Emmys Snubs and Surprises: ‘Pachinko,’ ‘Reservation Dogs,’ and More

Snubs: Best Drama Series

“Pachinko”

An extremely vocal online fanbase paired with rave reviews couldn’t push the Apple TV+ drama series into Emmy favor, as Soo Hugh’s adaptation scored only one nomination: for Main Title Design, which it absolutely deserved. Still, given the success of Apple TV+ with “Severance” and “Ted Lasso,” as well as the way voters embraced subtitles in 2022 with “Squid Game’s” 14 nominations, it’s hard to point to a specific reason “Pachinko” was widely ignored at the Emmys. It could be stiff competition, could be a lack of overall viewership, could be a lot of little reasons that stacked up at the wrong time. But such a widespread dismissal is hard to swallow.

“Yellowstone”

Many said this was the year Kevin Costner’s cowboy drama would make a big break into the Emmys. But Emmy voters said, “Hold your horses.” After earning an ensemble nod at the most recent SAG Awards, plus a spot on the PGA’s end-of-year list, the ratings juggernaut had a bit of awards momentum. But even the one nomination it mustered in 2021 (for Production Design) proved out of reach this year.

“This Is Us”

After dipping to a series-low six nominations last year, Dan Fogelman’s NBC family drama headed into its final season knowing it had always earned nominations for its actors (and most of the time, Best Drama Series, too). Not so this time. Emmy voters bid an early adieu, handing over just one nod for Original Music and Lyrics. And no, Mandy Moore is not on the ballot for that category — just her husband, Terry Goldsmith of Dawes fame.

“The Good Fight”

Another excellent season, another snub at the Emmys. Perhaps we should simply accept, after five seasons, Robert and Michelle King’s addictive and whipsmart legal drama isn’t the Emmy’s cup of tea. But that doesn’t make it right.

Snubs: Best Comedy Series

“Atlanta”

Season 2 of Donald Glover’s FX comedy landed 16 nominations and won three Emmys. Season 3 only pulled in three nominations total. While the series faced more critical feedback for a season that featured more standalone episodes than ever, the long wait between releases — Season 2 came out in 2018 — could have also been a factor.

“Black-ish”

Not hearing perennial nominees Tracee Ellis-Ross and Anthony Anderson’s names being read during the morning announcement spelled doom for ABC’s outgoing sitcom, as the multiple Comedy Series nominee only landed two nominations in 2022 (for Contemporary Hairstyling and Costumes). New series in general — and ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” in particular — seemed to steal the spotlight.

“Reservation Dogs”

Released 11 months ago, Sterlin Harjo’s FX comedy faced an uphill battle with Emmy voters. Recognition from the TCAs, WGAs, and Indie Spirit awards — plus a Peabody Award! — all helped keep it in the awards mix, but the freshman comedy struggled to gain traction in a very competitive category. Voters had already sparked to FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows,” and “Atlanta” was considered an easier sell in its third season, as well. Genre questions may have dinged this one, too, as the latter episodes lean heavier on drama than comedy, even more so than other contenders here.

“Better Things”

Pamela Adlon’s critically acclaimed FX series fell out of favor with the Emmys after its second season, following two straight Best Actress noms for the director, writer, executive producer, and star over the first two seasons. Clearly, this was not enough — not for Adlon, specifically, who dazzled audiences from behind the camera, nor for a show unlike anything else on TV. It’s often hard for programs to break back into the Emmys, once early attention fades, and not even a heralded final season could drive voters back to this uniquely encouraging family portrait. Their loss. 

Snubs: Best Limited Series

“Station Eleven”

Patrick Somerville’s HBO Max limited series landed in late December 2021 and, despite rave reviews and a seemingly long tail (based on online discussion, articles, and overall awareness), the hopeful spin on an apocalyptic saga failed to crack into the Best Limited Series race. It would be easy to cite competition — including from HBO’s summer sensation “The White Lotus” — but the series did earn key nominations for Directing (Hiro Murai), Writing (Somerville), and Lead Actor (Himesh Petel). Genre may have been the tougher hurdle to clear for a broad category like Limited Series. Science-fiction, even made with the human grace shown here, can still be dismissed by viewers who struggle to take it seriously. Had enough voters actually watched “Station Eleven,” it’s hard to imagine them keeping it off their ballots.

“Maid”

Despite key nominations for Directing (John Wells), Writing (Molly Smith Metzler), and Lead Actress (Margaret Qualley), the widely seen Netflix drama couldn’t crack the top category — or any other categories, for that matter. The grounded, low-key production likely had a hard time competing with big-budget limited series in the craft categories, but its exclusion from Best Limited Series may have come down to timing. Four of the five nominees were released in 2022, closer to Emmy voting, and the straggler was “The White Lotus” — which no one was forgetting about.

“The Staircase”

Voters loved Colin Firth and Toni Collette’s lead performances in HBO Max’s true crime adaptation, but that was it. Strong reviews had to help, but the late release date combined with a bevy of true crime stories this year may have made this an expendable viewing option for Emmy members.

“Gaslit”

Starz continues to struggle at the Emmys. Though the premium cable giant — that’s never been able to muster the same level of awards attention as peers like HBO and Showtime — did land four nominations for its star-studded prestige limited series, the stars and series itself weren’t among them. Julia Roberts was again shut out of the running, after delivering an Emmy-worth turn in Amazon Prime’s 2018 mystery “Homecoming,” as were Sean Penn, Betty Gilpin, Dan Stevens, and a very deserving Shea Whigham.

“We Own This City”

David Simon’s tough track record with the TV Academy continues, as his latest HBO limited series was shut out completely. At this point, glowing reviews, incredible performances, and topical relevancy don’t seem to be enough to grab voters’ attention. Despite “The Wire’s” growing esteem as one of TV’s best-ever shows, Simon’s last four original series — “The Plot Against America,” “The Deuce,” “Show Me a Hero,” and “Treme” — have netted a not-so-grand total of two Emmy nominations. That every one of those excellent series aired on HBO only makes their underperformance all the more baffling. Justice for Jon Bernthal, at the very least.

Snubs: Drama Actors

Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”

After being considered a frontrunner to win for her performance in Season 1, many thought the beloved “Friends” star a shoe-in for the Apple drama’s second season. Instead, voters pivoted to her co-star, Reese Witherspoon, apparently preferring her turn as a reporter who embraces her sexuality over Aniston’s intense COVID scenes. While the series’ dip in total nominations — from eight in Season 1 to three this year — is easily explained by the poor reviews, Aniston’s exclusion is a bit more puzzling.

Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”

After a nomination in every prior season (and a win for Season 1), Brown was finally shut out of the Best Actor in a Drama Series category for “This Is Us.” Even more troubling: Zendaya is the only Black actor to be nominated in the Drama Lead and Supporting acting categories. Brown’s exclusion goes hand-in-hand with “This Is Us” falling out of favor, but the latter fact is a systemic issue Academy members have to address.

John C. Reilly, “Winning Time”

As go the Lakers, so goes the show about the Lakers. Following a miserable season for Los Angeles’ favorite sports team, the HBO drama that resurrected the team’s hey-day in the early ’80s failed to score with Emmy voters — including John C. Reilly, in a lead turn that does it all. “Winning Time” only pulled in one nomination (for Best Cinematography), which means voters may have liked what they saw, but only those visuals.

Sadie Sink, “Stranger Things”

Even the pandemonium for “Running Up That Hill” couldn’t get the fan-favorite star of “Stranger Things” her first Emmy nomination. Perhaps even more perplexing: The series hasn’t landed an acting nomination since Season 2, and that’s despite Carmen Cuba being honored with an Outstanding Casting nomination this year. It seems “Stranger Things” is starting to be treated like the blockbuster movies it emulates: all attention toward the spectacle, little to the humans at its center.

Snubs: Comedy Actors

Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”

With Steve Martin and Martin Short both landing Best Actor noms, and the series pulling in a whopping 17 total nods (tied for the second most of any comedy), Selena Gomez seemed like a sure thing. And she was, at least when it came to her role as a producer. But the TV Academy’s acting branch didn’t smile upon the young star. Her turn has been met with two general reactions: lavish praise and casual indifference. While the vocal majority sides with the former, it appears the latter opinion resides within the Emmys.

Sarah Goldberg, “Barry”

Another woman snubbed on a series with plenty of nominations (14 total), including widespread recognition for her male co-stars (Henry Winkler, Anthony Carrigan, and Bill Hader all landed acting nominations), Goldberg’s exclusion seems particularly aggravating in context. When her character Sally is pushed to her limits, time and time again, Goldberg finds incredible range within the burgeoning actor/writer/director, putting on a clinic while playing someone who’s still learning. She and Stephen Root, also snubbed, should share a drink or two today.

Natasha Lyonne, “Russian Doll”

Joining “Atlanta” as a one-time Emmy favorite that struggled to earn similar recogintion after a long break, “Russian Doll” pulled in just one nomination for its second season: Cinematography (Ula Pontikos). The comedy races are all crowded this year, and Lyonne’s long-anticipated follow-up came and went this spring without stirring up the same fervor as its “Groundhog Day”-esque debut. 

Brian Tyree Henry, “Atlanta”

As mentioned earlier, “Atlanta” dropped in Emmy esteem for its delayed third season. But Henry? Really? The performer has only stretched his range in the time between seasons, starring in everything from the Oscar-worthy “If Beale Street Could Talk” to Marvel’s blockbuster super-gods movie, “Eternals.” Plus, the Alfred-centric episodes of “Atlanta” Season 3 were among the best entries, as recognized by Hiro Murai’s directing nod for “New Jazz.” Henry’s exclusion is a real puzzler.

Snubs: Limited Series Acting

Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto, “WeCrashed”

Jared Leto is having a tough 2022. After being shut out of the Oscars for his wild turn in “House of Gucci,” he’s been kept off the Emmy shortlist as well, for his well-received turn as another true-life figure in “WeCrashed.” Hathaway will have another shot at gold later this year, when Film Academy voters weigh in on “Armageddon Time,” but her snub here seems pretty simple: “WeCrashed” scored zero nominations. Voters may have been tired out of founder dramas, or they may have simply written this one off with the reviews.

Ben Foster, “The Survivor”

Barry Levinson’s HBO film made its way into the Best TV Movie race, but Foster’s committed performance was ignored. Actors in films often have a hard time competing with peers in limited series, but that’s where they’re stuck, since rarely are there enough submitted movies to justify a separate category, just for film performances.

Renee Zellweger, “The Thing About Pam”

NBC’s attempt to play with the big boys didn’t pan out at the Emmys. Despite an Oscar winner leading the way and a true crime tale at its center, “The Thing About Pam” was shut out on Tuesday. Ratings were solid, so voters likely just preferred more polished fare.

Surprises: Drama

“Severance” Puts Up Big Numbers

Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller’s Apple TV+ drama was a buzzy sensation throughout 2022, but it’s always hard to tell how many people are actually watching a streaming series, not to mention if TV Academy members are among them. Releasing early in the year gave voters time to catch up, and Apple’s weekly release helped build momentum week-to-week. Plus, the Emmys do love Ben Stiller. Personally, he has six nominations and one win, while his last TV program (“Escape at Dannemora”) earned 12 nominations. Topping that seemed like a long shot, but “Severance” pulled in 14 nominations, making it a top Drama contender.

Reese Witherspoon Breaks In

I have no answers here. I’m sorry.

“Killing Eve” Stands (Relatively) Strong

After racking up nine nominations in Season 2 and eight for Season 3, “Killing Eve” returned to its first season total of two nominations for the final episodes. While that may be a disappointment to BBC America, the series still pulled in nominations for both its leads — Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh — despite a largely negative reaction to the series’ ending. Chalk this one up to voters’ unbridled love for two very talented, very appealing stars.

Rhea Seehorn Is Finally an Emmy Nominee

It only took seven years and the imminent threat of the series’ finale, but TV Twitter’s consensus pick for Must Have Emmy Nomination has finally been realized. About damn time. On to the winners’ circle!

Surprises: Comedy

“What We Do in the Shadows” Holds Strong

After landing eight nominations in its second season, “What We Do in the Shadows” fell to seven nominations for Season 3. FX would obviously prefer that number to be higher, but in a year with a slew of strong new and returning comedies — “Ted Lasso” and “Barry” are back, “Abbott Elementary” and “Only Murders in the Building” are new — and a general dismissal of widely seen genre fare (like “Peacemaker” and “The Book of Boba Fett”), nearly keeping pace is pretty good news for a cable show based on a cult classic film. Toss in an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination and things are looking up for the vampire mockumentary.

“The Great” Actors Make Waves

Huzzah! Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult are Emmy nominees! “The Great” barely cracked the Emmy race in its first season, with two nominations in Writing and Directing. The Hulu comedy only got two nominations again in 2022, but at least voters are spreading the love — and recognizing two acclaimed turns, amid so many other acting submissions.

“The Ms. Pat Show” Is a Best Director Nominee

BET doesn’t produce a ton of craft contenders — not in the way of fellow nominees from HBO, FX, and Hulu, anyway — but Mary Lou Belli found a way to break through anyway. Come September, she’ll be facing Bill Hader (“Barry”) and Lucia Aniello (“Hacks”), but for now, it’s time to celebrate a true surprise on nominations morning.

“Ted Lasso” Doesn’t Let Up

“Ted Lasso” came out strong, right out of the gate, landing 20 nominations for its excellent debut season. But there was reason to believe Season 2 couldn’t match the same lofty score. For one, Season 1 was boosted by dual marketing: FYC ads and previews for the upcoming season served both purposes, and the new episodes airing as ballots were cast for the Emmy winners certainly helped the show do so well come September.

But Season 2 didn’t have those same advantages. The last new episode debuted way back in October 2021, and Apple hasn’t even dated Season 3. Plus, Season 2 generated more controversy than most jubiliant comedies. So could all that, plus added competition, mean “Ted” was in for a tough 2022 Emmys?

Not bloody likely. (I’m so sorry.) Season 2 matched its sterling first season with 20 nominations, and even landed first-time nods for Toheeb Jimoh, Sarah Niles, James Lance, and Sam Richardson. Voters still love “Ted,” and in a few months, we’ll find out if he’s still their No. 1 comedy.

Surprises: Limited Series

“Inventing Anna”

Shonda Rhimes may have had a rough morning with “Bridgerton” — as the 12-time nominee from 2020 saw its second season tally drop to three — but “Inventing Anna” not only matched the period favorite in total nominations, it landed marquee nods in Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series, too. Not a bad showing for a series with a 57 Metascore.

“Pam & Tommy”

Timing is key when it comes to the Emmys, and “Pam & Tommy” landed at the perfect time. By debuting ahead of this year’s notorious glut of Emmy contenders, the Hulu original earned extra attention and made the most of it. Voters clearly remembered their time well, as “Pam & Tommy” made off with 10 nominations — more than limited series like “Station Eleven” and “The Staircase,” and even more than buzzy new shows like “Abbott Elementary” and “Yellowjackets.”

Himesh Patel, “Station Eleven”

While Patrick Somerville’s series fell short of the overall category (and worthy performances from Mackenzie Davis and Matilda Lawler were unfortunately ignored), Himesh Patel is now an Emmy nominee, as it simply had to be. Give that man a hug.

“Impeachment: American Crime Story”

Technically, the latest chapter of FX’s “American Crime Story” franchise could be framed as a surprise or a snub. Compared to “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” (22 nominations, nine wins) and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” (18 noms, seven wins), “Impeachment” under-performed with just five nominations. It was shut out of the Limited Series race, and only one actor was nominated (Sarah Paulson), when the previous “ACS” entries netted six performance nods each.

But considering that “Impeachment” faced worse reviews and greater competition than its predecessors, I have to consider its five nods a net positive. Exactly zero experts on Gold Derby predicted Paulson would be nominated, despite her win for “The People vs. O.J. Simpson,” and I doubt any more expected a Writing nomination. “Impeachment” felt like such a non-factor throughout the months and months of Emmy campaigning — in part, perhaps, because of its early Fall release date — that any attention, let alone multiple nods, is its own accomplishment.

More Surprises!

“Late Night with Seth Meyers” – Variety Talk Series

It finally happened. After four straight years being recognized for Writing and a Directing nomination in 2021, “Late Night with Seth Meyers” cracked into the Outstanding Variety Talk Series category. The honor was long overdue, and bolstered by another nomination for Directing (Alexander J. Vietmeier) and a Short-Form nod for the show’s “Corrections” segments.

“I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” – Short-Form Series

Speaking of the Short-Form category, Meyers’ friend and former “SNL” colleague Tim Robinson landed the first Emmy nomination for “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” his critically acclaimed sketch show that, since episodes run for just 15 minutes, qualified in the Short-Form category. (Had Netflix submitted in the Variety Sketch field, Robinson would’ve been going after one of two slots, which ended up going to last year’s nominees, “SNL” and “The Black Lady Sketch Show.” Competition is a bit lighter in Short Form, but what matters is that “I Think You Should Leave” is now Emmy nominated.)

Marvel’s Overall Emmy Impact

Last year, “WandaVision” blew Emmy voters away to the tune of 23 nominations. This year, even more Marvel series were in competition, but none carried the shiny swagger of the first Disney+ MCU series, nor the critical acclaim of Jac Schaeffer’s original.

So how did “Loki,” “What If…,” “Hawkeye,” and “Moon Knight” do? (“Ms. Marvel” will be eligible next year.) The most recent entry, “Moon Knight,” led the way with eight nominations, followed by Tom Hiddleston’s alligator-boosted adventure with six. Tack on three for “What If…” plus two for “Hawkeye,” and Marvel raked in 19 nominations in 2022.

While fewer than “WandaVision” (and well behind the MCU’s 28 total noms, thanks to five from “Falcon and Winter Soldier”), that’s still a respectable haul. Animated Series, Cinematography, Costumes, Music Composition — these are all competitive categories, and Marvel again performed well on the crafts front. Perhaps most important: This year’s tallies mean Emmy voters are still paying attention to Marvel, so whenever they get their act together and produce an actual TV show, they could once again rake in the awards love.

“Arcane: League of Legends” – Animated Program

The animated branch of the TV Academy is known for looking beyond populist fare, appropriately fawning over “Primal” last year and nominating pleasant surprises like “Phineas and Ferb” and “Sofia the First” in past categories. This year, alongside semi-permanent fixtures like “The Simpsons” and “Bob’s Burgers,” voters also recognized Netflix’s cult favorite “Arcane.” Now the question becomes: What will win?