10 Biggest Snubs from 2023 Emmy Award Nominations

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series and performances being covered here wouldn't exist.

by Tyler Glover & Julian Spivey

Sarah Goldberg (Barry) for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy 

Photo: HBO

​The first thing I looked for on Wednesday when I awoke and clicked on the Emmy Award nominations was for Sarah Goldberg’s name in the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy category – though I swear, she should be in the lead actress category – and when I didn’t see it I wanted to riot at where the Television Academy headquarters is Jan. 6 style. Goldberg gave the best performance I’ve seen on television thus far in 2023 and the fact that she can’t find her way into a seven-person category is dumbfounding. The fact that she was only nominated once over four seasons is infuriating. She wound up in many ways being the best performer of the series featuring nothing but great performances. JS

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Imelda Staunton (The Crown) for Best Actress in a Drama

Photo: Netflix

​“The Crown” has always been an Emmy darling. During its previous season, it managed to win Drama Series, Actor In A Drama Series for Josh O’Connor, Best Actress for Olivia Colman, Supporting Actor for Tobias Menzies, and Supporting Actress for Gillian Anderson. In all four prior seasons of “The Crown,” the actress playing Queen Elizabeth II has been nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Claire Foy and Olivia Colman were both nominated for both seasons they portrayed the Queen. Imelda Staunton took over for season five and just became the first Queen actress snubbed on Emmy nominations morning. This is not because Staunton doesn’t do a great job. She was a perfect successor to Foy and Colman. This past season wasn’t the best of the series but this was still quite a shock. TG

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Reservation Dogs for Best Comedy Series

Photo: FX

When I first saw the Emmy nominations on Wednesday and saw that Hulu’s (FX Production) “Reservation Dogs,” not only wasn’t nominated for Best Comedy Series, which let’s face it wasn’t a huge shock, though it should be!, but was only nominated for a single nomination (Sound Editing) of any kind I angrily tweeted: “What does ‘Reservation Dogs’ have to do to get noticed by the Emmys? Do they have to be white?” Not only is the show great for representation on television in that it stars and is written by an entirely indigenous cast and crew, but it’s generally one of the best, funniest and warmest shows on TV. Everywhere you look on this show are people who should be worthy of Emmy love: Devery Jacobs, D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis, Lane Factor, Zahn McClarnon and the terrific writing staff. JS

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Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

Photo: HBO

The original actress to play Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” made us fall in love with the character. After five episodes of the first season, actress Emma D’Arcy ages up and takes over the character. Milly Alcock’s performance of Rhaenyra was so fantastic that I was not happy to see her go. In my opinion, Emma D’Arcy doesn’t live up to her. Alcock shows us the beginning of the power struggle that ensues later on and we see her devastation that just because of her gender that she is not considered worthy to lead the nation. Everyone is looking for a man to lead but her father wants her to rule. Alcock conveys all of these complex emotions to near perfection. She will likely not get another chance for a nomination, so I hate she did not get this recognition. TG

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Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

Photo: HBO

Matt Smith secured a nomination for playing Prince Phillip in Netflix’s “The Crown” for Best Supporting Actor a few years ago. He is someone the Emmys are familiar with and he is starring in a big-budget epic prequel series to a beloved show. Smith plays Daemon, the brother of the King who believes he should be the heir. His brother, King Aegon, believes this honor belongs to his daughter, Rhaenyra. Smith plays a villainous performance to perfection. We understand Daemon’s motivation and anger and watch him endure multiple complex situations. He is a character you love to hate which is sometimes hard for an actor to convey. It would have been great to see Smith ride some of the “House of the Dragon” love into a nomination. TG

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Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy 

Photo: FX

“Atlanta,” which was no stranger to Emmy love in its early seasons, was almost completely left out (it got one nomination for cinematography), which isn’t all that surprising as for some reason the cultural zeitgeist didn’t feel like returning to the series after a lengthy hiatus. The snub that pisses me off the most is that of Brian Tyree Henry, whose performance as Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles in the series is one of the greatest performances on television, period, over the last decade. The fact that the Emmys only nominated him once over four seasons and he doesn’t have the tag “Emmy Winner” by his name is almost criminal. JS

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Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live) for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy 

Photo: NBC

​So, this one isn’t a shocker in the least. I read a handful of articles predicting the Emmy nominees and listened to a few podcasts doing the same and not one mentioned Ego Nwodim, one of the standout cast members currently on “Saturday Night Live.” Nwodim is comedy gold each and every time she appears on the screen during the legendary live sketch comedy show and her debut of a new character, Lisa from Temecula, this season was the funniest sketch of the year. This is the first year since 2013 that ‘SNL’ didn’t have a single nominee in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy category. JS

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Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!) for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Photo: AppleTV

Who doesn’t love Kristin Chenoweth? Whether she is playing the original Galinda on Broadway’s “Wicked” or Olive Snook in her Emmy-winning performance on ABC’s “Pushing Daisies,” Chenoweth always delights us even when she is playing the villain. She was phenomenal as Maleficent in the Disney original movie, “Descendants” and she is equally brilliant in Apple TV’s musical comedy series, “Schmigadoon!” Chenoweth brings so much joy to the world in her performances and as the mayor’s wife, Mildred Clayton, she delivers the camp to perfection. It would have been great to see her nominated. TG

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Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) for Best Actress in a Comedy

Photo: HBO

​Sometimes you really want a show or performer to be recognized with award nominations because you know it’s sort of a hidden gem that more people should be familiar with. Now, it seems wild for a show that airs on HBO, especially one that aired directly after the final seasons of “Succession” and “Barry” could be considered a hidden gem, but that’s exactly how Bridget Everett’s comedy “Somebody Somewhere” feels. The series, which recently finished airing its second season, sees Everett in the starring role as Sam, who returns to her small Kansas hometown following the death of her sister and has to cope with the loss. Jeff Hiller really should’ve been considered for Supporting Actor in a Comedy too for his wonderful performance as Sam’s best friend Joel, but Everett not getting a nomination hurts more because it feels like her show. JS

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Big Brother for Best Reality-Competition Series

Photo: CBS

For 23 years, every summer, we have come to “expect the unexpected.” This CBS summer staple has always been a show full of drama, competitions, tears, fights, HOH competitions, Power of Veto competitions, and known for its host Julie Chen, also known as the Chenbot. This series has always been one of my favorite competition programs. It is exceedingly difficult to play a game like this and it is fun to watch all the houseguests do their best to manipulate their way to a half million dollars. I cannot believe it has never even managed to get a nomination. It may not be the Emmys’ cup of tea but it should be. TG