Sandra Oh. 'Handmaid's Tale.' 'Veep.' There was a lot to scratch our heads over after Monday's nominations announcement.
The 2020 Golden Globe nominations are here!
Bright and early on Monday morning, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association revealed its nominees for its 77th annual awards ceremony -- and the Jan. 5 show, hosted by returning emcee Ricky Gervais (back for the fifth time), will culminate with some intriguing storylines and winners.
While worthy shows like Succession, Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Killing Eve, Big Little Lies and The Crown were recognized and memorable performances from Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Williams, Rachel Brosnahan, Olivia Colman, Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd received kudos, there were several glaring omissions and stunning surprises. Yes, we're looking at you, Game of Thrones, This Is Us, Euphoria, Schitt's Creek, Russian Doll, The Handmaid's Tale and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie... well, you get the picture.
There wasn't one standout series that dominated on the TV side. Instead, the love was spread out among shows like Chernobyl, Unbelievable and The Crown, all of which received the most nominations with four each. Newcomer The Morning Show gave Apple TV+ its first awards nominations ever, scoring three for Best Drama Series, Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.
While the dust settles, ET breaks down the biggest TV surprises and snubs following this morning's Golden Globe nominations. (For the top movie surprises and snubs, click here.)
SURPRISES
Catch-22 Sneaks In
Few expected the Hulu miniseries, which was overlooked at the Emmys in September, to get in at the Golden Globes, but the small-screen adaptation managed to sneak in with two nominations -- one for leading man Christopher Abbott and another for the series. It certainly doesn't hurt that George Clooney, an executive producer, is all over the series.
An Unbelievable Morning for Unbelievable
Netflix had a sleeper hit in the critically acclaimed series, Unbelievable, but the odds against it earning four Golden Globe nominations were slim. And yet, the four-part limited series -- inspired by the 2015 story about a girl who lied about being raped -- accomplished the unexpected, earning noms for its three performances by Kaitlyn Dever, Merritt Wever and Toni Collette.
Gwyneth Paltrow Can't Cop a Nom for The Politician
Ryan Murphy's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story was a big winner last year, so it shouldn't be a real surprise that his first Netflix series, the evocative political dramedy, The Politician, received major recognition -- both for its star Ben Platt and the series. But we're surprised that Gwyneth Paltrow, who arguably stole the show, in its first season couldn't muster up any Globes love.
Ramy Youssef Cuts Through With Ramy
One of the newer names on the TV side, the actor and comic had a recurring role in Mr. Robot's third season before breaking out this year in an HBO special, Feelings, and his own self-titled Hulu series, a semi-autobiographical comedy about life as a first-generation American Muslim, caught between the expectations of his family and the freedom of his millennial lifestyle. The show was renewed for a second season earlier this year.
SNUBS
Game of Thrones Goes Out With a Whimper
Winter finally arrived in the HBO drama's final season, and the recognition from the HFPA was chilly at best. After an historic bow at the Emmys this fall -- which included a record-breaking 32 nominations and a win for Best Drama Series -- Game of Thrones was nearly iced out of the Globes entirely, scoring just one nom: Best Performance by a Lead Actor for Kit Harington.
Goodbye, Veep
If there was any one series expected to go out on top, it was Veep, which bowed out to rave reviews for Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ career-defining performance as Selina Meyer. In the past, the series has garnered seven nominations, including five for the actress. Shockingly, the show nor Louis-Dreyfus was among the nominees this year. Perhaps the 2019 Emmys were an omen, when Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fleabag shut the beloved HBO series out in its final season of competition.
Watchmen Left Out in the Dust
While there was no shortage of compelling TV this season, it still comes as a surprise that HBO’s Watchmen failed to pick up any nominations. The series not only debuted to rave reviews and currently has a 96 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it also stars Golden Globe favorites -- last year’s winner Regina King and multiple winner/nominee Jeremy Irons. It seems like the HFPA would have wanted to be the first to honor the celebrated drama and could have made room for King among the Best Actress in a Drama Series nominees or for Irons in the Best Supporting Actor category.
There Won't Be a Repeat Win for Sandra Oh
Last year was a big year for the Killing Eve star. She memorably co-hosted the Golden Globes alongside Andy Samberg. She was the first Asian woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series in nearly 40 years. She gave an emotionally heartfelt speech, paying tribute to her parents. You'd think Oh would be a shoo-in for another nomination this year, but instead, she was snubbed. Luckily, her co-star -- recent Emmy winner Jodie Comer -- broke through with her first nomination, representing the Killing Eve family well.
When They See Us Can't Ride Awards Momentum
After an impressive run at the Emmys this fall -- which included a nomination for Best Limited Series and a win for Best Actor Jharrel Jerome -- Ava Duvernay's four-part Netflix miniseries was shockingly overlooked for any recognition at the Globes. The miniseries, which explores the lives of the "Exonerated Five," five men falsely accused and convicted in the 1989 Central Park Jogger case, was recently nominated for six Critics Choice Awards, including Best Limited Series, another lead acting nod for Jerome and supporting nominations for Asante Blackk, John Leguizamo, Niecy Nash and Marsha Stephanie Blake.
Where Is the Love for Euphoria?
If there was an awards show set up to give major kudos to HBO's high school-set drama series, which some would describe as "lit," it would be the Golden Globes, who are known to embrace the latest zeitgeist-y thing. Euphoria, and Zendaya's critically praised performance, certainly ticks every box. So why wasn't it given any love Monday morning? Was it too risque? Was it wrongly considered a "teen show"? We're still scratching our heads over this omission.
The 77th annual Golden Globe Awards, hosted by Ricky Gervais, will air live coast-to-coast on Sunday, Jan. 6, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Additional contributions from Meredith B. Kile and Stacy Lambe.
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