It’s awards season once again, and the 26,000 Emmy voters clearly played favorites. Apple TV+’s corporate horror hit Severance led the pack with 27 nominations, followed closely by the Hollywood satire The Studio, which earned 23. HBO Max, however, led the overall network tally at 142 nominations, thanks to shows like Hacks (14), The White Lotus (23), and The Penguin (24).
But as always, this year’s Emmy nominations brought both pleasant surprises and truly infuriating omissions. Some snubs saw deserving actors or shows left out entirely of their respective categories, while unexpected nominees shook up the usual lineup.
For your viewing pleasure, here are five standout good and bad surprises among the 2025 Emmy nominees.
Good Surprises
Jeff Hiller, ‘Somebody Somewhere’
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeff Hiller had already given up hope on getting an Emmy nomination for Somebody Somewhere, HBO’s underdog comedy, which concluded this year with its third season. But it looks like the Emmy gods have spoken, and Hiller is finally getting his due for playing Joel, the sweet and cheeky counterpart to show star and writer Bridget Everett’s Sam.
Jake Gyllenhaal, ‘Presumed Innocent’
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Jake Gyllenhaal is now, for the first time in his 31-year acting career, an Emmy nominee. Gyllenhaal is being recognized for his portrayal of prosecutor Rusty Sabich in the Apple TV+ legal thriller series Presumed Innocent, based on the 1987 Scott Turow novel of the same name. The nomination comes as a bit of a surprise, especially since there are several top contenders within the category, including The Penguin’s Colin Farrell and Adolescence’s Stephen Graham. But now that Gyllenhaal is officially in the running for an Emmy, perhaps this will be enough to convince him to return for the show’s second season.
Colman Domingo, ‘The Four Seasons’
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
The Four Seasons, Tina Fey’s lighthearted update of the ‘80s Alan Alda-led rom-com, failed to make a splash at this year’s round of Emmy noms. This is forgivable, especially since the Netflix series isn’t Fey’s strongest gift to television (see 30 Rock). Thankfully, though, Colman Domingo is getting his flowers for playing the show’s suave, charming Danny.
‘Paradise’
Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Hulu’s political drama series Paradise snuck in a total of four nominations this year, despite sitting well out of the top five predictions for all of its nominated categories. Set in a city-sized bunker three years after Doomsday, Paradise gives us the ultimate nightmare scenario: being trapped underground with a bunch of potential murderers. Besides the show getting a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, cast members Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson are all Emmy contenders in their respective categories.
Bad Surprises
The Cast Members of ‘Andor’
Andor may have managed to bring home four Emmy nominations, but this doesn’t mean that the Star Wars live-action series wasn’t robbed. The Disney+ series was nominated for the categories of Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. However, outraged fans have been quick to point out that none of the show’s stars, including Diego Luna, Genevieve O’Reilly, Adria Arjona, and Denise Gough, are nominated for any categories. Andor also remains to be the most critically acclaimed live-action Star Wars series.
Steve Martin, ‘Only Murders in the Building’
Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building received eight nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Martin Short. But, just as they did in 2023, the Emmy voters have chosen to snub Steve Martin for his performance as the crochety Charles-Haden Savage. Perhaps voters overlooked how Martin carried most of the emotional weight in the show’s latest season, which saw Savage grieving the death of a longtime friend.
Natasha Lyonne, ‘Poker Face’
Although Peacock’s Poker Face is in the running for an Emmy — guest star Cynthia Erivo was nominated for the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category — it’s strange that show lead Natasha Lyonne isn’t getting any recognition for the series’ second season.
‘La Máquina’
Do Emmy voters have a vendetta against Diego Luna? La Máquina, Hulu’s darkly funny miniseries about aging boxer Esteban (Gael García Bernal) caught up in a terrifying conspiracy thanks to his fast-talking manager Andy (Luna), saw positive reviews from fans and critics when it was released last October. But perhaps the miniseries was a bit too strange for the Emmys, as it failed to make its way into this year’s Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category.
