The critically acclaimed drama “The Pitt” dominated this year’s Emmy nominations with an impressive 25 nods, marking a formidable sophomore season, while the beloved comedy “Hacks” received a record-setting 24 nominations in its final run.
These totals position HBO Max at the forefront of both drama and comedy categories, with “Hacks” surpassing the previous record for most nominations for a comedy series, jointly held by “The Studio” last year and “The Bear” in 2024.
Overall, HBO Max led all outlets with 122 nominations, boasting three shows vying for both best drama and best comedy series.
Among the 118 Primetime Emmy categories announced on Wednesday, several notable figures received recognition.
The late Rob Reiner earned a nomination for his guest acting on “The Bear,” Bad Bunny was acknowledged for his Super Bowl halftime show, and newlywed Taylor Swift secured a nod for “The Eras Tour – The Final Show” concert special.
“Hacks” is poised for a memorable farewell, while “The Pitt” has firmly established its presence. Emmy voters frequently favor departing shows, and the intergenerational comedy “Hacks” has been a consistent favorite since its debut.
Star Jean Smart, who has won best actress in a comedy for all four previous seasons, is widely expected to claim a fifth.
Her co-star Hannah Einbinder, who broke through last year with a supporting actress win, received her fifth nomination.
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Paul W. Downs, the show’s co-creator and cast member, garnered three nominations for acting, writing, and producing.
“The Pitt,” an emergency room series, emerged as a rookie sensation last year with significant wins, including best drama series, best actor for Noah Wyle, and best supporting actress for Katherine LaNasa.
This season, the show solidified its hold on the acting categories.
Wyle was again nominated for best actor, alongside nods for his directing and producing, as was LaNasa.
Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, and Sepideh Moafi also received nominations, with “The Pitt” securing four of the seven supporting actress spots and three supporting actor slots.
Its swift return for another season, in an era where major contenders like the upcoming season of “Severance” often take extended breaks, contributed to its success, as did the absence of “The White Lotus” and its elite ensembles between seasons.
Apple TV also demonstrated a strong showing with two new series making significant impacts in their first seasons.
“Pluribus,” a drama from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” creator Vince Gilligan, earned 18 nominations, including best actress in a drama for its sole lead, Rhea Seahorn, who is considered a frontrunner.
The horror comedy “Widow’s Bay” received 19 nods, with star Matthew Rhys nominated for best actor, as well as for producing and for his acting in the limited series “The Beast in Me.”
Two other Apple TV comedies, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” featuring nominated stars Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer, and “Shrinking,” also secured nominations.
Harrison Ford received a best supporting actor in a comedy nomination for “Shrinking,” with many predicting this could be the year the Hollywood legend achieves EGOT status. His castmate Jason Segel is up for lead actor.
Several individual stars also had a big day. Many observers believe this could be the year Martin Short finally wins best actor in a comedy for “Only Murders in the Building,” for which he received three nominations, including for producing and for hosting “The Match Game.”
A Netflix documentary about him, “Marty, Life is Short,” also earned two nominations. Jason Bateman garnered four nominations for his performing and producing roles in both “Black Rabbit” and “DTF St. Louis.”
ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” continued to be a rare success for traditional broadcast networks, with creator, star, and two-time Emmy winner Quinta Brunson receiving three more nominations, and the show securing seven.
The wide array of Emmy categories brought a diverse mix of unexpected and beloved figures into the spotlight. Rob Reiner, who passed away in December, has a chance at his third Emmy with a posthumous nomination for guest actor in “The Bear,” approximately 50 years after winning two for his acting in “All in the Family.”
Five-time Emmy winner Michael J. Fox also received a nomination in the same category for his portrayal of a patient with Parkinson’s disease in “Shrinking,” a condition the actor was diagnosed with in the 1990s.
The Super Bowl halftime show, featuring Bad Bunny on NBC, garnered nine nominations. Swift’s “Eras Tour” concert special received five nominations, including one for the singing superstar herself as a producer. She holds one previous Emmy for interactive media from 2015, in addition to her 14 Grammys.
Despite facing political scrutiny in recent years, late-night staples “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” received nine nominations, and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” earned six.
Netflix’s “Beef” led the limited or anthology series categories with 16 nominations. Following a dominant first season in 2023, the anthology’s new cast members, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, and Charles Melton, all received nominations.
“Euphoria” made its return to the Emmys after a long absence, securing seven nominations, including a nod for Zendaya, who previously won best actress in a drama for the first two seasons in 2020 and 2022.
Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller announced the nominees at the Television Academy in Los Angeles.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, airing on NBC, are scheduled for September 14. Mariska Hargitay, the longtime star of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” will host the ceremony and is also a double nominee for directing and producing the documentary “My Mom Jayne.”
Taylor Sheridan’s series saw major snubs, with both Landman and The Madison expected to score nominations. Well-received series completely shut out include Industry, Matlock, I Love L.A., Elsbeth, and The Lowdown.
Matlock star Kathy Bates was a surprising omission from the drama actress nominees, having been a frontrunner last year before losing to Britt Lower for Severance.
Love Story actors Paul Anthony Kelly (John F. Kennedy Jr.) and Grace Gummer (Caroline Kennedy) were both left out of this year’s nods, despite the show landing six nominations, including for best limited or anthology series and star Sarah Pidgeon (Carolyn Bessette).