Emmy nominations day will never be anything but disappointing. There is simply too much good TV and too many masterful performances to honor every worthy offering with a nod. The 2017 Emmy nominations were announced on July 13, and, as always, there are many categories that didn't have room to accommodate all the deserving entries. But there's a big difference between a disappointment and a "snub." I'd define "snub" as the lack of a nomination for an individual or a series that has a) been nominated before, or honored by a conspicuous amount of other awards bodies; b) is well-known enough to be on voters' radars; and c) seems to fit the vibe of the Emmys. (That last one is a little more nebulous.) Oh, and the show has to have been eligible. So before you get all up in arms about your faves not being on the list, consider that these 19 Emmy snubs aren't really snubs.
Because, though it's embraced programming on streaming services over the past few years, the Emmy Awards remain remarkably mainstream. (Remember the reign of Downton Abbey?) So it's worth remembering that certain genres still fall outside of the regular domain of likely nominations, particularly any science fiction/fantasy that's not Game Of Thrones. So don't get mad about these not-snubs — just make sure you're spreading the good word of those shows and performances you love from whatever platform you have.
1
Neil Patrick Harris, 'A Series Of Unfortunate Events'
As devious as his Count Olaf is, a Comedy Actor nomination for the Series Of Unfortunate Events star was a long shot. Plenty of adults enjoy the Netflix adaptation, but it still may have skewed too young for the Academy to pay attention.
2
Tatiana Maslany, 'Orphan Black'
Yes, Maslany is astonishing. No, the series was not eligible this year.
3
Eva Green, 'Penny Dreadful'
Her performance on the literary horror has been praised by critics — particularly in its shocking last season — the Emmys had never paid any mind to Penny Dreadful and were unlikely to start this year.
4
Kyle Chandler, 'Bloodline'
Though he was nominated for Lead Actor In A Drama Series the past two years, I'm not surprised to see Kyle Chandler off the list this time. The swampy Florida drama seems to have fallen off the radar; or the voters prefer Chandler in his lovably grumpy Coach Taylor mode.
5
Dan Stevens, 'Legion'
The FX X-Men adaptation isn't the most accessible entertainment, for as brilliant and arresting as it often is. Stevens turned in incredible work as a mental patient who comes to realize that the voices in his head are real, but the nature of the show left him out of the conversation.
6
Aubrey Plaza, 'Legion'
The Parks And Recreation actor proved that comedy wasn't her only wheelhouse in Legion, but she was a very dark horse too, for the same reasons as Stevens.
7
Constance Zimmer, 'UnREAL'
UnREAL's super-producer Quinn is one of TV's great anti-heroes, but the pitch-black Lifetime series stumbled in its misguided second season.
8
Hugh Dancy, 'The Path'
Hugh Dancy's damaged cult leader is circling the drain on The Path, but the show hasn't received as much press as that other Hulu original drama, The Handmaid's Tale.
9
Kathryn Hahn, 'I Love Dick'
Hahn's performance as a sexually and intellectually frustrated filmmaker makes I Love Dick worth watching, but the series itself may have been too dense and heady for voters. (She got a nod for Transparent, anyway!)
10
Drew Barrymore, 'Santa Clarita Diet'
The Emmys normally love a movie star coming to TV, especially in something offbeat. But the suburban zombie series didn't set many hearts racing.
11
Sarah Jessica Parker, 'Divorce'
It can be difficult for voting bodies to accept an actor who's moved on from a previous iconic TV role. That may be the case for Sex In The City's Sarah Jessica Parker for the decidedly un-sparkly Divorce.
12
TJ Miller, 'Silicon Valley'
One of Silicon Valley's original disrupters hung up his surge protector after this season, and his exit may have left a bad taste in the mouths of some voters.
13
Brian Tyree Henry, 'Atlanta'
Atlanta's Paper Boi is a sardonic delight, but a nomination would have been a huge surprise based on a stacked category and the show's non-linear approach. He did receive a nod for his guest role on This Is Us, however.
14
Julie Bowen, 'Modern Family'
With six nominations and two wins for Supporting Actress In A Comedy, it's safe to say that the Emmys have given Bowen her due.
15
Andrea Martin, 'Great News'
Martin is a comedic institution, but the broad network news sitcom is not.
16
Alexis Bledel & Lauren Graham, 'Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life'
I know, I know — blasphemy. But the revival is the definition of "for the fans," so these core performances were never going to be recognized. (Cheers to Bledel for her Handmaid's Tale nom, however.)
17
'The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon'
That Trump hair ruffle may have come back to bite the usually reliable nominee.
18
'Girls'
Girls used to be an Emmys darling, but the voters do tend to lose interest in their shiny toys as their runs go on. That left the HBO series' final season out in the cold.
19
'Game Of Thrones'
The reign has been put on pause. Because of the longer than usual hiatus, Game Of Thrones was not eligible this year.
The Emmy nominations are predictably unpredictable, but do have and show their biases. These "snubs" aren't really snubs, as overlooked as these shows and performances might be.
