Apple TV+’s haunting workplace sci-fi drama Severance topped the list of Emmy nominees announced Tuesday, earning a commanding 27 nominations and emerging as an early frontrunner ahead of this year’s ceremony.
Close behind was The Penguin, HBO Max’s gritty spinoff centering on the infamous Batman villain, which landed 24 nods. Meanwhile, two darkly comic satires — HBO Max’s The White Lotus, a takedown of the wealthy elite, and Apple TV+’s new industry-skewering comedy The Studio — tied for third with 23 nominations each.
In the comedy races, The Studio leads the pack, followed by previous winners Hacks (14 nominations) and The Bear (13).
The announcement by the Television Academy officially kicks off the countdown to the 77th Emmy Awards, set to take place on September 14 in Los Angeles.
After last year’s historic sweep by Shogun, which won 18 awards, this year’s drama contest promises more nuance and competition.
Severance, which follows employees of the mysterious biotech firm Lumon whose memories are split between work and personal lives, is a standout. Star Adam Scott is up for Best Actor — but he faces tough competition.
Among his challengers is Noah Wyle, returning to his medical drama roots in The Pitt, HBO Max’s real-time portrayal of a grueling 15-hour shift in a Pittsburgh ER. The show earned 13 nominations and has drawn comparisons to ER on steroids, according to Deadline’s Pete Hammond.
Also vying for Best Drama are Andor (Disney+), The Diplomat (Netflix), The Last of Us (HBO), Paradise (Hulu), Slow Horses (Apple TV+), and The White Lotus (HBO).
In the Best Actor category, Scott and Wyle will face off against Oscar winner Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), and Sterling K. Brown (Paradise).
For Best Actress in a Drama, Britt Lower (Severance) is nominated alongside Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) and Keri Russell (The Diplomat). The White Lotus also earned a slew of acting nods across the supporting categories.
The Penguin is up for Best Limited Series, competing with FX’s Dying for Sex and three Netflix titles: Adolescence, a gripping teen murder saga; Black Mirror, the returning anthology ; Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, a chilling true-crime drama.
Adolescence breakout Owen Cooper, who plays a 13-year-old British boy accused of murdering a classmate, earned a nomination for Supporting Actor. Monsters received multiple acting nods, including for Cooper Koch, Javier Bardem, and Chloë Sevigny.
Comedy newcomer
Apple’s The Studio has quickly become a comedy heavyweight. The sharp Hollywood satire, created by and starring Seth Rogen, earned major recognition, including acting nods for Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara, plus six guest performer nominations.
Returning contenders Hacks and The Bear remain in the mix. Hacks, last year’s Best Comedy and Best Actress winner for Jean Smart, is nominated again. The Bear, which swept the previous ceremony held in January 2024 (delayed by Hollywood strikes), also earned major nods, including for its star Jeremy Allen White, a two-time Best Actor winner.
Rounding out the Best Comedy category: Abbott Elementary (ABC, Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Only Murders in the Building (Hulu), Shrinking (Apple TV+), What We Do in the Shadows (FX).
Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) and Brenda Song (Running Point) unveiled the top nominees during a livestreamed announcement.
Final-round voting begins in mid-August, giving Television Academy members a month to catch up on the contenders. Comedian Nate Bargatze will host the awards ceremony on September 14.
AFP
