It’s been a long time since broadcast networks dominated the Emmy Awards, but this year’s nominations are a reminder of how little influence they currently have on the race. Only one broadcast program was selected in the major drama, comedy, and limited/anthology series categories. ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.”
“Abbott” received nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actress (Quinta Brunson), Supporting Comedy Actress (Janelle James) and Supporting Comedy Actor (Tyler James Williams).
And looking at the entire Emmy nominations list, only seven live-action scripted shows aired in prime time: “Abbott,” “FBI,” “The Neighborhood,” “The Rookie,” “Shifting Gears,” “Stumble,” and “Will Trent.”
The lack of a broadcast agent is part of ongoing conversations the TV Academy is having with broadcasters as its current “wheel agreements” with ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC come to an end and it looks to sign new licensing deals for the Emmy Awards ceremony. (My “Disability” simulcast idea is still being pushed and seems to be gaining momentum!) Meanwhile, here’s some more trivia, weirdness, and curiosities coming out of the 2026 Emmy nominations.
Keep it short: This year’s Emmy Awards include Jason Bateman (nominated for “Black Rabbit” and “DTF St. Louis”), Matthew Rhys (“Widow’s Bay” and “Beast in Me”), Co. There are a number of people who have topped their Emmy acting performances, including Ruman Domingo (The Four Seasons and Euphoria), Laurie Metcalf (Monster: The Ed Gein Story and The Hux), and Nick. Offerman (“Margo’s Got Money Trouble” and “Death by Lightning”). But Martin Short has an even rarer three-way. He was nominated for lead comedy actor (“Only Murders in the Building”) and game show host (“Match Game”), and was the subject of the documentary “Marty, Life is Short,” which was nominated for documentary or nonfiction feature.
Talk Buddies: Sure, they compete on the air and sometimes for awards, but in recent years late-night hosts have developed a bond that extends to helping each other win Emmys, like Jimmy Kimmel did with Stephen Colbert’s campaign last year. Now, Colbert has a chance to give back: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” ” was nominated in two categories (Production Design and Lighting Design/Lighting Direction) for an episode that featured Colbert and another late-night rival, Seth Meyers, as guests.
Canceled but not forgotten: NBC’s late “Stumble” outperformed most currently airing shows, earning a nomination in the choreography category for a scripted program. Other canceled shows that earned nominations include Peacock’s “The Ponies” and “Poker Face,” Prime Video’s “Generation V” and Apple TV’s “Palm Royale,” which earned eight nominations. And, of course, there’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which was nominated for a top nine series after CBS inexplicably ended its top-rated late-night show.
Directing history: Sally Richardson-Whitfield gained attention for the HBO Max episode “The Gilded Age” episode “My Mind Is Made Up” and the “Task” episode “Beyond Injustice and the Idea of Justice, There’s a River,” making her the first Black woman to receive two nominations for Outstanding Director in a Drama Series.
Not so bad: “The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny” earned nine nominations. This is the most ever for a Super Bowl halftime show (beating Lady Gaga’s six in 2017). But Bad Bunny was much more than that. His gig as a guest host earned him a “Saturday Night Live” nomination for Variety/Nonfiction/Reality TV Makeup.
TWO BUNNIES?: In the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category, the nominating credits listed for “Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show” originally included both “Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, Producer” and “Bad Bunny, Performer.” But it’s the same person. Will both personas be able to take home the statue? We reached out to the TV Academy, who shared the latest information that his two credits have been combined as “Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio/Bad Bunny, producer and performer.” So even if the show wins, he’ll only get one Emmy.
“Mount This” “The Sermon on the Mount,” an episode of “South Park” that skewered Comedy Central’s parent company at the time, Paramount Global, and its concessions to the Trump administration following Skydance’s acquisition of the company, earned two nominations. This is more than one nod achieved by the entire Paramount+ streamer.
Happy 100th Anniversary: David Attenborough won two Outstanding Narrator awards (Netflix’s “The Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough” and Nat Geo’s “Ocean with David Attenborough”), making him the oldest person ever to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. This honor was previously held by Norman Lear, who would have been 99 years and 11 months old when he was nominated in 2022.
Stolen video value: MTV received 11 Emmy nominations this year for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked.” But isn’t it included in the cabler’s tally? It was nominated for Outstanding Choreography for a Variety or Reality Program at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, but it’s credited in the CBS credits. The Eye network served as the primary broadcaster for the VMAs this year, removing the flagship event from the already barren MTV. Now, CBS is benefiting from MTV’s decline by adding VMA to its tally on behalf of the beleaguered cable company.
Throughout the year: Voters can choose from a selection of great period costumes. This includes “Bridgerton” (1810s), “The Gilded Age” (1880s), “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (1950s), “Palm Royale” (1960s), or “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette” (1990s).
AVA FEST: It’s always interesting to see Janelle James nominated for her role as Ava Coleman in “Abbott Elementary.” But then the real Eva Coleman was named the supervising producer of “Abbott Elementary,” an award for outstanding comedy series. So there’s always a chance that two different Eva Colemans will take the stage on Emmy night.
Fanning: Elle and Dakota Fanning both had a great Emmy nomination morning. Both were nominated for their comedy excellence as part of the creative team behind Apple TV’s “Margo’s Got Money Trouble.” Elle Fanning is also nominated for Best Comedy Actress, and Dakota Fanning is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Peacock’s Limited/Anthology for All Her Faults.
LIVE-TO-TAPE: Nikki Glaser is featured in both variety special categories. In the Variety Special (Live), she was nominated as part of the 83rd Golden Globe Awards team, and in the Variety Special (Pre-Taped), her special “Nikki Glazer: Good Girl” garnered attention.
OK EPK: The TV Academy’s outstanding short nonfiction or reality series category continues to be dominated by what are essentially marketing videos for TV shows. The nominated films include “The Hack: Bit by Bit”, “Inside the Pit”, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette”, and “Shrinking in It Together”. The original contestant is one of Netflix’s “This Is A Gardening Show.”
You Like Her: Sally Field earned the title of longevity among all performers this year in terms of how many years ago she won her first Emmy Award. Field’s first award was in 1977 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series (then called a “miniseries”) for “Civil.” In 2026, she will be nominated for Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Netflix’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures.”
Chalmers Before the Storm: Hank Azaria has been nominated 12 times and won four Emmy Awards for his voice work on “The Simpsons.” But in 2026, the rep received his first Emmy nomination for voicing Superintendent Gary Chalmers, a minor character on Springfield who has become more common on the show in recent years. Azaria first won the award in 1998 for voicing Apu. In 2001, he won for many characters including Apu, Comic Book Guy, Carl, Lou, Police Chief Wiggum, and Mo. The 2003 winners were Mo, Carl, Chief Wiggum, Apu, Johnny Titrips, Bumblebee Man, and Cletus, and the 2015 winners were Mo Cislak and Pedicab Driver. Mr. Azaria’s recent nominations for 2024 and 2025 also belonged to Mr. Mo. But please, loosen up the steamed ham. Because Superintendent Chalmers (or “Super Nintendo” as Ralph calls it) has arrived.
History of Hacking: If Jean Smart wins her fifth consecutive Best Comedy Actress Emmy for “Hacks,” she will have completed a full series and will tie Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most Emmys won by a cast member (8 total). Additionally, she moved into second place for the most Emmy Awards won by an actor for the same role or series, behind Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown) and Don Knotts (The Andy Griffith Show), who each won five times. Only Louis-Dreyfus scored more points, with six for “Veep.” Perhaps matching that record was the only reason “The Hucks” squeezed out one more season.
Emmy Pitt: If you star in “The Pitt,” there’s a good chance you’ll get your first Emmy nomination. This year, first-time nominees include Brittany Allen, Tal Anderson, Patrick Ball, Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, Ernest Harden Jr., Jaelan Howell, Tina Ivlev, Jeff Kober, and Sepideh Moafi. Other first-time nominees are Leslie Bibb (The Hux), Dale Dickie (Widow’s Bay), Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story), Chase Infinity (Testament), Hamish Linklater (Widow’s Bay), Charles Melton (Beef), Carey Mulligan (Beef) and Kate O’Flynn. (Widow’s Bay), Sarah Pidgeon (Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette), Miriam Schor (Pluribus), Megan Stalter (The Hux), Connor Story (Saturday Night Live), Yoy Sunday (“DTF St. Louis”), Carlos-Manuel Vesuga (“Pluribus”), Matt Vogel (“The Muppet Show”), Lauren Weedman (“Hux”), Carolina Wydra (“Pluribus”), and Yun Yoo-jung (“Beef”).
