Emmy Nominations Are Here: Full List and Key Highlights

The Emmy nominations are out—and this year’s lineup reflects a television landscape reshaped by evolving audience habits, streaming dominance, and a wave of sophisticated storytelling. With HBO and HBO Max leading the charge and surprise contenders emerging from smaller platforms, the 2022 nominations offer both expected powerhouses and under-the-radar breakthroughs. If you’re tracking which shows made the cut, who’s in the running for top acting honors, or where your favorite series landed, here’s the full breakdown with context that separates buzz from substance.

HBO Dominates, But Not Without Competition

HBO and HBO Max collectively racked up 140 nominations, the highest of any network or platform. The crown jewel? Succession, which earned 25 nods—including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations across its entire core ensemble. The show’s sharp writing and layered performances solidified its status as the critical favorite in the drama category.

But HBO’s strength doesn’t stop there. The White Lotus—a darkly comedic anthology limited series—scored 20 nominations, tying with Squid Game, the South Korean phenomenon that broke global viewing records. While Squid Game marks Netflix’s highest-profile nomination surge, it also highlights the Emmys’ increasing openness to non-English language content.

Other notable HBO titles: - Hacks (17 nominations) – a critical darling in the comedy race - Euphoria (14) – despite controversy, its visual style and lead performance by Zendaya remain award magnets - Station Eleven (9) – a quiet but resonant post-apocalyptic drama that found its audience late but landed major craft nominations

Still, HBO’s dominance faced real challenges. Netflix, with 105 nominations, remains a close second, propelled by Stranger Things, Ozark, and The Crown. Meanwhile, Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso continued its emotional and critical ascent with 20 nominations, including every major comedy category.

The Big Categories: Who’s Leading the Race?

Understanding the top categories is key to predicting the September ceremony. Here’s where the major players stand:

#### Outstanding Drama Series The six nominees: - Better Call Saul (AMC) - Bloodline (Netflix) – Wait, no—actually, Severance (Apple TV+) - Ozark (Netflix) - Squid Game (Netflix) - Succession (HBO) - Yellowjackets (Showtime)

Succession is the clear frontrunner. This is its third consecutive nomination, and the show has never won in the top drama category. With its fourth season delayed, the Emmys may reward it now as a farewell gesture. Squid Game’s inclusion is historic—first non-English language nominee in the category—but it lacks the sustained industry support to win. Severance, though newer, earned passionate advocacy for its originality and atmosphere.

#### Outstanding Comedy Series Nominees: - Abbott Elementary (ABC) - Barry (HBO) - Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) - Hacks (HBO) - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video) - Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) - Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) - What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Eight nominees mean wider representation, but the real battle is between Ted Lasso and Hacks. The former won last year and has strong emotional momentum. The latter, led by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, represents a sharper, more subversive comedy wave. Abbott Elementary, a network sitcom in a streaming era, earned 11 nominations—a rare feat that signals industry respect for traditional formats with fresh voices.

#### Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series - Dopesick (Hulu) - Mare of Easttown (HBO) - Pam & Tommy (Hulu) - The Dropout (Hulu) - The White Lotus (HBO) - We Own This City (HBO)

This category is stacked with true-crime and scandal-based narratives. The White Lotus won last year and remains a favorite, but Dopesick—a harrowing look at the opioid crisis—earned plaudits for its ambition and cast (including Michael Keaton). The Dropout, with Amanda Seyfried’s uncanny portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes, generated buzz but faced criticism for glamorizing fraud.

Acting Nods: Breakthroughs and Snubs

The acting categories revealed both long-overdue recognition and glaring omissions.

Breakthrough Performances: - Jenna Ortega (Scream, You) wasn’t nominated for drama, but her role in Wednesday hadn’t aired yet—timing hurt her 2022 chances. - Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird) scored a Lead Actor in a Limited Series nod—his first major award recognition, a sign the Emmys are embracing character actors. - Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, Dickinson) earned a Supporting Comedy nomination for The Bear—a show that hadn’t premiered at the time of eligibility. Correction: The Bear Season 1 premiered in June 2022, so it qualified. Edebiri’s nomination signals a shift toward recognizing ensemble depth in workplace-driven comedies.

Notable Snubs: - Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae and HoYeon Jung were both nominated—HoYeon made history as the first Asian actress nominated in the category. But despite the show’s popularity, some expected broader acting recognition for the full cast. - Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) was nominated again, but many believed Rhea Seehorn, his co-star, was snubbed for Lead Actress despite carrying pivotal episodes. - Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You) wasn’t eligible, but her absence still stings—her show’s absence from major categories last year remains a sore spot.

Where Did the Streamers Stand?

Streaming platforms accounted for over 60% of all nominations, but their success varied by service.

Takeaway: HBO’s model of backing bold, auteur-driven series continues to yield results. Netflix, while popular, faces a “quantity versus legacy” dilemma—many nominations, but fewer sustained wins in top categories.

Apple TV+ proves that strategic bets on original IP—Severance, Ted Lasso—can punch above their subscriber weight. Meanwhile, Hulu leveraged FX’s creative pipeline to dominate the limited series field.

Behind the Scenes: Writing, Directing, and Craft

While acting and series get headlines, craft categories reveal where innovation is happening.

Severance led technical nominations with nods in: - Production Design - Music Composition - Editing - Cinematography

Its sterile, maze-like office aesthetic became a cultural reference point—proof that visual storytelling can be as compelling as dialogue.

The White Lotus and Euphoria dominated costume and makeup—both shows use fashion as narrative. Euphoria’s glitter-soaked, identity-exploding looks influenced real-world trends, while The White Lotus used wardrobe to critique wealth and privilege.

In writing, Barry and Hacks earned praise for blending comedy with existential darkness. The episode “yikes, max” from Barry—a surreal, silent-heavy installment—received a directing nomination, showing the Emmys’ appetite for formal experimentation.

What the Nominations Say About TV in 2022

These nominations reflect several industry shifts: - True-crime fatigue? Not yet. Dopesick, The Dropout, and We Own This City all examine institutional failure—audiences and voters still crave moral reckoning. - Comedy is getting darker. Even Ted Lasso, marketed as uplifting, dealt with mental health in Season 2. Barry and Hacks blend humor with violence and trauma. - Streaming fatigue is real—but not for awards. Despite subscriber losses at Netflix and others, prestige content still flows. The Emmys reward creation, not churn.

One limitation: broadcast networks remain on the sidelines. ABC’s Abbott Elementary is the only network show with major traction. CBS, NBC, and Fox are mostly absent from marquee categories, signaling a structural shift in where quality TV is made.

How to Watch the Show and Follow the Winners

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards aired on September 12, 2022, on NBC. For those who missed it: - Full winner lists were published on Emmys.com and major entertainment outlets. - Key wins: Succession took Drama Series and several acting and writing awards. Ted Lasso won Comedy Series again, but Hacks took Lead Actress (Jean Smart) and Writing. - The White Lotus won Limited Series, cementing its place as a modern classic.

Use the nominations as a watchlist. Many nominated shows—like Severance and The Bear—are binge-friendly and rich in themes relevant to modern work, identity, and isolation.

Final Thoughts: Use the List, Not Just the Hype

The Emmys aren’t perfect. They lag behind cultural relevance (see: no Reservation Dogs in top comedy), and voter demographics remain opaque. But the nominations still serve a purpose: they highlight excellence, even if inconsistently.

Don’t just scan the list—use it. - Find a show you’ve overlooked (Station Eleven, Mare of Easttown). - Watch an episode that won for writing or directing to study technique. - Compare how different platforms tell stories—one season of Succession versus one of The White Lotus.

Award nominations are filters. In a saturated market, they help curate what’s worth your time. Let them guide you—not define your taste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which show received the most Emmy nominations in 2022? Succession led with 25 nominations, followed closely by The White Lotus and Ted Lasso with 20 each.

Was Squid Game nominated for Outstanding Drama Series? Yes, Squid Game made history as the first non-English language series nominated in the category.

Why wasn’t The Bear nominated in more categories? It was—it earned 13 nominations, including Supporting Actor and Actress nods, and won several Creative Arts Emmys.

Did Euphoria win any major awards? Zendaya won Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria, her second win in the category.

How are Emmy nominees chosen? Members of the Television Academy vote within their peer groups—actors vote for acting, writers for writing, etc.

Was Stranger Things nominated in 2022? Yes—it earned 13 nominations, including Drama Series and acting nods for Millie Bobby Brown and cast.

Where can I watch the nominated shows? Most are available on their respective platforms: HBO Max, Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, and Prime Video.