As somebody whose profession revolves round watching far an excessive amount of tv, even I needed to cease and assume after studying what Kathy Bates’ SAG Awards nomination got here for this morning. No, not “Matlock,” the hit CBS revival I’ve already reviewed, however Bates’ different SAG nomination — the one for “The Nice Lillian Corridor.” Premiering on the final day of Emmy eligibility, the HBO movie stars Jessica Lange, Lily Rabe, and Pierce Brosnan in a narrative about an actress battling her fading reminiscence as she prepares for a brand new, juicy function on Broadway. It’s the sort of manufacturing that needs to be catnip for awards voters — a drama about actors, starring legends, and hinging on an immensely private impediment — but “The Nice Lillian Corridor” wasn’t handled with a lot respect, incomes zero recognition from the Emmys and garnering only some Critics Selection nominations and a CSA nod… till at present.
Brushing apart favored contenders in Sofia Vergara (“Griselda”) and Naomi Watts (“Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”), Kathy Bates secured her second SAG nomination of the yr, eighth particular person nomination, and tenth nomination total. Very like Jamie Lee Curtis’ shock inclusion on the movie facet (for “The Final Showgirl”), Bates’ breakthrough appears to have come out of nowhere. HBO mounted screenings and numerous occasions for the TV film, however many of the marketing campaign was centered on star Jessica Lange, who at the very least had a Critics Selection nod in her nook. Bates mainly simply had “Matlock,” successful present on CBS that does an ideal job reminding viewers why they maintain watching Bates’ work yr after yr.
Seems, that could be all she wanted. Bates, Curtis, and a handful of different oft-recognized favorites don’t have to remind actors of each single mission they’ve launched. The actors already know, as a result of the actors completely adore them, and that’s how nice surprises like Bates’ two nominations in 2025 — one for a film with little or no public consciousness — can occur.
As for the remainder of the sector, there are developments each evergreen and moderately current. For these curious what steers the voting physique of the Display screen Actors Guild today — what, that’s, past unflinching adoration for long-time favorites — try just a few highlights beneath.
Whereas Bates could have been helped by being an onscreen mainstay all these years, practically half of the TV nominations got to exhibits that premiered within the final 4 months of eligibility. “The Penguin” and “The Diplomat” each scored three nods every, whereas “Disclaimer,” “The Day of the Jackal,” “No one Desires This,” “Shrinking,” and “Sluggish Horses” all landed two nominations apiece. Toss in single nominees for “A Man on the Inside,” “Matlock,” “Monsters,” and “The Previous Man,” and it’s clear that actors had been filling out their ballots with packages that had been high of thoughts.
Whereas all these exhibits had been on the air very just lately, the SAG physique didn’t neglect about confirmed awards favorites both. “The Bear” nonetheless pulled in 4 nominations, regardless of a 3rd season that noticed a drop-off in reward. “Solely Murders within the Constructing,” “Child Reindeer,” and “Hacks” each pulled in two nominations, and “Shogun” maintained its dominance with 5 nominations, essentially the most of any nominated present this yr.
So what exhibits had been boxed out? “Presumed Harmless” is likely one of the largest snubs, because the summer season sensation from Apple TV+ couldn’t even get Jake Gyllenhaal nominated. “Griselda,” “Palm Royale,” and “Feud,” three Emmy nominees launched early in 2024, couldn’t discover a slot both, and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” was shut out, too. Regardless of touchdown Emmy nominations for Donald Glover, Maya Erskine, Paul Dano, and their stunt group (amongst 16 complete), the February 2 launch date could have put it out of thoughts for SAG voters.
That being mentioned, a lot of high-profile exhibits that had been launched in mid-November or later didn’t get any love from the actors.
“Squid Recreation,” which obtained 4 nominations for its breakthrough first season (launched in September 2021), was shut out for its long-anticipated sequel season (which hit Netflix the day after Christmas). One other well-reviewed Netflix collection, “Black Doves” (out December 5) was equally ignored regardless of earlier nominations for stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, whereas Colman Domingo didn’t see the identical love for “The Insanity” (November 28) as he did for “Sing Sing” (July 12).
Taylor Sheridan’s unfortunate awards streak continued when “Landman” (November 17) didn’t land Billy Bob Thornton a nod (and, it virtually goes with out saying, “Yellowstone” didn’t break by way of on the SAG Awards with its remaining season). Paramount+ absolutely needed both of these exhibits to crack in, however “The Company” could have been a safer wager, given its stellar forged together with Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, and Richard Gere. None of them had been nominated both, after the spy thriller’s November 29 premiere.
One of many morning’s largest surprises was “Bridgerton,” the huge Netflix hit that’s nonetheless struggled in awards circles. Previous to at present, the interval costume drama hadn’t earned a SAG Award nomination since 2021, when Regé Jean-Web page was nonetheless driving excessive on his breakout function. That’s not as dangerous because it sounds — “Bridgerton” Season 1 obtained two nods, Season 2 was blanked, and now Season 3 is up for 2 SAG Awards once more — however it’s resurgence this yr remains to be a little bit of an announcement.
Why? Let’s return in time just a few months, to when Season 3 premiered in two elements: the primary on Might 16 and the second on June 13. Regardless of releasing “Bridgerton” in a slot primed for Emmy rivalry and having the choice to let it qualify for the 2024 Emmy Awards, Netflix as an alternative selected to separate the season, which made it ineligible. Some noticed this as a sensible selection: “Bridgerton” earns unbelievable viewership figures for Netflix, and rising the fanbase of its hottest franchise ought to take priority over competing for awards. Plus, after a robust displaying in its debut season on the pandemic-altered 2021 Emmys (the place it obtained 12 nominations), “Bridgerton” Season 2 pulled in solely three nods. Maybe, some mentioned, it merely wasn’t an awards-friendly present. Maybe it was simply in style.
Properly, SAG voters say in any other case. Regardless of their desire for confirmed favorites and fall/winter releases, the actors nominated Nicola Coughlan for Finest Actress in a Drama Collection and “Bridgerton” for Finest Ensemble. Will that be sufficient to place “Bridgerton” again on Emmy voters’ radars? Possibly, perhaps not — however you higher imagine Netflix goes to again it now.
Whereas remembering the SAG Awards skew extra populist than the Emmys, this yr’s nominees assist solidify what exhibits from Fall and Winter 2024 have the legs to compete in Summer time 2025. Eddie Redmayne appears to be in good place with “The Day of the Jackal,” and “No one Desires This” continues refuting its personal title by getting invited to prestigious awards exhibits just like the AFI Awards, Critics Selection Awards, and now the SAGs. “The Diplomat” and “Shrinking” are constructing off respectable freshman awards runs with greater hauls for the second season, however one present stands out above the remaining as a bonafide energy participant at this yr’s Emmys.
“The Penguin” has been racking up recognition in current weeks from nearly each winter awards present on the market. Colin Farrell received the Golden Globe for Finest Actor in a Restricted Collection, whereas the present additionally secured nominations for Cristin Milioti and Finest Restricted Collection. It earned the identical nominations from the Critics Selection Awards, plus yet one more for co-star Deirdre O’Connell, and pulled in three nominations from the DGA Awards (out of 5 complete nominees). Add in numerous honors from Camerimage, the AFI Awards, American Cinema Editors, and Indie Spirits, and “The Penguin” is effectively on its technique to a number of Emmy nominations.
At present’s three SAG nods actually assist. A win for Farrell may even make him a frontrunner (though it’s nonetheless very early to be anointing anybody). Let’s simply hope he was kidding about sticking to prosthetics-heavy performances from right here on out. If that bears out, we’d all be losers.
The thirty first Annual Display screen Actors Guild Awards will probably be held Sunday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET on the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Corridor in Los Angeles, CA. Netflix will stream the ceremony dwell.
