As the number of series in contention for Emmy Awards continues to grow year over year (487 and counting in scripted alone), the voting members of the Television Academy have a tougher time narrowing the list down to the handful that will fit on the ballot. Of course, this leads to many worthy choices being shut out — but with some extra space available this year with staples such as “Veep” and “Better Call Saul” not making the cutoff of eligibility, a few fun surprises snuck in.
Here, Variety breaks down the snubs and surprises of the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations.
SNUB: “Modern Family”
A staple on the ballot since 2010, this is the first year the ABC family comedy has been shut out of the comedy series race. In its ninth season, many assumed its box on the ballot would be checked out of habit, but instead the Academy chose to usher in some new blood — “Barry,” “GLOW,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
SURPRISE: Yvonne Strahovski
Let’s face it, the entire cast of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is doing consistently powerful, poignant work, but this season Strahovski had to flit between the stoic, hard-edged Serena who helped Gilead come to be and a softer, more vulnerable Serena who was desperate for a baby, desperate to hold onto her stature and power, and increasingly learning how unsafe even she was. The concern was whether or not she could crack the dramatic supporting actress ballot, going up against her co-stars, last year’s winner in the category, Ann Dowd, and last year’s winner for guest actress in a drama, Alexis Bledel, who was bumped up this year. Thankfully, the Academy recognized the intensity of her work.