Movies

2025 Emmy Nominations: Shocking Snubs and Surprises You Didn’t See Coming!

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This year’s Emmy race is in full swing as of Tuesday morning, revealing a rather expected roster of 2025 nominees that predominantly acknowledges returning shows. It seems the Television Academy holds a soft spot for “The White Lotus,” “Severance,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Hacks,” and “The Bear.” However, there are some delightful surprises among the usual Pedro Pascal, Jean Smart, and Martin Short nominations, along with a few head-scratching exclusions if you’re sensitive to such minor snubs. Here’s a look at five of each.

5 Egregious Exclusions

Taylor Dearden, The Pitt

In this morning’s nominations, The Pitt was among the notable winners, as expected, earning 13 nods across various categories such as drama series, lead actor (Noah Wyle), and supporting actress (Katherine LaNasa). However, it’s worth noting that Taylor Dearden’s outstanding performance as Dr. Mel King, a compassionate young resident who takes care of her autistic sister, was surprisingly overlooked. As Sarah Kurchak noted in her piece for TIME, Dearden’s portrayal of this unique character offers a breath of fresh air by departing from the typical autistic stereotypes, integrating various characteristics into her character, and seamlessly incorporating her into the show.

Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face

In the first season of this Columbo tribute, Natasha Lyonne was recognized for her outstanding lead performance, adding to her three previous nominations. This suggests that the Academy isn’t biased against her. However, it’s puzzling why she didn’t receive any acknowledgment for the second season of Poker Face, even though the category is extremely competitive this year. Given that she’s the only consistent cast member, Lyonne essentially carries the entire show. Few actors possess the unique personality to pull off such a feat. Moreover, Lyonne isn’t merely relying on charm; her performance in this season demanded emotional depth as well. The recently concluded storyline required her to portray the emotional toll of the numerous murders she’s solved, offering viewers a glimpse into a darker, more vulnerable side of Charlie Cale.

Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter, Hacks

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are the central figures of the series “Hacks“; there’s no disagreement about that, and Einbinder’s nomination, consistently in the supporting actress category (possibly due to some justified categorization), gives me hope she might win her first award for a performance that just gets better with each season (Smart has already won three times as a lead actress). However, the show has also been greatly enriched by the unique partnership between co-creator Downs, who plays Hollywood’s kindest manager, and breakout star Stalter, his assistant turned partner. Since “Hacks” has consistently received Emmy recognition throughout its run, and both Downs and Stalter have been generating buzz for their outstanding performances in Season 4, it’s disappointing not to see them recognized.

Lola Petticrew, Say Nothing

In a remarkable, multi-layered portrayal, Petticrew embodied the true-life IRA activist Dolours Price, delivering a performance that ranged from robbing a bank in a nun’s habit to enduring force feeding during a prison hunger strike. Her exceptional acting was worthy of recognition in a category that seemed overshadowed by well-known actors (Cate Blanchett and Meghann Fahy were satisfactory in average shows; if ‘Black Mirror’ wasn’t an anthology, Rashida Jones’ role would have been categorized as a guest appearance). However, my disappointment at her snub is also displeasure that FX’s gripping and contemporary adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s nonfiction book about the Troubles was overlooked in favor of series like ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story’ and ‘The Penguin’.

Rhenzy Feliz, The Penguin

Discussing “The Penguin,” here’s another way to put it: Colin Farrell receives recognition as a leading actor for his growling role, hidden under layers of latex. Deirdre O’Connell is noted in the supporting actress category for her wide-ranging portrayal that mirrors Nancy Marchand’s iconic performance as Tony Soprano’s troubling mother. (Both O’Connell and Farrell are exceptional performers, but this isn’t their finest work.) Despite its basic nature, “The Penguin” garnered more nominations (24) than any other show except “Severance” (27). It’s puzzling that Rhenzy Feliz, who delivered an emotional core to the series while acting opposite a heavily-made up protagonist, was overlooked despite Cristin Milioti’s well-deserved lead actress nomination.

5 Wonderful Surprises

Uzo Aduba, The Residence

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but acknowledge that Regina King, in her extraordinary role, elevates every production she graces. This sentiment rings particularly true when it comes to the intriguing White House whodunit from Shondaland, where her detective character is as pivotal to the show’s charm as Natasha Lyonne’s is to Poker Face. In less capable hands, an eccentric, brilliant birder like Cordelia Cupp might have felt over-the-top and unrealistic. However, Uzo Aduba masterfully unveiled the hidden human vulnerability beneath the confident facade, creating a multidimensional protagonist that we genuinely cared about to solve a seemingly forgettable murder mystery.

Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but express my admiration for the remarkable performance delivered by the creator and star of the darkly humorous Irish crime dramedy, “Bad Sisters.” While some might argue that season two was a challenge to follow after what seemed like a flawlessly concluded limited series, Horgan manages to pull it off with grace.

Behind the camera, she’s nothing short of extraordinary, masterfully portraying Eva Garvey, the eldest and surrogate mother of five unruly, tormented, and deeply trauma-bonded adult sisters. Eva is a complex character, at once funny, nurturing, and grounded, yet also painfully lonely and bitter. Her love and resentment form the heart of “Bad Sisters,” keeping the story compelling.

Zach Cherry, Severance

The Emmys have consistently shown a fondness for the series “Severance.” In its first season, it was only the major actors like Adam Scott, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette, and Christopher Walken who received nominations, overlooking some outstanding performances. However, experts correctly assumed that the show’s rising stars, Britt Lower and Tramell Tillman, would eventually receive recognition in the second season. What was unexpected was the addition of Zach Cherry to the list of nominees. His versatile portrayal of both the inner and outer versions of Dylan generated some of the most poignant moments in Season 2. Kudos to Kier for his exceptional work!

Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons

I quite liked Tina Fey’s modern take on Alan Alda’s ’80s romantic comedy, yet I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was her finest work. Consequently, I can understand why the Academy largely overlooked it. However, they did make a good decision in nominating Domingo for his exceptional performance in the supporting role. As an accomplished architect with a complex relationship dynamic – being both Tina Fey’s character’s platonic soulmate and having a rocky marriage to an Italian man – Domingo brought far more depth to the stereotypical gay best friend character.

Jeff Hiller, Somebody Somewhere

Indeed, wouldn’t it be wonderful if “Somebody Somewhere” had been nominated in every category it was eligible for? The captivating performances of Bridget Everett and Murray Hill certainly deserve just as much acclaim as any other nominee. If only the series could continue, allowing its characters to live out their natural lives on screen. Yes, that’s my heartfelt wish. However, it’s important to note that “Somebody Somewhere” has not made significant Emmy waves in the past, so this recognition for its third and final season is a delightful surprise. And it’s especially gratifying that the spotlight is on Hiller, who brought such depth and warmth to his character, serving as both the anchor and the optimistic heart of the show.

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2025-07-15 22:06

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