Podcast Title: The Town with Matthew Belloni
Host: Matthew Belloni
Episode: The 2025 Emmy Nomination Awards: Winners, Snubs, and Thirstiest Campaigns
Release Date: July 16, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of The Town with Matthew Belloni, host Matt Belloni delves into the 2025 Emmy nominations, analyzing the major winners, surprising snubs, and the most ambitious campaigns vying for recognition. Joined by Rebecca Ford, senior correspondent at Vanity Fair and co-host of the Little Gold Men podcast, Belloni offers an insider's perspective on this year's Emmy landscape.
Biggest Winner
Matt Belloni opens the discussion by highlighting HBO as the standout platform of the year.
"[00:32] Matt Belloni: HBO had a great year, especially considering they are putting out a fraction of the content that Netflix is putting out and they're still whomping them in the awards."
Rebecca Ford concurs, noting HBO's diverse nominations:
"[04:30] Rebecca Ford: I had also picked HBO. I think they really had a great year. I mean, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Hacks, The Penguin, The Pit. It's just they had something for every category and they really, really delivered."
The conversation underscores HBO's strategic content quality over quantity, leading to a commanding 142 nominations.
Biggest Loser
Rebecca Ford identifies Squid Game as the biggest loser, surprising many given its massive popularity.
"[05:41] Rebecca Ford: I definitely think for me, it's Squid Game. That show, the first season got 14 nominations, six wins. The actor Lee Jung Jae won in, like, a historic win for lead actor. And they got zero for their second season."
Matt Belloni expresses his bewilderment:
"[07:03] Unnamed Speaker: What is going on there? Prime Video. They only had 12 nominations total and none in the major categories. Like, it is embarrassing considering the amount of content they put out and considering what a player Amazon has been in the past at the Emmys. I mean, this is embarrassing."
This reflects the unexpected drop in Squid Game's Emmy trajectory from a strong first season to none in the second.
Sneaky Winner
Rebecca Ford selects Nathan Fielder as the sneaky winner, recognizing his breakthrough despite limited nominations.
"[08:03] Rebecca Ford: I went with Nathan Fielder. He got two nominations."
Matt Belloni agrees, highlighting Fielder's growing recognition among writers:
"[08:37] Unnamed Speaker: It shows that he has the cred amongst writers because writers vote for writers and they love him."
This acknowledges Fielder's strategic positioning within the industry, earning him well-deserved nods.
Sneaky Loser
Rebecca Ford points to Renee Zellweger as the sneaky loser, a surprising omission despite her campaigning efforts.
"[09:31] Rebecca Ford: Mine is Jon Hamm on the show that nobody watched."
Matt Belloni adds his perspective:
"[22:15] Rebecca Ford: Yeah. She was nominated for the first season, but she did not get the nomination. It's kind of an embarrassing loss for a movie that should not have been in this race in the first place."
This highlights the disconnect between Zellweger's efforts and the recognition she received.
Thirstiest Campaign
Matt Belloni criticizes Amazon for its lackluster Emmy presence despite a significant content output.
"[06:39] Unnamed Speaker: My Biggest Loser is Amazon. They only had 12 nominations total and none in the major categories."
Rebecca Ford echoes the sentiment, discussing Amazon's strategic missteps:
"[07:23] Unnamed Speaker: They need to make better shows. … They got some nominations for The Boys, which is a good show. But if they're going to play in this, like, or just say, screw it, we don't care."
This points to Amazon's struggle in translating its content volume into Emmy success.
Most Embarrassing Nomination
Rebecca Ford takes aim at the documentary Will and Harper, criticizing its dual Oscar and Emmy campaigns.
"[13:31] Rebecca Ford: Mine is Will and Harper. It's a documentary that got five nominations for Emmys, including for Kristen Wiig for her original song. This is after they ran an intense Oscar campaign and didn't make the short list. So the new rule is if you run an Oscar campaign but you don't get nominated, you can now run an Emmy campaign. To me, the double dip is extremely embarrassing."
Matt Belloni adds context about Netflix's campaign strategies:
"[14:48] Unnamed Speaker: …it's an embarrassing situation now because obviously Netflix has to support her for phase two, and it's a show that they already said what they think of it."
This critique underscores the perceived overreach and strategic confusion in campaigning across award platforms.
Enough Already Award
Rebecca Ford nominates Jeremy Allen White for his consistent nominations in the comedy category, despite demonstrating strong dramatic acting.
"[16:21] Rebecca Ford: I picked Jeremy Allen White, who I think is a very talented actor. … But I just think the continued nominations in the comedy category are most stale to me in that group."
Matt Belloni counters by highlighting the comedic aspects of White's roles:
"[16:53] Unnamed Speaker: It is. And he has, like, funny, awkward moments like Jarrett May. Allan White does not deliver a single comedic line."
This debate emphasizes the tension between an actor's versatility and their typecast nominations.
Most Surprising Nomination
Rebecca Ford highlights Sharon Horgan's nomination for Bad Sisters, an unexpected recognition in the drama category.
"[19:14] Unnamed Speaker: I didn't realize that that was even a contender."
Rebecca Ford explains:
"[20:02] Rebecca Ford: She got nominated for the first season, but it's always sort of an underdog. … There is a lot of love for it."
This points to the show's under-the-radar appeal and Horgan's standout performance.
Star Breakout Nomination
Rebecca Ford selects Ayo Edebiri for her multifaceted contributions to The Bear, including directing and writing.
"[23:06] Rebecca Ford: I'm picking Ayo Edebiri. … She co-wrote an episode in the fourth season that I just watched, which is called Worms, and it's the best episode of a very mediocre season."
Matt Belloni acknowledges her behind-the-scenes influence:
"[23:54] Unnamed Speaker: I saw her having lunch with Michael B. Jordan …"
Edebiri's expanding role from acting to writing and directing marks her as a significant breakout talent.
Most Awkward Nomination
Matt Belloni identifies Uzo Aduba's nomination for the canceled Netflix show The Residents as the most awkward.
"[24:24] Rebecca Ford: Otis. Love her."
"[24:28] Unnamed Speaker: …she gets nominated and then she is. Why didn't they hold off on that announcement until after the Emmys?"
This situation highlights the tension between show cancellations and award recognition.
Predictions for Winners
Drama Series:
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Rebecca Ford predicts Severance will take the top prize.
"[25:52] Rebecca Ford: I believe it's going to be Severance since the season aired. I just think the show did so well."
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Matt Belloni agrees, citing its critical acclaim and nomination lead.
"[26:06] Unnamed Speaker: It has all the elements. It is zeitgeisty. It was popular and critics loved it, and it has the most nominations."
Comedy Series:
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Both forecast The Marvelous The Studio to win over Hacks and The Bear.
"[26:25] Unnamed Speaker: …I think The Studio is going to win."
"[26:37] Rebecca Ford: The Bear has really struggled since last year."
Limited Series:
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Rebecca Ford chooses Adolescence as the winner.
"[29:24] Unnamed Speaker: … Penguin got more nominations than I thought it would, but I just don't see that overcoming the Adolescence momentum."
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Matt Belloni concurs, emphasizing Netflix's marketing prowess.
"[29:54] Rebecca Ford: Yeah. I think Colin Farrell still has a chance in the acting category. …"
Final Remarks
The episode concludes with Belloni and Ford reflecting on their predictions and the dynamics of Emmy voting. They share insights on industry strategies, campaign efforts, and the potential impact of the nominations on future projects. Belloni humorously mentions attending the Emmys, while Ford expresses support for her peers in the industry.
Notable Quotes
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Matt Belloni:
"[04:30] ... HBO had a great year … they really, really delivered."
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Rebecca Ford:
"[05:41] ... Squid Game… the second season did not receive as favorably as the first. … to get zero is really pretty bad."
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Unnamed Speaker (Matt Belloni):
"[07:03] … Amazon is embarrassing …"
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Rebecca Ford:
"[13:31] ... Will and Harper … the double dip just remains extremely embarrassing."
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Matt Belloni:
"[24:47] ... The Residents … why didn't they hold off on that announcement until after the Emmys?"
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and humorous exchanges between Matt Belloni and Rebecca Ford as they navigate the intricate world of Emmy nominations. Whether you're an Emmy enthusiast or a casual observer, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the triumphs and tribulations of the 2025 Emmy landscape.