Topline
“Squid Game” was nowhere to be found when the Television Academy announced Emmy nominations Tuesday morning, a disappointing showing for the record-breaking show that won six Emmys for its first season, as “The Studio” and “Severance” led the comedy and drama nominations, respectively.
“Squid Game” previously earned 14 nominations and six wins at the Emmys for its first season. (Photo … More
Key Facts
“Squid Game,” which some outlets predicted would snag a spot for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as possible nods for acting or in crafts categories like production design, visual effects and stunt performance, completely blanked at the Emmys this year.
Though reviews for the second season of “Squid Game,” which was eligible for nomination, were not quite as high as the first, season two still boasted a positive 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes and shattered all-time Netflix viewership records upon release last year.
“The Studio,” a new comedy series created by and starring Seth Rogen, nabbed 23 Emmy nominations, setting the record for the most nominations by a comedy series for its debut season, and tying the record for most nominations for a comedy in one year, previously set by “The Bear” last year.
“The Bear,” which has seen its critical reviews slip since its acclaimed first few seasons, earned 13 nominations this year, down from its record-breaking 23 last year, as debate rages over whether the tense series is actually a comedy.
“Severance” is the overall nomination leader and most-nominated drama series this year, with 27 nods, including lead actor and actress nominations for Adam Scott and Britt Lower.
Other leading programs include “The Penguin” (24 nominations), “The White Lotus” (23 nominations) and “The Last of Us” (16 nominations).
Outstanding Drama Series Nominees
“Andor”
“The Diplomat”
“The Last of Us”
“Paradise”
“The Pitt”
“Severance”
“Slow Horses”
“The White Lotus”
Lead Actor In A Drama Series Nominees
Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”
Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”
Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”
Adam Scott, “Severance”
Noah Wyle, “The Pitt”
Lead Actress In A Drama Series Nominees
Kathy Bates, “Matlock”
Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”
Britt Lower, “Severance”
Bella Ramsay, “The Last of Us”
Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”
Outstanding Comedy Series Nominees
“Abbott Elementary”
“The Bear”
“Hacks”
“Nobody Wants This”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Shrinking”
“The Studio”
“What We Do in the Shadows”
Lead Actor In A Comedy Series Nominees
Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”
Seth Rogen, “The Studio”
Jason Segel, “Shrinking”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
Lead Actress In A Comedy Series Nominees
Uzo Aduba, “The Residence”
Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Who Was Snubbed—and Why?
Though some media outlets projected “Squid Game” would earn at least a few nominations, the Los Angeles Times considered it a “toss-up” whether the show would earn a best drama series nomination, calling the show’s second season “disappointing.” Selena Gomez and Steve Martin didn’t make the cut for “Only Murders in the Building,” but co-star Martin Short is up for best lead actor in a comedy series. Though plenty of actors from “The White Lotus” earned nominations as many expected, for awards bettors, the question was who would make it in and who would be snubbed. Among those who didn’t make it were Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan, considered possibilities for best supporting actress in a drama, and Patrick Schwarzenegger, thought of as a drama supporting actor contender. Other previous Emmy nominees were almost completely shut out this year: “Yellowjackets” did not earn any nominations, while “The Handmaid’s Tale” earned just one for its final season.
Which Nominees Were Considered Surprises?
“Paradise,” a Hulu drama series, earned some of the ceremony’s top nominations despite few media outlets projecting that. The series earned a nod for Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden. Acting nominations some media outlets considered surprises include Irish actress Sharon Horgan earning a drama actress nomination for “Bad Sisters,” Meghann Fahy earning a nomination for best actress in a limited series for “Sirens,” and Beyoncé nabbing a variety special nomination for her NFL Christmas Day halftime performance. Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese also earned his first nomination as an actor for his guest role in “The Studio.”
Tangent
“Squid Game” just shattered even more Netflix records—but that wasn’t the season eligible for Emmy nominations this year. Its newly premiered third and final season earned 106.3 million views in 10 days, a Netflix record, and it ranked No. 1 in all 93 countries where Netflix has top 10 lists. Season three will be eligible for nomination at the 2026 Emmys.
When Are The Emmys?
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. EDT on CBS and Paramount+.
Further Reading
‘Squid Game’ Smashes Netflix Records: No. 1 In 93 Countries (Forbes)
The biggest snubs and surprises of the 2025 Emmy nominations (Los Angeles Times)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/07/15/squid-game-gets-zero-emmy-nominations-despite-record-viewership-as-the-studio-sets-comedy-record/