The 2025 Emmy Award nominations are officially out. And, oh boy, did they spark some serious chatter online.
On Tuesday, July 14, actor Harvey Guillén from What We Do in the Shadows teamed up with Brenda Song, known for Running Point. They joined Cris Abrego, who leads the Television Academy, to share this year’s list of nominees. The main event, hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, will light up Los Angeles on Sunday, September 14.
When the dust settled, Severance led the pack. Its second season earned a whopping 27 nominations. HBO’s The Penguin wasn’t far behind with 24 nods. New shows like The Pitt and The Studio made a big splash with many nominations. Meanwhile, fan favorites like The Last of Us saw their stars grab multiple acting nods.
But let’s be real. The Emmy nominations are always a mixed bag. They come with a few eyebrow-raising moments and some outright snubs. Here’s a look at the biggest surprises that got everyone talking:
1. The Curious Case of “White Lotus”
Fans quickly took to social media, feeling let down. Many were upset that Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola didn’t get recognized. They played the memorable brothers, Saxon and Lochlan.
Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher from the show involved Sam Rockwell. He landed a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. What made it surprising? He only appeared in four episodes. That wild monologue he delivered? If you know, you know. It seems it paid off big time. Other cast members who earned nominations include Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Aimee Lou Wood, Walton Goggins, and Jason Isaacs.
2. Hasn’t ‘Presumed Innocent’ Been Out Forever?
Jake Gyllenhaal got a nod for Best Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. He played Rusty Sabich in the Apple TV+ production. This series debuted in June 2024. Many TV viewers were surprised by this nomination. It felt like the show had aired ages ago, even though it was quite recent.
3. Meghann Fahy Gets Her Due
It seems the third time’s the charm for Meghann Fahy. She’s played various wealthy characters vacationing on remote islands. Finally, she’s scored an Emmy nomination for it! Fahy is up for Best Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Her role as Devon DeWitt in Sirenas earned her the well-deserved recognition.
4. No Love for ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Stars
This series has a strong history with the Emmys. Yet, fans were shocked that Selena Gomez wasn’t nominated this year. She plays Mabel in the Hulu hit. Her co-star, Steve Martin, also missed out on any acting nods. While the show itself did get a nomination for Best Comedy, only Martin Short received individual recognition. He’s nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
5. ‘The Bear’ Still a Comedy, Deal With It
Despite what a vocal part of the internet believes, The Bear is still considered a comedy. This wasn’t going to change for this year’s Emmys. The show continues to rack up nominations in the comedy categories. It’s important to remember these nominations are for Season 3, which aired in 2024. Not for Season 4, which dropped more recently.