You win some, you lose some they say — but it’s incredible to think that these stars and shows didn’t come out on top! After the 2022 Emmy nominations were announced, TV lovers everywhere lamented over their favorites not making the final cut.
Shows like Black-ish and Stranger Things saw their stars left wanting after losing out to newcomers Abbott Elementary and Yellowjackets. And while celebrating big wins for some of our personal faves (Zendaya! Quinta Brunson! Bowen Yang!) we still can’t help but feel bad for those who lost out on nominations this year. Here’s our top picks for snubs in 2022.
Selena Gomez
Only Murders In The Building star Selena Gomez failed to earn a nom in the lead actress in a comedy category, despite rave reviews for the comedic crime caper with Steve Martin and Martin Short. She did, however, nab a nomination as the series executive producer, making history in the process. Her nom marks the second time a Latina has ever been among the producing nominees for comedy series in the 74-year Emmy history, with Salma Hayek being the first!
Millie Bobby Brown
The Stranger Things starlet was completely shut out in the acting category, but as often the case in Hawkins, there’s still another chance for Millie Bobby Brown. Only Vol. 1 of the Netflix sci-fi favorite was eligible for this round of the Emmys. She could still earn her gold next year, when Emmy voters consider the recently released Stranger Things 4, Vol. 2. Will her work in episodes ‘Papa’ and ‘Piggyback’ get her the nod next year?
Sadie Sink
Sadie Sink was another major Stranger Things snub. Her character Max Mayfield has been a powerhouse since her debut on season 2 of the show, and she was at the center of some of season 4’s most memorable (and best soundtracked) moments. But just like MBB, Sadie still has a shot next year. Keep running up that hill, girl!
Tracee Ellis Ross
With Black-ish wrapping its final season, fans were hoping Tracee Ellis Ross could finally take home an Emmy for her role as Rainbow Johnson, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Tracee has been up for the lead actress in a comedy award 5 times, but has never won, and this year, she won’t even have the chance to try. Shame.
Mandy Moore
The Emmys had less than a fond farewell for This Is Us and the Pearson family. While Mandy Moore was impressive playing matriarch Rebecca throughout different phases of her life in the final season, it wasn’t enough to earn her a nomination for dramatic acting. Her only nom for This Is Us came in 2019.
Mandy reacted to the snub on her Instagram not long after the announcements. She first congratulated Sid Kosla and her husband Taylor Goldsmith for their music nominations, before admitting her general disappointment.
The star was more upset that This Is Us wasn’t recognized in more categories, writing, “Do I wish our show was recognized in what I think was its finest hour? Sure. And Dan Fogelman’s brilliant writing for 6 seasons (hello THE TRAIN?) [Ken Olin’s] impeccable direction? Our insanely, wildly talented cast and crew? Yah….” She finished graciously, adding, “But nothing can take away what our show meant to SO MANY (us included). That’s an incredible legacy to be a part of. I will be grateful forever.”
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston wasn’t able to nab a nom for The Morning Show. But, almost mirroring the drama Apple TV+ hit, her co-star Reese Witherspoon will duke it out against Jodi Comer, Laura Linney, Melanie Lynskey, Sandra Oh, and Zendaya for the honor on Sep. 12.
‘Dickinson’
Perhaps the biggest snub — not just by the Television Academy, but by the TV viewing audience at large — is the show too many people are sleeping on or skipping over to make their way to Ted Lasso. The Hailee Steinfeld-led comedy series Dickinson has everything: stellar cast, magnificent writing, killer costuming; plus, please name me another other show that put out TWO seasons in ONE YEAR! Sadly, creator Alena Smith‘s series, which was a perfect marriage of period piece and touchstone of current culture, was overlooked for its final bow. Here’s hoping at least more eyeballs will discover it as they scroll through AppleTV+’s offerings.