by Christopher James
The Team was particularly excited for the four nominations for Jury Duty.
No one loves awards shows more than The Film Experience team. Loving an award show doesn’t mean nomination morning is happy. You take the lumps of coal with the bright, shiny surprises. There was plenty to like this year at the Emmys, and about as much to complain about as well. After all, there are more than 100 categories, even if most of them went to Succession.
Click for our thoughts after the jump...
What nomination(s) are you most happy about?
ERIC BLUME: James Marsden and JURY DUTY. Not only is the show an ingenious hybrid of comedy formats, the creative team beautifully rode an incredible high-wire act full of constantly-changing dynamics while taking good, moral care of their unwitting lead. It's a smashingly artful comedy with a gloriously silly streak. Not only did Marsden do a sly spin on himself, he did the heavy-lifting to keep the tone and sanctity of the concept firmly in line. Bravo to everyone involved in that show...and it was thrilling to see its "surprise" nomination.
BABY CLYDE: James Marsden for JURY DUTY
NATHANIEL R: JURY DUTY in Best Comedy because I love a good surprise and it's a very funny and fresh show with an extremely difficult-to-pull-off ratio. It's only in moments when underdogs show up that you can believe that anyone is paying any attention at all to their ballot other than "I still love the shows I always love!"
EUROCHEESE: James Marsden! An under rewarded actor pulling off a high wire act with hilarious gusto.
LYNN LEE: FIRE ISLAND for best TV movie, seeing as how it was my favorite movie of 2022. Also happy for all the love for THE BEAR and JURY DUTY.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES: Overall there were so many people I cheered for - James Marsden, Sharon Horgan, Meghann Fahy, Phil Dunster (the only good part of TED LASSO this season), Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Daniel Radcliffe, Ali Wong, Steven Yeun and Lizzy Caplan. Each category was roughly 80% expected nominees and 20% fun, positive surprises. My favorite nominations were for FIRE ISLAND in TV Movie and Writing. I had completely lost hope that it would be remembered (in fact, I thought its eligibility had passed). It was one of my favorite films of last year and I’m overjoyed Joel Kim Booster will get recognition for his ingenious and joyful adaptation.
What nomination(s) was the biggest groaner?
BABY CLYDE: The lazy SUCCESSION, THE WHITE LOTUS and THE LAST OF US domination in Drama Supporting/Guest categories and the side splitting, laugh riot THE BEAR in comedy.
NATHANIEL R: It feels so weird to type this but Sarah Niles for TED LASSO in "Guest". She 100% deserved her surprise nomination last season in Supporting Actress and is brilliant in that role but the truth is that she basically had a cameo or two season with almost nothing to work with in the scenes. It's an example that most voters pay no attention to what they're actually voting on and just vote for shows/roles they love every year, never once considering the actual season or material they're voting on. The Emmys desperately need 'blue ribbon' panels for the Guest categories because blink and you'll miss it cameos get nominated too frequently simply because they love the actor in general or the character was popular in a previous year.
EUROCHEESE: Even as a huge SUCCESSION fan, I have never been on the Nicholas Braun train.
LYNN LEE: OBI-WAN KENOBI, really?? I will love Ewan McGregor forever, but those are hours of my life I'll never get back.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES: This past season of TED LASSO bummed me out beyond belief. It was a spectacularly steep dip in quality, eventually becoming the most saccharine, bloated and cringeworthy show on television. Still, I wasn’t deluded enough to think it would get shut out. That said, it’s unfortunate to see it grow its nomination tally. In particular, Juno Temple had a frustratingly cliche storyline that did not deserve any awards attention. Guest actors like Sarah Niles, Sam Richardson and Harriett Walter barely made an impression. A writing nomination is particularly laughable. At least the three shows that hogged the Drama side were good.
Which snub(s) hurt the most?
ERIC BLUME: All things THE GREAT. The writing and direction for this terrific show is aces across the board, and Nicholas Hoult's wondrous comic instincts are peerless. But the biggest omission is Elle Fanning. She should have handily beat Jean Smart last year, and her multilayered balancing act of imperiousness and vulnerability borders on the miraculous.
BABY CLYDE: Everyone forgetting that Leo Woodall was the best thing in THE WHITE LOTUS. And THE TRAITORS. How do you forget THE TRAITORS??? Admittedly not quite as good as the UK version but still utter genius. I'm currently in the middle of The Traitors Australia.
NATHANIEL R: Seeing Harrison Ford left out of Supporting Actor in a Comedy for SHRINKING. He's 81 years old and he absolutely slayed in that part. It’s the best he's been in a long time and you could feel the fun he was having despite playing someone who was constantly not 'fun'.
JUAN CARLOS OJANO: THE HANDMAID’S TALE in everything except Drama Actress. Where is Yvonne Strahovski in Supporting Actress? Where is McKenna Grace in Guest Actress? I’m saying pass to this year’s Emmys. Bye!
EUROCHEESE: Selena Gomez still goes unnoticed for ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, though Comedy Actress was hard to crack.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES: The minute I saw Sharon Horgan’s name for BAD SISTERS come up, I was expecting a Drama Series nomination. It can get Directing, Writing and Acting nominations, but the Television Academy thought it would be ok to pass over it for a reheated Game of Thrones spinoff (HOUSE OF THE DRAGON). Also, THE TRAITORS was the most fun I had all year and Alan Cumming was a major reason why. Talk about a perfect host.
Which show(s) do you wish were in the conversation more and why?
ERIC BLUME: SCHMIGADOON. Not everything in the show lands, but it's a completely unique show out there on the landscape. Surely Jane Krakowski could have taken Juno Temple's slot this year. Granted, it's a niche show, but it's insanely inspired when it's firing on all cylinders.
BABY CLYDE: THE OTHER TWO because it's the best show on TV. More laughs every five minutes than an entire Season on The Bear.
NATHANIEL R: THE OTHER TWO. I realize it was unceremoniously dumped due to troubles on set but it's a brilliant satire of show business and it's a pity that it's only viewed as a 'cult' show when it runs circles around so many other comedies in terms of wit and invention and acting, too.
EUROCHEESE: I'm thrilled THE OTHER TWO finally scored a nomination, but a nod for Molly Shannon would have been lovely.
LYNN LEE: BLINDSPOTTING because it is *brilliant*, spotlighting issues (race, class, the inequities of the U.S. justice system) that need to be spotlighted but in such a funny and creative way, and the second season was the best TV I've seen all year. Unfortunately it doesn't have any big stars and it's on Starz, which no one watches.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES: I would join in the chorus for THE OTHER TWO, but right now I’m just rejoicing in its writing nomination. My favorite show of last year was SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, which blended heartache and humor into a beautiful confection. Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller portray the greatest friendship on TV right now and their ups and downs drew the biggest cries and cheers from me.
Which category is your favorite and why?
ERIC BLUME: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama looks phenomenal. I`m one of the few who stand by the multiple noms for both SUCCESSION and THE WHITE LOTUS, where the acting was simply off the charts across the board. The nods for Sabrina Impacciatore and Simona Tabasco were inspired and deserved, and all eight nominees do marvelous work.
BABY CLYDE: Groaner it may be, but hard to stay mad at that Supporting Actress in a Drama Series line-up.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES: The Writing in a Limited Series or TV Movie category was particularly inspired and sensational. I already mentioned my admiration for FIRE ISLAND, but top to bottom the category is great. FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE and BEEF were my two favorite shows of this past season, so seeing them honored was incredibly exciting. It's also great to have a real TV Movie race, and PREY and WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC MOVIE are interesting genre examples that I'm happy are getting recognized speicfically for writing. I'm still trying to make my way through SWARM, but it's an ambitious show that definitely gets points for a singular vision.
Which shows do you expect to win the big prizes now that nominations are out?
ERIC BLUME: It'll be deeply satisfying to see SUCCESSION win all the things this year. Culkin and Snook will go down as two of the best winners ever, and Macfadyen's second trophy will be anything but default. Few TV shows can truly be called Shakespearean, but Succession is that (and maybe better?). Sweeps are boring, but in this case, it'll be earned.
BABY CLYDE: Impossible to look past SUCCESSION and ABBOTT ELEMENTARY.
NATHANIEL R: Despite the plethora of nominations for TED LASSO I really think the 'honor the finale' glory will be reserved for Succession and ABBOTT ELEMENTARY will continue its two season rise to win Comedy.
JUAN CARLOS OJANO: SUCCESSION in Drama, BEEF in Limited. Comedy is still a toss-up. Even TV Movie is exciting! With Reality missing, it’s now PREY vs WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY vs FIRE ISLAND with a chance of Dolly Parton.
EUROCHEESE: SUCCESSION and THE BEAR look like the front runners for everything. Coolidge will be THE WHITE LOTUS' prize. Fingers crossed for Culkin. Snook, White, Brunson and Macfayden feel like done deals. James Marsden will surprise with a win.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES: Common wisdom would say that SUCCESSION and TED LASSO are shoo ins for the series wins. I feel more confident in Succession than Ted Lasso; however, both have competition for the win. THE WHITE LOTUS could angle for a surprise Drama Series win, while both ABBOTT ELEMENTARY and THE BEAR have the momentum to overthrow Ted Lasso. On the limited series front, I’m hoping and predicting BEEF will win. Additionally, I’m so thrilled that we have a TV Movie race, which will likely go to the fantastic WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY.
What were your favorite and least favorite Emmy nominations this year? Let us know in the comments.