Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast on Biggest Emmy Nominations Shockers

The 2022 Emmy nominations have been announced, and one show that has dominated the list is Apple TV+’s “Severance.” With a total of 27 nods, the series has caught the attention of many, including the hosts of Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast.

Variety’s chief awards editor, Clayton Davis, expressed his surprise at the number of nominations, stating, “Huge. I don’t think I even thought that much. That is more than ‘Shōgun’ last year.” Davis was joined by Variety’s executive editor, TV, Michael Schneider, as well as senior TV features editor Emily Longeretta and senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay for the Awards Circuit Roundtable.

The group also discussed other notable nominations, including Apple TV+’s “The Studio,” which led all comedies with 23 nominations. Schneider noted the show’s dominance in the comedy guest actor category, with five out of six nominees coming from “The Studio.”

Despite the success of “Severance” and “The Studio,” there were some surprises and snubs in this year’s nominations. The final season of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” received little Emmy love, and Netflix’s “Squid Game” was completely shut out.

The hosts speculated on the reasons behind these snubs, with theories ranging from the heaviness of the content to the Academy’s reluctance to embrace non-English programs. However, they noted that “Severance” may have stood out due to its quirky and humorous moments.

In addition to discussing snubs and surprises, the hosts highlighted some unexpected nominations, such as Meghann Fahy’s lead limited series actress nod for “Sirens” and Jeff Hiller’s nomination for “Somebody Somewhere.”

As the discussion continued, the hosts shared their predictions for category frontrunners and highlighted standout performances, such as Julianne Nicholson’s dual nominations for “Paradise” and “Hacks.”

Overall, the hosts delved into a range of topics, from the success of “Presumed Innocent” to the decline in representation in this year’s nominations. With so much to discuss, Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast remains a valuable resource for industry insights and lively conversations about the best in film and television.

For more in-depth discussions and interviews with top film and TV talent, be sure to subscribe to Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you download podcasts.