The 2023 Emmy Nominations were announced today, and like we do when all nominations are announced, we cheer, cry, and complain. As a result, I will share the good, the bad, and the biggest surprises from the nominations announced this morning.
The Good
Jason Segal – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jessica Williams – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
There isn't a show on television this year that I have shouted at the rooftops about more than Shrinking. The Apple TV+ series created by Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, and Jason Segel is about a grieving therapist who ignores ethics and his training to tell his patients exactly what he thinks. Segel and Williams were incredible in this series, and I was happy to see them rewarded for their excellent performances.
Dominque Fishback – Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
If there are two wishes for names I wish to hear on the day of the Emmy Awards as winners, one would be Jessica Williams for Shrinking, and the other would be Dominique Fishback for Swarm. If you have been holding off for a reason to watch Swarm, look no further than reading this message as a reason why you need to. The voters undercut the entire series but rewarded Fishback for her deeply haunting and chilling performance as Dre is hands down the best of the year.
The Bear grabs 13 Nominations
The Bear grabbed 13 nominations this morning which was tied with Beef and Dahmer for the sixth most nominations. From Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach grabbing nominations for Lead Actor, Actress, and Supporting Actor in Comedy Series to Jon Bernthal and Oliver Platt snagging Guest Actor in a Comedy Series to the writers and directors nominated, it cleaned up. The fun fact about the nominations is that this is all for season 1, so season 2 will surely get some love next season.
The Bad
Shrinking and Harrison Ford Snubbed
The love for Shrinking was something I had hoped to see spread throughout the show. I expect nominations for Shrinking in Comedy Series, Writing, and, more importantly, Harrison Ford in Supporting Actor. Ford has had a storied career, but his performance as Paul is one of his bests. How could the Academy not see him getting high, eating fun dip, and not thinking nomination was a shoo-in?
The White Lotus Sweeps
The White Lotus is a show that I loved in season one, but the second season of the show fell short of what the first brought us. Time and time again, we see limited series or shows that could've stayed one season fail to capture the magic of the first. The White Lotus caught the Emmy voter's eyes and came in third place behind The Last of Us and Succession with 23 nominations.
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Succession and The White Lotus dominated this category. There are eight nominations in this category, four went to Succession (Alexander Skarsgard, Alan Ruck, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun), and four went to The White Lotus (F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Will Sharpe). So the first glaring thing is, did they watch any other show? The other is that this wasn't even a strong season for Ruck or Braun on Succession, and for The White Lotus, I am not sure any of them outside of Sharpe was worthy of a nomination. Be better voters.
The Surprises
Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s – Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
I enjoyed Obi-Wan Kenobi, and not shocked by the Costumers, Sound Editing, and Mixing nominations, but Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series? Nobody expected to hear that this morning, especially over shows like Swarm, Dead Ringers, and Black Bird (which everyone thought was a lock).
Jury Duty Grabs Four Nominations
While even I was predicting that Jury Duty would get nominations, it was more see it to believe it simultaneously. The series followed a trial through the eyes of Ronald Gladden, a juror unaware that the entire case was fake. Not only did James Marsden get a nomination, but the series was able to nab an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination which was massive.
Keri Russell – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
The Diplomat was a series that I loved quite a bit, and I had hoped to hear Keri Russell's name this morning, and when I did, I jumped for joy. This is the fourth nomination for Russell, who plays Ambassador Kate Wyler, a career diplomat that lands a high-profile job she isn't suited for. Some folks had Russell locked into the nomination, but fierce competition made me think she would be left out.
