By Lynn Elber

Watchmen, cloaked in superhero mythology and grounded in real-world racism, received a leading 26 nominations Tuesday for the prime-time Emmy Awards.

The series, which captured America’s unease as it faces racial clashes, was nominated as best limited series and received bids for cast members including Regina King and Jeremy Irons.

King was part of a vanguard of actors of color who showed that TV academy voters took heed of the calls for change.

The Amazon comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is the second most-nominated series with 20, followed by Netflix's Ozark with 18.

“This year, we are also bearing witness to one of the greatest fights for social justice in history. And it is our duty to use this medium for change,” Frank Scherma, chairman, and CEO of the Television Academy said at the outset of the presentation.

The nominations, typically unveiled with fanfare at the TV academy’s Los Angeles headquarters, were announced online Tuesday by Leslie Jones (Saturday Night Live) and presenters Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black), Josh Gad (Frozen) and Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black). Cox, Gad, and Maslany appeared on by video feeds.

Among the honorees whose nomination collided with current events: Brad Pitt earned a nod for a guest appearance playing Dr. Anthony Fauci on Saturday Night Live.

The nominees for best comedy series are: Curb Your Enthusiasm; Dead to Me; The Good Place; Insecure; The Kominsky Method; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Schitt’s Creek; What We Do in the Shadows

The nominees for best drama series are: Better Call Saul; The Crown; Killing Eve; The Handmaid’s Tale; The Mandalorian; Ozark; Stranger Things; Succession.

In addition to Watchmen, the nominees for best limited series are: Little Fires Everywhere; Mrs. America; Unbelievable; Unorthodox.

The nominees for drama series actress are: Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show; Olivia Colman, The Crown; Jodie Comer, Killing Eve; Laura Linney, Ozark; Sandra Oh, Killing Eve; Zendaya, Euphoria.

The nominees for drama series actor are: Jason Bateman, Ozark; Sterling K. Brown, This is Us; Billy Porter, Pose; Jeremy Strong, Succession; Brian Cox, Succession; Steve Carell, The Morning Show.

The nominees for lead actor in a comedy series are: Anthony Anderson, black-ish; Don Cheadle, Black Monday; Ted Danson, The Good Place; Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method; Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek; Ramy Youssef, Ramy.

The nominees for lead actress in a comedy series are: Christina Applegate, Dead to Me; Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me; Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek; Issa Rae, Insecure; Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish.

The nominees for best TV movie are: American Son; Bad Education; Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones; El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend.

A high energy Jones kicked off the announcement Tuesday morning by appearing on a virtual set and joking that she was told there would be many others on set to announce the nominees and that she was locked in a studio with only a cameraman.

The Emmy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will be presented on Sept. 20 on ABC.

Share:
More In Culture
Saving on Energy This Holiday Season; Refreshing Your Home Aroma
On this episode of 'Your Future Home', Chip Wade, Emmy Award-winning HGTV Host, breaks down all the ways you can avoid breaking the bank on energy costs this holiday season, especially when it comes to outfitting your home with smart tech; Dr. Wendy Osefo, Entrepreneur, Professor & Cast Member of Bravo's 'Real Housewives of Potomac', discusses her popular new Onyi Home Essentials line and how ideas of family and legacy helped shape it; Cheddar breaks down everything you need to know about how to determine your non-negotiables when purchasing a house.
Data Helping the Seattle Seahawks Win Off the Field
One NFL team says it is using data to help it win off the field. The Seattle Seahawks say they want to be a source of inspiration for other organizations that want to reap the rewards of a data-driven culture and aim to show the unlikely role data can play in professional sports operations. Seattle Seahawks Director of Business Strategy and Analytics Paimon Jaberi joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Disney Misses Wall Street Estimates in Its Fourth Quarter
Disney saw misses on both its top and bottom lines for its fourth quarter. The entertainment giant also fell just short of Wall Street expectations for new Disney+ subscribers. CFRA Research media and entertainment analyst Tuna Amobi joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to break down what this means for the future of Disney.
What Disney's Q3 Subscriber Numbers Says About the State of Streaming
Disney+ miss on new subscribers in Q3 and the growing momentum for moviegoers returning to brick-and-mortar theaters has brought the streaming business into question. Seth Schachner, managing director at Strat Americas, joined Cheddar to discuss the state of streaming and the growing number of options consumers have. "Streaming is for sure here to stay and I think more robust than ever," he said. "The real thing that's happening, not just to Hollywood but to lots of verticals from music to sports, is just that there's tons and tons of consumer choice."
Bachelor Star Peter Weber Talks New Children's Book 'The Adventures of Pilot Pete'
Peter Weber, author and star of ABC's The Bachelor, joined Cheddar to talk about his new children's book, "The Adventures of Pilot Pete," scheduled for release on Nov. 23. Weber, a real commercial pilot, said that while fellow Bachelor Nation contestants tend to write books following their experience on the small screen, one of the reasons he opted to write a children's book instead was the prospect of the longevity it could provide.
Saving on Energy While Upgrading Your Home
Chip Wade, Emmy Award-winning HGTV Host, joins 'Your Future Home' to break down all the ways you can avoid breaking the bank on energy costs this holiday season, especially when it comes to outfitting your home with smart tech.
Platform for Tough Conversations in the Workplace; Spreading Positive Vibes This Holiday Season
On this episode of ChedHER: Founder and Designer of Peace Love World explains how she launched her lifestyle brand after a 17-year career in the aviation industry; CEO of Inclusivv discusses how to navigate challenging topics in the workplace and have conversations on race, mental health, and allyship; Author of 'Here I Stand' and Designer of Cult De Jour breaks down how she's supporting veterans through her fashion brand and the different ways that she's giving back to the community.
Load More