Nominees for best actor in a drama series: Jason Bateman (Ozark); Brian Cox (Succession); Lee Jung-jae, (Squid Game); Bob Odenkirk, (Better Call Saul); Adam Scott (Severance) and Jeremy Strong (Succession).
Nominees for best actress in a drama series: Jodie Comer (Killing Eve); Laura Linney (Ozark); Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets); Sandra Oh (Killing Eve); Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show) and Zendaya (Euphoria).
Nominees for variety talk series: The Daily Show with Trevor Noah; Jimmy Kimmel Live with Jimmy Kimmel; Last Week Tonight with John Oliver; Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Notable snubs
Among the most-talked-about snubs was Yellowstone, which failed to earn a single nomination. It failed to earn a nod even for acclaimed stars Kevin Costner and Kelly Reilly.
Also on the acting front, Only Murders in the Building’s Selena Gomez was left out.
While Stranger Things earned a series nod, none of its cast members, including Millie Bobby Brown and Sadie Sink, were nominated for acting awards.
Other series that failed to land any Emmy nominations this year, contrary to awards experts’ predictions, include The Afterparty, Better Things, Ghosts, Grace and Frankie, Reservation Dogs, We Own This City, WeCrashed and And Just Like That.
The Late Late Show, Real Time With Bill Maher and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon are among the late-night shows that surprisingly weren’t nominated this year.