HBO dominates 78th Primetime Emmy nominations with record 122 nods

MUMBAI: Awards season has knocked, and HBO answered by bringing a moving truck. The network emerged as the biggest winner in the nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, racking up a record-breaking 122 nominations across its slate and reinforcing its dominance in premium television.

Driving HBO’s tally were the second season of The Pitt and the fifth and final season of Hacks, which together accounted for more than 50 nominations. Other HBO titles including Euphoria, DTF St. Louis, Task and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms also featured prominently across the ballot.

Outside the HBO stable, Apple TV’s Pluribus emerged as one of the standout contenders, collecting six nominations across major categories, including Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actress, Supporting Actor, Writing and Directing.

The battle for Outstanding Drama Series will see The Pitt, The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, Pluribus, Slow Horses and Your Friends and Neighbors compete for television’s top honour.

In the acting categories, Noah Wyle earned a Lead Actor in a Drama Series nomination for The Pitt, where he faces competition from Sterling K. Brown (Paradise), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Mark Ruffalo (Task) and Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat). On the actresses’ side, nominees include Carrie Coon, Chase Infiniti, Keri Russell, Rhea Seehorn and Zendaya.

Comedy proved equally competitive. Hacks, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Shrinking, Only Murders in the Building, Nobody Wants This, Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Widow’s Bay will contest Outstanding Comedy Series, while Jean Smart, Ayo Edebiri and Quinta Brunson headline the lead actress race.

Netflix’s Beef emerged as a major force in the limited series categories, earning nominations across acting, writing and directing, alongside DTF St. Louis, The Beast in Me, All Her Fault and Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

Not every fan favourite found equal recognition. Series including Fallout and Stranger Things largely missed out in the acting, writing and directing races but secured multiple nominations in technical categories such as sound, make-up and production craft.

The animation categories also feature familiar names, with The Simpsons, South Park, Rick and Morty, Bob’s Burgers, Smiling Friends and Star Wars: Visions competing for Outstanding Animated Program.

With 122 nominations, HBO heads into the ceremony as the network to beat, while Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, FX and the broadcast networks prepare for one of the most competitive Emmy races in recent years.