The nominations are in, and Emmy season is officially upon us! On July 15, the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences announced the nominated shows and individuals for the 77th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. And, living in an era of seemingly unlimited shows and networks, naturally, there were always going to be series and performances that didn’t make the cut. And, on the other end of the spectrum, some shows and people became happy surprises, truly showcasing it’s just an honor to be nominated.
Here’s our list of five snubs and five surprises from the 2025 Emmy nominations. And be sure to check out the Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Nate Bargatze, on Sep. 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
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2025 Emmy Awards Snubs and Surprises
Snub: Steve Martin & Selena Gomez
Only Murders in the Building continues to rack up Emmy nominations in its fourth season. However, the mighty trio at the head of the Hulu comedy was not fully represented with nods. This year, only Martin Short received a nomination, leaving Steve Martin and Selena Gomez out of the proceedings. Given the fact that Only Murders itself was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, it’s odd that only one member of our favorite group of podcasters got singled out.
Surprise: Jeff Hiller
While there is so much TV out there to consume, occasionally, the Emmys will come through with a critically hailed performance from a lesser-watched show. During its three-season run, Somebody Somewhere was not the most popular HBO series. But those who watched fell in love with the dramedy, especially with Jeff Hiller’s performance as Joel. And so many TV fans were thrilled to see perhaps the happiest surprise of this year’s nominations, with Hiller earning a nod.
Snub: Taylor Dearden
Given the massive acclaim behind its first season, it was always expected that The Pitt would rack up at least nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as its lead actor, Noah Wyle. However, with the ensemble-like nature of the cast, fans were debating before the nominations if anyone else from the medical drama would get the nod. Fortunately, we did get nominations for Katherine LaNasa and Shawn Hatosy. But it seems like the character by far who got the most groundswell support in terms of popularity was Taylor Dearden’s Dr. Mel. So it’s quite a surprise that, out of all the non-Wyle Pitt cast members to be nominated, one did not go Dearden’s way.
Surprise: Ron Howard & Martin Scorsese
As a loving send-up to the zaniness of Hollywood, The Studio took up the lion’s share of Guest Actor and Guest Actress spots at the Emmys. Even so, it was fairly shocking to see two legendary directors, Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese, get nominated for their guest roles as themselves in the Apple TV+ comedy series. The mere thought of Scorsese winning an acting Emmy truly means we are living in the oddest timeline.
Snub: Natasha Lyonne
This time last year, Poker Face was one of the biggest critical darlings in the Comedy category. And at the forefront was Natasha Lyonne, who not only served as the leading lady but also executive producer of the Peacock mystery series. So it’s surprising that, despite not finishing Season 2 before the eligibility deadline, the only nods Poker Face got went to Outstanding Stunt Coordination, and Cynthia Erivo’s turn as quintuplets in the premiere. In the course of just a year, Lyonne and Poker Face‘s chances in awards season seemingly went from alive and well to D.O.A.
Related: Iconic Actress, 77, Makes Emmy History With Record-Breaking Nomination
Surprise: Beyoncé
Beyoncé has, of course, conquered the world of music, one of the biggest superstars on the planet today. But the voters got in formation for “Queen Bey,” as she got nominated for both Outstanding Variety Special (Live) and for Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special for her Christmas Day halftime performances during the Netflix NFL games (colloquially known by fans as the “Beyoncé Bowl.” It is truly surreal to say this, but Beyoncé is one of the most nominated stars of the 2025 Emmy season.
Snub: The Voice
The nominations in the reality TV category for 2025 were, by and large, the same as previous years. But one major exception came in the Outstanding Reality Competition program. This year, The Voice got left out of contention in favor of Survivor. This marks the first time since 2012 and Season 2 that the hit NBC singing series did not receive a nomination in the category. Evidently, it seems the voters did not hit the “I WANT YOU” button for the thirteenth year in a row.
Surprise: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
On the other end of the reality TV spectrum is newcomer The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The misadventures of the women behind “MomTok” took the internet by storm when Season 1 aired last year. And, with Season 2 recently finished – and Season 3 soon on the way – the Hulu show’s nomination in Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program may mean this will not be the last time we’ll see it in the hunt for Emmy gold.
Surprise: Uzo Aduba
In a rarity for the Emmys, Uzo Aduba gets a nomination for a series that has recently been canceled! Netflix chose to axe The Residence, its White House mystery series, after only one season. However, it seems the voters had seen enough to be impressed by Aduba’s role as investigator, giving her the nod. It’s also very possible her name carries weight, considering she’s won three Emmys in the past decade.
Snub: The Handmaid’s Tale and Elisabeth Moss
Oftentimes, the Emmys will acknowledge a tentpole series that takes a bow with a previously announced final season. So, after being nominated each of its first four years, and winning Outstanding Drama in 2017, it is odd not to see The Handmaid’s Tale get at least a nod for its recent conclusion. Perhaps even more surprising is Elisabeth Moss’ omission. She was up for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama nearly every eligible year, and won the award in 2017. However, she was left off (and Offred) the list entirely for her last trip to Gilead.
Related: Here Are the 2025 Emmy Nominations
