The Emmy nominations arrived Wednesday morning, and with 2,428 performers vying for voters’ attention, the free-for-all to earn a seat at the table sometimes gave off the same desperate vibes as that final board vote of “Succession” about the GoJo merger.
Was anyone promised a nomination when they were 7 years old at the Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton, New York? We can’t say for sure, but perhaps a nominee will come clean before the awards are handed out on September 18, as long as labor unrest doesn’t postpone or cancel the show for good.
Even with the usual deluge of submissions, the nominations managed to offer quite a few surprises, pleasant and otherwise. And there were omissions, which, for the sake of alliteration and search engine optimization, we’ll call “snobs,” though again, with this kind of volume, it’s not as if voters are shirking actively nobody (Seriously, if anyone connected to this superlative season of “Succession” wasn’t nominated, we’d consider it not a snub but a complete travesty.)
SURPRISE: “Jury Duty” (comedy series)
In a move that feels like a joke from a reality TV show, the courtroom documentary “Jury Duty” was nominated for an Emmy over favorites such as “Poker Face” and “Shrinking.” For those who didn’t watch the Freevee series, it follows a mock trial in which everyone in the room is an actor except for one, poor, unsuspecting juror: Ronald Gladden, a solar contractor from San Diego. James Marsden appears as himself, an actor who was drafted into the case, earning an acting nomination in the process. Creepy and awkward, this dark horse of a candidate is now up against powerhouse comedies like “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear” and “Wednesday.” Now it’s up to the jury, er, voters, to see if this unlikely series wins its case come awards night. -THE
SNUB: “Shrinking” (comedy series)
Voters had enough room in their hearts for just one Bill Lawrence comedy, bringing “Ted Lasso” back into the fold but ignoring newcomer “Shrinking,” which, like “Ted Lasso,” seriously examines the feelings and flaws of its characters until to a degree that can be entertaining – or exhausting. Maybe voters were just conflicted about seeing Harrison Ford sing along to a Sugar Ray song and thought, “Let the man grow old gracefully.” —GW
SURPRISE: “Ted Lasso” (comedy series)
It’s 2023. Lockdown is over, and so are the best days of “Ted Lasso.” The third and final season of this Apple TV+ football comedy was without a doubt the show’s most uneven run to date. Why was the disappointing finale of a beloved series voted down, especially considering how many strong contenders there are in the comedy category this year? It arrived on the fumes left over from 2020 and 21, when the soft-spoken sports comedy offered a nation ravaged by COVID-19 with warm vibes, fresh-baked cookies and inspirational messages. But those days are gone, and so is the charm of Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis. “Abbott Elementary” offers good humor with sharper writing, and then there’s the brilliance of “Barry,” “The Bear” and “Poker Face.” No one wants to kick America’s favorite teddy bear, but he shouldn’t have been voted out. – THE
SNUB: Helen Mirren, “1923” (Lead Actress, Drama)
Emmy voters have roundly ignored “Yellowstone” over the years, but you’d have thought Mirren might pull through for her portrayal of the matriarch of the Dutton family in the series’ prequel “1923.” Not that he probably thinks about it. She’s still Dame Helen Mirren and already has four Emmys, an Oscar and a Tony. It also has the power to drive a bear away from home by calling it “naughty”. The puppy paid attention to him, even if the voters did not. —GW
SURPRISE: Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso” (Supporting Actress, Comedy)
Is it really a surprise that Temple, nominated for the first two seasons of “Ted Lasso,” earned another nod for the show’s final season? Kind of. The show’s writers inflicted all sorts of hardships on her character: Keeley was dumped by a man and a woman, lost her business (albeit for about a minute), and dealt with the fallout from the show of a sex tape, and each one of them. these subplots were the least interesting (and compelling) story in their respective episodes. It wasn’t Temple’s fault. He continued to win, even though the show seemed to have nothing but bad ideas about what to do with his character. —GW
Bel Powley as Miep Gies in “A Small Light”.
(Dusan Martincek/National Geographic for Disney)
SNUB: “A Small Light” (Limited Series/Anthology)
I realize we can’t get enough limited series about serial killers, psychopaths, and women who chop up their neighbors with an ax, but you’d think that in the midst of all the craziness, voters might have found a place for “A Small “. Light”, a moving portrait of resistance and heroism. Seeing the story of Anne Frank and her family through the lens of those who helped them, especially Miep Gies and her husband, Jan, provided a new perspective on family history as well as an inspiring lesson on how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. —GW
SURPRISE: “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Limited Series/Anthology)
When it came to the “Star Wars” universe and the Emmys this year, all the talk centered around “Andor,” Tony Gilroy’s slow-burn espionage thriller. (In fact, it won a Drama Series nomination.) But this morning in the canteen (and Disney+), they’re raising a glass to the surprising recognition of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” for limited series, surprising because the competition was fierce (it beat out a number of high-profile HBO shows) and because “Obi-Wan” wasn’t exactly embraced by critics and fans when it arrived more than a year ago. I guess Ewan McGregor’s charisma (and British accent) goes down very well with the voters. —GW
SNUB: “Bad Sisters” (Drama Series)
“Bad Sisters” is more of a dark comedy than a drama, but that’s no reason to overlook Sharon Horgan’s wickedly funny revenge thriller — this series about the Garvey sisters and their colorful quest to protect one of the clan of an abusive husband should have. been a no-brainer. Horgan, Eve Hewson, Sarah Greene and Claes Bang are among the talents that make this series soar. (And at least Horgan scored a lead actress nod.) The show brilliantly explores the concepts of family loyalty and the collective repercussions of trauma in a fast-paced narrative with subplots. And while this tale of abuse and murder should be heavy given the subject matter, it’s biting and funny thanks to sharp writing, passionate performances and colorful storytelling. There’s nothing wrong with “Bad Sisters,” so explain yourself, TV Academy. -THE
SNUB: “Poker Face” (comedy series)
Really? For real?! How the hell on God’s green earth did you miss this one, TV Academy? This case-of-the-week murder-mystery series starring Natasha Lyonne was a breath of fresh air when it arrived at the Peacock in January, despite the plumes of smoke emanating from its central character Charlie Cale’s cigarette. Created by Rian Johnson (“Knives Out,” “Glass Onion”), the series takes cues from “Columbo” and features new guest stars with each episode. Lyonne, nominated for lead actress in the role, plays tough detective Cale, who has an innate talent for sniffing out lies. Blatant oversight by academia may not be dishonest, exactly, but we call BS. -THE
SNUB: Domhnall Gleeson, “The Patient” (Supporting Actor, Limited Series/TV Movie)
Domhnall Gleeson deserved a nomination for his excellent portrayal of a serial killer/foodie in “The Patient”, but unfortunately there is more than one serial killer-themed contender in the limited series category and ” Black Bird” has attracted a lot of attention. thanks to a chilling performance by Paul Walter Hauser. Gleeson’s haunting portrayal of a young man with a burning compulsion to kill should have killed himself on the nomination ballot. Voters missed this one. -THE
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