Emmy nominations: The Crown, Mandalorian lead with 24 nods each

The Crown tied with The Mandalorian for the most Emmy nominations Tuesday with 24 apiece, but the Marvel universe also got bragging rights with runner-up WandaVision.

The nominations reinforced the rapid rise of streaming, with most of the top-nominated scripted shows on services that emerged in the past two years. In the top three categories — drama, comedy and limited series — broadcast networks scored only two nominations, for the NBC drama This Is Us and the ABC comedy black-ish.

During an oppressive pandemic in which housebound Americans relied more than ever on television for distraction, TV academy voters recognised a varied mix of storytelling and a diverse group of actors and creators.

One example: Mj Rodriguez of Pose is the first trans woman to be nominated in a lead acting category. The show also earned a best drama series nod. “The moment my name was announced, I just screamed and I broke,” Rodriguez said. “My mom grabbed me. She kind of flung me around. … I remember falling into my boyfriend’s arms and just crying tears of joy, tears of happiness. I felt so seen.”

Netflix’s The Crown received its fourth nomination for best series, and is likely the streaming service’s best chance to win its first-ever top series trophy. The British royal drama moved closer to contemporary events with its version of the courtship and rocky marriage of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, played by Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin.

O’Connor and Corrin received lead drama acting nods, as did the series’ Olivia Colman for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, with a supporting bid to Gillian Anderson for her role as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Oprah Winfrey’s headline-making interview with the late Diana’s son Harry and his wife Meghan earned a nomination for best hosted nonfiction series or special.

The showings by The Mandalorian, an extension of the Star Wars franchise, and the inventive WandaVision featuring the Marvel characters Wanda and Vision, put the series in the ranks of past sci-fi and fantasy Emmy favorites Game of Thrones and Lost.

The Boys, Amazon’s comedy-tinged take on superheroes, earned a best drama nod.

“I would never have thought in a million years that playing a witch in a Marvel show would lead to this. It’s like a dream,” said WandaVision co-star Kathryn Hahn. The show’s total of 23 nominations was especially sweet. “I’m so moved that the whole of it has been recognized,” Hahn said. “It was incredibly difficult. It was a hard, hard shoot. But … the experience of making this meant so much to me and it was so unexpectedly deep.”

HBO and streaming service HBO Max edged into lead with 130 total nominations, with Netflix close on its heels with 129.

The frontrunner on the comedy side is the good-hearted Ted Lasso, about a middling American football coach imported to England to handle a soccer team. The Apple TV series received 20 nominations, including for top comedy, star Jason Sudeikis and six cast members.

Hacks, starring Jean Smart as a stand-up comedian who resists getting aged out of Las Vegas and life, was next with 15 nods, including a lead actor award for Smart and a supporting bid for Hannah Einbinder.

Smart, who some have said is enjoying a career Jeannaisance, earned a second nomination for her supporting role in Mare of Easttown. The limited series received 16 nods, including for star Kate Winslet.

Among the others who doubled down on nominations: Saturday Night Live stars Kenan Thompson and Aidy Bryant, who received supporting acting bids for the variety show as well as lead comedy series acting nods for, respectively, Kenan and Shrill.

Other top nominees include previous best drama series winner The Handmaid’s Tale, with 21 nods, tied with Saturday Night Live; The Queen’s Gambit, 18; the costume-drama romp Bridgerton and Hamilton, with 12 each.

Lovecraft Country, a horror-infused drama set in 1950s segregated America, earned an impressive 18 nominations — but was canceled by HBO after one season.

Also read: Lovecraft Country review: A radical new show is here to rule HBO’s fantasy roster

The Flight Attendant earned nine nominations, including a best comedy actress nod for Kaley Cuoco and a supporting actress bid for Rosie Perez — who becomes the third Latina nominated in the category, after Sofia Vergara for Modern Family and Liz Torres for The John Larroquette Show.

There were surprises, as usual. Nicole Kidman failed to receive a nomination for limited series The Undoing, while co-star Hugh Grant was recognised. But the critically acclaimed miniseries I May Destroy You and its star and creator, Michaela Coel, grabbed nine Emmy nods after being snubbed by the Golden Globes.

One blast from the past getting new respect: Cobra Kai, set 30 years after the events of the Karate Kid film, earned a best comedy nod and four nominations in all.

The September 19 ceremony, which last year was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will air live on CBS from a theater and include a limited in-person audience of nominees and guests. Cedric the Entertainer is the host.