4 Takeaways from the SAG Awards TV Nominations, as the New Class of Emmy Contenders Emerge
As someone whose career revolves around watching far too much television, even I had to stop and think after reading what Kathy Bates’ SAG Awards nomination came for this morning. No, not “Matlock,” the hit CBS revival I’ve already reviewed, but Bates’ other SAG nomination — the one for “The Great Lillian Hall.” Premiering on the last day of Emmy eligibility, the HBO film stars Jessica Lange, Lily Rabe, and Pierce Brosnan in a story about an actress battling her fading memory as she prepares for a new, juicy role on Broadway. It’s the kind of production that should be catnip for awards voters — a drama about actors, starring legends, and hinging on an immensely personal obstacle — yet “The Great Lillian Hall” wasn’t treated with much respect, earning zero recognition from the Emmys and garnering only a few Critics Choice nominations and a CSA nod… until today.
Brushing aside favored contenders in Sofia Vergara (“Griselda”) and Naomi Watts (“Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”), Kathy Bates secured her second SAG nomination of the year, eighth individual nomination, and tenth nomination overall. Much like Jamie Lee Curtis’ surprise inclusion on the film side (for “The Last Showgirl”), Bates’ breakthrough seems to have come out of nowhere. HBO mounted screenings and various events for the TV movie, but most of the campaign was focused on star Jessica Lange, who at least had a Critics Choice nod in her corner. Bates basically just had “Matlock,” a hit show on CBS that does a great job reminding viewers why they keep watching Bates’ work year after year.
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Turns out, that may be all she needed. Bates, Curtis, and a handful of other oft-recognized favorites don’t need to remind actors of every single project they’ve released. The actors already know, because the actors absolutely adore them, and that’s how pleasant surprises like Bates’ two nominations in 2025 — one for a movie with very little public awareness — can happen.
As for the rest of the field, there are trends both evergreen and rather recent. For those curious what steers the voting body of the Screen Actors Guild these days — what, that is, beyond unflinching adoration for long-time favorites — check out a few highlights below.
1. Actors Have Short Memories
While Bates may have been helped by being an onscreen mainstay all these years, nearly half of the TV nominations were given to shows that premiered in the last four months of eligibility. “The Penguin” and “The Diplomat” both scored three nods each, while “Disclaimer,” “The Day of the Jackal,” “Nobody Wants This,” “Shrinking,” and “Slow Horses” all landed two nominations apiece. Toss in single nominees for “A Man on the Inside,” “Matlock,” “Monsters,” and “The Old Man,” and it’s clear that actors were filling out their ballots with programs that were top of mind.
While all those shows were on the air very recently, the SAG body didn’t forget about proven awards favorites either. “The Bear” still pulled in four nominations, despite a third season that saw a drop-off in praise. “Only Murders in the Building,” “Baby Reindeer,” and “Hacks” both pulled in two nominations, and “Shogun” maintained its dominance with five nominations, the most of any nominated show this year.
So what shows were boxed out? “Presumed Innocent” is one of the biggest snubs, as the summer sensation from Apple TV+ couldn’t even get Jake Gyllenhaal nominated. “Griselda,” “Palm Royale,” and “Feud,” three Emmy nominees released early in 2024, couldn’t find a slot either, and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” was shut out, too. Despite landing Emmy nominations for Donald Glover, Maya Erskine, Paul Dano, and their stunt team (among 16 total), the February 2 release date may have put it out of mind for SAG voters.
2. But Don’t Debut Your Show Too Late
That being said, a number of high-profile shows that were released in mid-November or later didn’t get any love from the actors.
“Squid Game,” which received four nominations for its breakthrough first season (released in September 2021), was shut out for its long-anticipated sequel season (which hit Netflix the day after Christmas). Another well-reviewed Netflix series, “Black Doves” (out December 5) was similarly ignored despite previous nominations for stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, while Colman Domingo didn’t see the same love for “The Madness” (November 28) as he did for “Sing Sing” (July 12).
Taylor Sheridan’s unlucky awards streak continued when “Landman” (November 17) failed to land Billy Bob Thornton a nod (and, it almost goes without saying, “Yellowstone” didn’t break through at the SAG Awards with its final season). Paramount+ surely wanted either of those shows to crack in, but “The Agency” may have been a safer bet, given its stellar cast including Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, and Richard Gere. None of them were nominated either, after the spy thriller’s November 29 premiere.
3. “Bridgerton” Claps Back
One of the morning’s biggest surprises was “Bridgerton,” the massive Netflix hit that’s nonetheless struggled in awards circles. Prior to today, the period costume drama hadn’t earned a SAG Award nomination since 2021, when Regé Jean-Page was still riding high on his breakout role. That’s not as bad as it sounds — “Bridgerton” Season 1 received two nods, Season 2 was blanked, and now Season 3 is up for two SAG Awards again — but it’s resurgence this year is still a bit of a statement.
Why? Let’s go back in time a few months, to when Season 3 premiered in two parts: the first on May 16 and the second on June 13. Despite releasing “Bridgerton” in a slot primed for Emmy contention and having the option to let it qualify for the 2024 Emmy Awards, Netflix instead chose to split the season, which made it ineligible. Some saw this as a practical choice: “Bridgerton” earns incredible viewership figures for Netflix, and growing the fanbase of its most popular franchise should take precedence over competing for awards. Plus, after a strong showing in its debut season at the pandemic-altered 2021 Emmys (where it received 12 nominations), “Bridgerton” Season 2 pulled in only three nods. Perhaps, some said, it simply wasn’t an awards-friendly show. Perhaps it was just popular.
Well, SAG voters say otherwise. Despite their preference for proven favorites and fall/winter releases, the actors nominated Nicola Coughlan for Best Actress in a Drama Series and “Bridgerton” for Best Ensemble. Will that be enough to put “Bridgerton” back on Emmy voters’ radars? Maybe, maybe not — but you better believe Netflix is going to back it now.
4. One Serious Emmy Contender Appears to be Set
While remembering the SAG Awards skew more populist than the Emmys, this year’s nominees help solidify what shows from Fall and Winter 2024 have the legs to compete in Summer 2025. Eddie Redmayne seems to be in good position with “The Day of the Jackal,” and “Nobody Wants This” continues refuting its own title by getting invited to prestigious awards shows like the AFI Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and now the SAGs. “The Diplomat” and “Shrinking” are building off decent freshman awards runs with bigger hauls for the second season, but one show stands out above the rest as a bonafide power player at this year’s Emmys.
“The Penguin” has been racking up recognition in recent weeks from just about every winter awards show out there. Colin Farrell won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Limited Series, while the show also secured nominations for Cristin Milioti and Best Limited Series. It earned the same nominations from the Critics Choice Awards, plus one more for co-star Deirdre O’Connell, and pulled in three nominations from the DGA Awards (out of five total nominees). Add in various honors from Camerimage, the AFI Awards, American Cinema Editors, and Indie Spirits, and “The Penguin” is well on its way to multiple Emmy nominations.
Today’s three SAG nods certainly help. A win for Farrell might even make him a frontrunner (although it’s still very early to be anointing anyone). Let’s just hope he was kidding about sticking to prosthetics-heavy performances from here on out. If that bears out, we’d all be losers.
The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be held Sunday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, CA. Netflix will stream the ceremony live.
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