Critics’ Conversation: 2025 Emmy Nominations Take a Typically Shallow Dive Into TV’s Best

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DANIEL FIENBERG’S PARAPHRASING: Emmy voters show a strong affinity for the shows they appreciate; if they enjoy something, they express it wholeheartedly.

Among the nominees for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, it’s striking to see how many nods are concentrated at the top. An impressive 27 nominations for ‘Severance’, 24 for ‘The Penguin’, 23 each for ‘The Studio’ and ‘The White Lotus’.

It’s quite astonishing to see so many heavyweights being nominated in such a wide range of categories. The exceptional performances in shows like “White Lotus” and “Severance”, particularly their supporting cast members, have left an indelible mark. However, I found myself more intrigued by the notable absences from these talented ensembles than those who were fortunate enough to receive nominations. For instance, where is Rhenzy Feliz for “The Penguin”? Or where is Chase Sui Wonders for “The Studio”? Even Lisa from Blackpink’s performance in “The White Lotus” (or perhaps the roles of Carrie Coon’s vacation companions) seems to have been overlooked.

It’s a misconception that Emmy voters only watch around 10 shows on the drama and comedy genres, as well as the same five limited series, particularly in years with a weak selection. This habitually leads to disappointment for this critic, who laments the annual omission of ‘My Brilliant Friend’ and ‘Dark Winds’. Zahn McClarnon’s injustice will always be a recurring issue I have with these voters. While the excellent second season of ‘Pachinko’ received nominations for cinematography and production design, it’s important to note that these nods are relatively minor compared to the full recognition it deserves.

I’d rather not begin on a down note. There are some nominations that bring me immense joy, such as the directing and writing accolades for the mind-bending “Pilot’s Code” episode of The Rehearsal, or the acknowledgment for the strangely captivating Common Side Effects in the animated series category.

Angie, which unexpected or anticipated nominations, particularly the one for Harrison Ford in Shrinking, brought you the most happiness this morning?

As a devoted gamer, I must say it’s not just the three nominees that got me excited. The final season of Somebody Somewhere really stole my heart with its exceptional writing and Jeff Hiller’s mesmerizing performance. It’s a delight to see Catherine O’Hara recognized for her stellar work in two completely distinct roles – one in The Last of Us and the other in The Studio. And let’s not forget Ayo Edebiri, who’s making waves by both directing and starring in The Bear. Quite an impressive lineup!

Among all the numerous nominations for “Severance”, the one that tickles me the most is for choreography. This isn’t because it doesn’t deserve recognition, but because it reinforces “dances featuring Tramell Tillman” as a distinctive element of the series.

Regardless, my feelings of joy always seem to be accompanied by a “but.” I was thrilled to see the series “Andor” and its exceptional episode “Who Are You?” receive some recognition. However, I was let down that the main cast didn’t receive more accolades. Similarly, it made me happy to see Robby Hoffman from “Hacks” on the list, but I was dismayed to discover that Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs were overlooked. The inclusion of Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, and Shawn Hatosy in “The Pitt” brought me joy, but I was saddened by the fact that the rest of its talented cast was snubbed. I continue to support Meghann Fahy and Colman Domingo, yet I’m still not convinced that their performances in “Sirens” and “The Four Seasons” represent their best work.

I felt pleased, yet not shocked, when The Studio performed so well, but couldn’t help but squint at their excessive use of celebrity cameos, occupying five out of six slots for guest actor in a comedy series. Fortunately, the female categories displayed more diversity.

OR:

I was pleasantly not surprised when The Studio excelled, yet found myself skeptical about their reliance on celebrity cameos, which filled five out of six slots for guest actor in a comedy series. Thankfully, the female categories offered more range.

As a fellow enthusiast, let me share my “Yay, but also…” picks! Here are some things that have left me both ecstatic and contemplative recently:

1. Yay, I finally got that new phone I’ve been wanting! But also, now I need to learn all the new features.
2. Yay, I’m going on a vacation! But also, I have to pack and make sure I don’t forget anything important.
3. Yay, I aced that test! But also, now I have to study even harder for the next one.
4. Yay, I just bought this amazing book! But also, I can hardly wait to start reading it.
5. Yay, I’ve been invited to a party! But also, I hope I don’t end up being the first one to leave.
6. Yay, I got a promotion at work! But also, now I have more responsibilities on my plate.
7. Yay, it’s finally raining after such a long drought! But also, I hope this doesn’t lead to flooding in my area.
8. Yay, I just met an interesting new person! But also, I wonder if we’ll become good friends or just acquaintances.
9. Yay, I’m learning a new skill! But also, I feel like a beginner all over again.
10. Yay, I’ve been accepted into my dream university! But also, now I have to figure out how to pay for it.

Now it’s your turn! What are some of your “Yay, but also…” moments?

In a twist of emotions, I’d concur with many of your choices: It’s fantastic that The Pitt gained such recognition, but I feel it could have included Taylor Dearden and Gerran Howell as well. Cheers to the fact that voters acknowledged the progress made by Shrinking in its second season, yet I can’t help but miss Ted McGinley, whose career heights he has truly redefined. It’s somewhat surprising to see so many nominations for Andor, only for Forest Whitaker to be the sole cast member recognized (disregarding the nomination for Alan Tudyk as K-2SO’s voice). Genevieve O’Reilly, Denise Gough, and Diego Luna (overlooked in La Máquina) all deserve recognition too.

I’ve been thinking a great deal about whether certain series profited or not from unclear or debatable classifications this year.

The TV series “The Bear” experienced a significant drop in nominations from 23 to 13 during its third season, making it difficult to recall which season each set of nominations pertains to. Given the dominance of shows like “Severance” and “White Lotus” on the drama side, it’s unlikely that “The Bear,” a popular choice on FX/Hulu, would have fared better if it hadn’t been categorized as a comedy. On the subject of “White Lotus” and mislabeled comedies, my preferred show satirizing shallow wealth continued to prosper due to voters perceiving it as a drama rather than a comedy. I believe “The Rehearsal” is correctly placed in the comedy category, but it’s a program that’s difficult to categorize accurately. Despite being classified as a variety series, “Fantasmas” didn’t perform well for HBO, although it did secure a nomination for hairstyling. I had doubts about whether Sam Rockwell and Pedro Pascal would suffer from having more episodes, which moved them out of the guest category and into supporting and lead actor roles, but they seem to have handled it well.

And I spent some time dwelling on the impact of long delays on some of the Emmy contenders. 

It’s clear that audiences had no difficulty resuming their viewing of ‘Severance’ and ‘Andor’, even after long breaks. However, shows that were once Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, such as ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, ‘House of the Dragon’, and ‘Squid Game’, received less support this year. This could be due to changes in quality and a decline in popularity momentum. It appears that maintaining a regular schedule is still a safer bet. Can many Emmy voters recall particular details about the season they are honoring for ‘Slow Horses’? Essentially, when Gary Oldman delivers his signature performance – filled with wit and a hint of flatulence – it becomes irrelevant what season is being recognized.

What else have you been dwelling on?

It has always struck me as strategic of The Bear to release a new season annually during the voting period on the previous season. Admittedly, this approach doesn’t seem to have had much impact this time around, possibly because neither the third nor fourth seasons are cherished like the initial two. Nevertheless, maintaining a consistent flow might help keep the show fresh in people’s minds, which can be beneficial when dealing with a voting group that has occasionally appeared to stick with familiar nominees due to habit. I’m not suggesting that returning shows like Hacks, Severance, or The White Lotus don’t deserve their success; instead, I’m implying that it’s unlikely anyone was taken aback by their victories.

From another perspective, it’s not surprising that the Emmys aren’t known for pushing boundaries too far. Although I’d love to see shows like “The Rehearsal”, “Fantasmas”, and “Interview with the Vampire” receive more recognition, I can’t say I’m shocked they didn’t. I’ll take their nominations as a small triumph since it’s more than what shows like “Industry” or “A Man on the Inside” received.

The Emmys aren’t known for being bold, so I wasn’t surprised that “The Rehearsal”, “Fantasmas”, and “Interview with the Vampire” didn’t get more attention. But getting nominated at all is a small win because it’s better than what shows like “Industry” or “A Man on the Inside” got.

Currently, I find myself delving into minor details again, but let me step back and express my overall thoughts. To put it simply, the group of nominees seemed to meet my expectations. Translation: It wasn’t exceptionally outstanding nor unacceptably poor, even though there were a few unexpected occurrences (both positive and negative) along the way.

Now that we’ve learned who the nominees are, let’s shift our focus towards who will ultimately take home the prize. While I certainly have my personal favorites that I’d love to see on stage come September… if I had to choose just one, it would be Hiller. So, who among all the contenders in a particular category do you feel most strongly about supporting and hoping for their victory?

DF: Let’s see … one thing to root for?

Instead of choosing Liza Colón-Zayas for “The Bear”, Emmy voters had previously awarded her last year, even though it was for minimal performance in the second season. They opted for this recognition rather than waiting a year to give her the truly deserved win for this role.

It seems I’ll shift my support towards Harrison Ford, who has managed to gain recognition after years spent on the outskirts of Hollywood. However, this statement is somewhat humorous since it’s surprising to consider Ford as an underdog. Nevertheless, this marks Ford’s first Emmy nomination. Despite receiving honorary awards in the past, Ford hasn’t won a competitive Oscar, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, or Emmy. If it seems odd to elevate Harrison Ford to the role of the ultimate underdog… well, that’s just how the Emmys roll – that’s why we adore them! They’re peculiar, and that’s part of their charm.

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2025-07-15 23:25