The Emmy Awards are back in action, and what a spectacle it's shaping up to be! This year's nominees have been announced, with HBO's The Pitt and Hacks leading the charge, alongside Apple TV+'s stunning performance. The drama series The Pitt, now in its second season, has snagged an impressive 25 nominations, while the critically acclaimed comedy Hacks has racked up 24 nods – a new record for most nominations by a single comedy series in one year.
But Apple TV+ is not to be underestimated! The platform's breakout horror-comedy Widow’s Bay and sci-fi drama Pluribus have made a huge impact, with 19 and 18 nominations respectively. This marks a new high for Apple in the Emmy stakes – a clear sign that they're here to stay.
The battle for Best Drama Series will be a thrilling one, pitting The Pitt against Pluribus, as well as strong contenders like The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, and Slow Horses. And what about the acting categories? Noah Wyle, star of The Pitt, is back in the running for Lead Actor in a Drama Series – this time up against British talent like Gary Oldman (Slow Horses) and Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat). In the comedy arena, Hacks will face off against Widow’s Bay, Abbott Elementary, and the fourth season of The Bear.
Jean Smart, the queen of Hacks, is up for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – an award she's won four times running. If she takes it home again, she'll join industry legends Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman with eight Emmys between them.
And then there's the remarkable Matthew Rhys, known for The Americans, who's received two nominations: one for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay and another for Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie for the Netflix thriller The Beast in Me.
But what about Sir David Attenborough? The 100-year-old British icon has become the oldest ever Emmy nominee, racking up two nominations for Outstanding Narrator for his work on A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough and Ocean with David Attenborough. Sadly, not everyone's got a nomination to boast about – Richard Gadd's highly anticipated follow-up, Half-Man, has been snubbed apart from one solitary nod.
This year's nominations have it all: drama, comedy, and even some surprises. Will your favourite show make the cut? The stage is set for an unforgettable Emmy Awards ceremony – let the games begin!