Bela Bajaria on Which Emmy Nominee She Texted First and One Giant “Disappointment” of a Snub

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Perhaps the newly established Netflix headquarters in New Jersey could consider expanding its trophy case area slightly.

On Tuesday mornings, Netflix garnered an impressive 120 Emmy Award nominations for the year 2025. This substantial number is only outperformed by the merger of HBO and Max (now known as HBO Max), implying that the top spot might be contested. However, this competition will not be settled until September 14th. Therefore, Bela Bajaria, Casey Bloys, and potentially Matt Cherniss are yet to determine their respective positions in this race.

After the Emmy nominations were announced, The Hollywood Reporter managed to speak with a busy Bajaria. As 44 nominated shows resulted in countless text messages for her, she was a woman in demand. Here’s what you’ll want to know: which Netflix nominee Bajaria responded to first, the show that received the most overlooked snub from her, and whether four nominations for “The Residence” influenced her decision to revive the short-lived mystery series.

which Netflix show was the first one she replied to, the series that felt most overlooked by her, and if the four nominations for “The Residence” made her reconsider canceling the short-lived mystery series.

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What’s your reaction to this morning’s results?

I’m absolutely thrilled and swelling with pride over the 120 nominations we’ve received! What truly sets this achievement apart, though, is its diversity – it spans across an impressive 44 different titles and 14 distinct programming categories. You see, our team has always strived for unparalleled excellence in every corner of television production, be it animation, live events, documentaries, unscripted series, dramas, comedies, limited series, or stand-up specials. To have this broad spectrum of work, created by an incredible array of talent, being honored in such a wide variety of categories is not only exhilarating but also incredibly gratifying.

As a gamer, I’m thrilled when we collaborate with fresh talents who are making their Emmy debuts! It’s a joy to see young talents like Owen Cooper from the series Adolescence, who’s just started his career, alongside veterans such as Javier Bardem, Adam Brody, Kristen Bell, and Stephen Graham. These seasoned actors have an impressive resume, but this is their first Emmy nomination, which makes it all the more rewarding and exhilarating for us!

You can’t exactly send Owen champagne…

(Laughs) Yes, exactly. He’s gonna get a nice sparkling apple cider or something.

Where were you when the nominations came in?

We have an enjoyable and exciting activity with our team. Often, a number of us gather in our downstairs home theater on Netflix. It’s the PR and awards team, marketing, executives, and people from various departments, coming together cross-functionally. In that room, we all cheer collectively – it’s such a fun moment!

We’re either calling or instant messaging our nominees as they receive their news, which is fantastic. It’s an enjoyable experience because there are many people from various departments who put in a lot of effort into these projects – they genuinely care. Sometimes, the effort and passion behind a project can get overlooked. But when we greenlight something, you advocate for it, you believe in it… You’re part of this journey through all these shows and their launch. Everyone is invested, so it’s great to share this experience together in this way.

Who was your very first outgoing text?

Indeed, it seems you’re ensuring accuracy. Let me clarify, I’m referring to the messages I previously sent, and the first one was directed to Kristen Bell.

In the beginning, I worked with actors like Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, followed by Adam Sandler in his movie “Love You”, Deb Cahn for “The Diplomat”. It was somewhat similar to the categories that were revealed early on. Then came Charlotte Jones for “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders”. I also collaborated with a team for the production of “Adolescence” as we were all part of a chain.

Why wouldn’t you wait to text Beyoncé until it’s appropriate, instead of doing it first?” This version maintains the original message but rephrases the sentence structure and word choices for clarity and naturalness.

(Laughs) Yes, exactly. I should just wait [for her category].

Don’t underestimate Queen Bey. It’s no surprise that Beyoncé was nominated for the Super Bowl… I’ve been betting on Beyoncé all along.

It seems you made a wise choice by opting for Kristen Bell instead of Sandler at the start of the day. After all, she’s reliable enough to be alert and prepared for her activities.

(Laughs) Yes, yes.

Ryan Murphy correctly found himself involved in the production of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” as he had a significant role to play.

So you fell back to second place to HBO and Max — you guys seem to swap slots each year…

Essentially, there are two distinct aspects here. They leverage the synergy of two separate elements, correct? That is, they gain an advantage with Max combined with HBO. In contrast, we cater to a diverse crowd due to our vast membership and varied tastes among our audience. Our aim is to provide top-notch content across all these preferences, right? We’re aware that many people enjoy shows like ‘The Diplomat’, ‘Adolescence’, and ‘America’s Sweethearts’, correct? And interestingly, a significant number of those viewers also tune in to the steampunk animated series, ‘Arcane’.

We’re operating on a unique level – we approach our work with a distinct perspective, don’t we? Moreover, we aim to achieve something unprecedented – creating films and television shows globally across various genres in numerous languages…we’re essentially redefining the norm. In essence, we are Netflix.

OR

We’re not like everyone else – we have a special approach towards our work, don’t we? What sets us apart is our ambition to create films and TV shows on a global scale, encompassing various genres and languages…we’re essentially pushing boundaries. In essence, we are Netflix.

OR

We’re not your typical players – we approach our work with a unique mindset, don’t we? Our goal is to produce films and TV shows on an international scale, covering numerous genres and languages…we’re essentially breaking new ground. In essence, we are Netflix.

Did any specific Netflix Emmy “snubs” bother you more than others?

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment when it comes to this year’s Emmy nominations. If these awards are truly about recognizing excellence in storytelling – something that captivates audiences, sparks conversations, and leaves an indelible mark on our hearts – then the absence of “Squid Game” from the list is a glaring omission.

This groundbreaking series not only made Emmy history but also became the world’s most watched show. Its authentic portrayal of Korean culture has resonated with people across the globe, making it a cultural phenomenon. The innovative storytelling and global impact it has had are truly unprecedented, making it a shining example of what television can achieve.

To me, the talent behind “Squid Game” deserves recognition for their incredible achievement. It’s not just about breaking records; it’s about pushing boundaries, challenging expectations, and creating something that transcends cultural barriers. That’s the disappointment I feel – not just for myself as a viewer, but for all those involved in this remarkable production.

We learned about the cancellation of the Residence only two weeks ago. Wishing it could have been announced later, after the nominations were made public.

As a gamer, I’m not always glued to the news, but what truly excites me is our creation – The Residence. We were the ones who brought it to life, and Uzo Aduba has been a valued member of Netflix for quite some time now, earning accolades before this. Her performance in this series was nothing short of incredible, and I wasn’t at all surprised by her nomination. In fact, we all felt she deserved it. So, when I heard the news about her nomination, I couldn’t help but feel proud. It’s a testament to our hard work, and it just reinforces how fantastic this project is. To me, this recognition doesn’t change the story of The Residence; instead, it adds another layer to our shared accomplishment. Now, we can look forward to celebrating her well-deserved recognition.

Given all the considerations involved in cancellations, is The Residence’s four Emmy nominations causing any doubts about your decision to cancel it?

No, because I always knew she’d be recognized.

Will Netflix campaign for a show that has been canceled as hard as for one that hasn’t been?

We’ll certainly be backing her and the show! Sometimes, it seems like folks underestimate our role in its development, promotion, and marketing. To clarify, we were instrumental in creating, advocating for, and publicizing this project. Many of the individuals involved are colleagues with whom we collaborate closely and will continue to do so in the future. Therefore, our unwavering support for their endeavors is a given.

Five out of six pre-recorded nominees include your friend, Nate Bargatze. Since Nate is hosting the Emmys this year, it seems likely that he’ll take home an award.

(Laughs) Is that how it works when you have the host [as one of your nominees]?

Definitely, they just give you one.

Great! It seems that they will provide one, correct. That means we have four out of the five nominees confirmed, and we’ll be adding the remaining one as well, right?

Indeed, they only provide one. It’s reminiscent of when my father was the Little League coach and he selected me as one of the team’s two standouts – there’s no room for complaint about it.

Oh yeah, you get one. There you go.

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2025-07-16 01:25