I guess we should talk about these Emmy nominations

Better Call Saul

Euphoria

Ozark

Severance

Squid Game

Stranger Things

Succession

Yellowjackets

 is is just  a great list of shows, and with the exception of the This Is Us snub, I have little complaint. Including shows like Squid Game, Severance, Yellowjackets, and Stranger Things, shows that aren’t usually taken seriously by the big awards shows, is a refreshing surprise (or possibly a cynical attempt to bring in younger viewers). In any event, while there is a chance that a show which has ended this year like Breaking Bad or Ozark might pull out a surprise win for sentimental reasons, it’s likely Succession will once again take this category, and deservedly so. 

Who will win:

Succession

Who should win:

Succession

Who was snubbed:

This is Us is the biggest snub not just in this category, but in these nominations as a whole. This was the final season of a beloved network series — a series that might be the last huge broadcast network hit — and it was expected that it would be nominated if only for sentimental reasons, if no others. But the show didn’t rest on its laurels and coast to a pat ending: it was a beautiful, emotional, and deeply satisfying season as a whole, and yet … no love. I genuinely don’t know how this happens.

Other shows that could have easily made this list include Yellowstone; Pachinko; Winning Time; The Good Fight; Bridgerton; Evil; Loki; and The Book of Boba Fett. But it’s worth noting that it was always going to be harder for those last three to break through, especially with genre shows like Stranger Things, Squid Game, Severance, and Yellowjackets making the cut.

Jason Bateman, Ozark

Brian Cox, Succession

Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Adam Scott, Severance

Jeremy Strong, Succession

This is an excellent list of actors, and again, I have virtually no notes. As for who is going to win, I am thinking this is a two-way contest between Brian Cox and Bob Odenkirk. I’m leaning towards Odenkirk for two important reasons: Brian Cox faces competition from his own series; the Succession vote could be split between him and Jeremy Strong (who was absolutely tremendous this season). In fact, if I were voting, I would probably give it to Strong who delivered the performance of his life in Succession this season.

But the things that push Odenkirk over the top are 1. this was Better Call Saul‘s last season, and, 2. and more importantly, Odenkirk barely survived a massive heart attack filming. The voters have a sentimental streak, and I think it will be hard for them to resist such a compelling story.

Who will win:

Bob Odenkirk

Who should win:

Jeremy Strong

Who was snubbed:

Sterling K. Brown truly deserved to be recognized for this season of This Is Us.

John C. Reilly was a delight in Winning Time, and there will be some people upset that Kevin Costner was overlooked for Yellowstone.

Jodie Comer, Killing Eve

Laura Linney, Ozark

Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets

Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

Zendaya, Euphoria a

This is very difficult category to predict, and in a just universe, this would have been Mandy Moore’s to win. (I mean, what the hell is Reese Witherspoon even doing in here? Madness!) If I were voting, I would go with Lynskey who was fantastic in Yellowjackets, but I’m not the typical Emmy voter, and could see them going with Zendaya again, or rewarding Linney on her final season of Ozark.

Who will win:

Laura Linney (? maybe?)

Who should win:

Melanie Lynskey

Who was snubbed:

Mandy Moore deserved all of the nominations for This is Us and it’s outrageous she wasn’t nominated.

Britt Lower was a revelation in Severance and deserved a nod.

Kelly Reilly for Yellowstone; Jennifer Anniston for The Morning Show; Katja Herbers for Evil; and Millie Bobby Brown for Stranger Things were all on the shortlist for nominations.

Nicholas Braun, Succession

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Kieran Culkin, Succession

Park Hae-soo, Squid Game

Matthew Macfadyen, Succession

John Turturro, Severance

Christopher Walken, Severance

Oh Yeong-su, Squid Game

The poor Succession actors: all of them were fantastic this season, and yet they are all dumped into this category together, fighting it out. It hardly seems fair. That said, if I have to pick one person in this category, it would be Macfayden, who took Tom’s character in a completely unexpected — but earned — direction this season.

My dark horses in this category, though, are Christopher Walken and John Turturro, both of whom delivered heart-breakingly beautiful performances in Severance. If the Succession boys split the vote, Walken or Turturro could walk away with a surprise victory.

Who will win:

Matthew Macfayden

Who should win:

Matthew Macfayden

Who was snubbed:

It’s disappointing that the Emmys spare such little room for the Better Call Saul team. Johnathan Banks, Giancarlo Esposito, Michael Mando, and Patrick Fabian were all wonderful this season, and each deserved recognition.

Going along with the This Is Us outrage, Chris Sullivan was terrific, as usual, and Jon Huertas delivered an unexpectedly beautiful performance as the much-maligned Miguel.

Winning Time‘s Solomon Hughes stole every scene he was in as Kareem Abdul-Jabar.

Michael Emerson continues to be delightfully creepy on Evil.

And though I’m not entirely convinced they were Emmy-worthy performances, both Noah Schnapp and Joseph Quinn offered tremendous heart to this season of Stranger Things. 

Patricia Arquette, Severance

Julia Garner, Ozark

Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game

Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets

Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul

J. Smith-Cameron, Succession

Sarah Snook, Succession

Sydney Sweeney, Euphoria

Yes, yes, Julia Garner and Sydney Sweeney and Sarah Snook and J. Smith-Cameron and Christina Ricci and Jung Ho-yeon and Patricia Arquette were all, genuinely, wonderful in their roles in their respective series this year, but this Emmy belongs to Rhea Seehorn and we all know it.

Who will win:

Rhea Seehorn

Who should win:

Rhea Seehorn

Who was snubbed:

Chrissy Metz and Susan Kelechi Watson gave, as usual, lovely performances in This Is Us.

Ella Purnell and Juliette Lewis both delivered for Yellowjackets.

But the one fans are most upset about is Sadie Sink, who was arguably the soul of this season of Stranger Things.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Outstanding Comedy Series

Donald Glover, Atlanta

Bill Hader, Barry

Nicholas Hoult, The Great

Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building

Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Sudeikis added nuance to his eternally optimistic Ted Lasso this season, and Bill Hader fully embraced Barry as an anti-hero. Both performances compelled the characters in new, dangerous directions, and either deserve to win this Emmy. I’m leaning towards Sudeikis winning, simply because Ted Lasso has so much momentum and Lasso is a much easier character to love and root for.

All of that said, Nicholas Holt is a Goddamned treasure, and I wish it weren’t such a competitive category so that he could get a little love.

Who will win:

Jason Sudeikis

Who should win:

Bill Hader or Jason Sudeikis, honestly

Who was snubbed:

First of all, I will never understand how you nominate Curb Your Enthusiasm but not nominate Larry David for lead actor considering … Curb is Larry David?

Rhys Darby and Taikia Waititi are heart-crushingly wonderful in Our Flag Means Death, and deserve all of the prizes.

Jake Johnson has found the role of a lifetime on Minx, and is absolutely killing it. Same thing for Danny McBride on The Righteous Gemstones.

And I’m not sure who the lead actor in What We Do in the Shadows is: Kayvan Novak or Matt Berry or both? Arguably, Harvey Guillén? Whoever. They all should have been nominated.

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant

Elle Fanning, The Great

Issa Rae, Insecure

Jean Smart, Hacks

Who will win:

Quinta Brunson

Who should win:

Quinta Brunson

Who was snubbed:

The biggest, most obvious, and egregious snub is Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building. How do Steve Martin and Martin Short get nominated for Lead Actors and Gomez not get nominated for Lead Actress? She is the spark, the glue, the magic that makes the trio work and it’s outrageous she was not nominated. Genuinely. 

But also where is Natasha Lyonne for Russian Doll? Or Natasia Demetriou for What We Do in the Shadows? Or Ophelia Lovibond for Minx?

AND WHERE THE HELL IS PATRICIA ALDON FOR BETTER THINGS?

Anthony Carrigan, Barry

Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso

Toheeb Jimoh, Ted Lasso

Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso

Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

Henry Winkler, Barry

Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live

Like Succession, Ted Lasso is dominating these acting categories, and any of the actors nominated here are very deserving. Brett Goldstein is the flashiest performance, and the one the Emmy voters are most familiar with, but Nick Mohammed’s heel turn and Toheen Jimoh’s charming, romantic character are both wonderful.

But don’t overlook the other nominees here. Tony Shalhoub is an icon, Bowen Yang is definitely having a moment (but he’s not going to win) and Tyler James Williams has been consistently terrific going back to his Everybody Hates Chris and Walking Dead days, and his performance on Abbott Elementary is no exception.

That all said, the biggest challenge to Ted Lasso will be Barry. I am genuinely torn between Henry Winkler and Anthony Carrigan as the star of this past season. Arguably, Winkler had a bigger role, and this season he was the emotional center of the series. But Carrigan’s character development this season was amazing … and has there ever been a bigger scene stealer?

Who will win:

Henry Winkler or Brett Goldstein

Who should win:

Anthony Carrigan

Who was snubbed:

Brendan Hunt was fabulous in Ted Lasso, and how does he get overlooked after having his own stand-alone and brilliant episode, “Beard After Hours?” THOSE PANTS!

Brian Tyree Henry was arguably more of the lead actor of Atlanta this season than Donald Glover, and deserved at least a nod here.

Stephen Root continues to be great — and terrifying — in Barry.

And John Goodman, Adam Devine, Tony Cavalero, and the hilarious Walton Goggins have been killing it on The Righteous Gemstones.

And if I could, I would nominate the entire crew of Our Flag Means Death in this category, they are all wonderful.

Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks

Janelle James, Abbott Elementary

Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Sarah Niles, Ted Lasso

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary

Juno Temple, Ted Lasso

Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Look, this is a tight race — Kate McKinnon just signed off Saturday Night Live after 10 years of being one of their best performers, and if they wanted to reward her with this Emmy, I would not be surprised. I would also not be surprised if Janelle James or Sheryl Lee Ralph sneak in and win for Abbott Elementary: James was the breakout comedy star of the series, but Ralph is the heart of the series, and has been working in this business for 50 years.

However, my guess is that Waddingham walks away with this Emmy. This was Waddingham’s season on Ted Lasso: they gave her a lot to work with and she did not disappoint.

Who will win:

Hannah Waddingham

Who should win:

Hannah Waddingham

Who was snubbed:

How Susie Essman isn’t nominated every year that Curb Your Enthusiasm airs will forever be a mystery.

Sarah Goldberg was shamefully overlooked for Barry, as was Yvonne Orji for Insecure, as was Zazie Beetz on Atlanta, as was Edi Patterson on The Righteous Gemstones.

Then there are Mikey Madison, Hannah Riley, Olivia Edward, and especially Celia Imrie in Better Things, all of whom were consistently wonderful and overlooked.

And someone no one is talking about is Annie Murphy as Young Ruth Brenner in Russian Doll — she was fantastic.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Jane Adams, Hacks

Dopesick

The Dropout

Inventing Anna

Pam & Tommy

The White Lotus

In recent years, limited or anthology series has become one of the most competitive categories with some of the best shows on television. This year is no different. I question what Inventing Anna is doing on this list — it was very watchable, but not very good, frankly — but otherwise, these are very good nominees.

In terms of who will win this, I think it’s a hard toss-up between The White Lotus and Dopesick. The White Lotus had the most buzz surrounding it when it originally aired last summer, but Dopesick is certainly the most serious and consequential of these limited series.

Who will win:

The White Lotus

Who should win:

The White Lotus

Who was snubbed:

Here the list is pretty long because there have been so many great limited series this year: Maid; Under the Banner of Heaven; Station Eleven; Impeachment: American Crime Story; The Shining Girls; The Offer; We Own This City; Candy; Women of the Movement; WeCrashed; Gaslit; and The Thing About Pam all could have occupied a spot here.

But arguably the two most surprising snubs are Scenes from a Marriage and The Staircase, considering how many Very Serious Actors were involved.

And my personal favorite, Midnight Mass, was always going to be a long shot, but it would have been nice if the Emmys could have recognized it. I’m not the only one to think so, either.

Colin Firth, The Staircase

Andrew Garfield, Under the Banner of Heaven

Oscar Isaac, Scenes from a Marriage

Michael Keaton, Dopesick

Himesh Patel, Station Eleven

Sebastian Stan, Pam & Tommy

All of these actors are just terrific, that’s inarguable. And so I’m not sure how the voters are going to make their choice here. While I think Oscar Isaac and Michael Keaton have the best shots for giving Very Serious Performances, I also think there’s not a small chance Sebastian Stan will sneak in and steal the show here for his amazing portrayal of Tommy Lee. At least, that’s how I’d vote.

Who will win:

Micahel Keaton

Who should win:

Sebastian Stan

Who was snubbed:

Sean Penn in Gaslit is a surprising snub. I hear John Berenthal was great in We Own This City. And Jared Leto was well-received as the lead in WeCrashed. 

But if you want to know the snub that ticks me off the most … alright, fine, you’re not going to nominate a horror series for best limited or anthology series, I get it. Kinda. But not recognizing Hamish Linklater’s complicated and nuanced performance in Midnight Mass is infuriating.

Hamish Linklater and all of Midnight Mass were fucking snubbed and it’s disgusting pic.twitter.com/soaHCQpZFG

— 🌷Maria🌷 (@thenervousgeek) July 12, 2022

Toni Collette, The Staircase

Julia Garner, Inventing Anna

Lily James, Pam & Tommy

Sarah Paulson, Impeachment: American Crime Story

Margaret Qualley, Maid

Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout

This is yet another tight race, thanks in part to so many limited series being led by powerful female performances. Toni Collette and Sarah Paulson are fucking fantastic in everything they do; and Lily James disappeared into her role as Pamela Anderson. However, I think this one comes down to two performances in particular: Amanda Seyfried, who gave the performance in The Dropout that Julia Garner thought she was giving in Inventing Anna, and Margaret Qualley in Maid.

Who will win:

Margaret Qualley

Who should win:

Margaret Qualley

Who was snubbed:

It’s insulting that Oscar Isaac was recognized for Scenes from a Marriage, but Jessica Chastain was snubbed. That was a series that was wholly dependent on their partnership, and like Selena Gomez’s snub in Best Lead Actress in a Comedy, it feels pointed.

Also, while The Thing About Pam wasn’t a masterpiece, it was wildly entertaining, and Rene Zellwegger gave everything to her performance as Pam Hupp. She was incredible and hilarious and devious to the final moments.

There’s a lot of talk about Julia Roberts being snubbed for Gaslit, and Anne Hathaway for WeCrashed.

But I would argue that even more deserving are Jessica Biel who was chilling as Candy Montogomery in Candy; Adrienne Warren who was powerful in Women of the Movement; and Elizabeth Moss who was terrific in Shining Girls.

Connie Britton, The White Lotus

Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus

Alexandra Daddario, The White Lotus

Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick

Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus

Sydney Sweeney, The White Lotus

Mare Winningham, Dopesick

Unless they split the vote, someone from The White Lotus is going to win this category, and that person from The White Lotus is almost certainly going to be Jennifer Coolidge. Everyone from that cast was amazing, but Coolidge was a standout.

Who will win:

Jennifer Coolidge

Who should win:

Jennifer Coolidge

Who was snubbed:

Juno Temple is a Goddamned delight in The Offer; Melanie Lynskey was great fun in Candy; Kate Seigel was moving in Midnight Mass; and Daisy Edgar-Jones was lovely in Under the Banner of Heaven.

Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus

Jake Lacy, The White Lotus

Will Poulter, Dopesick

Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy

Peter Sarsgaard, Dopesick

Michael Stuhlbarg, Dopesick

Steve Zahn, The White Lotus

Again, The White Lotus team is pit against each other in this category, which is unsurprising; the cast was just fantastic. But Murray Bartlett gave a career-changing performance in The White Lotus, and if this series wins only one Emmy, this better be it.

Who will win:

Murray Bartlett

Who should win:

Murray Bartlett

Who was snubbed:

For my money, the second biggest snub of the Emmys this year after Mandy Moore, is Matthew Goode for his performance as Robert Evans in The Offer. His embodiment of Evans is complete, and he’s clearly enjoying the hell out of the role. The Offer has a number of great supporting performances, including Dan Folger as Francis Ford Coppola, Burn Gorman as Charles Bluhdorn, Patrick Gallo as Mario Puzo, Anthony Ippolito as Al Pacino, and Justin Chambers as Marlon Brando, but if they could only nominate one person, it should be Matthew Goode.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still think Murray Bartlett should win, but Matthew Goode should have been nominated here.

Oh, and Naveen Andrews probably deserved a nomination for his work in The Dropout.

Outstanding Television Movie

A Black Lady Sketch Show

Saturday Night Live

Who will win:

Saturday Night Live

Who should win:

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

Who was snubbed:

OK, listen. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson was actually nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series, so it wasn’t technically snubbed. Short Form is for series that have an average running time of 2 to 20 minutes, so I GUESS that is where it belongs. But still, this feels dumb.

Also infuriatingly overlooked: The Amber Ruffin Show, The Kids in the Hall, and Ziwe. WHY NOT? YOU’VE ONLY GOT TWO NOMINEES UP THERE. WAS THERE NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE BALLOT? HELP ME UNDERSTAND.

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Late Night With Seth Meyers

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Listen, I’m just glad Seth Meyers finally made his way into this category. It’s criminal it’s taken this long for it to be nominated.

Who will win:

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Who should win:

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Who was snubbed:

Desus & Mero, R.I.P. 

I would argue that Watch What Happens Live! is often very compelling television, where celebrities legitimately let down their guards.

Full Frontal With Samantha Bee is also as relevant, outraged, and funny as ever.

And I guess you could make an argument for The Late Late Show with James Corden, but should you?

The Amazing Race

Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls

Nailed It!

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Top Chef

The Voice

Again, this is a really difficult category for me because all of these shows are terrific with the exception of The Voice which has outlived its usefulness. Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls is the big surprise in the category, but it shouldn’t have been: the series is delightful and inspiring and doesn’t fall into the typical villain/hero traps of many reality series. RuPaul’s Drag Race or Top Chef will probably win — and deservedly so. Top Chef in particular did a great job of representing Houston this year, and I’d be happy if it won. But I also wouldn’t be angry if Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls took the Emmy here.

Who will win:

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Who should win:

Top Chef

Who was snubbed:

Making It! is such a charming show, and worthy of recognition. And I understand why this will never be nominated, but Legendary is a fascinating, exciting, and fun look inside a subculture that many of us know very little about.

Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness, Queer Eye

Nicole Byer, Nailed It!

Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, and Kevin O’Leary, Shark Tank

Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons, Top Chef

Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Making It!

RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race

Frankly, as long as the Shark Tank goons don’t win this one, I’m happy with anyone.

Who will win:

RuPaul

Who should win:

Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman

Who was snubbed:

Lizzo. I mean, obviously.