Emmys 2023: Biggest surprises from Rihanna nomination to ‘Atlanta’ snub
It’s officially Emmys season! As previously reported by theGrio, the Television Academy announced nominations for the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on July 12, recognizing some of the best television work of the past year.
Some favorites like “Abbott Elementary,” “Succession,” and “The Last of Us” received predictably numerous nominations, but this year’s nominees were anything but a given for the television academy. This year again saw some significant surprises and significant snubs, and theGrio tells you what we think were the biggest nominations and who we think deserve a shot at the coveted awards.
Despite wins in previous seasons, Donald Glover’s critically acclaimed FX series “Atlanta” was not on the nomination list. As previously reported by theGrio, “Atlanta” made its final appearance last fall, airing its fourth and final season on FX to rave reviews. The absence of the final season of “Atlanta,” which has been described over the years as “transformative” and “masterful storytelling,” is all the more shocking.
Another appalling snub is directed at our fictional public school teachers in Philadelphia. Despite five nominations for “Abbott Elementary” in the acting category, the series never received a single nomination in the comedy writing category, even after series creator Quinta Brunson took home the award just last year.
In other comedy categories, notable “Saturday Night Live” members weren’t on the nomination list, including Kenan Thompson, who has a history of nominations and won Emmys, and Ego Nwodim, who had a standout year in the sketch comedy series with various viral moments, most notably her skit Lisa from Temecula.
Despite the snubs, there were still plenty of surprises and nominations to celebrate.
Variety reported that black women set an acting record with nominations this year. Four black women, Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary), Janelle James (Abbott Elementary), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and Jessica Williams (Shrinking), were nominated for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. set an official record.
The exciting nomination of Dominique Fishback for her work in “Swarm” also made history this year. At 32, Fishback is now the youngest black woman to receive a Lead Actress nomination in a Limited Series. Nicole Byer, Nailed It host and Grand Crew star, also deserves congratulations. Byer is now the most-nominated black woman in the Outstanding Presenter category, having been nominated four times to date. Karamo Brown (“Queer Eye”), Maya Rudolph (“Baking It”), and RuPaul (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”) also received nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Show.
In the Outstanding Game Show Host category, Keke Palmer received an award for her work on Password, earning her second-ever Emmy nomination. Steve Harvey also has a nomination in the Family Feud category.
Keivonn Montreal Woodard makes history with a nomination for his work on The Last of Us. The 10-year-old is now the second deaf actor to be nominated for an acting Emmy, according to Variety. Storm Reid also received a nomination for her work on the HBO post-apocalyptic drama, receiving recognition in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category.
Some of music’s biggest stars were also nominated, including Rihanna and Jay-Z. The “Rude Boy” singer’s Super Bowl halftime show garnered a whopping five nominations this year, earning her first-ever Emmy nomination. Jay-Z is also nominated for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for producing the halftime show.
The full list of nominees can be found here.
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