The Television Academy giveth and the Television Academy taketh away. Outside of the Recording Academy, there is likely no awards body that frustrates the public, media, and industry more than Emmy Awards voters. So this year’s Snubs and Surprises were certainly notable because, frankly, the almost always are.
READ MORE: “Succession,” “The Last of Us” and “The White Lotus” dominate the 2023 Emmy nominations
Granted, there was no surprise that programs such as “Succession,” “The Last of Us,” “The White Lotus,” “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” or “The Bear” landed a boatload of nominations. But considering the seemingly universal disappointment with “Ted Lasso’s” third and likely final season, not many expected it to drum up another 21 nods. And considering it often played second fiddle to “Succession” during its final season run, the fact “Barry” took 11 nominations had to be a pleasant surprise for HBO. Was “The Great” getting shut out a surprise? Not really. Nor was “Yellowjackets” earning just three after a subpar second go around. Shows fade in the mind of Emmy voters. It happens.
That being said, there were some bigger snubs and surprises that deserve your attention.
Surprise: “The Problem with Jon Stewart”
The Variety Talk Series underwent a name change (was previously Outstanding Variety Talk Series), and saw seven-time winner “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” move to the expanded Outstanding Scripted Variety Series category. Still, not many predicted that Jon Stewart’s slightly under-the-radar Apple TV+ series would make the cut over “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” or the final season of “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (or maybe Emmy members really don’t like those two contenders).
Snub: “The Traitors”
The first of two massive disappointments for Peacock, the buzz-worthy series was not only snubbed in the Reality Competition Program category, but Alan Cumming didn’t make the Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program show cut either. This after a BAFTA Award nomination for its UK counterpart just a few months ago. The show did land one Casting nomination, but, clearly, it was just not on the radar of enough Television Academy members. Especially in a year where “Survivor” cracked the category for the first time since…2006.
Snub: “Poker Face”
The biggest shock for Peacock execs has to be that their biggest hit, the Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne anthology series didn’t make the Comedy Series field. Meanwhile, Amazon Freeve’s “Jury Duty” likely stole their slot (more on that in a minute). Lyonne did land an Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series and the show earned three other below-the-line noms but this was not the campaign result the NBCUniversal streamer was expecting.
Snub: Rachel Weisz, “Dead Ringers”
Honestly, we’re stunned. Weisz delivered one of the best performances of an actor in any medium this year and didn’t make the Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie cut. We figured the Prime Video program might get screwed in the larger Limited Series category, but not this. At least the Cinematography branch rewarded the series with a nod.
Surprise: Kathryn Hahn, “Tiny Beautiful Things”
Weisz loss was Hahn’s gain. The “Tiny Beautiful Things” star earned her third Emmy nom as Television Academy members demonstrated a love for genuine melodrama this year. Even Hulu publicists had to be pleasantly surprised about this one.
Surprise: Kumail Nanjiani and “Welcome To Chippendales”
Speaking of Hulu being pleasantly surprised, Nanjiani cracked a super competitive Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie field for his performance in “Welcome to Chippendales.” The limited series earned four other nominations including Juliette Lewis, Annaleigh Ashford, and Murray Bartlett.
Snub: “We’re Here”
Even after winning a Peabody Award last month, the HBO reality documentary series was snubbed in the Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program category. A nominee in 2021, a head-shaking snub considering the battles for LGBTQ+ rights it chronicled in its third season. The silver lining? A fourth season is in the works.
Surprise: “Vanderpump Rules”
“We’re Here’s” loss in Unstructured Reality was…Bravo’s gain? Scandoval had an impact on Television Academy voters and is the first Bravo reality show to earn a major series nomination since “Below Deck.” It also cracked Editing for a Unstructured Reality Program too.
Surprise: Sharon Horgan and “Bad Sisters”
Apple TV+ might be disappointed with just two nominations for “Shrinking” (it campaigned hard), but the BAFTA-winning “Bad Sisters” surprised with four including Lead Actress In A Drama Series for Horgan. The co-creator also took a Writing For A Drama Series nomination in a very, very competitive category.
Surprise: “Obi-Won Kenobi”
“Dead Ringers” was right there. “Swarm” was right there. “Blackbird” was right there. “The Patient” was right there. But, this disappointing “Star Wars” adventure cracking the Outstanding Anthology or Limited Series field instead? Yikes.
Snub: Steve Martin, “Only Murders In The Building”
The Lead Actor In A Comedy Series category got cut to just five nominees this year and that cut one “Only Murders in the Building” star out of the picture. Still think Martin deserved to get in over “Shrinking’s” Jason Segel.
Surprise: “Fire Island”
Searchlight’s already classic romantic comedy that should have been in theaters earning a Television Movie nod? Down for it! Joel Kim Booster sneaking into the insanely competitive Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie category? You know it!
Surprise: “Prey”
Speaking of both those Television Movie categories, 20th Studios’ “Predator” prequel had a massive morning earning seven nominations overall including a directing nom for Dan Trachtenberg. Sequel, when?
Snub: Andy Serkis, “Andor”
The fact that not one “Andor” actor got nominated was disappointing, but it was hard to believe that Serkis wouldn’t make the Guest Actor in a Drama Series cut for his incredible performance as Kino Loy. And yet, here we are.
Surprise: “Jury Duty”
Some pundits called it, but we were skeptical. No doubt delighting Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, the little Amazon Freevee series that could took four nominations including Comedy Series, Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for James Marsden and – the biggest surprise – Writing for a Comedy Series.
Surprise: Pedro Pascal
Listen, we knew that Pascal was likely going to earn a nomination for “The Last of Us.” And, sure, a Guest Actor in a Comedy Series nom for hosting “Saturday Night Live” was possible, but a third nom for narrating “Patagonia: Life On The Edge Of The World”? Few pundits thought that was happening.
Surprise: “The Other Two”
It’s been a rough month for “The Other Two” showrunners Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. Not only did Max announce the current season was its last, but reports of on-set issues (involving HR and the writer’s room) finally percolated to the surface publicly. The good news is the show went out earning its first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series for the incredible “Cary & Brooke Go To An AIDS Play” episode. That’s history, baby.
Snub: “1923” and “Yellowstone”
Not one nomination. Paramount went to the mat for the Taylor Sheridan universe and the Television Academy completely rejected it. Not Helen Mirren. Not Harrison Ford. The one nomination it earned? A stunt recognition for “Tulsa King.” Oh, my.

The Primetime Emmy Awards are currently scheduled for Sept. 18th. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be handed out in separate ceremonies on Sept. 9th and 10th.