The nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards arrived Wednesday morning, spreading the wealth across 117 categories and 610 nominations. But beneath the impressive numbers was a clear story: HBO Max reaffirmed its status as television’s dominant awards force, Apple TV completed its ascent into the industry’s top tier, and several presumed contenders discovered just how unforgiving Emmy morning can be.
HBO Max led all companies with 122 nominations, followed by Netflix with 111. Apple TV enjoyed its strongest showing yet with a company-record 87 nominations, cementing its place as one of television’s dominant awards players.
Standing atop the field was the sophomore season of medical drama “The Pitt,” which led all programs with 25 nominations. Thirteen of those came in acting categories (thanks to two self-submissions), leaving the series just one shy of the 14 acting nominations “Succession” earned in 2022, the current Emmy record. It’s an extraordinary endorsement of the show’s sprawling ensemble, particularly in an era when drama races have become increasingly crowded with prestige newcomers and returning favorites.
Its HBO Max stablemate “Hacks” also made history, setting a comedy series record with 24 nominations for its fifth and final season. The achievement underscores the Television Academy’s continued embrace of auteur-driven comedy, extending a remarkable three-year streak in which the nomination record has been broken annually, with “The Bear” and then “The Studio” each resetting the bar.
