2025 Emmy Nominations: Celebrated Picks, Notable Omissions, and Unexpected Contenders
The 2025 Emmy nominations have arrived, sparking both excitement and debate among TV fans and critics. While expected favorites secured their spots, several surprising inclusions—and high-profile snubs—have dominated the conversation.
Expected Front-Runners Shine
HBO’s Dystopia Rising led the pack with 18 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nods for leads Naomi Watts and Jonathan Bailey. The dystopian thriller has been a critical darling since its debut.
Netflix’s The Last Diplomat, a political drama starring Regé-Jean Page, followed closely with 15 nominations, reaffirming its status as a streaming powerhouse. Comedy favorites like Hacks (Max) and Reservation Dogs (FX) also maintained their strong Emmy presence.
Biggest Snubs: Who Missed the Cut?
Despite acclaim, some shows and performers were surprisingly absent:
- Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building) was overlooked for Lead Actress in a Comedy, though her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short received nods.
- The Morning Show (Apple TV+) was shut out entirely, despite a buzzy season.
- Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us: Part II) missed a Lead Actor nomination, though the show earned a Drama Series nod.
Pleasant Surprises
A few under-the-radar picks delighted fans:
- Maya Rudolph earned a Lead Comedy Actress nomination for her quirky Prime Video series Bold Type.
- FX’s The Bear broke into the Drama category after submitting as a comedy last year, earning Jeremy Allen White another nomination.
- Indie gem Chloe & Theo (Hulu) scored a surprise Limited Series nomination.
What’s Next?
With the ceremony set for September, the focus now shifts to potential wins. Will Dystopia Rising dominate, or will an underdog take the spotlight? The full list of nominees is available on the Television Academy’s website.
