Emmy nominations came in Wednesday morning, and looking back at my list of non-negotiables, it would appear that Television Academy voters ticked most of the boxes.
Jon Bernthal, Jamie Lee Curtis and Bob Odenkirk all earned nominations for that episode of “The Bear” that set a new standard for emotionally draining holiday family gatherings. Jean Smart will return to the house for “Hacks,” joined by Hannah Einbinder, who should definitely win the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy. And while the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was pretty good, Larry David will also be back — good news if awkward red carpet interviews are your thing.
Despite the usual avalanche of submissions, the nominations managed to offer their fair share of surprises, pleasant and otherwise. And yes, there were omissions, which, for the sake of alliteration and search engine optimization, we'll call “snubs.” Because when it comes to these kinds of lists, that's also non-negotiable.
SURPRISE: “Reservation Dogs” (comedy series)
After three seasons and receiving praise from nearly every awards group (Peabody, Writers Guild, American Film Institute, Independent Spirit Awards, for starters), the Emmys finally showed some love to TV's best coming-of-age series just as it was saying goodbye to viewers. We can't help but wonder what might have become of the series had the Emmys gotten on board sooner, but the series is nostalgic enough on its own. There's no point dwelling on the what-ifs at this moment of well-deserved recognition, which included the great D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Bear Smallhill) in the lead actor category.
SURPRISE: “Palm Royale” (comedy series)
Is this really a surprise? Well, yes — and no. Yes, because this series starring Kristen Wiig was an epic disappointment, a ponderous caricature, a mishmash of tones that might have worked if it had ever picked an approach and stuck to it. (It could have been, say, a fun, over-the-top soap opera.) But Apple TV+ gave it a big promotional push, and the names of the cast (Allison Janney, Laura Dern, Carol Burnett) demanded a certain reflexive respect it didn’t quite deserve.
SURPRISE: Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building” (lead comedy actress)
You like it! You finally like it! After three seasons, Gomez (a constant and essential presence in the show’s central trio alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short) earned her first nomination for Hulu’s still-delightful murder-mystery comedy. Yes, she often functions as the sensible, disaffected millennial caught between the two comedic legends’ antics, a (sometimes) thankless role that she nonetheless manages to play excellently.
UNKNOWN: Kelsey Grammer, “Frasier” (lead actress in comedy)
Grammer won four Emmys for his role as the good Dr. Frasier Crane, taking his last 20 years ago for what was then the show's final season. But the reboot often felt like a cautious exercise in nostalgia. And, apparently, expressing support for a convicted felon doesn't help his cause with many Emmy voters.
DOWNLOAD: “The Curse” (drama series)
Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie’s black comedy about a married couple trying to launch a reality show was so unbearable to watch that it ended up being billed as a drama and no one objected. It was inventive, strange, terrifying and so completely alienating that I sincerely wonder how many voters watched it through to the end. Apparently, not enough of them (Emma Stone didn’t even get a nomination), which, fortunately or unfortunately (I can’t decide), should put an end to any plans for a second season.
SURPRISE: “Ripley” (limited series)
I always try to make a generous assumption about awards season voters, which sometimes makes me look foolish. I say this in case you're wondering how it can be surprising that the year's best miniseries — a gorgeous, meticulously crafted adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel — managed to score a nomination. Some people found “Ripley” to be a bit too methodical in its storytelling. I thought its meticulous attention to detail was fascinating, and I'm glad to know that enough members of the Television Academy agreed.
SNUB: “Masters of the Air” (limited series)
Parents don't vote for Emmys? Sure, this sumptuous presentation of the American air campaign against Nazi Germany didn't have the impact of Band of Brothers and The Pacific, but its old-school, Greatest Generation-style approach to history was more than satisfactory.
SURPRISE: Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” (lead actress in miniseries)
Playing Babe Paley, he smoked 200 cigarettes a week. That alone deserves a nomination.
DOWNLOAD: Kate Winslet, “The Regime” (lead actress in the miniseries)
“The Regime” failed to be a farcical examination of empty political spectacle and populist authoritarianism, but Winslet was an absolute delight playing the unhinged autocrat who can turn an out-of-tune version of “If You Leave Me Now” into a thing of ridiculous beauty.
