72nd Emmy Nominations Announced And Netflix Leads the Pack, Beating out HBO For Nominations

Happy Emmy Nomination Day! In a time when nothing really is as to be expected, the Emmy Announcements were a nice reminder that the show must go on. This morning they announced the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards Nominees While the actual content of ceremony itself is in question, it will most likely be a virtual ceremony, it is still slated to premiere as scheduled on September 20, 2020.

The Primetime Emmy Awards celebrate television and limited series on cable and streaming services. With the emergence of streaming wars, there is a lot more content that is to be reviewed. The Primetime Emmys will nominate series from Netflix, Apple +, Hulu, Cable, Amazon Prime and pretty much everything in between. However, before we get to the announcements and nominations, it’s important to remember that the 2020 Emmy Awards will only be celebrating series within the June 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020 time frame. Anything produced and released after May 31, 2020 will be recognized the following year.

Before we dive into the individual nominations by category, I wanted to call out the Networks and Streaming Sites that earned the biggest praises and nominations. For the first time in a few years, Netflix leads the pack, beating out HBO that normally holds this spot. HBO’s Emmy Nominations are usually packed with Game of Thrones and Veep categories, but this year both shows have ended and they no longer have the largest stacked category. Netflix leads nominations with 160 Noms followed by HBO with 107, NBC with 47, ABC with 36 and FX with 33. All the other streaming service or cable nominations did not compete with the top networks. Most importantly the largest and only streaming service on the Top nomination list is Netflix, who is many years ahead of the other streaming services that are competing.

During our current state of the world, it really shouldn't be a huge surprise that Netflix has beat out HBO for leader in nominations. People are turning to streaming in their quarantine lives and Netflix has consistently turned out new content, engaging viewers and critics alike. Although we are in an unprecedented time, this seismic shift towards Streaming Nominations gives us a look into the future of the Emmy's and its nominations and winners - the other Award Shows should be prepared for that as well.

Image from Rotten Tomatoes

If we are looking at total nominations by series, we will find that Watchmen leads the pack with 26 Nominations for the HBO Superhero Noir Series. Watchmen is followed by Maisel (20 Noms), Ozark (18 Noms), Succession (13 Noms), Mandalorian (15 Noms), Schitt's Creek (15 Noms) and The Crown (13 Noms).

Image from Rotten Tomatoes

Now that we have that covered, let’s dive into the nominations (full list below).

Let’s start with the Snubs.

There are a lot more Snubs than Surprises this year in my opinion. Here is my re-cap for Snubs:

2020 Emmy Snubs

1. Viola Davis (How to Get Away With Murder)

HTGAWM was in his senior season this year and it definitely felt like sure nomination for Davis who has been nominated in this category before and won. Despite her previous wins, Emmys like to at least nominate performances in actors/actresses final seasons. Davis is an iconic actor and is the reason that the show went on for so long anyways given her outstanding performances. A bit of a shock she wasn’t nominated at all.

2. Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People)

Although Normal People, the breakout BBC/Hulu Series, earned 6 Emmy Nominations this morning, including Paul Mescal for Best Actor in a Limited Series/Movie, noticeably absent was his counter-part Daisy Edgar-Jones who played Marianne. Normal People was rewarded with nominations in the writing and directing categories, but it’s a bit if a surprise that Daisy didn’t receive an equal nomination as Paul did in Best Actress in a Limited Series. They share screen time throughout and one can’t operate without the other. A bit of a surprise, but glad Normal People got the credit it deserved.

3. Al Pacino (Hunters)

While the Emmy's generally loves to reward movie starts that step into a television role or series (look at Meryl in BLL2 and Michael Douglas in Kominsky Method), it did not acknowledge Al Pacino in his role in the Hulu Series Hunters. Al Pacino, known as one of the greats in Hollywood, did not receive a nomination for his role in the American Nazi-Killing drama which is a bit of a snub considering his professional background.

4. The Great (Hulu)

Hailed as one of the most original shows of 2020, The Great was completely absent from nominations and it did qualify. The Hulu Series premiered in April to critical and fan acclaim and did not receive a single nomination. The Series stars Nicolaus Hoult and Elle Fanning in this satirical portrayal of Catherine the Great’s rule in Russia. A real snub.

Wrapping up snubs, many people were posting that Nicole Kidman or Reese Witherspoon were snubbed in their Limited Series Big Little Lies Season 2 and Little Fires Everywhere, but I don’t see it. Kidman was already celebrated with her performance in Big Little Lies during the first season where I thought she had a better performance. As for Witherspoon in Little Fires Everywhere – the show didn’t work for me personally. Although I loved the book, the Limited Series came off feeling like an overdone soap-opera. It was definitely trying to vie for the position of Big Little Lies as it was recognized enormously after its first season, it didn’t fare as well here and I didn’t think it needed to be.

Reese Witherspoon in Little Fires Everywhere

2020 Emmy Surprises

1. What We Do in The Shadows (FX)

Not only did What We Do In The Shadows get nominated for Best Comedy Series, it also received a total of 8 nominations! The small comedy that could is based off the notion of a house of vampires that are struggling to adapt and comprehend the tropes of modern life. This satirical comedy is a bit of a bit of a fan favorite and has very similar vibes to Schitt’s Creek. It is beloved by fans and has a pretty strong following that, like Schitt’s Creek, has propelled them into the Emmy discourse.

2. Meryl Streep (Big Little Lies 2)

The scream heard 'round the world - remember that scene? It's what got Meryl a nomination.

Ok, am I surprised that Meryl is nominated…no, she’s Meryl Streep but at the same time, Big Little Lies Season 2 just wasn’t good. It was obvious that Big Little Lies Season 2 was put together in efforts to please its fan-base, but after is debut last year, it was obvious that they were grasping at straws. The plot made no sense, the storylines didn’t really add up, it just wasn’t the best. However, it absolutely killed every category when the first season premiered and they brought back the original cast, tried to hit some hard topics and they brought Meryl. So is it a surprise that Meryl was recognized, not really. It’s a surprise that the show was nominated in other categories.

3. Hollywood (Ryan Murphy)

Honestly, an amazing surprise that Murphy was able to pull this off. Hollywood was an overpacked, overworked semi-autobiographical series that just didn’t work for me. The Series walked away with 12 Nominations and left me flabbergasted. It is noted that the Emmy’s love Ryan Murphy and has rewarded his work throughout the years dating back to Glee and American Horror Story, these nominations just seemed like a stretch to me. Not happy. Bye.

4. Maisel.

I will never stop being surprised that this show is nominated in almost every category, every year. A total snooze.

As I close the Surprise Nomination List, I refuse to include Zendaya in this category because it is not a surprise nomination for the HBO Show Euphoria, it is totally and rightfully earned. If you are confused that Zendaya earned a nomination in Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series beating out Reese Witherspoon and Elizabeth Moss, then you obviously have not watched Zendaya’s performance. Zendaya jumped out on a ledge with her portrayal of Rue, a seventeen-year-old drug addict in a Gen-Z driven society and it paid off. I’m not going to go into details why this is such a deserved nomination, if you have seen the show, you know that it just is. And it is absolutely devastating that we will not be able to see Zendaya slay the red carpet at this year’s awards – but still, the recognition is deserved. And that’s all on that.

In regards to my opinion, because I know that everyone scrolled down this far to see what I have to say...still got you? Ok. I am perfectly content with the nominations this year, in fact all of my favorite performances. and series were acknowledged give or take a few. Schitt's Creek is finally getting the love that it deserves after its final season with nominations in Leading Actor/Actress and Supporting actor/Actress and Paul Mescal earned his first nomination in his first ever feature production - before this he had only appeared on stage in Europe. Although Veep's reign in Comedy Series is over (RIP), I am happy to see the series and performances that have taken its place.

And that’s the re-cap! Be sure to check out all the other category and nominations below and be sure to tune into the 72nd Emmy Award on Sunday, September 20th.

And that's the sitch.

Drama Series

“Better Call Saul” (AMC)

“The Crown” (Netflix)

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)

“Killing Eve” (BBC America/AMC)

“The Mandalorian” (Disney Plus)

“Ozark” (Netflix)

“Stranger Things” (Netflix)

“Succession” (HBO)

Comedy Series

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)

“Dead to Me” (Netflix)

“The Good Place” (NBC)

“Insecure” (HBO)

“The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime Video)

“Schitt’s Creek” (Pop TV)

“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Limited Series

“Little Fires Everywhere” (Hulu)

“Mrs. America” (Hulu)

“Unbelievable” (Netflix)

“Unorthodox” (Netflix)

“Watchmen” (HBO)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)

Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)

Steve Carell (“The Morning Show”)

Brian Cox (“Succession”)

Billy Porter (“Pose”)

Jeremy Strong (“Succession”)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)

Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)

Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”)

Laura Linney (“Ozark”)

Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)

Zendaya (“Euphoria”)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)

Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”)

Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)

Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)

Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”)

Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Linda Cardellini (“Dead to Me”)

Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Issa Rae (“Insecure”)

Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”)

Hugh Jackman (“Bad Education”)

Paul Mescal (“Normal People”)

Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”)

Mark Ruffalo (“I Know This Much Is True”)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”)

Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”)

Regina King (“Watchmen”)

Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”)

Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere”)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”)

Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”)

Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”)

Nicholas Braun (“Succession”)

Kieran Culkin (“Succession”)

Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”)

Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”)

Meryl Streep (“Big Little Lies”)

Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)

Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”)

Julia Garner (“Ozark”)

Sarah Snook (“Succession”)

Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)

William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place”)

Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)

Sterling K. Brown (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Mahershala Ali (“Ramy”)

Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)

Dan Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)

D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place”)

Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”)

Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)

Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)

Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)

Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Dylan McDermott (“Hollywood”)

Jim Parsons (“Hollywood”)

Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend”)

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”)

Jovan Adepo (“Watchmen”)

Louis Gossett Jr. (“Watchmen”)

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Holland Taylor (“Hollywood”)

Uzo Aduba (“Mrs. America”)

Margo Martindale (“Mrs. America”)

Tracey Ullman (“Mrs. America”)

Toni Collette (“Unbelievable”)

Jean Smart (“Watchmen”)

Reality Competition

“The Masked Singer” (FOX)

“Nailed It” (Netflix)

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)

“Top Chef” (Bravo)

“The Voice” (NBC)

Variety Sketch Series

“A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)

“Drunk History” (Comedy Central)

“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Variety Talk Series

“Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)

“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS)

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)

“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)

“Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)